Psalm 23: An Odyssey of Faith: Rediscovering the Personal God in Judaism

By Michael Leo Samuel

In "Psalm 23: An Odyssey of Faith: Rediscovering the Personal God in Judaism," readers are taken on an enlightening journey through the intricacies of contemporary Jewish faith, emphasizing the quest to reconnect with a personal God. This exploration weaves together historical events, theological insights, psychological nuances, sociological per

• Language: English
• Publisher: Primix Publishing
• Release date: Dec 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798891940000

Michael Leo Samuel

Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel is a descendant of a Holocaust survivor. He received dual rabbinic ordinations from Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch Yeshiva located at 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, and has earned a D. Min degree from the San Francisco Theological Seminary. With a profound interest in diverse fields, he has delved into the Greek classics, Biblical and Talmudic studies, Jungian Psychology, Western Medieval Theology, Modern Philosophy, and 20th-century psychology. Among his literary contributions are:The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Theology of the Caring God (1996)Birth and Rebirth Through Genesis (2010)A Shepherd's Song: Psalm 23 and the Shepherd Metaphor In Jewish Thought (2014)Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Jewish Commentator (Volumes 1-5, 2014-2018)Gentle Jewish Wisdom (2019)The Unknown English Torah Commentator: Marcus M. Kalisch's Interpretation of Genesis 1-22 (2022)Maimonides' Hidden Torah Commentary on the Pentateuch (in six volumes, 2018-2022).

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Published by Primix Publishing 12/06/2023

ISBN: 978-1-957676-99-9(sc)

ISBN: 979-8-89194-000-0(e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023916910

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Contents

CHAPTER 1

Dialoguing with Psalm 23: A Personal Narrative

Psalm 23: An Odyssey of Faith

CHAPTER 2

Soul Loss in Modern Judaism

The Loss of God in Our Personal Lives

The Messenger Who Forgot His Message

The Heretical Imperative

The Loss of Soul

Further Reflection on Jung

Beware of Religious Behaviorism

The Darkening of the Light

The Eclipse of God and Its Implications

If there is no God, then everything is permitted.

God-Wrestling in the Age of Postmodern Jewish Theology

Problematic Metaphors of God

When Rigid Faith Creates a Cynical Theology

Faith is not a Destination, but a Journey

Moment Magazine’s Question to Theologians: Why be Jewish?

When the Roadblock Is God

Modern Rabbis as the Children of Freud

Subjecting Freud to His Own Psychoanalysis

Living in Plato’s Cave

CHAPTER 3

Of Sheep and Men

Is the Shepherd Metaphor Passé?

The Negative Semantic Connotations of Sheep

Ancient and Modern Critiques of the Shepherd Metaphor

Elie Wiesel’s Parable

CHAPTER 4

Transcending the Myth of Self-Sufficiency

The Myth of Self-Sufficiency

The Promethean Mythos

Returning to Elie Wiesel’s Parable

Living in a Dystopian World

Existential Aftershocks: Living with Fear

Is the Fate of Our Existence Capriciously Designed?

Psalm 23 as a Response to Life’s Anxieties

Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5

CHAPTER 5

The Search for Living Symbols

Understanding the Importance of Root Metaphors

Recovering Our Sense of Primal Spirituality

Developing a Healthy Curiosity for Sacred Texts

Respecting the Symbolic Language of the Ancients

Psalm 23 through the Eyes of a Native American Indian

Unleashing the Latent Power of Primal Imagery of the Psalms

Developing Our Imaginative Faculties

Nurturing Heart-Centered Faith

Faith Is Often a Struggle

CHAPTER 6

Healing our Wounded Images of God

Outgrowing Our Childish Perceptions of God

Sheldon, Come Home!

How Parenting Shapes a Child’s Perception of God

Embracing Positive Images of God

The Divine Feminine—The Theology of Immanence

Embracing Relational Models of Theology

God’s Infinite Capacity to Feel for Creation

The Shekhinah: A Residue of God’s Presence

CHAPTER 7

The Sensuous Language of Biblical Encounter

A God with Personality

The Intimacy of God-Language in the Tanakh

The Torah Speaks in the Language of Humanity

CHAPTER 8

The Metaphoric Universe

Metaphor as a Cunning Distortion in Language

Augustine on Metaphor

Saadia Gaon’s View on Metaphor

The Universality of Anthropomorphism in Human Speech

Anthropomorphism—the Language of Humanity

Rabbinic Metaphors of God

CHAPTER 9

Maimonides’ Break with Talmudic Tradition

Ibn Daud’s Critique of Maimonidean Theology

When Speaking of the Ineffable

Maimonides’ Mystical Intuition: God as Mystery

Finding God Within the Heart of Stillness

What Is the God of Mystery?

