In revolutionary times past and present, two spiritual leaders—one a Jewish rabbi, the other a Catholic pope—raise a shared voice for unity, justice, and enduring peace.
I learned about him in my research for Annie Nathan Meyer for "Edge of Yesterday" book V: "Struck by Stars" (still in progress). She's a descendant of his. Such a prominent family--her cousins included Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo an Emma Lazarus, who penned "The Great Colossus" --the poem on the statue of liberty.
And as you know, Annie herself was founder of Barnard College, produced Broadway playwright, social activist, patron and later, friend, of Zora Neale Hurston, and a prominent anti-suffragist(!).
Fascinated by that lineage.
I'm hearing New York day trip, Sal, and maybe catching Audra in Gypsy. Whattaya think?
Robin, what a powerful essay you've written here on two extraordinary spiritual leaders (and both sons of immigrants at that!)--thank you for sharing the voice and vision of these great visionaries. I am particularly struck by "Is it somehow written in the stars we should only invoke peace when wars rage around us? Or can we rather learn radical new ways to wage the peace instead?" To this day I am still inspired by the non-violent stand taken up Martin Luther King and Gandhi. Let us hold to this notion that all acts of peace--big or small--are necessary and important and as you are reminding us, start from within! Thank you!
Thank you for your thoughts here, Gerry, and the reminder of MLK Jr and Ghandi's approaches through non-violence.
The more I delve into it, the more I come to this question of how to "wage the peace." I was listening to a powerful panel discussion yesterday moderated by Krista Tippet, of On Being. The topic was "On Seeing the Trauma of the Other," and it took place at The Hague, among an audience made up primarily of Israelis and Palestinians, in conversation with an Israeli historian, and a Palestinian scholar, lecturer and translator who focuses on children's books, with an audience Q&A at the end.
They grappled deeply with very complicated questions and one of the streams the conversation took - that maybe trauma cannot be healed, and maybe that's not even the right expectation before peace can be waged - really took me by surprise. They also reflected on this question of first, finding inner peace. Very moving conversation.
This is beautiful and inspirational, Robin. I never knew about Rabbi Seixas-- thanks for sharing that with us, and for showing us the kinship between him and the new Pope. I hope Leo XIV will be the peace-bearer we all hope for!
Thank you, Kay. I was inspired by the parallels--two American-born spiritual leaders descended from immigrants and separated by 250 years facing war over the erosion of freedoms, and praying for peace for us all.
I too hope that Leo can be a peace-bearer. Of course, he will need all of us who are so-called to help amplify that intention into more than prayer, but the actual work that "bearing the peace" will require.
A beautiful and thoughtful reflection, Robin. Thank you for introducing me to Hazzan Seixas. I’d love to visit his synagogue!
I learned about him in my research for Annie Nathan Meyer for "Edge of Yesterday" book V: "Struck by Stars" (still in progress). She's a descendant of his. Such a prominent family--her cousins included Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo an Emma Lazarus, who penned "The Great Colossus" --the poem on the statue of liberty.
And as you know, Annie herself was founder of Barnard College, produced Broadway playwright, social activist, patron and later, friend, of Zora Neale Hurston, and a prominent anti-suffragist(!).
Fascinated by that lineage.
I'm hearing New York day trip, Sal, and maybe catching Audra in Gypsy. Whattaya think?
Robin, what a powerful essay you've written here on two extraordinary spiritual leaders (and both sons of immigrants at that!)--thank you for sharing the voice and vision of these great visionaries. I am particularly struck by "Is it somehow written in the stars we should only invoke peace when wars rage around us? Or can we rather learn radical new ways to wage the peace instead?" To this day I am still inspired by the non-violent stand taken up Martin Luther King and Gandhi. Let us hold to this notion that all acts of peace--big or small--are necessary and important and as you are reminding us, start from within! Thank you!
Thank you for your thoughts here, Gerry, and the reminder of MLK Jr and Ghandi's approaches through non-violence.
The more I delve into it, the more I come to this question of how to "wage the peace." I was listening to a powerful panel discussion yesterday moderated by Krista Tippet, of On Being. The topic was "On Seeing the Trauma of the Other," and it took place at The Hague, among an audience made up primarily of Israelis and Palestinians, in conversation with an Israeli historian, and a Palestinian scholar, lecturer and translator who focuses on children's books, with an audience Q&A at the end.
They grappled deeply with very complicated questions and one of the streams the conversation took - that maybe trauma cannot be healed, and maybe that's not even the right expectation before peace can be waged - really took me by surprise. They also reflected on this question of first, finding inner peace. Very moving conversation.
Long, but well worth a listen: https://onbeing.substack.com/p/on-seeing-the-trauma-of-the-other
This is beautiful and inspirational, Robin. I never knew about Rabbi Seixas-- thanks for sharing that with us, and for showing us the kinship between him and the new Pope. I hope Leo XIV will be the peace-bearer we all hope for!
Thank you, Kay. I was inspired by the parallels--two American-born spiritual leaders descended from immigrants and separated by 250 years facing war over the erosion of freedoms, and praying for peace for us all.
I too hope that Leo can be a peace-bearer. Of course, he will need all of us who are so-called to help amplify that intention into more than prayer, but the actual work that "bearing the peace" will require.