You are Jonah. The real you, for “Jonah”—in Kabbalistic parlance—is another name for the soul. Hence, the story of Jonah is the story of a soul’s journey here on earth.
15 Comments Posted
Very meaningful, helped me to better understand why we read this story on Yom Kippur.
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The story omits the fact that israel and the inhabitants of Tarshis were at the time fighting a war as deadly enemiies. No wonder that Jonah refused to go. But even so, the sins of one's enemies should be forgiven when G-d so wishes.
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that was what i never understood: how could Jonah run from G-d? Thanks for explaining that he could not! It is so comforting to know that...
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At the beginning of the story, G-d talks to Jonah. It is a clear communication; it is not based on faith; it is a dialogue. When does that happen to "us"? Or if it just doesn't, what is the metaphor here?
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Excellent observation!
Before the soul's descent, it most certainly does have direct perception of the Divine. Prior to embodiment, the soul is in heaven where it clearly apprehends G-dliness. It is assigned its mission in that state as well. In this sense you might say that we are all prophets before we are born. Then we drift away from that state, but our life's path is to return to it again.
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Thank you. This is a most insightful look into the beginning of the story of Jonah. I am wondering however how the remainder of the story relates to the soul's journey.
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as the story continues, you are "thrown" into the waters of life where a vessel of sanctity awaits to transform, then you are "spit out into the world" to proclaim go amongst the nations and proclaim the Living Torah of G-d.....
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I came to this because a good friend has a new grandchild named, Jonah Benjamin and I wanted to refresh my knowledge of this story.
I have read several interpretations and this is, the best, but it omits the part about the plant and how it sheltered Jonah and then G_d made it wither and die, and Jonah was upset with G_d and yet not so upset about Nineveh and his task that he had avoided.
It seems the message is so timely for today, a time when there are massive events affecting people around the world, and how most people, because these are distant, or perhaps because they do not involve us personally, become complacent, and yet when a tragedy hits "home", we mobilize in great ways.
I did not know the analogy between Jonah's journey and the journey of soul, and find this, compelling.
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Hello I have to admit I am not Hebrew and I not a Jew, but I still Revere the G-d of Israel, very much. He is the very Center of my life and soul. I love this site and thank you all for the life lessons I recieve from you all. You have answered many of the questions I have asked all my life and my eyes are wide open and my heart and soul are to. Thank you and Praise to
G-d. Amen.
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...about this story. It is an allegory. But unlike most man-made allegories, which function on two levels: literal fiction and the symbolic. But the Hebrew canon, including the Torah, are non-fiction and symbolic.
Makes so much more sense to me now.
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I will never be able to hear or read the story of Jonah again without conjuring up the brilliant image you paint of my life being Jonah's life. During the days of awe as we prepare for the closing gates, this allegory of Jonah to myself causes me great introspection to "Arise, and call upon my G-d." It forces me to admit that I, too, can easliy fall into complacency, numbness, and slumber. I thank G-d for the storms He brings into my life to get my attention and to arouse me from my slumber to do the work He has for me. Again, just a brilliant and timely discourse I shall never forget,
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Surely the traditional reason for reciting this story on Yom Kippur is because like the citizens of Tarshish, who could not tell their right hands from their left ones (and also much cattle, don't forget), were given a chance to repent for their sins and obtained forgiveness even though Jonah was angered by their relief from the Devine wrath.
Of course there is a place for analogy to the soul too, but an angry soul also deserves comfort, so where is this to be found?
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I did not know my dear paternal grandfather in life-the father of my dear paternal grandmother Matilda(Malka),whom I knew.
He was Jonah, and now,after reading this and the whole Jonah, I know how I do know him...
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Water metaphors seem particularly potent in our past. Perhaps it's because Mayim itself is a life-giving force and we are so largely made of salt water. There is something about thirst too as in our "thirst for knowledge" and for a compassionate truth about all of us, together, in unity, even disparate as we are, in so many ways, we are, ONE.
Fish run in schools and so do we have, many schools of Judaism, but basically we're all together in this wide ocean, and to plumb its depths, seems to be a plum role for us all, because in so doing, we uncover and discover more truths about the meaning of Echod itself. And of course, another ARC is Noah's ARK and the rainbow itself, all colors, under the sun, made of drops of prismatic water.
There is beauty wherever one looks, the poetry, the ode, in the geode itself. Let's mine for amethysts. I am aware of the water carrier and of being myself, an Aquarian though not quite yet, an Antiquarian!
Ah plum, the royal color: Purple!
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