Everything, has a deep plan to it. A meaningful story behind the story.

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Knowledge is power.    G-dly knowledge is Super Power.

In the books of mysticism, it explains that the souls of Cain who killed his bother Abel where reincarnated in the bodies of Jethro and Moses.

The reason why Cain killed Abel is because two girls were born with Abel and only one with Cain. As the older brother, Cain felt he was entitled to this extra girl, and so he killed his brother Abel to keep her to himself as a wife.

Jethro’s daughter Zipporah was the reincarnation of this extra sister who was now returned to Moses, the soul of Abel. It’s all been planned out……

The second book of the Torah is called in Hebrew Shemot = names. The book immediately begins with a tremendous anomaly. On the one hand it delineates clearly the names of all the tribes who descended to Egypt. NAMES. On the other hand, the book continues with a series of stories without mentioning any names at all.

The King tells the nurses who are given nicknames, to kill the Jewish boys, and we are told these nurses were Yocheved and Miriam, the mother and sister of Moses. The Torah however doesn’t tell us their names.
There was a man from the house of Levi who took a wife from the house of Levi. No name.

The child is born, the daughter of the king hears a child crying, the sister is standing by, the child is given to the mother of the child to nurse for 24 months, no names.

Although we know Moses was given many names by his relatives, it’s only the name given by the daughter of Pharaoh three months after he is born that remains with Moses.

Moses goes out at the age of 20 to see the travails of his brothers and sees an Egyptian smiting one of his brothers and kills him. The next day, he sees two of his own brothers fighting. When Moses tries to break the fight, they start yelling at Moses for what he had done the day before. Moses is forced to escape Egypt for Midian.

It is only when Moses is Eighty years old, we hear from Moses at the burning Bush!! G-d asks Moses to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt and Moses refuses saying. I have an older brother, and it is not possible anything good could transpire if I accept this position over my older brothers’ honor.

All of this demands some explanation….

Before Joseph passed away he made his brothers swear they would take his bones to Israel. The one who actually took it upon himself to bring Joseph’s tomb to Israel was Moses.

The reason why Moses took more responsibility than the others is because Moses was a descendant of Levi, who was the most involved with his brother Shimon, in the sale of Joseph to the Egyptians.

Moses was placed on a mission to cleanse and rectify the sin of his great grandfather which was still in him as a descendant, and only then he would be worthy of bringing down the commandments from heaven to this world.

Joseph was the youngest in his family when he was torn away and sold to the Egyptians, so was Moses. Because of the decrees in Egypt, Moses the youngest, was taken from his family and raised in the palace of Pharaoh until he escaped to Midian.

Although Jacob called him Joseph, after he ended up in Egypt, Pharaoh gave Joseph an Arabic name, the same was with Moses. It was his Arabic name given to him by the daughter of Pharaoh that stuck with him.

When Joseph was sold by his brothers, he ended up in jail for ten years, it was the Midianites who sold him to Egypt. Therefore, Moses was placed in Jail when he came to Jethro the Midianite, for ten years. Measure for measure to clean the prior stains.

Joseph became a Ruler in Egypt after coming out of his dungeon. Moses was a ruler for 30 years in a foreign land to him, after he was freed from his dungeon in Midian.

Moses final act of cleansing was his refusal not to become G-ds spokesperson at the expense of his brother’s honor. Only after G-d assured Moses, Aaron would be okay with this arrangement, after so many years of self-effacement and cleansing, Moses was ready to be G-ds spokesperson.

Had the Torah told us all the names of the characters above, it would have all sounded as a natural course of events, and only related to the characters named. By keeping it all under wrap, the Torah is alluding to a/THE hidden agenda connected to all those occurrences.

We all go through all types of trial and tribulation. When Moshiach comes we will merit to see the rhythm and the rhyme, that is was all necessary, for our own good.

Don't Bother Me.

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In the field of addictions there is this great debate. Can a person turn their lives around before THE rock bottom fall? Some people, don’t change even after the GREAT fall, until unfortunately it’s all over. Jail, or much worse…….

The thing hopefully gained by the rock bottom fall, is with any luck (G-ds blessing), the realization of the circumstances one is in, which “hopefully” again, leads to the committed resolve and resolution to take control and change their life around.

