Poppyseed’s Take on God

“God is a She, Mom.”

Really, Poppyseed. She’s a girl?

Poppyseed rolled her eyes. “No, not like us. She’s God.”

Much clearer.

“She told me that. She told me when we were playing in your tummy. Remember…before I was born?”

Sometimes this kid frightens me.

“When She’s inside a girl’s heart, She’s a girl and when He’s inside a boy’s heart, He’s a boy. Now do you understand?”

What I understand is that there is a most wonderful Midrash (Niddah 30) about the time we spend inside the womb learning Torah. Just as the time of birth approaches, an angel comes and strikes us above the lip, causing us to forget all that we have learned. According to tradition, our tears are over the loss of our knowledge for never again during our lives will we feel as close to God. But we spend the rest of our days in pursuit of that knowledge and of that nearness to the Holy One.

Over the years, Poppyseed has shared with me stories about what it was like for her before she was born. Stories that make me wonder if the angel missed his mark…