Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Faith & Reason. Rational and the supra-rational .The infinite power of faith.
Once Rabbi Sholom Dov Ber was walking with his son, Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchak in the city of Rostov Russia, and he was teaching him a very deep concept in mysticism. The son was so deep in thought, he kept on walking, even while his father stopped for a moment. Only after being called by his name, he became aware and walked back to where his father was standing.
The father then told his son. “The difference between a human – rational mind and a G-dly mind is that; a regular rational human mind, starts first by applying itself, and then comes inevitably to the realization that it is not humanly possible to understand everything so it then turns to faith. While a G-dly mind begins with faith, and then, to be personally connected it will make every human effort to understand and be rational.”
This story took place in front of a building, which later on, became the headquarters for the feared GPU. Years later, Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchok was incarcerated for teaching Judaism and was sentenced to death. In the course of his interrogation in this building, he told his interrogators what he heard from his father at that place, years earlier.
Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchok now understood, why his father, told him those words of strength, at precisely this spot. Let us explain.
Both the G-dly, and rational approach, includes both faith and normal rational thinking. In the former, faith is followed by the rational and personal connection, and in the latter, rational thinking ends with faith. So, in the end, what difference is there between one approach versus the other?
The use of a rational mind, fits into the category and classification of the “created” things in this natural world. Things we use, in this world. While the G-dly mind approach, where faith is the starting point, this is a connection from the start with a force higher than the created, and is attached and connected with the category of “Creator.”
This is the ultimate peak and plateau, expected of each person, “and you are connected to G-d your G-d (and therefore) – you are all alive eternally”. The source of energy, above and beyond all that is created.
When a person approaches matters, whatever it may be in his life, and his first approach is logical, and only afterwards when he recognizes the limitations of his mind, turns to the deeper faculty inside, we call faith, since the foundation and first step is his own mind, and this is what gives birth to his faith, his faith, forever and always will be limited to the logic, which gives birth and is the source of this faith.
In addition, since logic can always be argued, the moment anyone comes up with an argument to his logic, the pillar and foundation for his faith, out goes the faith. Since the faith is an outgrowth of his logic, it will always be limited and dependent on the parameters and strength of his logic.
On the other hand, if our first approach to circumstances in life, and/or to whatever challenge we are facing, is an unwavering faith in an infinite All knowing, All powerful G-d, who made the world and all the situations one may be facing…then, I will KNOW in a convincing manner, beyond rational thinking, that He certainly has a good and positive purpose for everything He does, and gave me the strength to withstand whatever. My thinking is and will be permeated and saturated totally, by the acceptance of His omniscience and omnipotence.
This faith and the power it fuels is unlimited and knows no boundaries. To begin with, it supersedes logic and rational thinking. The thinking that comes afterwards is then infused with this faith and is incomparably stronger than the first way.
This is why Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchok repeated this concept to his interrogators. He wanted them to know, they where dealing with someone who is infused totally and completely by a supra-rational faith. Just like it is impossible to imprison G-d and spirituality, G-d is bigger than any force here in this world, so too, sentencing him would not accomplish their goal of stopping the spread of Judaism in Russia at that time.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
To surrender oneself before G-d. The Ultimate strength and courage to be a King.
Knowledge is Power -- G-dly Knowledge is SUPER POWER.
“You shall place upon yourself a King.” Deut. 17:15. In fact, the Torah designates every person as a king! Kol Yisroel Melachim Haim. Zohar. The role of every King, is to rule over his very own “small world”. To take responsibility of his/her own life in the ongoing war and struggle that starts from the moment of birth, of the good inclination over the evil and bad inclination. To gain ground, conquer, and take control over his “small city”.
According to Jewish law, a king must be anointed by the special oil prepared by Moses. So the next natural question is, how can every person be considered a king? Every person was not anointed with this special miraculous oil?
The rule is also, that the child of a king automatically takes over the throne from his father. Now, since each person is like an only child to our Father in heaven – G-d, the kingship is automatically passed to each and every person – the only child to G-d.
However, how can anyone suggest each and every person is like an only child when in fact there are so many others in the world?
