Gerson: No burning bush needed to find God. He is found in acts of everyday kindness.

At this time of year, in the synagogue, we Jews are reading the initial part of the Book of Exodus, hearing of the early life of our leader Moses.

In Exodus 3, in a famous passage, Moses is called by God to leadership at a rather surprising place, at a lowly bush.

"And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush ... and the bush was not consumed." (Exodus 3:2)  The obvious question: Why would God reveal Himself to Moses at a scanty bush? Even the Hebrew word for the bush, s'neh, has a rather humble sound to it.

As it is,  the Rabbinic commentators have a very good answer to the query.  It was to show that God need not be searched for in lofty, breathtaking places.  Rather, He is often found in simple, unexpected spots.

I  now look back at my long rabbinic career − this year marks 50 years since ordination − and I think of a question that has often been asked of me by lay people:  "Rabbi, where do I find God?"  Well, for this we need to look to the message embodied in the appearance of the bush unto Moses in Exodus 3.

Some seek God in magnificent cathedrals, or in ornate synagogues.  In my travels through the years, I have visited some of these places.  And yes, I have many memorable photos.

Others look for God in complicated and detailed tracts of theology and philosophy.  Yes, I have studied many of these, especially in college and rabbinic school.  I have been challenged by the words of Thomas Aquinas, Moses Maimonides, Baruch Spinoza, and others.

Gerson: Attack on Israel makes this year's Chanukah somewhat bittersweet

God is found most in the simple acts of kindness put forth by people around us.  And when these people do this, they are living "in God's image" as they were intended. (Genesis 1:26)

Of late, I have seen two wonderful examples of this.  In my own life, it so happens that because of a medical reason, my walking is visibly not what it used to be. (Although , thank God, I still get around).  Invariably, people whom I do not know, help me − opening doors, moving back my seat, letting me go in front of them in line. There are so many good, decent people in this world.  HERE is God.

And then, at this time of Israel's great challenge having been brutally attacked by Hamas, so many of the Christian faith here in Athens, some not known by me, have reached out to me with their prayers, concerns, and love.  HERE, too, is God.

Yes, may we find God, not in lofty places, nor in complicated philosophic tracts, but in simple people, truly God's greatest creation.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Rabbi Ronald Gerson says acts of kindness are how you can find God