We saw that in Shirat Ha-Yam (the Song of the Sea), which is recited daily during Shacharit, God is described as a "Man of War" (Ish Milhamah).
How do you relate to this description in the prayer book? Do you agree with it? Do you find it inspiring? Does it bother you?
It doesn't bother me; it means he is protecting our army.
ReplyDeleteNo, God helps us through wars. We say it every day to remind us of yetziat Mitzrayim.
ReplyDeleteIt does bother me, because that is saying that God wants war. We say shirat hayam to remember the Jews in Egypt who were slaves, but not the warfare.
ReplyDeleteYes, God is nice, not mean. We remember our freedom in this prayer.
DeleteNo it doesn't bother me because we are still here. It shows God is in control.
ReplyDeleteIt does bother me because I think that god does other things then help us in war. He is a judge and a teacher too.These I think are better images for god.
ReplyDeleteThis does bother me. G-d is not only a "Man of war." He is also a "Man of peace." He helps the world in other ways besides waqr. People should see G-d as other things than a "Man of war."
ReplyDeleteזה מפריע לי. האלוקים הוא לא רק "איש של מלחמה". הוא גם "איש של שלום". הוא מסייע את העולם בדרכים אחרות מלבד waqr. אנשים צריכים לראות 'כדברים אחרים מאשר "איש המלחמה".
It does bother me, because, first of all, G-d should not be dipicted as a man or woman. In this text, it says G-d is a man. Also, he/she should not be considered a man/woman of war. It makes G-d look like a man/woman who wants war and supports it. It is really a negative image of G-d.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't completely bother me because G-d helped Israel with their wars, but it does bother me a little bit for the siddur because G-d is holy, and war is unholy.
ReplyDeleteIt bothers me because I also think G-D is a holy figure and shouldn't be pictured as a man of war.
DeleteI think it's neutral , because it's BAD but it's TRUE, so you cancel out the badness with the fact that it is true.
DeleteIt does not bother me becuase God being a man of war shows that god is agressive about the Israeli's enemies, which shows that God REALLY cares about the people of Israel, and I think that that is a good thing. It is good for God to be aggessive against our enemies. As Jews we know that God will always support us.
ReplyDeleteNo it doesn't because there is honor for God in this description. We say it because it reminds us of the miracles that God did for the Jewish nation.
ReplyDelete