Binyan Habayis

Time for Change

2008-07-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about something. This is has been in the back of my mind for a while. Change - what we have the power to change and what we don't. I'm making a major change in my career right now and that has been a catalyst for a lot of life changes for me.

This change has made me realize something very important. As frustrating as our own personal situations can be, we often feel powerless to change them. Yet we can always change ourselves, no matter how hard it is, that is something that is always in our control. With each passing day, we can either complain about things that are not in our power, or take control of the things that are.

For me, the time has arrived for me to make changes in my self-image and to empower myself through a greater discipline. I now realize that each day that passes creates an opportunity for self improvement. Only through mastery of the microcosm can we have any affect on the macrocosm.

Happy July 4th

2008-07-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

To all the brethren out there and your friends and families -

Happy July 4th! Let's take this opportunity to reflect on the principles that make this country great and to honor the men and women out there who are putting their lives on the line to defend it.

Study - 92% of Americans Believe in G-d

2008-06-24T18:56:00.000-07:00

If you haven't read this article already, check it out -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/23/ST2008062300818.html

Reading stuff like this causes me to have more faith in our society. What I found weird was that, according to this study, 1/5 of Americans that classify themselves as "Atheists" still believe in a Higher Power. Why the heck are they called Atheists then?

Update

2008-06-24T18:44:00.000-07:00

I apologize for not posting for so long. Life has been pretty crazy lately and the pace doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon in the future. What's going on in my life Masonically? Well... I passed my 2nd degree proficiency and I am now waiting to be raised. I really wanted to take this opportunity to go through the symbols of the first and second degrees and digest the meaning of them through this blog. Honest to G-d, I haven't had any time to do it though.

Okay, so I haven't been in a complete Masonic limbo - I just started reading "Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry" by John J. Robinson. For anyone who reads this blog on a regular basis, I have already read "Cracking the Freemasons Code" by Robert Cooper and have already been convinced that the Templar theory is really no more than a romantic myth. However, I have to say that "Born in Blood" is extremely well researched and quite enthralling. I'll make sure to fill you in on my thoughts about it in upcoming posts...

Judging Our Fraternity

2008-05-31T21:19:00.000-07:00

One thing that I've been thinking about within my own religious community and also within Masonry - how do you judge success? Do you l0ok at the leaders of a movement as the epitome of its message and gauge success by their example? Or - do you look at the average member and judge the movement by the lowest common denominator? I believe that you need to look at both.

We can look at hist0rical examples of great men who have been Masons in order to understand the power of the life-changing message of our fraternity. Yet, in order to truly assess the state of our fraternity, one cannot ignore the status quo that exists today.

Altering My Own Perception of Reality

2008-05-29T19:40:00.000-07:00

This evening, I was thinking about my taste in entertainment. I reached the realization that the media that I really love are things that cause me to look at reality in a different way - movies, books, music - it has to really affect the way that I see the world to really make an impression on me. Does Masonry pass that litmus test? It does. I look at life and other people differently than when I first walked into that lodge room. Have I discovered the secret of Masonry? I don't think that I can honestly say so until I am raised. I have my theories, based on my experiences and everything that I have read. Yet, I don't think that it would be fair to make a conjecture until I have actually been raised to that sublime degree.

A Unique Situation

2008-05-21T19:26:00.000-07:00

Ever since I began my path in Masonry, I've felt that in some ways it has been a little bit lonely. I've felt camaraderie with the other guys in my catechism class, but I often feel a bit alienated in the lodge. I know that it sounds silly, but I am often very put off by some of the brethren. One of them says, "Here's the Rabbi!" every time he sees me. I don't like having my religious differences pushed in my face every time I attend an event with my lodge. Don't get me wrong, most of the brethren in my lodge are wonderful guys, but there are a few bad eggs that put me on edge.

When I am with other Orthodox Jews, and they find out that I am a Mason, I get mixed reactions. Some of them think that it's really cool and want to find out more about it. Others think that it's kind of freakish and let me know how weird they think it is. Needless to say, I often feel like an anomaly wherever I am - in the lodge or in the synagogue.

