Spiritual Perspectives
'The Messiah' Lifts My Spirits

Avrum Organick
Special to The Independent

At this season of the year, I always experience a particular spiritual uplift on hearing Handel's spectacular oratorio, "The Messiah." On many occasions I've stood up with other members of the audience in a concert hall when invited by the conductor to join in the singing of the rousing "Hallelujah" chorus. In quieter moments I've listened intently to the music in my collection of recorded performances on my CDs or watched as well on a DVD of a live performance, sometimes following the music with the complete score before me.

One cannot but be struck by the powerful words of the Old Testament passage from Isaiah 9:2,6: "For unto us a child is born: unto us a son is given..." The music increases in intensity with a syncopated beat, "and the government shall be upon his shoulders..." Then the music becomes more insistent, describing the attributes of the ruler who God will bring, "And his name shall be called: Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

These passages never fail to bring to me a sense of joy, a spiritual uplift, a feeling of excitement and pride that they are the words of a Hebrew prophet to whom, as a Jew, I am linked through thousands of years of cultural inheritance. I am also aware that these passages from Isaiah are interpreted by my Christian brothers and sisters as prophesy of the coming of Jesus Christ. But I am rooted so deeply in my own faith, and at the same time trained as a secular scientist, that I am led to an interpretation based on the historical context in which these words appear. In the 7th century BCE, the prophet's words were spoken to give hope and encouragement to Ahaz, King of Judah the southern Judaic kingdom based in Jerusalem when threatened by the kings of Syria and Ephraim the northern kingdom of Israel based in Samaria.

Isaiah 7:1: "And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Remaliah, the king of Israel went toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it." Isaiah 7:3-4: "Then said the Lord to Isaiah, 'Go forth now to meet Ahaz... And say unto him, Take heed and be quiet, fear not, neither be fainthearted...'" Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Im'man'u-el."

This last passage is also seen as a prophesy of the virgin birth of Jesus. Hebrew scholars, however, have argued this point for nearly two thousand years, stating that the Hebrew word in the passage is Almah, defined as a "young woman." The Hebrew word for virgin is B'tulah, and B'tulah does not appear in the text.

But as this season approaches, I am untroubled by conflict. As a Jew, I am without fear of accusations of apostasy. I know that when I hear the magnificent music of Georg Friedrich Handel and the singing of the glorious, comforting words of Hebrew prophet, Isaiah, my spirits will be uplifted and my heart will be filled with joy.

Avrum Organick, a retired physician, lives on the Navajo Reservation. He can be contacted at avrumorg@aol.com.

This column is the result of a desire by community members, representing different faith communities, to share their ideas about bringing a spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues.

For information about contributing a guest column, contact Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at the Independent: (505) 863-8611, ext. 218 or lizreligion01@yahoo.com.