Book of Mercy discussion anniversary--thoughts on its future

[DBCohen]

This coming week (November 28, to be exact) will mark the first anniversary of the ongoing discussion of Book of Mercy. When we embarked on this project I estimated that it will take us “a year or two to go through the book”. So far this prediction seems to have been on the mark, as predictions go: after one year we’ve gone through a little more than half the book; the last discussed prayer is #26, which ends Part I of the book, and we are now supposed to go into Part II and cover #27-50. However, much have changed since the first few months, when the discussion was very lively, with quite a few participants making some very meaningful contributions. Indeed, so much material have accumulated that we had to cut the original thread into several smaller pieces, each one covering between 2 to 5 prayers (we are now in the seventh thread, starting with #25). But gradually many contributors had stopped attending, much fewer people had ventured into the threads, and the interest in the project seems to have been fading. A few diehards kept on the discussion, and some older hands wondered in now and then, but the feeling is that there is much less enthusiasm than there used to be.

So my question to you all, basically, is should we go on into the second year of the discussion and Part II of the book, or should we lay it to rest? Are people still interested in contributing to the discussion or in reading other people’s contributions, or have we more or less exhausted our ideas and lost the attention of the Forum members? Your responses will be greatly appreciated.

P.S.
After posting this, I noticed that the "future" in the subject title was cut short; I hope its not a bad sign... Can anyone fix it?

[Steven]

Hi DB,

Congratulations on the approaching first anniversary of the discussion you launched
on the "Book of Mercy." I hope the discussion continues.

[Neophyte]

Funny you should ask!! Just tonight I printed up the fantastic seventeen page discussion of Book of Mercy #1-5. I've had the book for awhile and am just now finding time to plunge into it, and I could not be more grateful to all of you illustrious contributors to my understanding of it What a wealth of fascinating and insightful information! So I enthusiastically vote for the continuation of the study, a future and not a "fut," if you bright contributors don't mind.

[lizzytysh]

Hi Doron ~

I've said it before and I'll say it again, since you've asked. Even if no one but you were to pursue the examination of the Book of Mercy, I would remain immensely grateful. I have loved all that everyone has contributed here... yet, there's an element pretty unique to your contributions, which is your knowledge of Judaism, which is evident throughout this book, and were it not for all you've shared would have gone beyond my understanding.

So, it may have slowed and waned, but that's okay. It's a wonderful endeavour and I hope you and many others will have a say as it all continues.

Here's to the remainder of the book...


Love,
Lizzy

[Diane]

Hi Doron,

It's a pity that most of the other 'scholars' (as I call them) have been unable to contribute to the ongoing discussion. I, too, find your input on the references from Judaism to be very interesting in helping towards a fuller understanding of BoM. But maybe you find it too one-sided to be much more 'on your own' than you were at the beginning? Maybe you prefer to give it a break for a while? For my own part, I can't contribute much, but I do read.

Thanks,

Diane

[Manna]

I don't contribute much, but this discussion is one of the highlights of the forum for me. We must go on. We have to go on.

[Boss]

Dear Doron,

I too am only a 'bit' player. I think what you have achieved is marvellous. I regret I may have gone off on tangents at various junctures. Personally, I did not understand a lot of it. But come on mate, you're a Jew aren't ya'? Don't throw in the towel. Lizzy is right - even if it was just you writing furiously at the end, that would be enough.

Be good,

Boss

[DBCohen]

Thanks, everyone, for your kind responses.

Diane, you’re right; the original idea was to have an exchange of views, and examine each section of the book from several points of view, and this is something which I miss lately. Of the original group of “scholars”, as you call them, only Mat James stayed on faithfully, and while I appreciate his contributions very much, I miss those of several other knowledgeable people. I always hope that other people will join in, and a few indeed did so along the way. But it is also good to know that there are also some who read the threads regularly even without contributing.

[~greg]

Doron,
Everyone needs a cuddle now and then.
And I'm sure you'll get yours some day.

