Hineni - Here Am I

I just learned a new Hebrew word: "Hineni" (hee-ney-nee). Translation: Here Am I. The New York Times Magazine this weekend had reviews of 25 very different pieces of new music. One of those was "You Want It Darker" by Leonard Cohen, from his last (final) album. Give it a listen on YouTube. You can follow the lyrics below. The poetry is too rich to absorb in one listen. The word "Hineni" is in the chorus of the song.

I used to be puzzled that we (of the Abrahamic faiths) end our prayers with "Amen", which seems to mean, "I agree with what I just said". Wouldn't "Hineni" be a more appropriate conclusion to prayer? For instance, when I pray for peace in this world or for comfort for the afflicted, finishing with "Hineni" would be saying "Here am I, willing to do my part in that peace and healing".

You Want It Darker

Leonard Cohen

If you are the dealer, I'm out of the game
If you are the healer, it means I'm broken and lame
If thine is the glory then mine must be the shame
You want it darker
We kill the flame

Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
Vilified, crucified, in the human frame
A million candles burning for the help that never came
You want it darker

Hineni, hineni
I'm ready, my lord

There's a lover in the story
But the story's still the same
There's a lullaby for suffering
And a paradox to blame
But it's written in the scriptures
And it's not some idle claim
You want it darker
We kill the flame

They're lining up the prisoners
And the guards are taking aim
I struggled with some demons
They were middle class and tame
I didn't know I had permission to murder and to maim
You want it darker

Hineni, hineni
I'm ready, my lord

Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
Vilified, crucified, in the human frame
A million candles burning for the love that never came
You want it darker
We kill the flame

If you are the dealer, let me out of the game
If you are the healer, I'm broken and lame
If thine is the glory, mine must be the shame
You want it darker

Hineni, hineni
Hineni, hineni
I'm ready, my lord

Hineni
Hineni, hineni
Hineni

Songwriters: Leonard Cohen / Patrick Leonard

You Want It Darker lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Why do we penalize "hate" crimes?

A recent incident of a racially motivated shooting brought out an online comment questioning the logic of "hate crime" laws.

My response:

I think you are missing the point. "Hate" crimes are not defined by somw quality of the victim. They are defined by the motives of the perpetrator. We have always taken motive into account in determining the consequences of criminal acts. The wide range of penalties for killing a person are an obvious example.

When you say "All live should have the same importance ...", you are expressing a lovely ideal. I only wish that it were true, both in the law and in people's actual behavior. Sadly, it isn't. And we can only move society toward that lovely ideal by educating people. Teaching people that hatred directed toward those who are different from us (in race, religion, economic class, etc) is socially and legally unacceptable.