Oct 28, 2019 By: yunews
On October 28, 2019, the Straus Center Scholars Program and GPATS hosted Rabbi Yakov Nagen for a joint lunch and learn. Rabbi Nagen, a graduate of Yeshiva College, RIETS, and the Bernard Revel Graduate School, completed his PhD in Jewish philosophy at Hebrew University and currently teaches Talmud and Kabbalah at the Otniel Yeshiva in Israel. His unique approach draws together traditional Jewish sources with ideas from Eastern religions traditions. Among the thought-provoking ideas Rabbi Nagen shared at Stern, was the duality of 鈥渂eing鈥 and 鈥渄oing鈥 that exists in Judaism. 鈥淒oing鈥 is exemplified during the six working days in which one fulfills the directive to Adam to impact the world around him. 鈥淏eing鈥 is exemplified on Shabbat, when one desists from forbidden forms of work and accepts reality as it is, rather than trying to effect change. Rabbi Nagen impressed upon the participants that 鈥渂eing鈥 in the present, appreciating the day we are living today, is a key to finding happiness in our everyday lives. In contrast to an approach of 鈥渄oing,鈥 which only brings satisfaction when the goal is met, appreciating the present as it is, accepting the reality around you without trying to change it, makes the journey towards one鈥檚 goals a sweet.
Rabbi Nagen poignantly shared that his philosophy was forged in the wake of two tragic terror attacks during the second Intifada that resulted in the death of Otniel Yeshiva members. Seeing lives full of potential to 鈥渄o鈥 cut short crystallized Rabbi Nagen鈥檚 view that each day lived to its fullest is a gift from Hashem, not fully appreciated if we only focus on end results. He shared his personal custom of reciting the Hebrew date and a verse each day that reminds him of the uniqueness that day holds, never having existed before in Jewish history and never to exist again. This form of 鈥渂eing present鈥 leads to motivation and joy at the opportunity to serve Hashem on that day. In all, the participants of the lunch and learn found Rabbi Nagen鈥檚 approach unique and engaging and left with much food for thought. A full exposition of Rabbi Nagen鈥檚 philosophy is presented in his new book, Be, Become, Bless: Jewish Spirituality between East and West, published by Maggid and the Otniel Yeshiva.