Maimonides and William James: The Mystical Consciousness

God Is Also Beyond the Personal

CHAPTER 10

Maimonides’ Agnostic Legacy

How Theologians Mistakenly Depersonalized God

Mordechai Kaplan’s War against Anthropomorphism

The Theology of Taste & Tastelessness

Maimonides’ Struggle with Petitionary Prayer

Petitionary Prayer and the Popular Religious Imagination

Reclaiming the Personal God: Aquinas’s Analogical Theology

Wittgenstein’s Language Game & Its Meaning for Theology

Stories of God

More Thoughts on the Personal God

Walking in the Ways of God

PART 2

THE SHEPHERD ARCHETYPE IN PSALM 23

CHAPTER 11

Images of Shepherding from Antiquity

The Shepherding Deities and Kings of Ancient Mesopotamia

Hammurabi, the Great Shepherd

Gilgamesh, the Arrogant Shepherd

Shepherding Deities in Egyptian Mythology and Literature

Shepherd Imagery in Grecian Mythology and

Hellenistic Literature

The Shepherd as a Political Metaphor for Greek Rulers

Plato’s Depiction of the Shepherd

Other Noteworthy Greek Perspectives on the

Shepherd Metaphor

Philo of Alexandria on the Shepherd of the Soul

Philo’s Interpretation of Psalm 23

CHAPTER 12

Examples of Shepherding in Jewish Tradition

Shepherding in the Books of Genesis and Exodus

Rashi’s Pivotal Ecological Insight

Joseph: His Father’s Shepherd

Joseph Shepherds Even in Prison

Moses’ Description of the Shepherd Ruler

David as God’s Shepherd

The Leader as the Moral Standard Bearer for the Populace

Awakening the Hopeful Imagination

CHAPTER 13

Prophetic Examples of Sheperding

Lost in a Babylonian Oz

The False Shepherd of Ezekiel 34

Searching for the Lost Flock

Cyrus the Great—the Gentile Shepherd and Messiah

Second Isaiah’s Message: Developing Eyes of Faith

Shepherding and the God of History

Redemption Requires Human Actors

The Cyrus Archetype: God’s Instrument of Redemption

CHAPTER 14

The Meaning of Wilderness Imagery

The Wilderness as a Place for Silence, Revelation, and Renewal

CHAPTER 15

Shepherding Souls Out of Hell

The Divine Arena

A Hasidic Parable: Guiding Souls from Hell

Where Was God During the Holocaust?

Spurgeon’s Brilliant Insight

Lévinas’s Theological Insight: The Face that Commands

David Wyman’s Findings in the Abandonment of the Jews

The Holocaust Rebbe as a Shepherd

Seven Qualities of Shepherding Seen During the Holocaust

Discovering Spiritual Strength in the Face of Death

Leo Baeck—A Non-Orthodox Rabbinic Shepherd

Orthodox Shepherds: Rabbis C. D.

Michael Weissmandl & Eliezer Silver

The Difficulties Rabbi Silver Faced

CHAPTER 16

An Exegetical and Pastoral Commentary on Psalm 23

How Shepherds Interpret Psalm 23

The Targum and Psalm 23

Rabbinic Expositions on Psalm 23

CHAPTER 17

Recovering our Spiritual Voice

Modern Synagogue Worship: Bored, Schnorred, and Ignored

What Does the Act of Prayer Really Mean?

Prayer is Anthropomorphic

Homer Simpson’s Prayer

Homer Simpson as a Metaphor for the

Contemporary Worshipper

Prayer Must be Introspective

Discovering the Art of Devotional Reading

The Visceral Power of Psalms

Sacred Reading and the Origins of Bibliomancy

The Four Parts of the Lectio Divina

Creating the Interior Space for a Spiritual Encounter

CHAPTER 18

Creating Heart-Centered Prayer through the Lectio Divina

POSTSCRIPT

Hallahs in the Ark

EXCURSUS 1

Job’s Descent Into Darkness: A Tale About Shepherding

Job and Epictetus & Their Heroic Journey

We Cannot Stay Stationary in Life

Some Preliminary Thoughts on Job and Psalm 23

Encountering the Diabolic

Why Did Job Suffer?