“Nothing stands in the way of desire/will”. Will, has the energy and strength to steer and control everything in one’s life, but the will must be genuine and total. So if someone is lucky enough and “wills” before the rock bottom fall, they avoid a nasty ride.

The best thing of course is not to get into the bad habit to begin with. That is why we stress the importance of a good upbringing and education, so that the child is shielded and protected from the negative influences and they are set on a course of good routines and habits that will bring happy and accomplished results.

The problem with many who pursue unhealthy and unwholesome practices is that they are not only unaware of its destructive results, many actually believe they are higher and stronger than the force of the negative influence and can manage both the bad and the good together, like one happy mélange of a chocolate vanilla ice-cream cone.

The problem with this example is that both chocolate and vanilla aren’t as harmful as chocolate ice cream and a very toxic tasty cream mixed together. In this combination, the negative is sure to leave its mark in the person ingesting this substance.

Try talking to some seriously overweight person about the harms of eating so much. Or talking to someone on a spending binge, where this will lead them. “Don’t worry I have it all under control.” Or other justifications for habits that are beyond dispute harmful.

Life is real, and the choices we make every day bring serious and very real consequences, good and/or the opposite.

Some people say, “I live for today.”

How about the statement of our sages, “a wise person considers the future”, the ramifications of their choices today, on the tomorrow? Well I don’t care to be a wise guy. Or, I am smarter than all that! Or worse yet, “I don’t believe in any of that!!”. The Ostrich syndrome.

In the same way some people don’t think or consider the consequences of their choices on the future, some people THINK, they are happy now and the suffering they will inevitably receive, when there, they think, is just part of everything, part of the package we call life.

Our Torah, its’ rules and its wisdom, is the ONLY explanation for the super natural existence of the Jewish people. Many, have not followed its practices, and eventually disappear from the scenery. They are absorbed in the greater numbers of the world.

If not for our Torah, our unique practices and our covenant with G-d, we are like everyone else, and should, and would, fall in to the “world” statistics, but we don’t.

Whether it’s the inordinate amount of noble prize winners, or the mere survival of our people, whether it’s the irrational anti-Semitism or the practices that have stood the test of times and afforded the happiest and most fulfilled of lifestyles.

And yet, some people just don’t want to be bothered. They would rather live in the actual or relative superficial shallow consumerism way of living, that is undoubtedly one of the strong roots for divorce rates going through the roof and the lowest SAT scores in schools ever, than to consider the thousands of years of wisdom.

It has been said, the only people who not growing up orthodox, become in their later on years, practicing their faith, are the ones who have “problems” in life. They were not happy about something.

Who doesn’t have “problems”. Who doesn’t have existential questions, like, who am I? what is the purpose? Where does this all lead to?

These people either hit rock bottom or to their CREDIT, realized the emptiness of their lifestyles. These people, decided to turn away from the meaningless lifestyle of more golf, another party, a bigger house and car, and another sitcom to pursue a greater interest in their own identity and the people they are very much a part of.

It’s all about having the good fortune to realize and see where one stands, and appreciate where we must and where we can still reach and experience, in this lifetime.

Are Women, Are Men really all that different???

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I’m listening to this professor of biology and director of a very prestigious genome institute. The discussion was all about men and women. Are they alike or are they not?

Science is always in the process of discovery. Nothing in science can be absolute. As the machines change and people discover new things, different conclusions are reached. The word in the Bible, on the other hand, is the product of an infinite G-d, who foresaw all that would happen, and included in His wisdom, everything that will forever be necessary for mankind. G-ds signature is truth and everything in the Bible is truth. Truth doesn’t change.

That is why Maimonides writes, “this Torah – Bible, will never change.” Anybody who thinks the Bible is antiquated and lacking, denies what the words inside the Bible say, and that which has been transmitted throughout the generations, “And G-d spoke to the Israelites… before each single one of the nation.”

There are over 10 trillion cells in a person’s body. The nucleus of each cell carries 23 pairs of chromosomes which carry the DNA, hereditary info, and execute all the necessary functions. All 22 pairs of the chromosomes in both men and women are identical except for one chromosome pair in the male which is an XY pair and in the female it is an XX pair.

