Ariel Ben Avraham – JERUSALEM IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS (XVII)
Honorable things are spoken about you, O city of God, forever.”
(Psalms 87:3)
All that is related to Jerusalem is of the highest nature and quality, as it is all related to goodness, simply because is “the city of God” as its immutable ruling principle for His creation. Hence, it is an eternal, absolute, self-sufficient entity destined to direct all aspects and expressions of life.
“But about Zion it shall be said, ‘This one and that one were born in her’; the Most High himself establishes her.” (87:5)
Here, the verse equates the place of birth to the essence of one’s identity. Therefore Zion, as well as the Torah, defines the Jewish identity as the bonding quality that the Creator of all with Israel.
The essence of this identity is goodness as the expression of every aspect and facet of Jewish life. Thus we are recognized by the principle that guides our actions, for it is what identifies who we are, that has been established for us by our Creator.
“Those that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.” (92:13)
The Jewish identity is deeply rooted in the principle that encompasses all the principles inherent in God’s commandments, decrees, statutes and ordinances presented in the Torah.
Goodness as the absolute ruling principle is the expression of the positive ideas, beliefs, feelings and emotions that “flourish in the courts of our God”, which are His ways and attributes that we strive to emulate as the source of our plenitude.
This verse reminds us that we flourish only in goodness.
“Your statutes stand firm. Sacredness adorns Your house, O Lord, forever.” (93:5)
God’s commandments, decrees, statutes and ordinances are the firm foundation that delineates the purpose of goodness in the material world.
Thus we realize that in order to grasp this, first we must fully assimilate goodness in our consciousness where we also must stand firm. In this awareness we realize the sacredness of goodness as the eternal splendor and beauty of God’s radiance in His creation.
- Ariel Ben Avraham
- Kochav Yaakov, Safed, northern Galilee, Israel
- Ariel Ben Avraham (f. Zapata) was born in Cartagena, Colombia in 1958. After studying Cultural Anthropology in Bogotá moved to Chicago in 1984 where he worked as a television writer, reporter and producer for 20 years. In the 1990’s he produced video documentaries related to art, music, history and culture such as “Latin American Trails: Guatemala” distributed by Facets.org. Most of his life he studied ancient spiritual traditions and mysticism of major religions, understanding the mystic experience as the individual means to connect with the Creator of all. Since 2004 he studies and writes about Jewish mysticism and spirituality mainly derived from the Chassidic tradition, and the practical philosophy of the teachings of Jewish mystic sages. The book “God’s Love” is the compilation of many years studying and learning Jewish mysticism. The messages of his book are part of the content, exercises and processes of a series of seminars, lectures and retreats that he facilitates in Israel.
