The New York Times recently published a profile of Rabbi Margaret Moers Wenig, which was fascinating for two reasons. First there was Rabbi Wenig herself, who is a lesbian female rabbi with two daughters from a previous marriage whom she raised with longtime partner (and fellow rabbi) Sharon Kleinbaum. Ordained in 1984, Rabbi Wenig is a walking, talking example of just how much the Jewish community has changed over the past two decades. No longer are rabbis always men or always heterosexual, nor do congregants expect them to be. Rabbi Wenig "preaches increasingly to the converted," writes New York Times journalist Ralph Blumenthal, "Hebrew congregations and rabbinical and cantorial students... no longer assume that a rabbi has to be a he or heterosexual."
But even more interesting than Rabbi Wenig was Blumenthal's reference to her 1990 sermon titled "God is a Woman, and She is Growing Older," in which Rabbi Wenig describes God as a "loving if long-suffering mother who wonders why you haven’t called."
What a thought-provoking image, wouldn't you agree? Certainly it isn't traditional but it does drive home the idea of our personal responsibility to seek out God if we hope to cultivate a spiritual relationship with the divine - which seems like a fitting train of thought with the High Holy Days just around the corner.
Rabbi Wenig's sermon reminded me of a class I took with Rabbi Neil Gillman at the Jewish Theological Seminary a couple of years ago, where he asked participants to create a personal metaphor for God. Some described God as a breeze that couldn't be seen or touched but could be felt. Others described God as a dance partner that sometimes left you standing on the dance floor, wondering why you were all alone. The metaphors were endlessly unique, each reflecting how that person conceptualized their relationship with the divine. Listening to other people's metaphors was just as profound as coming up with my own.
What about you - if you were to come up with a personal metaphor for God, what would it be?
I would say that it adds up. If people worship the deity God, they will imagine and have many, many weird ideas of the deity they worship – hence look at and consider the many and varied religious groups that worship God.
But people who know and have a relationship with Yahweh Elohim, the only true Elohim who created the universe; their perception of Elohim will be respectful, for they realize that Yahweh calls the shot and what He says goes. He will not equate Yahweh with angels or with humans; Gender is limited to humans; Yahweh is neither a man nor a woman, he is Elohim.
….And we wonder why muslims want to kill us?! I hate to say it, but there are alot of times when muslims are more Torah observant than Jewish people! I am heart-sick at the thought that we have come SO FAR as to direguard the words of HaShem in His Torah to the point of trampling on it in our own excrement that is “modern” society!! We have accepted the lie of relativism and made G-d in OUR image, so our faith has become IDOLATRY!! G-d help us, and save us from OURSELVES!
I am saddened to force myself to accept my people the, Jews have allowed themselves to venture so far from the unchanging written Word of The Most High, it is conceivable that many would actually take notice of the comments of Ms.Wenig serious. Way too much emphasis on what is being said by rabbis; they are not and never will equate the Word of the Most High. Rabbis are people too, despite their own self appointed righteousness.
The Most High does not change, His Word does not change, His instruction; perfect (even if we don’t like it and want to change it) and does it not change. Woe unto this most wicked generation says the Lord of Host. Who has given you authority over the times and the seasons? By whose authority do you change things you do not understand? Where are the wise men of Israel who can build a single blade of grass or instruct a bird on how to build its nest? Ms.Wenig is a fine example of the blind sheep of Israel leading the blind sheep of Israel.
Only when we repent from our sin individually and as a people will we be again acceptable before the Lord.