Most scientists and biologists believe that this one difference between men and women is restricted to the reproductive tract and apart from this area in the body everything else is equivalent. Men are identical to each other 99.9%, in their genome, and the equivalence between men and women is 98.5 %.

The question is. If men and women are so similar to each other, how come for every man with rheumatoid arthritis 2 to 3 women will be affected? How come for every girl with autism spectrum disorder, 5 boys will be affected? How come for every man with lupus, 6 women will have the same disorder?

Another example. Men will die younger than women with dilated cardiomyopathy.

This one professor asked his colleagues for an explanation and most gave him the answer, “I don’t know.” When pushed further they would say, perhaps it’s the fault of the XY chromosome or hormones.

His “theory”, is that the difference between men and women is not just limited to the reproduction tract, but on a fundamental level within each cell and all over the body, Men are different than women. ……..

Hello??

Thousands of years ago the Bible already describes to us the difference between men and women. Man serves one purpose, and the creation of a woman serves a complete total other purpose. There are unique strengths and weaknesses in a male and unique strengths and weaknesses in a woman. That is why they serve different roles and have different rules and laws for each gender.

For a man to live by the rules of a woman or vice versa not only misses the potential of each one, it confuses and corrupts their own and each other’s specific destinies.

“G-d did not create even one small creation for naught.” Although there appears to be so many similarities between men and women, mysticism tell us they are fundamentally different. Men think differently than women, and women experience life emotionally, very different than men.

Men are designed to be more of a thinker and aloof, and women are designed to be more nurturing and supportive of each other. Men are physically stronger and naturally attracted to the beauty of women, and women are physically weaker and attracted to the ability of the man to provide.

When a man lives like a man should live, and a woman follows the rules designed specifically according to her nature, each one lives more satisfied and accomplished, and both together enjoy the benefits of each other to its fullest.

Why Chanukah? What's Chanukah?

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Knowledge is Power.  G-dly Knowledge is Super Power.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev (1740–1809) was asked. “Why did the sages institute the holiday of Chanukah to commemorate the miracle of the Hasmonean (Maccabees) victory over the Seleucid Army, and a Holiday of Purim to commemorate the victory of Mordechai and Esther over Haman and the Persians, while no holiday has been established to remember and celebrate the victories that happened long before these two, with the prophetess Deborah and Barak over Sisera, or the miraculous victory of Yechezkel the King over Sancheriv?

The Rabbi answered. There are miracles which blast away the rules of nature through a greater involvement of G-d in those events, but they are temporary and fleeting. Then, there are shines of G-dliness that are so powerful, they penetrate into the actual fiber and character of the day forever, and remain embedded in the day, to connect, and draw from this power every year, and such is the miracle of Chanukah and Purim.”

Just like there are foods that are worn out on us in a few hours, and then there are vaccines we introduce into our bodies that can last a lifetime. Certain influences of G-d are onetime events, and other participations of G-d are eternal.

This is the deeper meaning of the blessing we make when lighting the Chanukah Menorah every night for eight nights, “who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.” The miracle of Chanukah that happened at that time, is available and is shining again at this time!!”

Some people may be walking around with “paper” in their pocket not realizing each and every paper is a hundred-dollar bill. As a result, they may misuse this paper not using the “paper bills” to its full potential. Some people may see shiny rocks and stones on the ground not realizing the value in those stones. The same is also with certain days, and time.

Like objects, certain days and certain times of the day are more inclined to certain opportunities. The seventh day of the week, Shabbat, when observed properly has the strength and qualities to literally become a retreat in time, a vacation without the bills and traveling headaches. Unlike any other day of the week, Shabbat i.e. the seventh day of the week has in its DNA the possibility to give one observing this G-dly day, a true deep soul rest, tranquility and peacefulness.

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772 – 1810) once said. “Through the lighting of the Chanukah lights” (at the proper times, and making the suitable blessings etc.) one draws into their life, into their soul, and into their world the infinite light of G-d. The kind of light that we pray for, “the Lord make His countenance shine upon you, and be gracious to you.”

