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 by Rabbi Adam B. Ruditsky currently in Houston, TX
HaShem appeared to Avraham by the oaks of Mamre as he sat at the
entrance to the tent during the heat of the day. (B'resheet 18:1)
I recently read a book called "The Shack." In this religious novel,
Mack, the main character, suffers a personal loss that causes his
faith to spiral downward. Mack comes face to face with God as he goes
through a time of personal healing, forgiveness, searching, and, in
the end, restoration with both God and his family. The book, written
from the Christian tradition surrounding the Trinity, has God
appearing to Mack in three distinct persons. The three are called
Papa, Jesus and Sarayu. Jesus appears to Mack as a Middle-Eastern
looking man wearing a plaid work shirt, work pants, work boots and a
carpenter's belt, and spends most of his time in the work shop.
Sarayu, an Indian name for wind like the Hebrew Ruach, represents the
Holy Spirit. Based on her description in the book, she reminded me of
Yoko Ono, the wife of the late John Lennon. Papa, the Father, is
presented as a vivacious African-American woman who loves to cook and
has a big heart, a woman just like the one in the commercial who says,
"That's the power of Pine-Sol, baby!" It was a cute book that had a
powerful message, one I would like to share in connection with this
parasha.
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By Kirk Gliebe 