Monday, November 4, 2013

Blog Blast for Peace

We know we've posted this before as our entry in the Blog Blast for Peace, 
but it's such a powerful message, we thought it worth repeating.
***

For many years, the U.S. had a governmental affairs office in D.C. headed by a man named Moshe Shearer. This man, a rabbi, had a very interesting insight into the concept of peace.  One of the oldest practices in Judaism, he said, involves a prayer that concludes with a phrase known as Oseh Shalom.

Oseh Shalom is probably the most famous prayer for peace in the Hebrew language – and in my opinion one of the most beautiful, especially when you hear its melody. Translated, it goes something like this:
“May he who makes peace in the high places make peace for us…”

Interestingly, tradition requires that you begin by taking three steps back, then as you say the prayer, you bow to the left, to the right and to the front. Rabbi Sherer taught that the reason for this was to remind us that there is only one way to truly achieve peace among people.

Shalom
Stepping back represents stepping back from oneself, dropping personal agendas and willingly letting go of those strongly held personal viewpoints. This helps remove obstacles that stand in the way of objectivity.

And while pure objectivity may never be achieved, this practice helps you to better understand the viewpoint of your adversary.

Keeping an open mind and striving for objectivity are a critical first step, true, but if we truly want peace we need to be willing to bend.
A little bit of compromise, whether it’s the left, the right or the center, may just be the necessary component to achieving true peace.


May we all learn to step back and be willing to bend.

***
 If you've never heard it, click below:



Oseh Shalom Bimromav. Hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu. 
V'yal kol Israel, v'imru Amein.

 ***

27 comments:

  1. a wonderful post and a wonderful thought for this day (and all the rest)

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  2. What a powerful message of peace.
    Beautiful globe!
    We are peace blogging cats too!
    *Angel Abby*

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  3. Stepping back and being willing to bend....we really like that. May be peace be with you today. Have a marvellous Monday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  4. beautiful post.. Thank you so much for sharing this with us..

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  5. Shalom, dear friends. We, too, are wishing, purring and praying for peace for all beings. Today and every day.

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  6. Wonderful post and yes, I remember it from before! So beautiful x

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  7. I do remember this post, and it is so powerful and beautiful, it does bear repeating!

    P.S. My human had a blast hanging out with you this weekend!

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  8. Love it... I try to always do this myself. Great post today!

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  9. We remember listening to the melody and we love it today as we loved it then. Beautiful!

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  10. This is excellent! Thanks for the Prayer for peace! We loved it.
    Kisses
    Nellie

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  11. A lovely post. I am purring for Peace today and every day.

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  12. What a great peace post! Thanks for sharing that with all of us.

    We purr for peace...today and everyday.

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  13. We also like "step back and be willing to bend"
    Purring for PEACE !
    Peace, Tillie and Georgia,
    Treasure,Tiger, JJ and Julie

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  14. Oh Lisa you had me in TEARS! Exquisite! Showing my husband now
    xoxoxo

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  15. Love your post, really beautiful. We join you today in blogging for peace.

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  16. Thank you for educating me today. Peace!

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  17. What a powerful theme!
    Peace to you too!

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  18. What a great post. Thanks for sharing it.

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  19. Very thoughtul post...Us cats may argue from time to time, they know that the best way to live happily is to be at peace... Purrin' for Peace right along with you!

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  20. Such a beautiful post and wonderful message of peace.

    Peace to you and all of our wonderful friends. We heart you so very much.
    xo,
    Glogirly, Katie & Waffles

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  21. What a lovely song!

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  22. OH I am so glad I got here to see this before it came down! Thank you.

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  23. An excellent message.

    Peace to you and yours on this and every day.

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  24. Oh yes, a message worth repeating over and over again! Step back and bend. In other words,leave Ego behind and bend toward love and understanding.

    Peace today and every day! :)


    the critters in the cottage xo

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  25. I could read this again and again. So worth repeating and a great lesson for all of us. The music is divine and I love this post!!

    Peace to you and yours,
    Mimi

    #4279 in the Official Peace Globe Gallery @blog4peace.com

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Coolio! A comment? For US?