The answer is that we are talking about G-d. Parents undoubtedly will have a very different type of mentality and emotions towards an only child or a child who is one of many. When it comes to G-d, the Holy Baal Shem Tov taught, “the love G-d has for every single person is infinitely greater than the love of an elderly couple who gave birth to an only child in their old age.” G-d in his infinite possibilities has that type of infinite love towards each person as if there was no one else but him.
We are still not there yet explaining the special relationship each one of us has with G-d, being considered a King and an only child.
Since G-d is forever as the verse says, “You and your years never end …”, He, is above and beyond the concept of time itself, how can anyone ever inherit anything from Him? G-d never ends and has no ending, to pass anything over to someone else?
When it is written in the Torah the land of Israel is an inheritance for every Jew, the intention is not an inheritance from our forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but that every Jew no matter where he finds himself is granted a claim to the land, “an inheritance to the (entire) congregation of Jacob “, granted by G-d Himself.
The inheritance, is our claim granted by the infinite G-d to each and every one.
Those who study the wisdom of G-d in the Torah -- the most powerful energy of G-d granted to the universe, they are the true rulers and kings over this world. The study of Torah is not limited to any one group but as the Rambam writes, every Jew is obligated to study the Torah. Therefore it follows every person can study and actively become that king with the very real power to rule and conquer successfully their “small cities”.
This awareness that every person is a King, grants every person in his spiritual service to G-d the determination and the very real courage to face and stand up to the struggles, temptations, and machinations of the evil inclination.
This awareness and the strength it brings with it will never lead to arrogance because, he knows this is a strength exclusively granted by G-d and is not a power that is self-generated from inside himself. Jewish law says, even a King must stands like a servant, before G-d.
It is necessarily because he is humble and surrenders himself before the supreme kingship of G-d from whom he knows he is receiving all that strength he can fulfill “do not be afraid before any human being.”
Mindful that his title as a king is not about his own existence and identity, but that he is a messenger granted power by G-d, through the study and practice of the Torah and its commandments, that he carries with him the strength of the Torah - G-ds strength - the wisdom of G-d - to take on and stand firm before any challenge that he/she ultimately conquers his/her little city and succeeds to become the ruler and king over themselves.
Friday, August 11, 2017
A KOSHER Mezuzah scroll is unbelievable protection. Invest in some for your own protection TODAY.
Knowledge is Power -- G-dly Knowledge is SUPER POWER
“And you shall write them on the doorposts of your home and gateways; so that your days are lengthened.” The Tur (Rabbi Jacob ben Asher, Cologne, 1270 – Toledo, Spain c. 1340), writes clearly, “Mezuzot (the Kosher scroll inside the cover, written by hand on parchment) bring protection to one’s home”, and the Bach (Rabbi Joel ben Samuel Sirkis, 1561 to 1640), writes “The mezuzah - brings a benefit and delight from the mitzvah itself, in addition to the reward (from G-d for observing one of his commandments) etc.”
In all mitzvois (commandments of the Torah) if a person does it strictly for the reward he is not doing it for the right reason. In the case of Mezuzah, the protection isn’t the reward, it is what comes along automatically, with the doing of this mitzvah. G-d commanded us to place Mezuzot, specifically for the sake of its protection…
That is why even when a mezuzah is not up on a doorpost in the place that would fulfill the necessary requirements to fulfill the Mitzvah, the scroll of the mezuzah in itself, brings protection.
Rabbi YY Schneerson always had a Mezuzah on his desk. Rabbi MM Schneerson - the Lubavitcher Rebbe recommended many times for people to do the same, and to place one in an appropriate covering next to a bed where people where having bad dreams.
Maimonides writes: “Those who write names of Angels etc. inside a Mezuzah are included in those who have no share in the world to come, because, they have taken a great Mitzvah and turned it into an amulet and charm for their own personal purposes.”
The foolishness of these people by adding inside the Mezuzah additional names of Angels is that it would appear from their actions the scroll isn’t enough or complete and is being manipulated from being a commandment to serve G-d and with the help of G-d, to the input of their own vanities, solely to serve their own purposes.
The Tosfos Yom Tov (Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller, 1578–1654) notes on the laws in the Mishna regarding impurity, “a stick that had a carving (receptacle) to receive a mezuzah inside of it”, and he says, “in the times of the Mishna people would carry Mezuzot with them (in their walking sticks) and they considered it a G-dly Holy act and a protection for themselves.”
