Title: Foh Haleluyah - Here, Let's Breathe, Freely and Deeply, Yah!פֹה הַלְלוּ-יָהּ
This story presents Biblical texts that I explored and found about ten years ago (in 1994 writing). I was living in Jerusalem, practising and studying Torah, often with the freedom to travel and participate in various communities settled around the ancient Biblical Land.
I decided to look for the most popular texts in the Tanakh, the Hebrew Writings. I was looking for textual meaning that may have been over shadowed by the most popular fundamental beliefs that dominate the text. My intuition was rewarded, I found what I was looking for, great treasures. In my understanding, the most popular concepts had seriously shadowed other sentences in the same text and provide dramatically alternative emphasis to the popular fundamental beliefs.
I confess and admit, whole heartily, I share some discontent with the interpretations of mainstream orthodox Judaism. Positively, I am moved and continue to be moved toward explorations and re-evaluations, that provide me with living contentions. I continue to acquire and reform my personal amplifiers and filters. I am driven by a mixture of motivations.
I seek to broaden and integrate fundamental concepts, the foundational axioms in Judaism (as well as Science and other developed and emerging cultural systems). I wish to empower myself and contribute to all Humanity. I love exploring the benefits and meaning, found by living and sharing interpretations of foundational texts and the experiences I continue to have among diverse expressions of Humanity making Covenant.
Biblical Sentences anchoring some of Judaism's most dominant beliefs:
(1) The Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai - I am The Lord.אָנֹכִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים: לֹא-יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, עַל-פָּנָי.
(2) Judaism's Creed of The Eternal Divine Unity - The Lord is One.שְׁמַע, יִשְׂרָאֵל: יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, יְהוָה אֶחָד
(3) Leading to historical peace for all Humanity - But from Zion.כִּי מִצִּיּוֹן תֵּצֵא תוֹרָה, וּדְבַר-יְהוָה מִירוּשָׁלִָם.
(4) Historical Divine Intervention on behalf of Israel - Praise.וְנָתַן אַרְצָם נַחֲלָה-- נַחֲלָה, לְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוֹ.
Illuminating these shadowed texts provide important alternative emphasis: (personal interpretation)
(1) This Covenant is made here, in the present, specifically with us, all of us are its living participants.לֹא אֶת-אֲבֹתֵינוּ, כָּרַת יְהוָה אֶת-הַבְּרִית הַזֹּאת: כִּי אִתָּנוּ, אֲנַחְנוּ אֵלֶּה פֹה הַיּוֹם כֻּלָּנוּ חַיִּים.
(2) Divine relations require attention; positive regard to primary, common, human values.הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ, פֶּן-תִּשְׁכַּח אֶת-יְהוָה, אֲשֶׁר הוֹצִיאֲךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים.
(3) Progress as we wish, let's proceed in the light of shared values and understandings.בֵּית, יַעֲקֹב--לְכוּ וְנֵלְכָה, בְּאוֹר יְהוָה.
(4) Divine benefits derive from agreed references, let's meet to learn, Halelu Yah!בָּרוּךְ יְהוָה, מִצִּיּוֹן-- שֹׁכֵן יְרוּשָׁלִָם: הַלְלוּ-יָהּ.
I chose to focus on 8 words, 2 words from each of the 4 alternative sentences.
(1+2+3+4) Here, in the present, regard yourself, come let us proceed and be in procession, meeting to learn together, Let's breathe, freely and deeply, Yah!פֹה הַיּוֹם הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ לְכוּ וְנֵלְכָה יְרוּשָׁלִָם: הַלְלוּ-יָהּ.
Interestingly, I soon discovered another wonderful treasure:
The 1st letters of these 8 words are an acronym that spell out the 1st word (foh - here) and the last word (halelu Yah), in perfectly correct order. The 1st word (foh - here) also spells out the 1st two words (foh hayom - here today) and is an acronym for the 1st and last words (foh halelu Yah - Here, Let us Breathe, freely and deeply, Yah!).פֹה הַלְלוּ-יָהּ
Here is my recent AUDIO MP3 Hebrew reading of those 4 texts (MP3 4.7 mb recorded voice 9:33 minutes).
Here is a link to information on Hebrew script and pronunciation.
Here are the full Biblical texts: (with orthodox translations)
(1) Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 5 verses 1 to 9
(2) Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 6 verses 4 to 15
(3) Yishayahoo (Isaiah) Chapter 2 verses 1 to 11
(4) Tehilim (Psalms) Chapter 135 verses 9 to Chapter 136 Verse 6
Yehoshanah
2005 08 17