God and the Google Search Engine

   [I wrote this in December 2022]

God and the Google Search Engine

I recently read “God is Here” by Rabbi Toba Spizer. I appreciate and enjoyed her describing the many metaphors people use to describe God and naming the entity. Wind, fire, water, and a baby’s breath are a few examples of the metaphors she presented. I like her acknowledging that an old big white man is probably the least helpful metaphor describing the single presence that many call God, the Father, the King, the Universe, the Almighty, etc. Rabbi Spizer refers to God as Yud-hay-vav-hay - four Hebrew consonants and no vowel because the Torah says there is no name for God.

Rabbi Mates-Muchin is the senior rabbi at the temple where Denise and I are members. A few years ago, she gave an exceptionally meaningful sermon about the phrase “God is One.” Traditionally people interpret that phrase to mean there is only one God. Another way of thinking about it is that “one” means “whole.” God is the “whole” universe. God is everything and everyone that existed from the beginning.

The metaphor that works best for me is the Google Search Engine. God, for me, is a highly advanced version of Google. I am amazed by the amount of information accessible through Google. Google has, or will someday have, everything that was ever recorded. Currently, whenever I want to know something, I ask Google. I envision God as having information about everything that was made, experienced, imagined, or felt by everyone and everything that existed anywhere at any time in the galaxy. We can inquire about any of these things simply by asking God.

There are many ways to acquire information from the Google Search Engine, including different languages and input devices. Similarly, there are innumerable ways of asking God. Praying, meditating, practicing rituals, taking drugs, eating, and drinking certain foods are examples of how people get God’s information.

The Google Search Engine cannot create, invent, develop, or promote new ideas, things, feelings, relationships, etc. It cannot, by itself, cause help or harm, nor does it know about the future. The search engine doesn’t know right from wrong, good from evil, or love from hate. Everyone, anything, everywhere, is constantly redefining these constructs. Collectively we are defining and creating the future. It is encouraging and uplifting to look around us and realize how many people throughout history have agreed about the meaning of good, righteousness, and love. We are evolving into a better world, albeit slowly.

 

As with the Google Search Engine, some people will misunderstand, misinterpret, or misuse the information they receive from God. Just because we think we are making the world better doesn’t mean we are right.  But if the ultimate correct notion of these constructs exists, why is it being withheld, and why are we here? Perhaps knowing that we are all working toward the same goal may enable us to be more empathetic to each other. However, it doesn’t relieve us from our obligation to ensure that no interpretations lead to making the world worse.

I believe that when we die, our souls are all connected. Collectively we review the successes we accomplished in our previous life. We decide how we want to improve the world and what kind of role would best enable us to reach that goal. Some souls may want to improve the world by helping people stay connected with God. Others may decide that seeing hatred will motivate people to move toward love. Showing people beauty by being a butterfly might be how some souls spend their next life. Whatever our role and physical manifestation may be, it only lasts for a speck of time.

As with any belief, my belief might be all hogwash. That’s fine with me. My most vital hope is that everyone, everywhere, knows they are fulfilling their role and they are not alone. As we begin 2023, may we continue our quest to better our world.  

End of Blog

Miketz - 2022-12-24

 Miketz - 2022-12-24

 Last Monday, I began my eighth decade. Miketz is the Torah read at my Bar Mitzvah. My family was members of a Conservative synagogue whose chapel was up a flight of steps. Bar Mitzvah boys were required to read the Haftorah and give a drash about the week’s Torah portion. Due to my disability, the Rabbi only allowed me to say the blessings before and after one of the Cantor’s readings. Since everyone coming near the Torah had to stand, I ‘stood’ while hanging from my Father’s arms.

Miketz is the Torah portion that tells the story of Joseph telling Pharaough about his dream. He dreamt that there would be a food abundance during the next seven years. A seven-year famine will follow. Since becoming a Temple Sinai member in 1991, I’ve given several drashes about Miketz. They’ve all been about how God speaks to us through dreams and our guts. This year, I questioned how God knew to tell Joseph what the future holds. Coincidentally, as I prepared this drash, I read a book about the metaphors we have that describe God. These two events motivated me to write a blog about how I perceive God. With your indulgence, I’d appreciate your listening to and commenting on the first draft of that blog. 

God and the Google Search Engine

I recently read “God is Here” by Rabbi Toba Spizer. I appreciate and enjoyed her describing the many metaphors people use to describe God and naming the entity. Wind, fire, water, and a baby’s breath are a few examples of the metaphors she presented. I like her acknowledging that an old big white man is probably the least helpful metaphor describing the single presence that many call God, the Father, the King, the Universe, the Almighty, etc. Rabbi Spizer refers to God as Yud-hay-vav-hay - four Hebrew consonants and no vowel because the Torah says there is no name for God.

Rabbi Mates-Muchin is the senior rabbi at the temple where Denise and I are members. A few years ago, she gave an exceptionally meaningful sermon about the phrase “God is One.” Traditionally people interpret that phrase to mean there is only one God. Another way of thinking about it is that “one” means “whole.” God is the “whole” universe. God is everything and everyone that existed from the beginning.

