Eastern spirituality grabbed center stage in "The White Lotus" and there was no chaplain in "The Pitt." But as Passover & Holy Week arrive, the faiths of Jesus and Moses still share powerful messages.
I think The Pitt got it exactly right. It is was a profound moment exactly the way it was. The same as the moment when the secular resident recited the English translation to him, to let him know he knew the significance of the prayer. An acknowledgement of the significance. It was very well done.
It is wrong to chastise prayer so as to hold up and shine a light on those who hide behind it to appear good. Prayer works and now is the time to pray.
I can’t even tell you how much I loved your article — thank you so much, Rabbi Joshua ❤️
I’ve been reflecting on the very question you explore so eloquently in your essay:
"...the characters’ infatuation with Eastern religion was not so much a failure as a missed opportunity, a blown chance to see in their own faith traditions the same things they were seeking elsewhere."
In my view, one of the biggest reasons so many spiritually curious Westerners look outside their own traditions is the barrier of dogma that organized religion often places between the individual and God. Especially within Christianity, doctrines like the immaculate conception, virgin birth, heaven and hell as physical places, original sin, and the concept of salvation can feel alien — even incomprehensible — to someone who thinks deeply and questions everything, like I do. It’s hard to believe in them in the way that would qualify me, technically, as a "Christian."
A priest once told me that Christian dogmas should be approached more like inspirational ideas, rather than literal facts — meditative gateways that can deepen one’s connection to the divine. I appreciate that perspective, but I’m still not sure.
When I hit rock bottom in my own life, it wasn’t traditional theology that helped me but writers like Eckhart Tolle. His way of explaining spiritual ideas — including some core Christian ones like original sin or the Kingdom of Heaven — helped them finally make sense to me.
I’ve always been a “Jesus girl,” but honestly, I often feel that Jesus is missing from much of Western Christianity. Certainly, the ultra-conservative, Trump-supporting evangelical world doesn't reflect His teachings. I actually wrote about this very issue in a recent post of my own. It’s so easy to lose sight of Jesus' actual words when they’re drowned out by so much ideological noise.
There’s so much more I could say, but for now, just thank you. You’re a true inspiration. I can’t wait to dive into your other posts and share them with friends who are also on this spiritual path.
OMG, Rabbi Hammerman, you have outdone yourself with this one! AT least for me. What grounds for monumental discussions! I´ll keep it short :) as usual. Almost 50 years ago I "discovered" Zen, not having had much contact with Buddhism up until then. A book by Alan Watts. I was deeply involved in learning Jewish/European history, and many parallels Buddhism/Judaism, were fascinating to me even back then. Many years later I was going through a lot of video recordings of American Buddhist teachers for a German film producer located here in Munich. What amazed me was that almost all were Jewish! This was not intentional, I don´t think that the producer himself was at all aware of this. I found an amazing book called "The Jew in the Lotus" - and another, "Jesus Lived in India" - which seem a very plausible theory, being that we otherwise don´t have any accounting of where he was a great part of his life. Another one which came later "Jesus the Zen Master." He was a Jew of course!
His sermon on the mount as we know it was, with exceptions, a mix of Jewish and Buddhist wisdom (I have to simplify this, sorry). I´m religious but not a believer. Religious means among other things to return to one´s origins. So what the monk says, in that wonderful explanation you posted, is that we return to our origin (while we are living), be it nature, a higher power, or as a drop in the ocean. Living in Europe I never heard of the "White Lotus" series until this posting, don´t subscribe to HBO. Maybe I can pick up on it some other way. There is SO much to comment on in this week´s Notebook entry, it´s dizzying! - will stop now. Thank you for this most thought-provoking and enriching entry as always, Rabbi Hammerman! Chag Pessach Sameach!
Thank you for this very insightful essay. I don’t have the streaming device so I can’t watch either film. No problem. I enjoyed the part of your essay about folks saying they’re not religious but are spiritual. I’m probably more inwardly spiritual than religious. But I wish you, who I think is very religious, Chagrin Sameach. This Passover will be very special to you and all who are your closest folks. They will wish, as I do, a total recovery from your health troubles. Best wishes for a long and happy life.😊💜🤞🏽
This is so valuable, Jean. I was one of those locval clergy whose name was on this list of people to call, and I made many midnight visits to the E.R. and I.C.U. to see people I had never met, and especially to talk with families. The fact that there were no clergy on the floor with these doctors is just so perplexing, given the quality of the show and the fact that all these doctors are dealing with some degree of post Covid PTSD. Plus the fact that Robby, in saying the Sh'ma, actually did the right thing - yet everyone (including him) considered it a mental breakdown. Thank you for sharing your experiences in such detail. I'm sure many others appreciate it too. And yes, the lines between professional and volunteer are hard to draw with this kind of work. I was certainly a paid professional as a pulpit rabbi, but my job description didn't necessarily involve midnight visits and on-call lists. And even those first responders whose job it is to do these things go way above and beyond. They are angels. But so, most definitely, are you and those who volunteered with you.
Thank you so much for your words. God bless you.