This understanding, that the scroll and energy of the (mitzvah of) Mezuzah itself brings protection with it, sheds light on a story that took place with Rabbi YY Schneerson 1927, when he was brutalized and imprisoned in communist Russia for teaching Judaism. During the interrogation he was asked, if he realized where he was? Rabbi YY Schneerson answered. “Certainly. I am in place that is exempt from having a Mezuzah”. By mentioning and attaching the Mezuzah to those quarters albeit in a negative form, that alone, brought the protection of the Mezuzah for himself where he needed it badly.
Maimonides writes: “A person must show great care in [the observance of the mitzvah of] mezuzah, because it is an obligation which is constantly incumbent upon everyone.
[Through its observance,] whenever a person enters or leaves [the house], he will encounter the unity of the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, and remember his love for Him. Thus, he will awake from his sleep and his obsession with the vanities of time, and recognize that there is nothing which lasts for eternity except the knowledge of the Creator of the world. This will motivate him to regain full awareness and follow the paths of the upright.
Whoever wears tefillin on his head and arm, wears tzitzit on his garment, and has a mezuzah on his entrance, can be assured that he will not sin, because he has many who will remind him. These are the angels, who will prevent him from sinning, as [Psalms 34:8] states: "The angel of God camps around those who fear Him and protects them.
Blessed be G-d who offers assistance.”
In these Hebrew words, Maimonides is emphasizing the uniqueness and exclusivity of the Mezuzah that unlike even Tefillin and Tzitzit, the actual scroll itself is a collaborator and assists in accomplishing the necessary results that this Mitzvah brings to the person who observes it.
I have personally many many stories from Rabbi MM Schneerson how Mezuzot saved people from car accidents, death, being able to have children etc. A KOSHER mezuzah scroll is unbelievable protection. Invest in some for your own protection TODAY.
“G-d will guard you going out and coming in from now and until forever.”
Friday, August 4, 2017
Prayer is a two-way bridge that connects and perfects our souls.
Knowledge is Power -- G-dly Knowledge is SUPER Power.
….Moses prayed “at that time” to G-d, 505 prayers, for this clemency, (he was punished not to enter the Land of Israel) to allow him to cross over the Jordan River, complete the conquest of the land, and see the good land of Israel, in consideration of his many good deeds. He also solicited G-d’s absolute, undeserved mercy, feeling that his merits were not sufficient to warrant his prayer being accepted. “I both prayed to G-d and entreated Him at that time, saying,
‘G-d, I know that You are merciful even when meting out justice, for when the people sinned by making the Golden Calf, You took the initiative to show me, Your servant, Your magnanimity; that Your right hand, which metes out loving-kindness, is stronger than Your left hand, which metes out strict justice, and can overcome it; and that it is our prayers that make Your mercy override Your justice. That is why I am praying to You now and requesting mercy. For who is like You, G-d, in heaven or on earth, who can match Your deeds and Your might? Mortal kings have advisors who convince him not to be lenient or merciful, but You can do whatever You please.’
The words, Moses prayed “at that time” is not being precise. When exactly? That’s because, at whatever time a person feels the need to pray and attach him/herself to G-d, we learn from Moses, and emulate his example, even if it takes praying 505 prayers, no one would know better than Moses that prayer is the most powerful tool to turn to, “at that time”.
The Preacher of Koznitz once said. “I have no better enjoyment in this world than a good prayer.”
In Hebrew, the literal translation of the word for prayer actually means bonding and attachment. Therefore, the real objective in praying is not so much turning to the best source for answers and a relief from whatever the issue might be at that time, as much as it is a strengthening and renewal of one’s bond and attachment with G-d Almighty Himself. When the bond is tight and clear, the problems on their own disintegrate.
During prayer especially when done in a synagogue the soul of a person can divest itself from any of the physical limitations of the body, it ascends to the Garden of Eden and strolls around the elevated and higher dimensions. After ones prayers when one must proceed with the obligations of the day, the physical world will once again place its influence and clutches on the soul.
Rabbi Shneur Zalman taught. “Prayer before G-d has (the potential for) a total and complete spiritual and soul redemption from the constraints in one’s life. If all of Israel would pray with the concentration necessary, and the warmth and light generated from the love for G-d created through the exercise of prayer did not dissipate and evaporate after ones prayers – Messiah would have come, in a physical sense.”
