FF:QLD Anakin was a Jew?

The release of the latest Star Wars film -- "The Phantom Menace" -- leaves us wondering: What do the Force, the Dark Side, Jedi Knights and Lightsabers all have to do with Judaism?

While there is no comparison between the fantasy of technicolor and the reality of life, there are universal aspects of Torah wisdom reflected metaphorically in the film series.

Judaism says the Force is the ultimate power of the universe: God. The Jedi Knight strives to perfect his awareness that God is constantly watching and teaching us through the events of life. Walking with God is the highest utilization of the power of the intellect. With Lightsaber in hand, the Jedi never allows his mind to lose focus of the message the Almighty seeks to convey.

Jedi master Yoda teaches a wisdom simple, yet profound. He makes his student unlearn what he had been taught, helping tune him in to the subtle world around him to learn its truths. The Jedi clears away layers of gunk, connecting with his internal compass. This opens the fountains of innate goodness and releases flow from the Light Side.

The Jedi learns that every bit of desire to go against God creates distance. Nothing is more precious than closeness to God, and every character flaw is treated as an intruder trying to break that relationship. The master demands those flaws be squelched with a vengeance.

The Jedi is devoted to the Force because God has all the right connections. He can cure disease. He can lift financial burdens. He can arrange it all. If you know the Force is always with you, that's living with ultimate power. If you forget, then God has to focus you again -- by breaking the flow.

Why do we lose our focus on reality?

The Dark Side comes to confuse us.

Every human is composed of two parts -- body and soul. The body seeks temporal pleasures of honor, food, lust. The soul seeks deeper eternal pleasures of love, meaning, connection.

Ahhh, so in *lusting* after girls I'm fallling to the dark side

The Jedi knows that while physical pleasure is an essential part of life, it is only a steppingstone to higher pleasures. True freedom is the ability to put the soul in control. By making the choice of soul over body, we harness the galaxy and become one with the Force. Kahli, I refer to your earler statement about that very phenomena, interesting, huh?.

The Sith Warrior chooses a different path. Seduced by greed and power, he follows the temptations of the Dark Side. Judaism calls this the Yetzer Hara -- the self-destructive bodily forces that pull us away from God.

The Dark Side gives an illusion of victory. But behind the black body armor, Darth Vader's reign of terror is a sad phantasm. His manipulations ultimately destroy lives, society -- and himself.

The battle for good and evil is played out, as Darth -- using powers far more dangerous than Lightsabers -- seeks to lure Luke down the same dark path.

At every step, God tests our discipline and determination. A Jedi Knight must be strong in conviction and cannot doubt. He must be certain that the Force is with him.

We attain this confidence through knowledge, not faith. God knows that through sincere investigation, His existence is abundantly clear. We observe the wonders of nature. We cry out and are rescued from difficulty. In our own way, we have seen seas split and mountains move.

Belief is bolstered through study of Torah. As the ultimate repository of wisdom, Torah reveals the Source of all wisdom.

Every human longs for the transcendental. The Jedi strives to lift into oneness with God. To enjoy Him at all times and share in His power.

In the end, the battle between good and evil is played out within each of us. Our challenge is to resist the temptations of the Dark Side -- and with the help of God, become a master of self.

May the Force be with you.

Published: Sunday, January 30, 2000

 

For once I would like to see people not try and connect any meaning to a work of art and just see it for what it is.