What's the image you have when you think of a princess? Cinderella? Snow White? Sleeping Beauty? Let's see, she's about 19 years old, has a "perfect" figure, and smooth skin. The perfect, handsome mystery man comes along. whisks her off her feet onto his white steed, and they live happily ever after. Or maybe the princess in your imagination is out kissing frogs or falling in love with mean spirited monsters in order to see if she can reveal the wealthy, handsome guy who's under a spell?
The princesses we see in fairy tales and Disney films have sweet birds trilling around them when they work. Now, I like birds very much. We learn a lot from them. In fact, I heard a quote recently that keeps playing over and over in my mind: "A bird sings, not because it has an answer, but because it has a song." But of course even if you have a bird you love, that bird will not make you a dress or help you make a pie.
Yet, the Jewish woman has a legacy of royalty. So what's that supposed to mean?
What are the qualities of true royalty? I'm not talking power hungry, evil rulers.
What would you say? Here are some qualities: dignified, kind, confident, courageous and righteous. There is this idea of royalty by birth. In Egypt it was the fist born of the first born of the first born, and so on. In Judaism, we are all considered children of the King. Sarah and Avraham were considered royals of the nation and if you are a Jew today (even by conversion) you are descended from them. So stepping into the royalty that you are means stepping into nobility.
Being noble in the truest sense is about being service oriented. In Judaism there is a morality that comes with the position. There's an accountability to the Highest Source, to your nation, to yourself, and to all mankind. There is also a sense of purpose and building--the building of a nation. (This is not about "being better" than others it's about being your personal best.)
Our matriarch Sarah's name means princess. She was so striking in her poise, wisdom, beauty, and essential power, that a princess of Egypt (Hagar) followed her to become her hand maiden!
Esther was made Queen of Persia and is another role model about the purpose of position.
No where, in any of our stories and history, is the Jewish woman waiting around for her prince to come rescue her or wake her up. If you study the scriptures, you'll find that there are plenty of times that it's the woman who saves the day. It's a true partnership between man, woman, and God.
Rise up. Take your place in the nation. There's no need to kiss frogs.
The princesses we see in fairy tales and Disney films have sweet birds trilling around them when they work. Now, I like birds very much. We learn a lot from them. In fact, I heard a quote recently that keeps playing over and over in my mind: "A bird sings, not because it has an answer, but because it has a song." But of course even if you have a bird you love, that bird will not make you a dress or help you make a pie.
Yet, the Jewish woman has a legacy of royalty. So what's that supposed to mean?
What are the qualities of true royalty? I'm not talking power hungry, evil rulers.
What would you say? Here are some qualities: dignified, kind, confident, courageous and righteous. There is this idea of royalty by birth. In Egypt it was the fist born of the first born of the first born, and so on. In Judaism, we are all considered children of the King. Sarah and Avraham were considered royals of the nation and if you are a Jew today (even by conversion) you are descended from them. So stepping into the royalty that you are means stepping into nobility.
Being noble in the truest sense is about being service oriented. In Judaism there is a morality that comes with the position. There's an accountability to the Highest Source, to your nation, to yourself, and to all mankind. There is also a sense of purpose and building--the building of a nation. (This is not about "being better" than others it's about being your personal best.)
Our matriarch Sarah's name means princess. She was so striking in her poise, wisdom, beauty, and essential power, that a princess of Egypt (Hagar) followed her to become her hand maiden!
Esther was made Queen of Persia and is another role model about the purpose of position.
No where, in any of our stories and history, is the Jewish woman waiting around for her prince to come rescue her or wake her up. If you study the scriptures, you'll find that there are plenty of times that it's the woman who saves the day. It's a true partnership between man, woman, and God.
Rise up. Take your place in the nation. There's no need to kiss frogs.
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