In reflection, the presentation from our guest speaker Rabbi Dorit Edut was quite enlightening. The topics that the Rabbi discussed encompassed both the well-known and less-known aspects of Jewish History. These types of lectures assist with bringing together different religions. Having such educational experiences can help people understand how we truly are more alike rather than different.
When Rabbi Dorit Edut began, the thing that was most enjoyable was how she presented the history of the Jewish people. Learning about timeline of the Jewish people, stretches back thousands of years, left me feeling compassionate as I now understand the many struggles that the Jews endured. During the lecture, an audience member asked a question about why the Jews want a nation of their own, since the Muslims or Christians never requested a land of their own. The Rabbi responded by stating that the Jewish people feel a sense of betrayal as they have been betrayed by many nations. Thus, they wish to have a sovereign nation in which they will be protected from persecution. As an outsider looking into the history of the Jews, one can have a heavy heart knowing that no matter where they ho, they will always live in fear of prosecution. It is easy to comprehend the idea that they could be prosecuted anywhere if not careful.
Rabbi Dorit Edut displayed a variety of religious texts to the audience. The most fascinating to me was the mini Torah, which was hand written on parchment paper. The Torah is the most important religious text of Judaism and it contains the Five Books of Moses, the Ten Commandments, and the 613 Mitzvoth. She continued to explain the symbolism and proper use of the Tallit, the prayer shawl. The blue lines represent day and night or darkness and light, the fringes represent the 613 Mitzoth. The Tallit can only be used for the Morning Prayer except during days of atonement. One could have seen these texts in a movie or on television, but until the significance of the items are explained, one cannot truly begin to appreciate the religion.
After the presentation I was left with only one desire: I wish the Rabbi could have had more time to share the interesting information; one can truly begin to broaden his or her religious horizons by attending lectures like these.