Schadenfreude: The Hidden Cause of Job’s Suffering

Renée Girard’s Theory: Job as Scapegoat

Job’s Prison of Silence

Freedom from the Prison of Silence

At First, Job’s Friends Get It Right…

Job’s Miserable Friends exacerbate his Suffering

God’s Response to Job: A Maimonidean Perspective

Job and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

Wisdom from Maimonides

Job’s Spiritual Transformation

Job Becomes a Wounded Healer

Overcoming Schadenfreude through Forgiveness

Introduction

Psalm 23: An Odyssey of Faith:

Rediscovering the Personal God in Judaism

In Psalm 23: An Odyssey of Faith: Rediscovering the Personal God in Judaism, we embark on a transformative journey exploring the complexities of modern Jewish faith and the pursuit of rediscovering what it means to have a personal relationship with God. This odyssey delves into the interplay of history, theology, psychology, sociology, classical and modern philosophy, and personal introspection, inviting readers to confront their ambivalence towards faith and recovering a deep connection with the Divine.

Using the ageless wisdom of Psalm 23 as our guide, we traverse the complex terrain of faith. This ancient scripture serves as our compass, casting light on our spiritual journey. Together, we grapple with the issues confronting contemporary Jews and scrutinize the influence of historical events like the Holocaust on our shared consciousness.

The author proposes that the belief in a personal God would still pose a challenge to the modern Jew, even in the absence of the traumatic event that was the Holocaust. This assertion stems from a variety of reasons that we will delve into. The modern era offers us an abundance of options; however, to discern what we choose to believe in, it is crucial to first establish what we cannot place our faith in.

In our pursuit of religious comprehension, it’s essential that we actively engage in a questioning process, critically examining our religious beliefs within the context of today’s pluralistic society. This process of exploration and discernment is key to deepening our understanding of faith and finding our place in the modern spiritual landscape.

Part of the book seeks to explain: How did we get this way as a people? The answers are not simplistic, but are variegated. In our quest for meaning, we confront the complexities of soul loss in modern Judaism, the fading of the divine light in personal lives.

In the wake of the Copernican Revolution, a transformative period in human understanding of the cosmos, a profound shift occurred in the collective psyche. The once dominant presence of God gradually receded, yielding ground to the ascent of science as a guiding force in human knowledge and worldview. With the groundbreaking realization that Earth was not the center of the universe, but instead orbited the Sun, the foundations of established religious beliefs were shaken. As humanity embraced the empirical discoveries of science, a growing confidence emerged in the power of reason and evidence-based explanations, relegating the concept of God to a more subjective and personal realm.

This profound transition fostered a shift in society’s perspective, where scientific principles and methodologies became the primary means of comprehending the natural world. The pursuit of knowledge through observation, experimentation, and logical reasoning offered a tangible and tangible framework for understanding reality. While science provided explanations for natural phenomena previously attributed to divine intervention, it also offered a rationalistic and systematic approach to problem-solving, stimulating remarkable advancements in technology, medicine, and various fields of human endeavor. As a result, faith in God gradually diminished in the face of the growing body of scientific evidence and the tangible benefits derived from the application of scientific knowledge.

In one of his novels, Elie Wiesel captures this point quite well and adventures to draw a most audacious theological parallel:

Legend tells us that one day man spoke to God in this way:

"Let us change about. You be man, and I will be God. For only one second.

God spoke gently and asked him, Aren’t you afraid?

No, said man. Are you?

Yes, I am, replied God.

Nevertheless, God granted man’s desire. God became man and man took God’s place and immediately availed himself of God’s omnipotence. But, then something happened. Man refused to revert back to his previous state. So neither God nor man was ever again what he seemed to be.¹

Yet for all our impressive achievements in creating our modern technological world, modern people are more anxiety driven because of a spiritual emptiness that knaws at the core of their souls. Suddenly, an epiphany strikes us. In our relentless pursuit of scientific reductionism - our ongoing quest to dissect, to simplify, and to understand the world around us - we have inadvertently lost sight of something profound, something ineffable. Our dogged commitment to viewing the world through a scientific lens has cost us the grand, holistic vision of what it truly means to be a human being.

Our existence is not just a product of biological processes or physical laws, as the reductionist approach might suggest. As humans, we are each uniquely endowed with a soul and consciousness, elements that cannot be explained or dissected by science alone. These intrinsic aspects of our humanity provide us with the ability to love, to create, to dream, to aspire, to empathize, and to find purpose and meaning in life.

In the process of dissecting reality, attempting to understand it piece by piece, we have overlooked the magnificence of the whole. The atomistic focus of reductionism has led us astray from embracing the full complexity, beauty, and mystery of the human experience. It’s a gentle reminder to all of us that in the face of vast scientific advancement and knowledge, we must never forget to appreciate and cherish the inherent marvel and enigma of being a unique soul, a conscious individual in this expansive universe.

