Wed
Sep 12 2007
10:13 am
A thought for the Jewish New Year 5768
By: michael kaplan

The following is from the Introduction by Rufus M. Jones to "The Power of Non-Violence" by Richard B. Gregg, Lippincott, 1934:

There is a remarkable story about Moses in ancient Hebrew legends. It tells how when Moses was going up the mountain to his death on Pisgah he asked Jehovah why it was not possible for him to be allowed to enter the Promised Land which he could see stretched out before his eyes. "You doubted me," Jehovah said to him, "but I forgave you that doubt. You doubted your own self and failed to believe in your own powers as a leader, and I forgave that also. But you lost faith in this people and doubted the divine possibilities of human nature. That I cannot forgive. That loss of faith makes it
impossible for you to enter the land of promise."

It is only a legend, but it suggests a profound truth. It is only those who believe in man and have faith and hope in the new and better world which man in co-operation with G-d can build here on earth that help to lead us toward the lands of promise.

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Hammersmith's picture

Mumbo...

Submitted by Hammersmith on Wed, 2007/09/12 - 9:21pm.

Jumbo, Rhubarb, Rubarb. So why are you in Iraq?

JaHu's picture

It tells how when Moses was

Submitted by JaHu on Wed, 2007/09/12 - 11:51pm.

It tells how when Moses was going up the mountain to his death on Pisgah he asked Jehovah why it was not possible for him to be allowed to enter the Promised Land which he could see stretched out before his eyes.

We must live in the promised land? Coming from North Carolina we drive right through the Pisgah National Forest before entering the Valley.

Adrift in the Sea of Humility

Carole Borges's picture

Words worth remembering-Happy New year!

Submitted by Carole Borges on Thu, 2007/09/13 - 7:06am.

"But you lost faith in this people and doubted the divine possibilities of human nature."

This is perhaps the hardest thing to realize and hold onto when things get tough and all the world seems to be empty of hope. It's a profouind statement that when realized has enormous power.

michael kaplan's picture

pisgah

Submitted by michael kaplan on Thu, 2007/09/13 - 12:19pm.

"Coming from North Carolina we drive right through the Pisgah National Forest before entering the Valley."

"pisgah" is hebrew for "mountaintop."

JaHu's picture

"pisgah" is hebrew for

Submitted by JaHu on Thu, 2007/09/13 - 1:03pm.

"pisgah" is hebrew for "mountaintop."

There is a mountaintop located in the PNF named Pisgah. I don't know the history but I'm guessing early bible toting settlers were responsible for naming it.

Adrift in the Sea of Humility

mobydick's picture

Pisgah

Submitted by mobydick (not verified) on Tue, 2009/04/28 - 9:26am.

Believing in the divine possibilities of human nature is perhaps the surest way to success, to attaining one's goal. Living in the proximity of Mount Pisgah in the PNF puts me in touch with useful metaphors and analogies for living a purposeful life by engaging those divine possibilities.

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