Book Description

In civilian and military Jewish communities, together with recent voyages on the high seas, I had the privilege of preparing, writing, and presenting topics of relevance to Jewish persons. These opportunities were a special privilege and I took extra care when I put ideas to paper. It was also a thrill to present these topics to the very different communities I was privileged to lead and for them to benefit from this material. This book begins with an outline, of Jewish symbolism and faith, followed by how our perceptions have changed over time, as practiced by the Jewish community. The main section is on the topic of the Jewish Life Cycle, reviewing how life milestones are celebrated in the Jewish community, from birth through death. These traditions and practices are presented from the Ashkenazic tradition, rather than from the Sephardic one. The majority of Jews in the United States derive from and practice the Ashkenazic rite, though Sephardic traditions are present as well. I have roots in the Sephardic heritage but since the Spanish Expulsion in 1492, those traditions were gradually lost and melded into the Ashkenazic communities and practices. I am therefore, more aware of Ashkenazic traditions and focus on this rite exclusively. I also include a reflection on the Bar/Bat Mitzvah, how the younger generation assumes responsibility by becoming full members of the Jewish community. The Study of Vexillology, on flags, is a brief review how flags were used in the ancient and modern Jewish communities together with their descriptions. The last two sections are scholarly expositions. The first is on the Mystic View of God and how Jewish mysticism imbues meaning into spirituality, with the awareness of mystic ideas in Jewish belief. The second topic reflects on the idea of God's five 'purchases', each of which provides insight into Jewish belief into how we relate to Deity. I conclude with a tribute to Robert Certain, a man I knew at the United States Air Force Academy. He was a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton, and offers a perspective of the World as it Really Is versus the World as it Should Be. These poignant words reflect our place in the universe and how we go about daily life.