When the lights shine, and there is less darkness, we are able to see where to go and what to avoid. We can see in clarity what is good and what is not so good. The negative forces thrive in darkness and run away from light. The holy Baal Shem Tov had a very strong affinity for light and would say. “In Hebrew the word for “secret” is the same numerical value as “light”. Whoever has “light” (as in, the candle is a Mitzvah, and Torah is light), knows the secret.” Life has less secrets, and more of truth and reality is uncovered.

The miracle of Chanukah was and is, all about the few and the holy who would not buckle in to the many and the impure. Today, we aren’t remembering the ones who in weakness blended in and assimilated. The story and the holiday of Chanukah is a commemoration and tribute to those who believed and dedicated their lives for the purpose of their faith. It is in their merit; we today can still identify ourselves with our faith. It is in their merit, G-d made the miracle of Chanukah and we light our candles.

Miracles in our Day with the Rambam. The immense power of thought, to change reality.

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This is our regular Maimonides – Rambam coaching column, the great wisdom and inspiration we draw for our own lives, from this great spiritual giant, from his actual words, from the Rambam’s own book of laws.

Since, we are coming up to the holiday of Chanukah when we commemorate and celebrate the miracle of the little jar of pure olive oil that lasted eight days, I will share with you a miracle (an event that takes an unexpected turn for the good) connected with Maimonides, the Rambam. We will see the great guidance and power there is, in and through, the words of this giant, in a totally different light.

Rabbi Menachem Shmuel David Raichik (1918-1998) personal emissary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe(s) for Los Angeles and the West Coast in the USA was greatly regarded by his acquaintances and students as a person who had great piety and someone who had unusual strength to his blessings.

One day a young man who was having difficulty finding his partner in life, a wife, came up to him and asked him for a blessing, for greater success in his efforts.

Rabbi Raichik asked him, if he studied from the book of the Rambam/Maimonides every day. The young man said, he did not. Rabbi Raichik said to him. “Resolve and start to study the laws from the Rambam, every day, and things will improve in your life. And, so it was.

In not too much time afterwards, the young man found his partner for life, a nice young woman, to start his family.

People who heard this story came over to Rabbi Raichik and asked him to explain himself. Did he become a miracle worker? When did he become so G-dly, like a Rebbe, to make this type of promises?

Rabbi Raichik explained. “Some time ago a woman came to me, that it was many years since she was married and was not blessed with a child. I suggested she go to see Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson the Lubavitcher Rebbe, for a blessing and advice. We came to the Rebbe, and when she went by the Rebbe for the well-known Sunday dollars, she asked the Rebbe for his blessings.

The Rebbe asked her if she studied the Rambam on a regular basis, and she answered she did not. The Rebbe suggested she should start doing so on a regular basis, and she would see improved results. Not long afterwards she was blessed with a child.

The next time I went into the Rebbe for a private audience, I asked the Rebbe, if I could publicize this story. The Rebbe said certainly. Isn’t the Rambam the healer of all people? (Not just this lady)”

I hope this will inspire more people to take even more seriously the hidden strengths one can draw for this column in particular, and more importantly, from the laws of the Rambam/Maimonides in general.

    Your thoughts are real, noticed by G-d, and carry legal weight.

If a person takes a cup of beer in his hand and begins reciting a blessing with the intention of saying (the proper blessing over beer) shehakol..., and instead erred and says borey pri hagafen, (the blessing for wine) he is not compelled to repeat [the blessing]. …..

Similarly, if fruits that grow from the earth were placed before him, and he began reciting a blessing with the intention of saying (the correct and proper blessing) borey pri hadamah, and instead erred and said borey pri hatetz, he is not compelled to repeat [the blessing]. … and he fulfilled his obligation, to make a blessing before eating and drinking.

[These decisions were rendered] because, at the time when he mentioned G-d's name and His sovereignty, which are the essence of a blessing, he had the intention of reciting the appropriate blessing for his food. Therefore, since the essence of the blessing was not recited in error, he is considered to have fulfilled his obligation and need not repeat it, although he erred at its conclusion.