Waiting... Again

2008-05-13T20:54:00.000-07:00

Well, I went to Catechism Class and I find something out - I'm not getting raised until the Fall. Aaargghh! I am going to take my 2nd degree proficiency in June and then my lodge is going dark for the Summer. I suppose that this gives me the opportunity to do more reading and introspection, but I must admit that I find it frustrating.

Reflections on Becoming a Master Mason

2008-05-11T13:11:00.000-07:00

As I get closer to taking my 2nd Degree proficiency (and on my way to receiving my 3rd Degree), I've been reflecting on what Masonry really means to me at this point. Okay, so I've been doing that all along. But I've gotten a more sober perspective on the Craft over time and all the reading that I've been doing.

First of all, I am quite happy with my own esoteric pursuits and don't really think that I will gain any valuable esoteric knowledge through Masonry. I already have a rewarding path of study that I pursue through Torah that offers "mystical" or "esoteric" knowledge. I thoroughly enjoy it and I firmly believe in the veracity of its origin and it's power to improve me ethically and spiritually.

Secondly, I am somewhat sceptical of the claims that Masonry actually has any overt link to any esoteric body of knowledge. I haven't read anything or met anyone who has been able to convey anything beyond allusions to vague Hermetic principles and what I have found hasn't been in the least bit systematic or compelling in terms of claims of veracity. In reality, anyone who has actually been to the average lodge meeting would find claims to the contrary to be quite laughable.

However, from what I have read, Masonry does contain elements of Hermetic philosophy that have been captured within its symbolism - simply because it was part of the Enlightenment Philosophy that was prevalent at the time that the ritual was developed. I also have found that Masonry points the way to a better understanding of Western History - the Crusades, the Age of the Enlightenment, the Reformation, the American Revolution. Masonic History is truly Western History.

What I have found is that Masonry embodies a specific philosophic framework that represents a spiritual and rational belief in a Supreme Being, the power of symbols to educate and to teach moral truths, and a deeply rooted belief in the brotherhood of maknind. The Craft allows me to meet and interact with other likeminded individuals of various socioeconomic and religious backgrounds and to develop leadership and social skills that will help me to be a better citizen - exactly what I really wanted out of Masonry from the beginning.

King Solomon's Temple and the Method of Loci

2008-04-30T18:43:00.000-07:00

Not only was King Solomon's Temple the oldest stone building in the Bible and was therefore built by the stonemasons' predecessors in the craft, but also the Hermetic art of memory offered a means by which the stonemasons could seek to improve their mental abilities and their moral and spiritual lives. This means linked the art of memory to the stonemasons' particular lore and made them special and unique in a respect shared by no other craft or trade. Once the ritual and all the associated words and signs of the stonemasons' esoteric knowledge were committed to memory in this way and passed to each successive generations in the his manner, the parts of the ceremonial became fixed, as did their relative importance in relation to one another.

("Cracking the Freemasons Code, by Robert L.D. Cooper, pg. 51)

The True Essence of Symbols

2008-04-30T18:32:00.000-07:00

Symbols create a junction between two realms of reality, the conscious and the unconscious. They are a meeting point between the microcosm and the macrocosm, man and God, etc. This way of appreciating symbols is not understood by many people today, including a fair number of Freemasons.

(Cracking the Freemasons Code by Robert L.D. Cooper, pg. 105)

"Cracking the Freemasons Code"

2008-04-28T19:49:00.000-07:00

At the recommendation of Brother Charles Tirrell, I purchased a copy of "Cracking the Freemasons Code" by Brother Robert L.D. Cooper. It's a great read and highly worthwhile if you are interested in a scholarly view of the Craft's origins. He demonstrates, quite convincingly, that the Scottish Masonic Incorporations (trade guilds) gave birth to modern speculative Masonry. He also touches on some points that I found highly interesting:

- The evidence of the Hermetic influence on Masonic symbolism
- The possibility that Masonry perpetuates the ancient Method of Loci (or Art of Memory)
- The connection between the symbolic construct of King Solomon's - Temple and the Method of Loci
- The role of Symbolism in the Craft

In my next few posts, I am going to reflect on some quotes from the book that highlight these points.