At the beginning of the book of Genesis, prayer is compared to a ladder, set on the ground with its top reaching into the heavens. Prayer is the medium to connect “ground”, that part of the soul enclothed in our bodies and on earth, with “heaven” the other more important higher part of our souls, the part much larger than being able to descend into our lowly bodies and existence. Prayer is a two-way bridge that connects and perfects our souls.
When a person puts him/herself into the words of the prayer as designed by the great mystical traditions, not only is the coarseness and physicality of the earth elevated and refined to a more translucent and purer form, the perspective of the heavens and the experience of G-dliness is drawn back down to the earthly level the person is praying from.
When a person prays with the complete concentration necessary, every letter and every word, every thought and every spark of energy generated from the prayers, creates angels that serve as messengers who reach G-d. These exact messengers return, with the fruits of our directed prayers.
When Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812, founder of Chabad Chassidism) neared his twentieth year, he decided -- with the consent of his wife, Rebbetzin Sterna -- to travel to a center of Torah learning and service of G‑d.
At that time Vilna and Mezeritch were the great Jewish capitals of Eastern Europe. Vilna was the seat of Rabbi Eliyahu, the famed Gaon of Vilna, and Mezeritch was the hometown of Rabbi DovBer (the "Maggid"), leader of the Chassidic movement.
Related Rabbi Schneur Zalman: "I debated as to where I should go. I knew that in Vilna one was taught how to study, and in Mezeritch one could learn how to pray. To study I was somewhat able, but of prayer I knew very little. So I went to Mezeritch.
"The Almighty blessed me with making the right choice.”
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Torah has all the science in it! Einsteins loss. Nice story 2.
Knowledge is Power -- G-dly Knowledge is SUPER POWER.
This is just an article and not the first chapter of a book so I will be short and to the point. I have mentioned many times before, everything science discovers is no more, than principles already in place by G-d The Creator of this universe, and reflected in the blueprint G-d Himself referred to, when creating this world. Everything in this world, has its roots and principles already expressed in the wisdom, and rules, of our Torah, and the practices, of our Tzadikim – Spiritual giants.
Quantum entanglement is an area of extremely active research by the physics community, and its effects have been demonstrated experimentally with photons, neutrinos, electrons, molecules the size of buckyballs, and even small diamonds. Research is also focused on the utilization of entanglement effects in communication and computation.
Quantum entanglement is a quantum mechanical phenomenon in which the quantum states of two or more objects have to be described with reference to each other, even though the individual objects may be – and here is a key word - spatially separated.
This leads to correlations between observable physical properties of the systems.
For example, it is possible to prepare two particles in a single quantum state such that when one is observed to be spin-up, the other one will always be observed to be spin-down and vice versa, this despite the fact that it is impossible to predict, according to quantum mechanics, which set of measurements will be observed.
As a result, measurements performed on one system seem to be -- instantaneously -- influencing other systems entangled with it.
At the same time, it prompts some of the more philosophically oriented discussions concerning quantum theory.
The correlations predicted by quantum mechanics, and observed in experiment; reject the principle of local realism, which is that information about the state of a system should only be mediated by interactions in its immediate surroundings.
Different views of what is actually occurring in the process of quantum entanglement can be related to different interpretations of quantum mechanics.
In the case of entangled particles, such a measurement will be on the entangled system as a whole. It thus appears that one particle of an entangled pair "knows" what measurement has been performed on the other, and with what outcome, even though there is no known means for such information to be communicated between the particles, which at the time of measurement may be separated by arbitrarily large distances.
Einstein referred to it as "spooky action at a distance”, that’s because he wasn’t a Torah observant Jew!
This has been shown to occur even when the measurements are performed more quickly than light could travel between the sites of measurement. Recent experiments have measured entangled particles within less than one hundredth of a percent of the travel time of light between them.
Although, a person must either lift or drag an object to acquire it into his/her possession, Maimonides writes the following; (Mechirah - Chapter Five Halacha 4)
….. Movable property can be acquired without meshichah (dragging) in the following situation. Reuven sold movable property to Shimon for 50 zuz. Shimon acquired the movable property and obligated himself to pay Reuven the price agreed upon. After Shimon became obligated to Reuven for these 50 zuz, he desired to sell wine, an animal, a servant or other similar movable property. Reuven told him: "Sell that object to me for the 50 zuz that you owe me for the sale," and Shimon agreed.