The metaphor that works best for me is the Google Search Engine. God, for me, is a highly advanced version of Google. I am amazed by the amount of information accessible through Google. Google has, or will someday have, everything that was ever recorded. Currently, whenever I want to know something, I ask Google. I envision God as having information about everything that was made, experienced, imagined, or felt by everyone and everything that existed anywhere at any time in the galaxy. We can inquire about any of these things simply by asking God.

There are many ways to acquire information from the Google Search Engine, including different languages and input devices. Similarly, there are innumerable ways of asking God. Praying, meditating, practicing rituals, taking drugs, eating, and drinking certain foods are examples of how people get God’s information.

The Google Search Engine cannot create, invent, develop, or promote new ideas, things, feelings, relationships, etc. It cannot, by itself, cause help or harm, nor does it know about the future. The search engine doesn’t know right from wrong, good from evil, or love from hate. Everyone, anything, everywhere, is constantly redefining these constructs. Collectively we are defining and creating the future. It is encouraging and uplifting to look around us and realize how many people throughout history have agreed about the meaning of good, righteousness, and love. We are evolving into a better world, albeit slowly.

 

As with the Google Search Engine, some people will misunderstand, misinterpret, or misuse the information they receive from God. Just because we think we are making the world better doesn’t mean we are right.  But if the ultimate correct notion of these constructs exists, why is it being withheld, and why are we here? Perhaps knowing that we are all working toward the same goal may enable us to be more empathetic to each other. However, it doesn’t relieve us from our obligation to ensure that no interpretations lead to making the world worse.

I believe that when we die, our souls are all connected. Collectively we review the successes we accomplished in our previous life. We decide how we want to improve the world and what kind of role would best enable us to reach that goal. Some souls may want to improve the world by helping people stay connected with God. Others may decide that seeing hatred will motivate people to move toward love. Showing people beauty by being a butterfly might be how some souls spend their next life. Whatever our role and physical manifestation may be, it only lasts for a speck of time.

As with any belief, my belief might be all hogwash. That’s fine with me. My most vital hope is that everyone, everywhere, knows they are fulfilling their role and they are not alone. As we begin 2023, may we continue our quest to better our world.  

End of Blog

Using my understanding of God, I believe God knew that given the weather patterns in the area Joseph resided in, there was a high probability that the weather might be good for planting and harvesting in the next seven years. Seven years of drought might follow. God offered this information to Joseph through a dream. With this information, Joseph developed an action plan for Pharaoh.

I’d appreciate feedback via email about my blog and my metaphor. May we have a healthy, happy, collaborative new year.

 

Goodbye 22 – Hello 23

[This was read for me at my 70^th birthday party on Sunday, December 18, 2022]

Goodbye 2022 – Hello 2023

 It’s hard to believe that I’ve been around for 70 years! I am not 28 anymore. 2022 was not the best year. My spine compression resulted in the loss of more functions: speaking almost incomprehensibly is frustrating. Finding attendants has become evermore laborious, and my inability to get Abilicorp – Personal Assistant Services(ABPAS) started adds to the frustration. My 98-year-old Mom, who cannot understand anything I say,  is in hospice. Unable to get together with John every Saturday morning as we have done for the last 29 years has greatly saddened me. Witnessing the war in Ukraine, the bipartisanship in our government, the polarization of so many people, the horrific effects caused by climate change, and the increased Covid related isolation makes me question how much progress we have made during my lifetime.

Many great things happened in 2022. Seeing David win the top award in an international pizza contest, having Ched and Elaine visit twice, getting together with friends, and going to Carmel were a few of the memorable events. Attending Saturday morning Torah study via Zoom allowed me time to appreciate the relevance of interpreting biblical stories into today’s culture. Watching mindless TV shows with Denise, going to museums, rolling in parks, and driving on car rides were more enjoyable than ever.

I learned how inadequate I am at expressing my feelings. I always appreciated the work attendants provided. This year I became keenly aware of the kindness, understanding, and love Luciana and Fae give me. This year, I realized that I rarely tell David how happy and proud I am of him, who he is, and who he continues to become. Most importantly, after almost 40 years of marriage, I finally began to understand how woefully unable to tell Denise how much respect, appreciation, and love I have for her. I will do better.

As usual, I have very high expectations for 2023. First and foremost, I hope my family and friends have a happy, healthy, fun-filled year. Denise’s book will get published, and she will get all the accolades she deserves. I must quickly find someone eager and able to take over ABPAS and run with it. Recruiting attendants and properly respecting their vital services must be a priority for the disabled community. I hope to have the guts to let ABPAS go so I can write my story. Most importantly, I want to spend time with friends and enjoy the world’s wonders and beauty.  

Politically my greatest hope is that we begin rewarding people for their ability to compromise and find win-win solutions instead of fueling polarization. We must get excited about the possibilities that can happen by ending global warming, homelessness, hunger, wars, and violence. Recognizing that we are creating tomorrow should be a positive, motivating force. Wallowing in dismay only results in more despair.

I have lived an unbelieve wonderful blessed 70 years. The people I’ve known, the beauty I’ve seen, and the experiences I’ve had are treasures I would never exchange. The gratitude I have for all of you is impossible to express. Let’s do this again next year. 

Ho! Ho! Ho! And Go-Go-Go!