Editorial notes: This is one of Shai’s longest essays, written in seven instalments, six within a period of just ten days in 2016 (from 13th October to 23rd October 2016) and the seventh, a year later, on August 31 2017. Reflecting on Shai’s complete collection of writings, this can be seen, perhaps, as the zenith and culmination of his intellectual journey. As he was writing this essay he was...
Editorial notes: The title suggests that a person who is unable to speak (such as a seeker for truth or reality or God who cannot articulate just what is being sought nor where it resides), nevertheless emits a deep prayer that “echoes” and thus can be heard in some sense. The text of this essay is that prayer. “Part 1” is unclear. “Part 2” is more comprehensible. “The Book of the Spirit Ladder”...
{Part 1 – 01/06/2017} [This is a draft, because a polished version is not necessary right now, from my perspective] Letter to a variegated nation of nations, On one foot here is a summary of where we’re all at: We’re in a world filled with all sorts of people, all asking “How can we all think ourselves as each one being on the most important journey, how can we think...
Editorial notes: This essay offers a meditation on the meaning of the festivals, and especially of course Shavuot. Since Shai merely alludes in passing to Rashi’s interpretations, Midrashic accounts, and Kabbalistic teachings, any fuller explanation even of some of his allusions must be longer than his account [EZ*]. *Many thanks to Dr. Evan Zuesse for providing the commentary for this essay...
Editorial notes: This commentary on the Shema makes reference to the ten sephirot, the underlying spiritual modalities structuring the divine image or “Tree of Life” on which the universe is designed according to the Kabbalah. These sephirotic powers are merely implicit and potential in the highest realm of infinity that is the source of all lower worlds, but are given more and more material form...
{Part 1 – 18/05/2017} On one foot: for the kids: life is a series of lost opportunities, but don’t mistake vs low hanging over-ripe or immature fruit. Sometimes the perfect moment is not given, and we only see what is beautiful too early or too late. And that is life. On one foot: for the adults: history is a series of disasters, Global deterioration with long wars and collapsing...
{Part 1 – 06/11/2016} Trying to get a fix on the best way to think about this… 3**-2**** with itself. Cf. Noah’s ark cf. “tell them you’re my sister” per Ohr Hachayim cf. until Schem until Alon Morah > Per Otiyot > Per Ramban re. Schem re. Levi and Shimon >> Add ref to Yosef >> Could even add re. the “missing” numbers cf. what the...
{Part 1 – 14/05/2017} I wonder at the sequence of the holidays overlaying the parashiot, moving from Shemot to Purim to Pesach to Vayikra to the omer and Behar, approaching Shavuot, having past the point of 33 (lamed gimmel which burn like a fire). How does one enter a spiral gate? Every time you went through it, you would follow a circular path needing to enter it again. At each half-way...
{Part 1 – 09/01/2017} How do we move ourselves forward in time? The Haftorah echoes David preparing for death (as does Yaakov in the parashah), instructing his son (and Yaakov does this in the blessing, and in the meaning of Vayechi Yaakov). There are many difficulties. We are drowned by our own suffering (Zohar Vayechi 216), and we are hidden by our flaws (Dvarim 31.18). This is a terrible...
{Part 1 – 25/10/2016} Schema: Form of high Will for sake of Name Intend to read by this manner Intend to read by the manner of #1 and the result of #2 Intend to realize the balance between kindness and severity of result of #3, whilst reading in the manner of #1, with the result of #2 Intend to realize the balance between Left and Right L2, i.e. between those things that are...