Going Stag to the Festive Board

2008-04-23T19:59:00.000-07:00

My lodge is having a Table Lodge/Festive Board in May and the Worshipful Master has been encouraging everyone to come and to bring their wife or girlfriend. Unfortunately, I am having a hard time convincing my wife that it would be a worthwhile event to go to. I would like to involve her, but it seems to be a lost cause. She isn't opposed to Masonry, per se, but doesn't really want to be involved with it. She feels that it is a social outlet for me, but not something that she wants to be a part of. Well, it looks like I'll be going alone...

Clarification

2008-04-09T19:57:00.000-07:00

In hindsight, I don't think that I was clear when I spoke about the true role of the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences in Masonry. Masonry is about building. Building what? The simple answer is character building, but it can be taken to many different scales: building one's self, building one's family, building one's social circle, building one's community, building one's society, building one's universe, building one's reality. This noble spiritual goal cannot be accomplished without the proper tools - those that are contained within secular knowledge.

While I don't think that the goal of Masonry is that we will all become experts in Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Geometry, Arithmetic, Music, and Astronomy, I do think that the goal is to use secular knowledge as means of seeing the fingerprint of the Grand Architect of the Universe in His work and to aid in our task of building our personal Divine edifice. Plus, it's always hip to be a renaissance man.

Slam Dunk!!!

2008-04-07T15:33:00.000-07:00

Our class did an absolute bang-up job. It was really fantastic - we went through the EA Catechism so well that the Worshipful Master commented afterward that it was one of the best EA Catechisms in our lodge in years. Subsequently, about half of the group took the Fellowcraft degree, myself included. It was quite beautiful, and I've been thinking a lot about it over the past couple of days.

Now, in the past, I've refrained from discussing anything in the actual ritual of the degree because I've felt that doing so would infringe on my Obligation. However, many of the books and articles on Masonry that I've read have dealt with various aspects of the ritual. Brother Hodapp explains in "Freemasons for Dummies" that the real secrets are the grips, passwords, and modes of recognition. That being said, I still feel it isn't in the spirit of the Obligation to discuss the actual words of the ritual outside of the lodge, or with people that I don't know to be true brother Masons. However, I don't see anything wrong with discussing the concepts that I've been introduced to:

The two things from the Fellowcraft degree that I've been thinking about are the Seven Liberal Arts and the letter "G." The Seven Liberal Arts have a personal message for me. Growing up, I always thought that I would go to a small Liberal Arts college, like my parents, and gain all kinds of "worldly" knowledge. Instead, I chose a much more parochial path. After graduating high school, I got on a plane and went to Jerusalem in order to pursue Jewish religious studies. I continued to study in yeshiva for five years - two in Israel, three in America. Although I got my secular college degree through night school, I still have a desire to pursue more secular knowledge - particularly History, Literature, and Philosophy. Masonry is a path for me to pursue the ideals of the enlightenment and to gain more "worldly" secular knowledge. That's not to say I couldn't do it on my own, but Masonry points the way to greater light in the secular world. The Masonic view of the world, is that secular knowledge, if pursued properly, can enhance religious faith.

It is quite fascinating that the letter "G" refers to both the art of Geometry and the name of Deity. Masonry takes that letter as part of its symbol (along with the Square and Compasses) - at least in United States. Isn't it interesting that one letter reflects both a religious outlook and a scientific one? What the letter represents to me is the philosophy that the G-d of science and the G-d of our faith are one. There is no dichotomy. When we pursue secular science and thought, we must realize that it is system that has its source in the Divine.

Final EA Catechism Class

2008-03-31T20:12:00.000-07:00

I just had one of my most enjoyable Masonic experiences. Tonight was our final Catechism class before our EA Proficiency. I have to say that we did quite well and we are definitely ready for this Thursday. It was a tremendous feeling to go through the whole thing with almost no stumbling (well, okay, a teeny weeny bit of stumbling).

On top of that, we got a tour of the museum and the library in the Grand Lodge led by the curator. He rattled off all kinds of tidbits about Masonic history and showcased all kinds of artifacts and memorabilia. I also mentioned my idea to him about starting a Masonic book group in our lodge and he was very enthusiastic about it. He showed us the Grand Lodge's lodge room. Although I had seen it before - I had attended weddings there before, I am still impressed every time that I see it.

So - in a couple of days, if all goes well, I will be a Fellowcraft. Then it's just a hop, skip, and jump to being a Master Mason! Okay, okay - it's going to be more work than that. I 'm just feeling a little giddy.