Our spiritual growth is stunted by the pervasive myths of self-sufficiency and self-reliance; dispelling these illusions is necessary to restore equilibrium. Our collective consciousness has been deeply imprinted with the Promethean mythos, a narrative we must critically examine as we sail through the perilous seas of a dystopian world. Yet, the Promethean tale is not the sole Greek myth worthy of our contemplation.

The myth of Sisyphus, eloquently retold by philosopher Albert Camus, provides another compelling allegory for the modern human existential plight. Sisyphus, condemned by the gods to ceaselessly roll a boulder up a hill only for it to tumble back down, exemplifies the futile repetition that often characterizes our own existence. As with Sisyphus, we find ourselves trapped in a relentless cycle of banal tasks, stripped of inherent purpose and significance.

The metaphor of Sisyphus’ boulder represents the burdensome and seemingly futile tasks that monopolize our lives, while the hill signifies the strenuous journey toward our goals. Our endeavors often mirror Sisyphus’—we pour tremendous effort and energy into achieving our objectives, only to witness their collapse, compelling us to restart from scratch. This cyclical existence underscores the human condition, marked by the absurdity of life and the stark contrast between our yearning for purpose and what seems to be an indifferent universe that often deems our efforts inconsequential.

Paradoxically, as these existential aftershocks ripple through our beings, sparking anxieties and questioning the whimsical blueprint of our existence, Psalm 23 emerges as a guiding light. It offers tranquility and guidance amidst the relentless challenges that life throws our way.

Yet, as many people have expressed, they do not like to be compared to dumb sheep, The moniker sheep is often associated with passivity and susceptibility to manipulation, a far cry from the ram’s vitality and resolute strength. Shepherds understand well the contagious panic that can ensnare a flock. If one sheep succumbs to fear, all are likely to follow, reinforcing the human disdain for being likened to these simple-minded creatures. Sheep, often seen as the most naive of livestock, are notorious for their propensity to go astray, becoming easy prey for lurking predators. Similarly, the herd instinct prevalent amongst humanity echoes the behavior of a flock, making our comparison to sheep somewhat unsettling. We question the relevance of this ancient symbol in a modern context, challenging the negative semantic connotations that have attached themselves to the metaphor. Ancient and modern critiques of the shepherd metaphor entwine. Despite its familiarity, it is a metaphor that many Jewish thinkers prefer to limit to poetry.

Yet, the shepherd metaphor has both captivated and perplexed the Jewish psyche throughout the ages. We will examine its relevance in the modern context, reframing its connotations and appreciating its deeper symbolism. The echoes of history and prophecy resonate as we confront the darkness of the Holocaust, seeking stories of resilience and compassion that illuminate the human spirit.

The search for living symbols assumes a central role in our quest for rediscovery. We delve into the importance of root metaphors, unraveling the primal spirituality that lies dormant within our souls. The symbolic language of the ancients beckons us, inviting us to respect and reawaken our connection to the wisdom of our ancestors. Through the eyes of a Native American Indian, we will explore the transformative power of Psalm 23, embracing the latent power of primal imagery embedded within the Psalms. As we develop our imaginative faculties, nurturing a heart-centered faith, we come to recognize that the struggle of faith is an intrinsic part of the human experience.

It’s plausible that our spiritual dilemma stems fundamentally from our failure to reevaluate and mature our perception of the divine over time. As we transitioned from childhood to adulthood, our conceptions of God, deeply ingrained from our younger years, remained largely untouched, static, and unchallenged.

During this transition, many of us seldom critically examined what it truly meant to believe in God. Religion, to some extent, may have seemed superfluous, unnecessary, or even obsolete in our journey. We navigated life’s complexities, weathered its storms, and celebrated its triumphs, often under the impression that we were managing just fine without the aid of religious doctrine or spirituality.

This perception, however, could be somewhat skewed. While we may have felt that we were prospering without overt religious influence, it’s important to ponder whether we missed the depth, solace, or wisdom that a more profound understanding or engagement with the divine could offer. This introspection invites us to examine and potentially revise our spiritual beliefs, to evolve with us as we grow and change, just as our perspectives on other aspects of life mature over time.

Essentially, the crux of our spiritual conundrum could very well be our stagnating images of God that remained unchallenged and unmodified since childhood. The quest for a more matured understanding of the divine, therefore, might be a pivotal step in resolving this spiritual impasse.

Healing our wounded images of God becomes a crucial step in our journey of rediscovery. But to do so, we must confront the limitations of our childish perceptions, yearning to transcend them and embrace a more mature understanding of the divine. Readers are invited to reflect on the profound influence of parenting in shaping a child’s perception of God, illuminating the path towards embracing positive and expansive images of the divine. We encounter the theology of immanence, exploring the depth and beauty of the Divine Feminine, and delve into the transformative power of relational models of theology. Through these explorations, we uncover the residue of God’s presence, the ethereal essence of the Shekhinah.