Reuven acquires the movable property regardless of where it is located, even though he neither performed meshichah nor lifted the object up.”
Here you have one classic example in Jewish Law where the act of a person, after entanglement, is able to affect an object no matter where it is found, instantly, with a change and transfer in ownership, with all the legal and spiritual ramifications and ripple effects this brings about.
Here is one story of many, on this subject. A Chassidic Master, a Rebbe, is intrinsically and soulfully connected with his followers, IF they are connected with him. The pair communicate, both ways, instantly, and there is no limitation of local realism. My Chassidic teacher Rabbi Mendel Futerfas was sent to the Siberian gulag for 15 years. On his birthday, he had a very strong intense yearning to receive a blessing from the Rebbe.
In the gulag he imagined himself entering the Private room of the Rebbe and approaching the Rebbe with a request for a blessing. His wife in Paris received a response and good wishes. It was only years later when he was finally liberated from that hell, and re-connected with his wife, when this matter came up for conversation they put two and two together.
There is a beautiful lullaby we sing to the children in Yiddish and it ends with, “Torah is the best merchandise – Torah IS the BEST merchandise.” BTW - Beats singing a Brittany Spears or any other garbage song, into the pure innocent penetrable souls.
Friday, July 14, 2017
Zealousness. You receive what you put out.
Knowledge is power -- G-dly knowledge is SUPER POWER.
“Not only the tribe of Levi, but any one of the inhabitants of the world whose spirit generously motivates him and he understands with his wisdom to set himself aside and stand before God to serve Him and minister to Him and to know God, proceeding justly as God made him, removing from his neck the yoke of the many reckonings which people seek, he is sanctified as holy of holies.
God will be His portion and heritage forever and will provide what is sufficient for him in this world like He provides for the priests and the Levites. And thus David declared [Psalms 16:5]: "God is the lot of my portion; You are my cup, You support my lot."
Maimonides Shemita chapt. 13 Hal. 13.
Maimonides is saying something here, which is truly incredible and remarkable. Many commentators remark and are amazed at this point. Someone, including Gentiles, who are not born to the tribe of Levi and is not part of that family, has the possibility to acquire the spiritual and actual characteristics and benefits of the Levites, as if they were one of them!!! How is it possible, “he is sanctified holy of holies.”
In an earlier time, the Bible tells us a story of Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron the high priest, who took matters in his own hands. He witnessed the public desecration of the law, when he saw the leader of the tribe of Shimon carry on in a romantic relationship with a Midianite princess, and killed both of them.
As a reward for taking this action, and stopping the plague that was going on, G-d rewarded Pinchas by making him and his progeny Priests, forever. In fact all the priests who served in the Temple in Jerusalem where his descendants!
The same question is asked here. It is only if ones father is a priest can a child be a Priest. If the priesthood is totally dependent on the father one has, and it is a matter of a natural reality, once Pinchas was not a priest, how was he able to become one?
The answer lies in the type of behavior Pinchas projected to earn this reward.
Most people who serve G-d with self –sacrifice do so as an anomaly. For the most part they will use their minds, things are measured, and it is only in the exceptional moment they will act beyond the call of duty and give it all they are, and all they have.
There are others, perhaps very few, who have no personal desires outside their life calling. Their lives, the essence of their being is entirely dedicated to G-d and every detail in their lives are directed in that path.
This was the life of Pinchas. He endangered his own life to do something he was not asked or expected to do. If he were to ask a Rabbi how he should act in this situation, he would not have been told to do what he did. The moment was calling “him” to act, to totally lunge himself entirely for the cause, for the great desecration of G-ds name at the time. He was zealous for the jealousy of G-d.
Since he acted in a way that was totally beyond his duty, and/or anything expected of him, he was treated by G-d in a way that is normally not the way of G-d and of the world. He received the reward of Priesthood for him and his children forever.
When any person so dedicates himself and his resources for a holy purpose, even to the point that it goes beyond logical rational thinking, it’s a calling to his essence and of his essence, G-d responds in kind with His essence, to whatever person it may be, and becomes this persons inheritance. G-d personally, provides for this individual.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)