I think The Pitt got it exactly right. It is was a profound moment exactly the way it was. The same as the moment when the secular resident recited the English translation to him, to let him know he knew the significance of the prayer. An acknowledgement of the significance. It was very well done.
It is wrong to chastise prayer so as to hold up and shine a light on those who hide behind it to appear good. Prayer works and now is the time to pray.
Looking for Jesus in all the wrong places.
I can’t even tell you how much I loved your article — thank you so much, Rabbi Joshua ❤️
I’ve been reflecting on the very question you explore so eloquently in your essay:
"...the characters’ infatuation with Eastern religion was not so much a failure as a missed opportunity, a blown chance to see in their own faith traditions the same things they were seeking elsewhere."
In my view, one of the biggest reasons so many spiritually curious Westerners look outside their own traditions is the barrier of dogma that organized religion often places between the individual and God. Especially within Christianity, doctrines like the immaculate conception, virgin birth, heaven and hell as physical places, original sin, and the concept of salvation can feel alien — even incomprehensible — to someone who thinks deeply and questions everything, like I do. It’s hard to believe in them in the way that would qualify me, technically, as a "Christian."
A priest once told me that Christian dogmas should be approached more like inspirational ideas, rather than literal facts — meditative gateways that can deepen one’s connection to the divine. I appreciate that perspective, but I’m still not sure.
When I hit rock bottom in my own life, it wasn’t traditional theology that helped me but writers like Eckhart Tolle. His way of explaining spiritual ideas — including some core Christian ones like original sin or the Kingdom of Heaven — helped them finally make sense to me.
I’ve always been a “Jesus girl,” but honestly, I often feel that Jesus is missing from much of Western Christianity. Certainly, the ultra-conservative, Trump-supporting evangelical world doesn't reflect His teachings. I actually wrote about this very issue in a recent post of my own. It’s so easy to lose sight of Jesus' actual words when they’re drowned out by so much ideological noise.
There’s so much more I could say, but for now, just thank you. You’re a true inspiration. I can’t wait to dive into your other posts and share them with friends who are also on this spiritual path.
Abinibi! I knew that sounded familiar! Thanks for pointing that out! Chag Pesach Sameach!
OMG, Rabbi Hammerman, you have outdone yourself with this one! AT least for me. What grounds for monumental discussions! I´ll keep it short :) as usual. Almost 50 years ago I "discovered" Zen, not having had much contact with Buddhism up until then. A book by Alan Watts. I was deeply involved in learning Jewish/European history, and many parallels Buddhism/Judaism, were fascinating to me even back then. Many years later I was going through a lot of video recordings of American Buddhist teachers for a German film producer located here in Munich. What amazed me was that almost all were Jewish! This was not intentional, I don´t think that the producer himself was at all aware of this. I found an amazing book called "The Jew in the Lotus" - and another, "Jesus Lived in India" - which seem a very plausible theory, being that we otherwise don´t have any accounting of where he was a great part of his life. Another one which came later "Jesus the Zen Master." He was a Jew of course!
His sermon on the mount as we know it was, with exceptions, a mix of Jewish and Buddhist wisdom (I have to simplify this, sorry). I´m religious but not a believer. Religious means among other things to return to one´s origins. So what the monk says, in that wonderful explanation you posted, is that we return to our origin (while we are living), be it nature, a higher power, or as a drop in the ocean. Living in Europe I never heard of the "White Lotus" series until this posting, don´t subscribe to HBO. Maybe I can pick up on it some other way. There is SO much to comment on in this week´s Notebook entry, it´s dizzying! - will stop now. Thank you for this most thought-provoking and enriching entry as always, Rabbi Hammerman! Chag Pessach Sameach!
Once I start reading here, I can’t stop! Such beautiful writing thank you.
❤️☮️
Thank you for this very insightful essay. I don’t have the streaming device so I can’t watch either film. No problem. I enjoyed the part of your essay about folks saying they’re not religious but are spiritual. I’m probably more inwardly spiritual than religious. But I wish you, who I think is very religious, Chagrin Sameach. This Passover will be very special to you and all who are your closest folks. They will wish, as I do, a total recovery from your health troubles. Best wishes for a long and happy life.😊💜🤞🏽
Thank you, Claudia!
This is so valuable, Jean. I was one of those locval clergy whose name was on this list of people to call, and I made many midnight visits to the E.R. and I.C.U. to see people I had never met, and especially to talk with families. The fact that there were no clergy on the floor with these doctors is just so perplexing, given the quality of the show and the fact that all these doctors are dealing with some degree of post Covid PTSD. Plus the fact that Robby, in saying the Sh'ma, actually did the right thing - yet everyone (including him) considered it a mental breakdown. Thank you for sharing your experiences in such detail. I'm sure many others appreciate it too. And yes, the lines between professional and volunteer are hard to draw with this kind of work. I was certainly a paid professional as a pulpit rabbi, but my job description didn't necessarily involve midnight visits and on-call lists. And even those first responders whose job it is to do these things go way above and beyond. They are angels. But so, most definitely, are you and those who volunteered with you.