          The power of thought,  to actually and legally determine
                                   the status of physical objects!!

All vessels can become susceptible to impurity through thought, but do not lose that susceptibility unless a deed is performed to change their function. A deed, negates the influence of a previous deed or thought, but thought does not negate the influence of a previous thought or deed. (WOW, that’s really powerful. You may want to read this last sentence again.)

What is implied? A vessel one thought to use as a ring for a person, that thought itself, causes a change in the ring's status and makes it subject to ritual impurity, as if originally it was made with the intent of being used for a human.

If, afterwards, one reconsidered and thought to leave it as a ring for an animal as it was, it remains susceptible to impurity, even though a person never used it as an ornament. For one thought does not negate the effect of another thought unless one performs a deed in the actual physical substance of the entity, for example, to polish it or to adjust it as is done for an animal.

Are you anxious? Forget succeeding. You don’t have to, succeed. Enjoy the ride, anyway.

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So, you tried your honest and sincere best and you still didn’t succeed.

One, of the great fresh thoughts of Chassidus, is that a person doesn’t always require success. Chassidus helps a person see life through a humble lens and the results in life are not always supposed to be the way I need it to be, or how I believe it should be.

A Chasid who studies the teachings of Chassidus, introduced by Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov 1698 – 1760, learns to accept everything in life with love, even the adversities. “A Chasid, is never lacking success.”

“It is not upon you to bring everything to its conclusion, and you are not free to desist from putting in an effort to make it work.” G-d judges us, and HE does respond to us, according to our choices and our sincere efforts towards that end.

One of the highest psychological conditions these days is anxiety. And then, too much anxiety leads to stress and medical conditions of the heart and of the mind, not to speak of depression etc. We are so pressured not to be a looser amongst our peers, many will compromise their ethics, morals, religion, family life, and much more. People come home all stressed out and lash out at their spouse, children, and undermine a most important components to a well-rounded, happy, meaningful, fulfilled, life.

One of the contributing factors to exacerbate this condition and phenomenon is the self-help industry. They will tell you, it’s all up to you. If you do this and do that you are guaranteed success. This only guarantees the majority who can’t ever make it to the winning position, despondency, heart break, let down, and anxiety.

They will ask themselves. So, I did everything right. Why didn’t I win the gold medal of my class, or the silver medal of my circle of friends, or even the copper medal amongst my surroundings? They will be back for more self-help motivation since they were told success is the goal within reach of everyone, only to go around the cycle again and again until exhaustion sets in.

Then there are those who didn’t make proper choices and created the undesirable consequences. How does Chassidus view these people at the moment of what appears to be genuine failure.

The previous Chabad Rebbe – Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchak Schneerson 1880-1950 always taught, “There is never “lost” and failure, with no hope.”

Since everything is for the good, now that one realizes his/her mistake and sincerely intends to mend their ways, through the G-dly act of Teshuvah, returning back to the proper way of thinking and behaving, the correct path, through THIS connection with G-d, the person can retroactively accomplish what is otherwise impossible, and draw from the current situation what appears as negative, the blessing and good, implanted in “this too is for the good.”.

Chassidus tunes and trains the individual to hear the music and positive melody in all circumstances, it’s just a matter of putting on the proper colored lens over the eyes of our minds.

Lest anyone think the Bible as taught by the presentation of Chassidus is all about determinism or fatalism and similar philosophical ideas, Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchok reminds us, regarding the philosophy and teachings of Chassidus, the following.

“The goal of Chassidus is, actual, genuine, and concrete, self-work. Whoever thinks, the teachings of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov and his students is only all about intellectual pursuits, is making a grave error. It is a pity on him, on his body and on his soul.”

As the quote earlier instructs us, we can never desist in putting in a genuine effort. Every time we try, and we try again, we are refining, and strengthening ourselves, further and further. Every time one starts all over again in full trust that G-d will come through for them, they are closer and closer to reaching their goal with the help of G-d.

If G-d decides to grant them their effort they are blessed, and if not, they are also blessed.

The fun is, in having taken the journey, and enjoying all the wonderful surprises along the ride.

Prayer. The world needs lots of it. The transformational powers of prayer. How to reach G-d, and get results.