As we proceed on our odyssey, we encounter the sensuous language of biblical encounter. We are invited to experience a God with personality, whose intimate language in the Tanakh resonates with our human experience. We delve into the Torah’s ability to speak in the language of humanity, bridging the gap between the divine and mortal realms. The exploration of language as a cunning distortion (Paul Ricoeur) a powerful tool of metaphor, leads us into the universality of anthropomorphism in human speech. We will explore the rich tapestry of rabbinic metaphors of God, pondering their significance and contemplating their impact on our understanding of the divine. In this intricate dance between the ineffable and the metaphorical, we find resonance with the mystical consciousness articulated by both Maimonides and William James, ultimately extending our understanding of God beyond the personal.

In this tome, we point out how Maimonides’ break with Talmudic tradition, by unearthing the layers of philosophical divergence that have shaped Jewish thought. We grapple with the Ineffable as Maimonides did, seeking to understand the mystical intuition that permeated his understanding of God as mystery. In parallel, we engage in a dialogue with the profound mystical consciousness of William James, drawing insights from their perspectives to navigate the enigmatic waters of the divine. In this exploration, we are led beyond the personal, beyond the confines of human comprehension, and into the realm of divine transcendence.

Mistaken depersonalization of God becomes a poignant theme as we traverse the intricate pathways of theological discourse. Theologians have inadvertently stripped God of personal attributes, leaving behind a tastelessness in our understanding of the divine. This point will become evident in Maimonides’ struggle with petitionary prayer, and how he grappled with the interplay between popular religious imagination and the inherent challenges of reconciling personal faith with divine agency. In the midst of these deliberations, we encounter Aquinas’s analogical theology, offering a pathway to reclaim the personal God, honoring the profound connection between the human and the divine. These reflections culminate in a contemplation of walking in the ways of God, inviting us to embrace a personal relationship with the divine.

Having traversed the theological landscape, the book ventures into the second part—an exploration of the shepherd archetype in Psalm 23. In the chapters that follow, we are transported to the ancient world, where the symbolism of shepherding weaves its way through ancient Mesopotamia, Egyptian mythology, and Grecian literature. We encounter shepherding deities and kings, both in their political and metaphysical dimensions, recognizing the profound impact of this ancient metaphor on human societies and their understanding of power and divinity.

Through the intricate pathways of Jewish tradition, unveiling the examples of shepherding embedded within the books of Genesis and Exodus. We witness Joseph as his father’s shepherd, a metaphor for leadership and guidance, and delve into Moses’ description of the shepherd ruler, reflecting on the moral standard bearers who lead the populace. The journey takes us to David, the shepherd who became God’s chosen king, revealing the multifaceted role of shepherding within the Jewish narrative. These examples awaken our hopeful imagination, inspiring us to explore the depths of our own spiritual potential.

The narrative then turns to prophetic examples of shepherding, delving into the intricacies of lost flocks and false shepherds. We navigate the Babylonian exile, a metaphorical descent into darkness, and encounter the message of Second Isaiah, urging us to develop eyes of faith. The figure of Cyrus the Great emerges as a Gentile shepherd and messiah, challenging conventional theological notions of divine agency and redemption. We contemplate the God of history, recognizing that human agency plays a vital role in the process of redemption. The archetypal figure of Cyrus serves as God’s instrument of redemption, inviting us to embrace the complexities of divine providence and human action.

The meaning of wilderness imagery unfolds before us, revealing it as a place of silence, revelation, and renewal. We explore the profound significance of the wilderness as a transformative space, where encounters with the divine occur. The narrative deepens as we venture into the harrowing landscapes of the Holocaust, where shepherding souls out of hell becomes a poignant and profound endeavor. Our study beckons us to bear witness to the spiritual strength and resilience displayed by individuals such as the Holocaust Rebbe, as well as Orthodox shepherds like Rabbis C. D. Michael Weissmandl and Eliezer Silver. These stories offer glimpses into the unfathomable depths of human faith, inspiring us to seek spiritual solace even in the face of unimaginable horrors.

The second pat of the book will also present an exegetical commentary on Psalm 23 guides us through the profound layers of meaning embedded within this ancient text. We explore the Targum and medieval rabbinic expositions, unravelling the intricate tapestry of interpretation that has shaped our understanding of this timeless psalm. Through this analysis, we uncover new dimensions of its wisdom and relevance to our lives.

