Rabbi Toba Spitzer, God in Metaphor
https://www.dorsheitzedek.org/divrei-torah/rabbi-toba-spitzer?post_id=358154
What I’ve come to understand in recent years is that the “God problem” that so many people have—the difficulty of believing in or even taking seriously the notion of some kind of all-powerful, all-knowing Being that interacts with us in mysterious ways—is not really a problem with God. Rather, it’s a reaction to a metaphor, or a set of metaphors, that have come to dominate our thinking about God. What is sad about this is that once upon a time, our ancestors employed a rich palette of metaphors to shape their experience of the Divine, metaphors that spoke directly to their everyday experiences. My hope is that we can recapture the alive-ness which once pervaded our holy texts, and reconstruct our metaphors so that they are once again engaging and meaningful.
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/god-as-metaphor/
It takes a bit of work to dislodge the GOD IS A BIG POWERFUL PERSON metaphor from our consciousness and to make room for radically different ways of conceptualizing — and experiencing — the divine. Yet once we discover the variety of other metaphors available to us, the task becomes much easier.
"Torah is a mirror." -- Rabbi Lawrence Kushner
Metaphor #1 Eagle/Eagles Wings
(ד) אַתֶּ֣ם רְאִיתֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי לְמִצְרָ֑יִם וָאֶשָּׂ֤א אֶתְכֶם֙ עַל־כַּנְפֵ֣י נְשָׁרִ֔ים וָאָבִ֥א אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֵלָֽי׃
(4) ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me.
(ג) על כנפי נשרים. כַּנֶּשֶׁר הַנּוֹשֵׂא גּוֹזָלָיו עַל כְּנָפָיו, שֶׁכָּל שְׁאָר הָעוֹפוֹת נוֹתְנִים אֶת בְּנֵיהֶם בֵּין רַגְלֵיהֶם, לְפִי שֶׁמִּתְיָרְאִין מֵעוֹף אַחֵר שֶׁפּוֹרֵחַ עַל גַּבֵּיהֶם, אֲבָל הַנֶּשֶׁר הַזֶּה אֵינוֹ מִתְיָרֵא אֶלָּא מִן הָאָדָם שֶׁמָּא יִזְרֹק בּוֹ חֵץ, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין עוֹף פּוֹרֵחַ עַל גַּבָּיו, לְכָךְ נוֹתְנוֹ עַל כְּנָפָיו, אוֹמֵר מוּטָב יִכָּנֵס הַחֵץ בִּי וְלֹא בִּבְנִי
(3) על כנפי נשרים UPON EAGLES’ WINGS — as an eagle which bears its fledglings upon its wings. Scripture uses this metaphor because all other birds place their young between their feet since they are afraid of another bird that flies above them, but the eagle fears none except man — apprehending that perhaps he may cast an arrow at it — since no bird can fly above it; therefore he places it (its young) upon its wings, saying, “Better that the arrow should pierce me than my young!” (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 18:4:3).
? Why this image at this moment, right before Sinai?
We must remember, as we begin the more legalistic parts of the Torah, that they must not be seen devoid of that eagle imagery. Civil law, which the Torah discusses immediately after describing the revelation at Sinai, stems from a Divine ethic, a G-dly relationship, and a moral obligation based on the precedence of a loving relationship. For this reason, posit many commentaries, G‑d begins the Decalogue by describing Himself as the one who took us out of Egypt—reminding us of that bond, the loving eagle who swoops us up in the nick of time, who loves us without stipulation and who would rather suffer than inflict pain on us.
--Elly Krimsky, https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/838549/jewish/On-An-Eagles-Wings.htm
(ט) כִּ֛י חֵ֥לֶק יי עַמּ֑וֹ יַעֲקֹ֖ב חֶ֥בֶל נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃ (י) יִמְצָאֵ֙הוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִדְבָּ֔ר וּבְתֹ֖הוּ יְלֵ֣ל יְשִׁמֹ֑ן יְסֹֽבְבֶ֙נְהוּ֙ יְב֣וֹנְנֵ֔הוּ יִצְּרֶ֖נְהוּ כְּאִישׁ֥וֹן עֵינֽוֹ׃ (יא) כְּנֶ֙שֶׁר֙ יָעִ֣יר קִנּ֔וֹ עַל־גּוֹזָלָ֖יו יְרַחֵ֑ף יִפְרֹ֤שׂ כְּנָפָיו֙ יִקָּחֵ֔הוּ יִשָּׂאֵ֖הוּ עַל־אֶבְרָתֽוֹ׃ (יב) יי בָּדָ֣ד יַנְחֶ֑נּוּ וְאֵ֥ין עִמּ֖וֹ אֵ֥ל נֵכָֽר׃
(Ha'azinu)
(9) For the LORD’s portion is God's people, Jacob His own allotment. (10) God found him in a desert region, In an empty howling waste. God engirded him, watched over him, Guarded him as the pupil of His eye. (11) Like an eagle who rouses his nestlings, gliding down to his young, so did God spread God's wings and take him, Bear him along on God's pinions; (12) The LORD alone did guide him...
