D'var Torah

December/January – Kislev-Tevet 5768

Recipes and Directions

Unlike my grandmother who had no sense of direction and frequently drove the same road over and over again, I would be among the first to admit that I do not readily to ask for directions when lost. By the same token, when I cook or bake, rarely do I prepare anything without a recipe in front of me. Technologically challenged, I am fascinated by the concept of the Global Position System (GPS), but totally unable to comprehend the principles upon which it is based. Wikipedia revealed the following:

Using the C/A code - To start off, the receiver picks which C/A codes to listen for by PRN number, based on the almanac information it has previously acquired. As it detects each satellite's signal, it identifies it by its distinct C/A code pattern, then measures the time delay for each satellite. To do this, the receiver produces an identical C/A sequence using the same seed number <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_seed> as the satellite. By lining up the two sequences, the receiver can measure the delay and calculate the distance to the satellite, called the pseudorange <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudorange> . Overlapping pseudoranges, represented as curves, are modified to yield the probable position. Next, the orbital position data, or ephemeris <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephemeris> , from the Navigation Message is then downloaded to calculate the satellite's precise position. A more-sensitive receiver will potentially acquire the ephemeris data more quickly than a less-sensitive receiver, especially in a noisy environment. Knowing the position and the distance of a satellite indicates that the receiver is located somewhere on the surface of an imaginary sphere centered on that satellite and whose radius is the distance to it. Receivers can substitute altitude for one satellite, which the GPS receiver translates to a pseudorange measured from the center of the earth.

Huh? Admittedly more confused than ever, I dug a bit deeper to find out that a GPS receiver must be locked on to the signal of at least three satellites to calculate a 2D position (latitude and longitude) and track movement. With four or more satellites in view, the receiver can determine the user's 3D position (latitude, longitude and altitude). Once the user's position has been determined, the GPS unit can calculate other information, such as speed, bearing, track, trip distance, distance to destination, sunrise and sunset time and more. With all of this information, I have figured out that I no longer need to ask directions; I just need to have the right piece of equipment.

Prayer services are our GPS, our God Positioning System. Especially on Shabbat, lining ourselves up along a kind of spectrum that takes us from point A to point B and beyond, we follow a trajectory that begins with a focus on the self, repositions us in the context of a community, refocuses our hopes, aspirations, dreams, brings us literally and figuratively to the foot of Mount Sinai, where we connect to Jewish generations past, present, and future. Standing (or sitting) together during services, we fellow travelers depend on one another as we journey together. The rituals of prayer and of the prayer service are designed so as to enable us to more fully experience the joy and delight of shared worship. We position ourselves confronted by the complexities of the created universe in which we live, enriched by the life-lessons and values transmitted through sacred text, eager to experience a world at peace.

On Shabbat morning, December 15, we will all share in a learners’ service, designed to facilitate our access to the rules of the road and to help each of us find the beauty in the journey. In much the same way that a Passover Seder is experiential, with stops along the way, the learner’s service, too, will provide for breaks, pauses, and interactive opportunities. Please join us as we teach and learn from one another.
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