As the journey draws closer to its conclusion, we confront the challenge of recovering our spiritual voice within the context of modern synagogue worship. We must take a hard and honest look at the state of contemporary worship, recognizing the tendencies towards boredom, apathy, and neglect. In this moment of introspection, we question the true essence of prayer and its significance in our lives. The narrative sheds light on the contortions of rabbinic tradition, urging us to rediscover the visceral power of Psalms and engage in sacred reading. The ancient practice of Lectio Divina emerges as a transformative tool, inviting us to create an interior space for spiritual encounter, to commune with the divine through contemplation and reflection.

And finally, within the excursus of Job’s descent into darkness, we find a tale that illuminates the theme of shepherding. Preliminary thoughts on Job and Psalm 23 unfold, highlighting the encounter with the diabolic and the profound questions raised by Job’s suffering. Drawing from Renée Girard’s theory, we contemplate Job as a scapegoat, a figure burdened with the weight of others’ sins. Yet, in the depths of Job’s prison of silence, we discover the power of freedom, as Job’s journey leads to liberation from the prison of silence.

We navigate the complex interplay between Job’s suffering, the response of his friends, and God’s enigmatic response, drawing parallels to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. Through this spiritual transformation, Job emerges as a wounded healer, transcending the cycle of suffering and finding solace in forgiveness. The narrative explores the profound theme of overcoming schadenfreude—the joy derived from others’ suffering—through the transformative power of forgiveness.

In its totality, Psalm 23: An Odyssey of Faith: Rediscovering the Personal God in Judaism is an invitation to engage in a multifaceted journey of rediscovery. Through the pages of this theological tapestry, we aim to weave together history, sociology, theology, psychology, and philosophy to shed light on the complexities and possibilities of faith in the modern world. It offers a comprehensive framework for understanding the intricate relationship between contemporary Jews and their perception of a personal God.

The objective of this captivating narrative is not simply to impart knowledge or provoke intellectual pondering. It goes far beyond that. It beckons us to embark on a transformative pilgrimage—a journey of the heart and spirit. It urges us to peel back the layers of doubt, skepticism, and disillusionment that may have clouded our connection to the divine. It inspires us to engage in a profound dialogue with the wisdom of our ancestors, to delve into the depths of Jewish thought, and to grapple with the complexities of faith in a rapidly changing world.

The narrative serves as a guiding light, illuminating the path towards a renewed understanding of God, self, and the world. It seeks to rekindle the 87flame of belief within the hearts of contemporary Jews, offering a roadmap to navigate the challenges of modernity without forsaking the deep wellspring of faith. It provides tools for introspection, avenues for questioning and seeking, and stories of inspiration that demonstrate the profound capacity for spiritual renewal.

As we embark on this odyssey of faith, we are invited to partake in a sacred conversation—one that transcends the boundaries of time and space. Through the pages of this literary masterpiece, we discover the echoes of ancient wisdom mingling with the realities of our contemporary existence. We find solace in the richness of Jewish tradition, the transformative power of spiritual practices, and the unyielding hope that accompanies the rediscovery of a personal connection to the divine.

In conclusion, Psalm 23: An Odyssey of Faith: Rediscovering the Personal God in Judaism bears witness to the power of faih that resonates with our human spirit. It beckons us to embark on a transformative journey, challenging us to confront our ambivalence towards faith and inviting us to rediscover the profound and personal nature of our relationship with God. It is my prayer that this odyssey will inspire and empower, and may it lead us to a deeper understanding of ourselves, our faith, and the divine presence that resides within us all.

CHAPTER 1

In order to arrive at what you do not know

You must go by a way which is the path of ignorance

In order to possess what you do not possess

You must go by the way of dispossession

In order to arrive at what you are not

You must go through the way in which you are not.

—T. S. Eliot, East Coker III (From Four Quartets)

Dialoguing with Psalm 23: A Personal Narrative

As a budding scholar within the sacred yeshiva walls, a dear companion of mine unfurled a tale that has held firm to my heart. It speaks of an obscure Jewish hamlet, nestled within the age-old shtetl, where an extraordinary incident took place during a wedding feast. The villagers invited the Hazzan, the Cantor of resonant, refined voice, to offer a prayer in tribute to the newlyweds. He elected to lend his voice to the 23rd Psalm. As the Hebrew notes of Psalm 23 coursed through the air, it invoked such passion and drama, prompting an impromptu eruption of thunderous applause.

This singular tome could best be described as a convergence, a confluence of scholarly streams that transcends the constraints of genre. It flows with a steady current through the ages, from the primordial dawn of civilization to the dynamic, evolving landscape of the contemporary world, driven by an unwavering quest for understanding.