(ז) צִדְקָֽתְךָ֨ ׀ כְּֽהַרְרֵי־אֵ֗ל מִ֭שְׁפָּטֶךָ תְּה֣וֹם רַבָּ֑ה אָ֤דָֽם־וּבְהֵמָ֖ה תוֹשִׁ֣יעַ יי׃ (ח) מַה־יָּקָ֥ר חַסְדְּךָ֗ אֱלֹ֫קִ֥ים וּבְנֵ֥י אָדָ֑ם בְּצֵ֥ל כְּ֝נָפֶ֗יךָ יֶחֱסָיֽוּן׃
(7) Your beneficence is like the high mountains; Your justice like the great deep; man and beast You deliver, O LORD. (8) How precious is Your faithful care, O God! Mankind shelters in the shadow of Your wings.
(ח) שָׁ֭מְרֵנִי כְּאִישׁ֣וֹן בַּת־עָ֑יִן בְּצֵ֥ל כְּ֝נָפֶ֗יךָ תַּסְתִּירֵֽנִי׃ (ט) מִפְּנֵ֣י רְ֭שָׁעִים ז֣וּ שַׁדּ֑וּנִי אֹיְבַ֥י בְּ֝נֶ֗פֶשׁ יַקִּ֥יפוּ עָלָֽי׃
(8) Guard me like the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings (9) from the wicked who despoil me, my mortal enemies who encircle me.
(ב) חָנֵּ֤נִי אֱלֹקִ֨ים ׀ חָנֵּ֗נִי כִּ֥י בְךָ֮ חָסָ֪יָה נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י וּבְצֵֽל־כְּנָפֶ֥יךָ אֶחְסֶ֑ה עַ֝֗ד יַעֲבֹ֥ר הַוּֽוֹת׃ (ג) אֶ֭קְרָא לֵֽאלֹקִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן לָ֝אֵ֗ל גֹּמֵ֥ר עָלָֽי׃
(ה) אָג֣וּרָה בְ֭אָהָלְךָ עוֹלָמִ֑ים אֶֽחֱסֶ֨ה בְסֵ֖תֶר כְּנָפֶ֣יךָ סֶּֽלָה׃
(5) O that I might dwell in Your tent forever, take refuge under Your protecting wings. Selah.
Prayer Before Turning on the News, Hila Ratzabi, first published in Narrative Magazine, 2020
I sit before the TV screen
remote control in hand.
I want it to stay this way.
This dark, quiet room
without a world in it.
This nothing, this sweet
nothing. The fire truck
toy on the shelf beneath the TV,
look how it saves
no one. In this room
there is nothing
burning. Dear God, it is
possible. You are the one
with wings. Shelter us.
Let something have been fixed today:
The deal among the nations signed,
the guns, all of them, taken away,
a woman believed,
a man contrite. A border
covered in dust. God,
I need to know what happened
to those who tried to cross.
What happened after the storm
and earthquake and fire.
I can’t be everywhere at once,
but you can. How can I convince you
we are worthy of miracles?
How much longer can I delay
the inevitable knowing,
the daily ritual of witness?
At least bear it with me,
dear God. Come sit
on the couch, put your feet up,
I’m making tea. Tell me
how this will end.
Tell me if there is a chance.
Or maybe we can bargain for peace?
Trade for redemption?
Give me something,
anything, before I let
the messengers into my room.
I will not look away.
Promise me
you won’t either.
"אורות הקודש"
אם תרצה בן אדם
הסתכל באור השכינה
התבונן בפלאי היצירה
בחיי האלוקות שלהם
דע את המציאות
שאתה חי בה
דע את עצמך
ואת עולמך
עלה למעלה עלה
כי כוח עז לך
יש לך כנפי רוח
כנפי נשרים אבירים
אל תכחש בם
פן יכחשו לך
דרוש אותם
ויימצאו לך מיד
Rav Kook (1865, 1935)
Orot HaKodesh I, page 83-84
If you desire to, human being,
look at the light of God’s Presence.
Gaze at the wonders of creation, at their Divine life.
Know the reality in which you live.
Know yourself and your world.
Rise up.
Rise up, for you have the strength to do so.