The 33rd Degree

2008-03-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

This something that I wrote about a month ago, but never posted:

A little while ago, I found out that a Rabbi that I knew was a Mason. He is Israeli, and he had moved back to Israel after having spent some time in the U.S. I had been in contact with him before, but I had no idea of his involvement in Masonry. When I found out that he would be visiting Baltimore, I knew that I had to speak to him. After obtaining his e-mail, I sent him a message. After I didn't hear back for a while, I assumed that he does not have web-mail and that he wouldn't get it until he had already left the country.

As luck would have it, last week, I spotted him in synagogue. When I got the opportunity, I approached him and gave him the EA grip. He whispered to me that he would speak to me after the conclusion of the service. When I was finally able to speak to him, he essentially said that we couldn't really talk until I became a Master Mason! Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed.

He told me that he was a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason and that I was starting down a long path of personal development. He said that he was the Master of a Lodge of Research and he was particularly focused on the relationship between Masonry and Kabbalah. I can't deny that my interest had been totally piqued, but I felt a little bit let-down. Well, I have his e-mail address, and I am definitely going to contact him once I become a Master Mason. One thing is for sure, he definitely reinforced my belief that Masonry is not just about social and political skills, it also about moral and intellectual refinement.

A Shared Experience

2008-03-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

Well, I've got three out of five of my questions down cold. That's pretty good... I guess. My EA Proficiency / FC Degree is scheduled for a week from today. My Catechism instructor said that I could give him a call to practice my remaining two questions. It would make things so much easier if I could just WRITE SOMETHING DOWN for crying out loud. But then that would defeat the whole purpose of this process.

The Deputy Grand Lecturer came to our last class to observe and comment. I asked him the pointed question, "What exactly are the secrets of Masonry?" He said the following (I am paraphrasing) - The secrets of Masonry are something that you could never reveal even if your life depended on it, it is the feeling you get when you meet someone who has had the same shared experience. Sounds mysterious, but it makes sense to me.

I'm back!

2008-03-23T18:04:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the long break in posts. I've been extremely busy for the past month or so. My wife and I just bought a house and moved in. Things have also been crazy at work - lots of deadlines to meet. I'm still studying for my EA proficiency.

I have had a lot of experiences to write about, but I just haven't had the time to sit down and write. Not to mention that since we started packing to move until now, I haven't had an internet connection at home, and I never post anything from work. I'd like to say s0mething moving or poetic about these experiences - somehow tying everything to Masonry or Torah or both. I'm sure that I will find a way of doing that in the future. In any case, I'm going to get back to posting very s0on....

Guarding the Obligation In the Information Age

2008-02-07T17:21:00.000-08:00

In hindsight, I believe that I have made a grave error. I don't think that I have violated the words of the obligation, but I may have violated its spirit. Someone made the following comments to my last post, warning me about what I put in my blog:

"Please remember that when dealing with others online as a Mason, be sure to use discretion and responsibility with regards to what information you may give out--be it personal information or Masonic information. Unless you have specific lawful information about the person with whom you are communicating, the fact remains that there is no way to truly know another to be a Mason when you cannot meet him face-to-face. Just remember to ask yourself if what you are doing could lead to un-Masonic conduct, and if what you are doing is in violation of your obligation."

When I read this, I thought about the post where I considered purchasing a book that contains the ritual (albeit an old version). However, I didn't really think about the fact that I was essentially pointing the way for a Cowan to find out the details of the ritual by writing about this. Even though this book is readily available for purchase (okay, I won't say where this time), I realized that it was not in the spirit of the obligation to show anyone who I do not know to be a Mason where it can be found or even to make anyone who I do not know to be a Mason aware that it exists (okay, so the cat is out of the bag here at least). I have since removed the post.

Confessions of an eMason

2008-02-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

Honestly, I would like to let everyone in my lodge know about this blog. However, my judgment tells me that it might not be a good idea to do that. I've been quite candid about my feelings in anticipation of joining and as a new initiate and I don't know how everyone would receive this level of candor.

