All I have is a story. About how once upon a time there was a place and a fire and a prayer, and it used to be very important.
An introduction to Toke for Tolerance and the need for radical honesty in interfaith spaces.
Beyond the flag, beyond the identity in politics, our faiths are rich in the sacred. Working in the field of counter-extremism and interfaith, Elliot Friedland (Jewish) and Shireen Qudosi (Muslim) felt that what was missing in interfaith dialogues was a restoration of the sacred stories that brought us around the glow of illuminated teachings. The following is one story used to initiate communal interfaith programs for Jews and Muslims through Toke for Tolerance.
Once upon a time, there was a place and a prayer and a fire. And calamity threatened to overwhelm the nation. So the holy sage the Master of the Good Name traveled to the place, deep in the forest, where the divine presence rests. There he lit the sacred fire and he cried out to the Master of the Universe, Lord of Worlds. And in his prayer, he spoke the holy and terrible secret name and God, and by this, the nation was redeemed.
Years went by, and memories faded and the Master of the Good Name died. And once again calamity threatened to overwhelm the nation and destroy all. So the disciple, the Preacher of Mezritch journeyed to the place where his teacher used to go. And he cried out saying “Master of the Universe, Lord of Worlds, I do not know how to light the sacred fire. Because times have been hard on your people and many of the ancient things have been forgotten. But I am here in the place, and I will utter a prayer to you, and I humbly beg that by this action your servant can bring salvation to his people.” And the preacher spoke the holy and terrible secret name of God, and the nation was redeemed.
Green leaves grew, turned brown and fell, and the seasons slipped by into decades. And it came to pass that the preacher died and calamity once again threatened to obliterate the nation. So the disciple, Reb Moshe Leib of Sasov arose, and journeyed to the place as his teacher had done. There he cried out to the holy one blessed be he saying “Master of the Universe, Lord of Worlds. As the hair fell out of the old men’s heads, many things that were once known became forgotten. I do not know how to light the sacred fire. And I do not know the prayer that speaks the holy and terrible secret name of God. But I am here in this place in the hour of need. And I pray that in purity of heart, this supplication will be heard by you - redeem us.” And the nation was redeemed.
Time never relents, and it was not kind. The people were scattered to the four corners of the world and were not able to find their way home. And Moshe Leib died, leaving Israel of Rizhyn as the guardian of the law. And then calamity came again to wipe out the nation. Reb Israel fell to his knees and cried out. “Master of the Universe, Lord of Worlds. Your nation is degraded and lost, and am not the man my forefathers were. I cannot perform the rites to light the fire. My lips cannot form the shapes to speak your holy and terrible secret name. And I do not even know how to get to the place, deep in the forest, where your divine presence rests. All I have is a story. About how once upon a time there was a place and a fire and a prayer, and it used to be very important. In the merit of my righteous ancestors who sleep in the dust, I tell this story in the hope you may redeem us.” The Lord heard Reb Israel’s prayer. The heavens parted, the calamity fled, and the nation was redeemed.