Good evening Rockstars + Lambs!
Chag Pesach Semeach! As I type this, I am sitting here sipping some cucumber white tea and finishing up some matzo ball soup. I had the best day away working in my office and getting some items ready for presentation to my accountant (it is tax season, ya know!)
Today, I wanted to take the time away to honor Passover as it occurred at sundown. I was not raised Jewish, for those of you that have known me for years. I did, however, make the conscience decision to bring in all of the traditions of Judaism into my home as an adult when I did my own genealogical research of my Spanish ancestry to find that one line was Sephardic.
Sephardim means Spanish in Hebrew. My family from Southern Spain were Sephardic Jews that fled to Morocco and came back in the 1800s or so, but had to claim Catholicism because, well, that's what you did then... Spain was very very welcoming in the early days of formation to all cultures and theologies, but in the time of the inquisition, it was Ferdinad and Isabella that said, "Catholicism or die..."
So, most Jewish Spaniards fled to France or Northern Africa. Some got mixed with the Moors, some married Gypsies, some came to the New World and forgot all about Judaism to begin with.
What I found so prolific in my studies at the Kabbalah Centre was that the Zohar, our primary text, was said to be authored/discovered in Spain. For me, Friday night Shabbat has included Zohar and Torah study at home, then sometimes a night out to enjoy my friends. Sometimes, I'm a bit more reserved and stay home.
During Jewish holidays, I practice Kosher cooking and lifestyle and go back to eggs and bacon by Saturday night! LOL. It's so true, I can't lie. I love pork just as much as the next guy... must be the Spaniard in me!
I recently read an email from Karen Berg, one of the teachers at The Kabbalah Centre about the power of Passover.
Ya know, for many Jews, they commemorate Moses freeing the Hebrews from Egypt and Pharaoh's ruling, at the Kabbalah Centre, we are taught to look at this story on a MUCH DEEPER level.
We all have thing that "enslave" us. Ego, Facebook, our jobs, our clients, our diets and sometimes the relationships we have with the ones in our lives.
Karen's message this year was to break free of any "enslavement" we may feel. For me, I have been on a mission since late last year of removing all hatred and unfulfilling relationships in my life that do not suit me or build me up.
A true friend will hug you when you have royally fucked up in life or with them. A compassionate friend will NOT judge you even when you do something that seems weak. A true love in your life feels like water as it runs down your throat and nourishes your organs.
Friends don't roll their eyes. Friends do not serve as critics and friends to not throw you under the bus to the haters in your life.
I have like three friends. LOL. Seriously.
This past week, a local comedian made it very clear he did not like me publicly and Facebooked about it and made drama with the radio show I guest host. This became an issue with the producers and the pair of us and I threatened to leave the show unless they dealt with it.
As Friday night approached and I welcomed the Sabbath, I thought, "give it to the Light of the Sabbath".
Saturday morning and all Friday night I had received harassing messages from this man. I did not validate his behavior, but as a business man, I took action and let the producers deal with him as he has abused his relation and affiliation with them. I said, "I'll talk to them Monday."
Monday came and we dealt with it and something I can tell you is this: I was very hurt by this man's words because the things he told me were fragments of assumptions he had made up in his mind about me.
Come to find out, I believe my sexuality, my tenacity and my way with words bothered him most.
I've stressed it meany times: I AM NOT JUST SOME DUMB HAIRDRESSER. I am a very educated businessman that is very gifted with words and working with people. I love to do hair. I love to write. I love to cook. I am very spiritual and enjoy watching Bravo TV.
My life is NOT a reality series, but people like him make it seem like one.
On this Pesach, I am removing my ego from being hurt by this man. He's obviously had some issues in his own life and picking on me via email and Facebook and in his comedy acts seems to get him far.... in his head.
His mission was no better than Pharaoh's. His mission was to belittle me and use MY WORK to BUILD HIM up.
Sorry. I'm not your Hebrew.... I will never move a stone for you. Not to build a pyramid and certainly not to throw at you. I'm better than that.
Deep down, I know alot of "friends" and past acquaintances are tired of hearing about my spiritual escapades, but truly, they can't hang yet! Their souls have NOT matured to hear the calling of their hearts like mine has.
I love to go out, drink and have a good time talking shit, but I am also a philanthropist, a human being and an essence of the Divine spark that made us all.
I don't think the Pharaoh's in our lives have yet seen the spark.
I'll leave it at that as I've moved on in my journey.
Happy Passover, lambs.
Josh