In the wake of this, an elderly melamud, a schoolteacher, modestly proposed to recite the same Psalm. His rendition stirred such deep-seated emotion that it riveted the crowd into an awestruck silence. At the communal feast that ensued, someone queried the Hazzan, We cheered for you when you recited the same psalm, yet in response to the schoolteacher’s prayer, we were left speechless. Why is that? The Hazzan, with a twinkling smile and hearty laughter, replied, I knew the melody of Psalm 23, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd,’ but the venerable schoolteacher, he knows the Shepherd.

Although many of us have heard Psalm 23 resounding at the solemn moments of funerals or at the bedsides of the dying, few of us have pondered its profound spiritual and psychological undertones when faced with death’s reality and enigma. The Psalm hints at the essential passages of life. However, Jewish tradition paints it with broader strokes, viewing the Psalm as an embodiment of faith and gratitude.

Throughout this volume, we will dissect Psalm 23, unravelling it through a unique lens. As a psalm of passage, as we echo its archaic words, myriad questions bubble up in our minds. What does the phrase The Lord is my Shepherd truly insinuate? What are we acknowledging? What are we avowing? What imagery fills our minds as we ruminate on these words? Only through an engaged dialogue with the text can we unearth its deeper wisdom and significance. The Scriptures sing to us, but we must be prepared to hear their melody.

Can we, after enduring atrocities such as the Holocaust, retain our faith in a personal God? Or has it become an illusion we’ve reluctantly discarded? The validity of our religious endeavors hinges on our responses to these challenging questions. For those wrestling with these issues of faith, our answers cannot merely stem from the intellect; we must reach for a language of faith that soothes our souls. This book argues that the metaphor of the shepherd offers an imaginative remedy to the acute pain and despair that diminish our ability to perceive the Sacred.

The Psalm portrays our mortal lives as spiritual odysseys, fraught with unforeseen perils. We can also interpret the Psalm as a reminder that we are spiritual entities undergoing a terrestrial experience. But the constant refrain is that we are not solitary in our journey. God accompanies us, even when we least expect it. God is with us in this world, and God welcomes us into the eternal realm (Ps. 23:6). The Psalm’s words affirm that we exist in this ephemeral world as creatures of eternity. If we could grasp this fundamental truth with the full intensity of our being, many queries about our faith would dissolve, like fleeting clouds parting for the sun’s brilliance.

A meticulous exploration of the shepherd metaphor will unveil a faith that is pragmatic yet theologically stimulating. Psalm 23 presents an age-old yet innovative spiritual paradigm to a generation in search of faith. The key to reigniting our spiritual lives lies in our capacity to grasp the primal, archetypal images teeming with concealed depth that inspired our ancestors.

Eternal and inspiring, the shepherd motif of Psalm 23 delves into the foundational relationship between the Divine and mankind, expressing an earthly journey interspersed with despair and tribulation. To some, the shepherd’s image might appear outdated, but it resonates with a century punctuated by Holocausts and echoes profoundly within the Book of Job. What is the essence of suffering in a just universe? How does suffering transform our perception of God, our experiences of faith? Like any classical literary text, to tap into the Psalm’s potential and meaning, we must first listen, question and engage with the Psalmist’s personal experiences. This interactive approach, admittedly midrashic or interpretive, will be a central theme throughout this book. I encourage you, the reader, to participate in a dialogue with the Psalm’s primal imagery.

Treat the words of the Psalm as a message within an ancient bottle, serendipitously discovered after millennia of being lost. Close attention to detail, cadence, and symmetry will unravel hidden facets that will enlighten the heart and mind. Toward the end of this book, we will scrutinize practical ways to reimagine our concept of prayer, utilizing Psalm 23 as a meditational tool to rediscover the Divine in the fabric of our everyday lives. By making the experience of Psalm 23 a prayer, this method will resonate in nearly all aspects of spiritual worship.

I hope each of you will encounter Psalm 23 in your spiritual quest, for it contains a meditative prescription for finding God during the most challenging times. Throughout this book, we will marry the modern insights of archetypal psychology with the primordial wisdom of biblical imagery and Jewish spirituality. I hope that this interdisciplinary, heart-centered approach will help you re-envision your life experiences as part of a never-ending spiritual journey through the shepherd imagery of Psalm 23.

Psalm 23: An Odyssey of Faith

The name of this book, Psalm 23: An Odyssey of Faith was chosen because I believe it carries an intentional allusion to the narrative wealth and psychological depth woven within the legendary journey of Ulysses from Homer’s epic masterpiece. The hero’s tale, as examined by Joseph Campbell in his renowned book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, embraces Homer’s Odyssey as a parable for the various adversities a hero must endure and conquer.

