Discoursing with an ancient sacred text

This blog is a philosophical exploration of the Song of Songs. My project explores a Cixousian (écriture féminine) encounter with biblical literature along subjective existential lines. In particular I am exploring life, meaningfulness, encounter and freedom as these contradict death, absurdity, separation and oppression. This discourse with the Song of Songs & other biblical texts seeks the critical moment that sparks transformation in the present.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

First Shabbat in Jerusalem

We have spent the last two days in Jerusalem.  We've walked all the way from the old city to the Israel Museum via the Mahane Yehuda market.  Ohh!!  wonderful market, busy, bustle, spices, eggplant, hummus, oils, all sorts.  Cheap, cheap!  I loved it.  We went back again today to buy for Shabbat.  Challah and wine.  We'll have a little Shabbat on the roof today and then go down to the kotel.

Where is the Shulamith?  I've seen date palms as tall as buildings.  I've seen and smelled the spices in towers in Mahane Yehuda.  I've trolled the Biblical lands museum (because the Israel Museum was closed!!!!) and seen the goddesses, and necklaces of lapis lazuli, and seals that are like totems, expressions, symbols of a person's nephesh!!  I've read a little of the Song at the Shrine of The  Book - in the Aleppo Codex. 

I've held C's hand in the via dolorosa and felt the stares of the sellers there...  where is she?

I've seen the daughters of Jerusalem at the kotel.  The daughters of Ishmael too above on the temple mount at the dome of the rock.  I've seen the wadi of David and its palms and greenery.

Where is she?  I want to see Lebanon, I want to see Gilead.  I have seen the Sheep Pools in the model of the city.

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