Most of the people who have written these articles to date have interpreted the biblical Hebrew word “hineni” (“Here I am” or “I am here”) as a response to a call to duty. I would like to take a different approach.
In my home library, one of the books I reread parts of occasionally is “The Art of Loving” (1956) by Jewish psychoanalyst and philosopher Erich Fromm (1900-1980). I return to it mostly for what it says about the practice of an art. Fromm wrote that mastery of any art requires four personal qualities:
• Discipline. Working at an art only when one feels like it may make one a fairly accomplished dilettante, but one will never become a master.
• Patience. Nobody can master an art who seeks quick results. Even child prodigy composer Franz Schubert (1797-1828) had to write more than 100 works before he created the first of his masterpieces still frequently performed today.
• Concentration. Multi-tasking is not conducive to mastery of an art. One must focus attention on the tasks required without distraction.
• Concern. The art must be “a matter of ultimate concern,” to the point that nothing, or almost nothing, can be more important than the art; and that all or most of one’s life must be devoted to, or related to, the art.
I think all of these qualities can be absorbed into “hineni,” for all of them require that a person truly be here — i.e., be present in one’s body and mind.
I can’t in a short article say more about these qualities or how to cultivate them — save to refer readers to Fromm’s brief, dated in spots but still pertinent and wise book. His thoughts and suggestions will be valuable to anyone wanting more skill in the arts of living, much less any others.
Leon Cohen is editor of The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle.