You have wings of the spirit, wings of powerful eagles.
Do not deny them, or they will deny you.
Seek them, and you will find them in a flash.
Ben Adam Performed
Metaphor(s) #2: Fortress, Tower
fortress (plural fortresses)
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fortress
A fortified place; a large and permanent fortification, sometimes including a town; for example a fort, a castle; a stronghold; a place of defense or security.
(2) God said: O LORD, my crag, my fortress, my deliverer!
(ב) אֹמַ֗ר לַֽ֭יי מַחְסִ֣י וּמְצוּדָתִ֑י אֱ֝לֹקַ֗י אֶבְטַח־בּֽוֹ׃ (ג) כִּ֤י ה֣וּא יַ֭צִּֽילְךָ מִפַּ֥ח יָק֗וּשׁ מִדֶּ֥בֶר הַוּֽוֹת׃
(2) I say of the LORD, my refuge and stronghold, my God in whom I trust, (3) that God will save you from the fowler’s trap, from the destructive plague.
(1) Of David. Blessed is the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for warfare; (2) my faithful one, my fortress, my haven and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take shelter, who makes peoples subject to me.
Rainer Marie Rilke, (Germany, 1875-1926), Book of Hours, 1 2
I live my life in widening circles
that reach out across the world.
I may not complete this last one
but I give myself to it.
I circle around God, around the primordial tower.
I’ve been circling for thousands of years
and I still don’t know: am I a falcon,
a storm, or a great song?
Metaphor #3: Rock
(ג) אָמַר֙ אֱלֹקֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִ֥י דִבֶּ֖ר צ֣וּר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מוֹשֵׁל֙ בָּאָדָ֔ם צַדִּ֕יק מוֹשֵׁ֖ל יִרְאַ֥ת אֱלֹקִֽים׃ (ד) וּכְא֥וֹר בֹּ֖קֶר יִזְרַח־שָׁ֑מֶשׁ בֹּ֚קֶר לֹ֣א עָב֔וֹת מִנֹּ֥גַהּ מִמָּטָ֖ר דֶּ֥שֶׁא מֵאָֽרֶץ׃
(3) The God of Israel has spoken, The Rock of Israel said concerning me: “He who rules men justly, He who rules in awe of God (4) Is like the light of morning at sunrise, A morning without clouds— Through sunshine and rain [Bringing] vegetation out of the earth.”
(29) For you, there shall be singing as on a night when a festival is hallowed; there shall be rejoicing as when they march With flute, with timbrels, and with lyres To the Rock of Israel on the Mount of the LORD.
(ד) אַחַ֤ת ׀ שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי מֵֽאֵת־יי אוֹתָ֪הּ אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ שִׁבְתִּ֣י בְּבֵית־יי כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיַּ֑י לַחֲז֥וֹת בְּנֹֽעַם־יי וּלְבַקֵּ֥ר בְּהֵיכָלֽוֹ׃ (ה) כִּ֤י יִצְפְּנֵ֨נִי ׀ בְּסֻכֹּה֮ בְּי֪וֹם רָ֫עָ֥ה יַ֭סְתִּרֵנִי בְּסֵ֣תֶר אָהֳל֑וֹ בְּ֝צ֗וּר יְרוֹמְמֵֽנִי׃ (ו) וְעַתָּ֨ה יָר֪וּם רֹאשִׁ֡י עַ֤ל אֹֽיְבַ֬י סְֽבִיבוֹתַ֗י וְאֶזְבְּחָ֣ה בְ֭אָהֳלוֹ זִבְחֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה אָשִׁ֥ירָה וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה לַיי׃
(4) One thing I ask of the LORD, only that do I seek: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD, to frequent God's temple. (5) God will shelter me in God's pavilion on an evil day, grant me the protection of God's tent, raise me high upon a rock. (6) Now is my head high over my enemies roundabout; I sacrifice in God's tent with shouts of joy, singing and chanting a hymn to the LORD.
(2) I put my hope in the LORD; God inclined toward me, and heeded my cry. (3) God lifted me out of the miry pit, the slimy clay, and set my feet on a rock, steadied my legs.
From On the Pulse of the Morning, by Maya Angelou
But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully,
Come, you may stand upon my
Back and face your distant destiny,
But seek no haven in my shadow.
I will give you no hiding place down here.
You, created only a little lower than
The angels, have crouched too long in
The bruising darkness,
Have lain too long
Face down in ignorance.
Your mouths spilling words
Armed for slaughter.
The Rock cries out to us today, you may stand upon me,
But do not hide your face.
Entire Poem: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48990/on-the-pulse-of-morning
Composed for and read at President Clinton's Inauguration