Why Rachav?
The story of Rahab, or Rachav (in Hebrew), has always haunted me. For decades I have been studying Judaism as a Gentile and the story of Rachav provides an example of perfect faith and love of HaShem, the Jewish Creator. Historically, Rachav was a Canaanite woman, a Gentile not a Jew, who aided the Israelite spies at Jericho, thus aligning her name with the concept of shelter and intervention. Furthermore, her soul was transformed, via the awe she felt witnessing the power of God in the world and channeling that awe, not to fear, but to enduring love and conversion of the heart.
“And she said to the men, I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away because of you.” Yehoshua 2:9
Rachav is an example of beauty, and simplicity of faith; yet her abode lies within the walls… the walls of the ego.
My offer to you, dear reader, is to join us in lowering the walls of ego, having perfect faith in The Creator, as we explore the wonders of the Torah. May we then assist the Jews in attaining their ‘promised land’ in the spirit of Rachav; conquest, not by the sword but by the wisdom of The Word (the Shout). We want hearts to melt. Education not intimidation. Friendship, via the agreement of the scarlet cord.
The world needs those with the soul of Rachav, willing to learn, share and protect His chosen people. This transformation, through awe to love, is symbolic of Rachav.org, and its prime function. Via education, we hope to explain the wonder of Hashem to the world in an interpretive and non-invasive way. Our task is not to change ideology through conversion but rather to sow the seeds in fertile soil enabling the truth of Hashem to emerge from behind the clouds of oppression, hatred, misunderstanding and antisemitism, into the full revelation of a wonder beyond compare.
As we enter troubling times for Israel in the world, rachav.org seeks to stand in the way, armed only with words of confidence that Hashem is the cause of every event, but this requires a change of heart. He gives us the questions and His infinite mercy has wrapped the answers in layers of struggle, hatred and misinformation. We do not know the answers but we are willing to search for His truth whatever the personal cost, knowing only one thing, that the existence of Israel separates us all, Gentile and Jew, from existence or nullification.
“And it was at the seventh time, the priests blew with the trumpets, and Joshua said to the people, Shout, for the Lord has given you the city.” Yehoshua 6:16 – The Links below are for a Google Notebook LM Overview and the other a Google Doc of the full paper.
A Pedagogical Approach to Jewish / Gentile Interface – Teaching and Understanding Google NotebookLM overview
