Vahaviyotim
Welcome. I’m truly glad to have you here and joining me in this experiment. This is where I’m going to intermittently share what’s on my mind and what’s keeping me up at night. You should expect to hear thoughts on investing in social change and reflections on the experience of moving to Israel. There will almost certainly be some Springsteen along the way.
What’s in a name?
Right up until this went live, this thing was called Timshel. But I had to axe that for two reasons. First, that word has a pretty bleak and heavy pedigree… and there’s already enough of that to go around these days. Second, Steinbeck didn’t transliterate the Hebrew correctly [תמשל is pronounced timshal] and I couldn’t look at the name without wincing.
… So, I’m going with Vahaviyotim.
(va-ha-vee-yo-teem)
It’s a transliteration of the Hebrew term והביאותים - the first word of Isaiah 56:7 — which means and I will bring them. This verse is the source of the religious hymn that means the most to me. It’s also a focal point of the High Holiday liturgy. It’s a verse carries deep personal and spiritual meaning for me, describing the future I’m fighting for:
והביאותים אל הר קדשי ושמחתים בבית תפלתי עולתיהם וזבחיהם לרצון על מזבחי כי ביתי בית תפלה יקרא לכל העמים
And I shall bring them to My holy mountain, and they shall rejoice in My house of prayer – their olah-offerings and their zevah-offerings will be welcome on My altar — for My house is a house of prayer for all nations.
Isaiah describes a future that melds particularism and ecumenicalism, without lapsing into relativism. It is a world that is united around core and self-evident truths… without crowding out the multiplicity of human experiences. Everyone has their own specific part to play and everyone has their own specific place to stand — but we’re all ultimately on the same team, and we’re all playing the same game.
That’s my North Star. That’s what I’m aiming for. And I’m grateful to have you along for the ride.