In the time that I was researching the Craft, I had a much more flowery picture of what it meant to be a Mason. That image has not yet dimmed, yet it is now imbued with some realism. I also have some different expectations of what I will get out of the Craft. To be more specific, I now believe that Masonry will help me become more of a gentleman, more worldly, and accepting. However, it won't whisk me away to a magical land of universal brotherhood, peopled by mystical sages. The latter image is more likely to be found in my own utopian view of the future - not in our current reality. Well, a man can dream...

Fellowship and People Skills

2008-01-31T19:45:00.000-08:00

Now, with the previous post out of my system, I want to mention that I am starting to see the positive of the non-academic aspects of the Craft - fellowship, leadership, learning how to speak, learning how to relate to people. I am starting to see that Masonry really teaches you how to be a true man of honor and a gentleman. I have only had one Catechism class, but I have already exchanged numbers with some of the other brothers and have really hit it off with the brother who is leading the class (who happens to live in my neighborhood).

I know that I have been focusing on the history and philosophy of the Craft lately. But I am getting ready to move on to more hands-on things. I have been thinking, lately, about how I can learn to improve my people skills through the Craft, and I have even taken Dale Carnegie's classic book "How to Win Friends and Influence People" out of the library. We'll see where this goes...

Aren't We Better than the Water Buffaloes?

2008-01-31T19:01:00.000-08:00

I mentioned in an earlier post that I have had several acquaintances express interest in Masonry. One of these acquaintances is a co-worker. He seems very interested, and I have already lent him "Freemasons for Dummies." However, in the course of our conversations I find myself warning him about the ideal of what Masonry is supposed to be and the actual reality of the American implementation of it. I told him, after explaining many positive aspects of Masonry, that many Masons experience the craft as simply a "good ole boys club." In hindsight, I think that I should probably promote the craft in a much more positive manner, but I have always hated when people sugarcoat things. He is still enthusiastic despite the caveats that I am giving him.

Truth be told, these statements are really just a manifestations of my own doubts. A common phrase that I hear about the Craft is that "you get out what you put in." It can be a way to improve yourself intellectually, morally, and spiritually. However, it can also just be a simple fraternity if that's all you want it to be. I have hope that the Craft is changing, that new blood is ushering in a radical shift in the outlook of American Masonry. I also don't mean to denigrate the simple pleasure of fellowship enjoyed through the fraternity - there is a place for that. But don't we want more from ourselves than to simply be a group akin to Fred Flintstone's Water Buffaloes?

Receiving an Oral Tradition

2008-01-30T16:53:00.000-08:00

On Monday, I attended my first Catechism Class. I have to admit that I am slightly intimidated by the amount of material that I will have to memorize for my EA Proficiency. I am also extremely grateful that I have a large group of guys that I am sharing the responsibility with. There are also more guys that are being initiated soon who may be joining us.

The prospect of memorizing something like this gives me some perspective for what it was like for the sages of the Talmud - the Tannaim and Ammoraim. Before the time of Rav Yehuda Hanasi the Mishnah wasn't written down. An oral tradition of legal opinions was preserved from Mount Sinai through the ages and was codified into the Mishnah. Each piece of the Mishnah is a cipher that unlocks the door to comprehensive legal debates among the Sages as well as ethical and mystical teachings. This full discourse is what is known as the Gemmara or Talmud. The sages of the Talmud memorized these full legal discussions in various academies before it was written down by Ravina and Rav Ashi. If you have ever seen the size of the Talmud, you would be quite impressed.

I view Masonic teaching in a similar way. The Catechisms are vast, but they are really just a cipher which leads to a far more comprehensive body of knowledge.

Lessons to Learn

2008-01-22T16:44:00.000-08:00

It seems to me that Masonry is really a collection of multiple disciplines:

One can get absorbed in the history of the craft - the transition between the Operative Masonic guilds to the Speculative fraternity, the foundation of the Grand Lodge of England and the evolution of the ritual, the possible connection between the Knights Templar and the Craft.

One can also study the philosophy - the connection between Masonry and the Enlightenment and also the connection between the Western esoteric tradition and early Masonry.

At this point, I feel as though I have been introduced to all these topics, but I have yet to really study any of them in depth. F0r now, I am going to focus on the most primary interest of the fraternity - brotherhood, using it as a way to improve myself and my relationship with my fellow man. That is my most "scholarly" goal at this point.