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Knowledge is Power.  G-dly Knowledge is super Power.

Once a student follower of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk; 1787 -1859 Poland, came to visit his spiritual mentor and guide. The Rabbi of Kotzk asked him to share an inspiration from his father in law who was a well know author of Torah studies.

“My father in law would say. When Aaron the great priest lost his two sons on the day the sanctuary was dedicated, the Bible says, “Aaron was silent”. His response to this terrible catastrophe was to recognize the hopelessness of a human, to ever understand the ways of an infinite G-d. His reaction to this event, and his response or lack of it to G-d, was greatly praised.

However King David expresses himself in the book of Psalms, “So that I am able to SING your honor and NEVER be silent.” Even in times of pain and hard ships King David would sing G-ds praises.”

The Rabbi of Kotzk was tremendously ecstatic from this understanding. “We see the great virtue of King David, and the joy that permeated him through and through. “

In the book of the Zohar it tells us, the ladder Jacob saw in a prophetical dream on his way out of Israel, represents the method of connecting with G-d through prayer. The ladder was “standing firmly in the ground and its top was high in the heavens. And behold, the Angels were going up and down.”

Normally Angels, who are completely spiritual, would be coming down from heaven and then bringing back a report to G-d?

When a person prays, and he/she vocalizes their praise, their needs, their thanks to G-d…. this creates a real spiritual energy similar to neuro transmitters. These are the Angels, who are the results of this expression in the heart and it is them that bring the prayer before G-d. Therefore the Angels which were created by Jacobs’s prayers, were moving upwards having started from Jacob, in order to bring from the source of all the blessings, up in heaven, what is necessary down here in this world.

The ladder of prayer that reaches high up in the heavens, must start down in the earth. In the code of Jewish law it is written, “A person should not approach his prayers, but only with a bent over head.” An outstretched head exudes arrogance; a bent over head represents humility.

The ladder in Jacobs dream had four rungs. The first step in approaching G-d is, acknowledgement. Realizing, as hard as we try, in the end we are not self-made. Realizing, it is G-ds input and influence that finally creates the results we seek. We don’t control the crazies in the world, or the price of oil, or the weather, or the desire of someone else to compete with our source of income. We acknowledge G-ds power over everything and thank Him for all His Kindness.

The next step in proper prayer, that accomplishes a transformation in an individual, in other words, the person benefited from praying, is the emotional excitement over the special opportunities G-d grants us every day that He has faith in us and wakes us. We hear the melody in the Universe, the beauty of existence, and we sing along.

The third step as designed by the great Spiritual giants of the great assembly, headed by the prophet Ezra, is moving up from emotional excitement to intellectual appreciation.

Here we recite the passage, which is a commandment and a serious source of strength from G-d, “Hear O Israel, G-d our G-d, G-d is one.” We involve our mental capacities in connecting ourselves with the awareness, that all is G-d. How we feed our mind ends up becoming who we are. When one contemplates deeply on the Oneness of G-d, and that there is nothing else besides Him, this takes us to the Heavens with the fourth rung.

At the fourth level of prayer, we are standing with our entire being and presence before G-d, totally connected to His, awareness. When two people in any relationship are so close to each other, it is natural each one feels for the other and will do whatever possible for the other. This is the fourth level where we ask for what we need.

The holy Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchok Luria said. “All his great levels of Holiness and spirituality were reached only because of his constant joy and happiness.”

Husband & Wife =1, Idleness & Lewdness, how to pray, Rebuking?? recording incognito & more.....

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• Knowledge is power -- G-dly Knowledge is Super Power.

Moshe ben Maimon, called Moses Maimonides and also known as RaMBaM (רמב"ם – Hebrew acronym for "Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon"), was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher, and one of the most prolific and followed Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages. He was born in Córdoba, Almoravid Empire (present-day Spain) on Passover Eve, 1135, and died in Egypt on 20th Tevet, December 12, 1204. He was a rabbi, personal physician to the Sultan and philosopher, in Morocco and Egypt and was buried in Tiberius Israel.