But this is no way to go about asking for it!

~~

Your contributions to the Book Of Mercy threads are invaluable.
Which is not important. The important thing is that you actually
changed my mind.

I started out assuming that the Book Of Mercy could, and should,
be read and understood and appreciated, without any need at all
to know even the tiniest little bit about Judaism. But you convinced
me otherwise.

For example, you wrote about I.20 -- --

O shield of Abraham - This is taken from the main daily
Jewish prayer. We have often encountered the use of "shield"
in this book, which one of its tentative titles was "The Shield".

And I considered responding to that with
"it's actually from Genesis 15:1"

Gen 15:1
After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram
in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield,
and thy exceeding great reward.

But I didn't, because it dawned on me that Cohen didn't just
happen to accidentally read Gen 15:1 and think
"oh what a lovely cool obscure reference this will make in a poem!"
Nor did he do a computer search through the Bible on the word
"shield" the way I did.

The way he came by the phrase was undoubtedly the way
you say, - via tradition. And compared to knowing that,
finding a "source" in the Bible or any other such place is
as irrelevant as pointing out that each of the words is
in fact to be found in the dictionary.

~~

The Book Of Mercy threads are consistently the most
on-topic threads around here. Which makes them a real pleasure.
But not everybody can handle that kind of pleasure - discipline
- S&M - for such extended stretches of time. And people live by
different clocks. Be patient.

[Steven]

Hi Greg,

Doron is probably seeking reassurance that others find the endeavor worthwhile,
more so than seeking a "cuddle," though there ain't nothing wrong with a cuddle.


Hi Doron,

I wouldn't say that the endeavor is like flying Tibetan prayer flags or other forms
of prayer, but I wouldn't say it isn't.

[DBCohen]

Thanks, Greg and Steven, very much, for words deeply appreciated.

A cuddle, a reassurance – most people need those from time to time, but, as I said earlier, and as Diane observed, what I miss most is the more lively exchange of interpretations which took place in the first few months, with a substantial number of participants, including the two other “founding fathers” of this endeavor, Simon and Tom, whose contributions I miss very much, or Judith, who appeared one day out of the blue and disappeared, unfortunately, just as suddenly, and others who came and left. There were valuable discussions all along this year, and I appreciate everybody’s contributions, yet the last several months were not as thrilling as the first few ones, in my feeling.

But, enough complaining. As long as there are people out there who wish to see this discussion going on, let’s do our best to keep it alive. I’ll post the next installment as soon as I can.

[lazariuk]

But I didn't, because it dawned on me that Cohen didn't just
happen to accidentally read Gen 15:1 and think
"oh what a lovely cool obscure reference this will make in a poem!"
Nor did he do a computer search through the Bible on the word
"shield" the way I did.

The way he came by the phrase was undoubtedly the way
you say, - via tradition. And compared to knowing that,
finding a "source" in the Bible or any other such place is
as irrelevant as pointing out that each of the words is
in fact to be found in the dictionary.

It may be that the dictionary would be fine and that he used the word because it adequately described what he is experiencing. Furthermore it could be that it is describing what is part of the landscape that is open for anyone to see.

Jack

"I know that you still think it's me, I know these words arn't your's " l. cohen

[Joe Way]

Hi Doron,

I've had every intention of rejoining the conversation but a number of matters have preoccupied my time recently and I've felt that I needed to re-read the parts that I have missed before jumping back in. I should have some more time in the next month and plan to contribute my meager thoughts on the "western canon" aspects as I've no expertise in Judaism.

Best wishes and I hope we can go on.

Joe

[Simon]

I've had every intention of rejoining the conversation but a number of matters have preoccupied my time recently
Joe

Same with me here. I'm hoping to find some time next month. You guys have been quite productive and I haven't even had time to read the contributions of the last months. I don't feel I can just jump back in. I'll have a lot of reading to do in order to catch up.

Simon

[lizzytysh]

Hi Joe and Simon ~

This is very good news.


~ Lizzy