Ulysses, upon surmounting these formidable obstacles, attains self-awareness and an unshakeable comprehension of his position in the cosmos. His experiences mold him into a more discerning king for his beloved Ithaca, a more considerate husband, a devoted father, and an unwavering son.

Like the vast spectrum of heroic sagas, our hero is thrust into a whirlwind of ordeals and challenges, the resolution of which forms the crux of his heroic journey. Campbell’s schematic of the hero’s journey comprises three phases: the departure or separation, initiation’s victories and trials, and the triumphant return and reintegration into society. The hero is often subjected to mortal peril, compelled to descend into the underworld, confront formidable adversities, and extract a boon from fearsome powers. These trials are rites of passage that lead to the hero’s spiritual metamorphosis and individuation. Viewed from this lens, the hero’s journey signifies a victorious return from the clutches of darkness and death to the embrace of light and life— a journey from the unconscious to the enlightened conscious.

The Odyssey, in its essence, is a timeless allegory for a spiritual pursuit, a characteristic shared by the biblical accounts of heroes and heroines. Similarly, the renowned tales from the Bible, from Adam to Job, depict spiritual and psychological trials, culminating in a newfound sense of self and personal identity. With regards to Psalm 23, the author— traditionally believed to be King David— is no stranger to life’s vicissitudes. King David grappled with trials that tested the limits of his faith in a personal God, yet, he remained undeterred. This indomitable spirit is also reflected in the likes of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, Moses, and the Jewish people known as Israel, or God-wrestlers.

Drawing inspiration from the works of John of the Cross and T.S. Eliot, this book embraces the concept of the Dark Night of the Soul. In Jewish thought, the creation of the cosmos from nothing represents not only a theological construct but also a psychological process. Each of us must encounter the void of our existence as God reshapes us through our preservation and heroic vindication.

This heroic journey serves as a metaphor for our life story. We are thrust into this world from the womb of a unified consciousness, embarking on a journey into the unknown, reminiscent of a fledgling compelled to take flight. Our experiences in this world offer us valuable life lessons and the potential for transcendence and spiritual growth. Psalm 23 serves as a comforting reminder that we are never truly alone in this world—God is ever present with us, granting us the strength to realize our soul’s latent potential.

CHAPTER 2

Soul Loss in Modern Judaism

We Jews are notoriously uncomfortable discussing God. We leave that to the Christians.

BRAD ARTSON, Passing Life’s Tests

Here stands man stripped of myth, eternally starving, surrounded by every past there has ever been, digging and scrabbling for roots, even if he must dig for them in the most remote antiquities. The tremendous historical need of our unsatisfied modern culture, the accumulation of countless other cultures, the consuming desire for knowledge-what does all this point to, if not to the loss of myth, the loss of the mythical home, the mythical maternal womb?

Friedrich Nietzsche, Birth of Tragedy

You are right to despise the paltry imitators who derive their religion wholly from someone else or cling to a dead document by which they swear and from which they draw proof. Every holy writing is merely a mausoleum of religion, a monument that a great spirit was there that no longer exists; for if it still lived and were active, why would it attach such great importance to the dead letter that can only be a weak reproduction of it? It is not the person who believes in a holy writing who has religion, but only the one who needs none and probably could make one for himself –

Friedrich Schleiermacher, On the Essence of Religion (1799)

What does contemporary Jewish theology have to offer people like me?… the state of mind of a large section of the American rabbinate and much of the American Jewish community in general is a perversion of the Jewish religion into a shallow, if sincere humanitarianism, plus a thoroughgoing insensitivity to presentday spiritual problems."²

IRVING KRISTOL, Commentary Volume 5, 1948

The great malady of the twentieth century implicated in all of our troubles and affecting us individually and socially, is loss of soul. When soul is neglected, it doesn’t just go away; it appears symptomatically in obsessions, addictions, violence, and loss of meaning. Our temptation is to isolate these symptoms or to try to eradicate them one by one; but the root problem is that we have lost our wisdom about the soul, even our interest in it.³

THOMAS MORE, Care of the Soul

Even contemporary French philosophers like Jacques Derrida, who writes of my religion, and Luce Irigaray, who writes of becoming divine, thinkers who would be counted out as cold hard-hearted atheists by conventional confessional standards, cannot stop talking about God.

JOHN CAPUTO, cited in Rituals of Spontaneity

It is time to be honest with ourselves.

Truth is always liberating.

Even if the Holocaust never occurred, present-day Jewry would have struggled to define its spiritual character and identity in a modern society. How can we speak intelligently about a Deity who seems so unreal to our secular lives? As Rabbi Brad Artson sardonically admits, "Jews are notoriously uncomfortable discussing God. We leave that