One of the greatest works of Maimonides, actually one of the greatest philosophic works of all time is his “Guide for the Perplexed” and his 14 volume Magnum opus work on Jewish Law, “The Strong Hand”, Mishneh Torah.

The following, are life lessons, taken directly from the words of this great scholar and spiritual giant. These are teachings that are extraordinary and are unparalleled by anything contemporary. These are the ultimate words of excellent counsel and guidance.

• How to pray? Who needs to pray?
  First ….praise, then…. petition, finally….praise and thanks.

……this commandment (to pray ) obligates each person to offer supplication and prayer every day and utter praises of the Holy One, blessed be He; then petition for all his needs with requests and supplications; and finally, give praise and thanks to God for the goodness that He has bestowed upon him; each one according to his own ability.

A person who was eloquent would offer many prayers and requests. [Conversely,] a person who was inarticulate would speak as well as he could and whenever he desired. Similarly, the number of prayers was dependent on each person's ability. Some would pray once daily; others several times………..

• Recording a person without his knowledge is
  inadmissible in court.
• People don’t always state the accurate facts of truth.

….As mentioned, witnesses who are hidden cannot give binding testimony, and similarly, when a person admits a debt on his own initiative while witnesses are listening, or a person tells a colleague in the presence of witnesses: "You owe me a dollar" and the colleague admits the obligation, the testimony of the witnesses is not significant. Nevertheless, in all these situations, when the principals come to the court, we tell the defendant: "Why don't you pay the debt you owe him?"

If he says: "I do not owe him anything, we tell him: "Behold you made a statement saying this-and-this in the presence of these individuals," or "You admitted the obligation on your own initiative." If he arises and makes restitution, that is desirable. If he does not offer a defense, we do not suggest one for him. If, however, he claims: "I was speaking frivolously with him," "The event never occurred," or "I did not want to appear wealthy," he is not liable ….. as we have explained in the previous law. (Unless a person is deliberately making a statement before witnesses, people will exaggerate or understate for many ulterior motives)

• Those who can rebuke and don’t…..
  take part of the blame for the offences of others.

……. One who sees his son becoming associated with evil influences and refrains from rebuking him. Since his son is under his authority, were he to rebuke him, he would have separated himself [from these influences]. Hence, [by refraining from admonishing him, it is considered]
as if he caused him to sin.

Included in this sin are also all those who have the potential to rebuke others, whether an individual or a group, and refrain from doing so, leaving them to their shortcomings.

• Idleness leads to lewdness….

……Even when her husband is very wealthy and even when the woman has several maids, she may not sit idle, without work. For idleness leads to lewdness. [Her husband] may not, however, compel her to work for the entire day. Instead, according to the extent of his wealth, her obligation to work is minimized.

…….When a man takes a vow that prevents his wife from doing any work at all, he is obligated to divorce her and pay her [the money due her by virtue of her] ketubah/marriage contract. [The rationale is that] idleness leads to lewdness.

• Husband and wife are ONE entity…….Legally and spiritually.

…………Whenever a person is disqualified from testifying on behalf of a woman, he is also disqualified from testifying on behalf of her husband, for a husband is considered like his wife. Conversely, whenever a person is disqualified from testifying on behalf of a man, he is also disqualified from testifying on behalf of his wife, for a wife is considered like her husband.

Selling Guns??--Lying to be honest--Do humans needs the Law (s) ??--The Ultimate Goal--!!

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KNOWLEDGE IS POWER -- G-DLY KNOWLEDGE IS SUPER POWER.

 

 

The fourteen volumes of the Mishneh Torah, is the most important set of books on Jewish law written by Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, known as the Rambam – Maimonides, 1135 - 1204. It includes minute details about sacrifices, G-ds chariot, the fundamental elements of the universe, healthy diets, the laws of keeping kosher, the Jewish holidays, family law, and the ultimate redemption with the coming of Moshiach, and much more. The Rambam/Maimonides deduces from the Talmud and Rabbinic literature clear legal decisions, reorganizes them, and creates a perfect order out of the apparent Talmudic disarray. No one since, has achieved anything like it.

The following, is guidance and inspiration from the actual words of the Rambam, applicable in our current daily lives, based on the eternal wisdom and words of G-d in the Torah.
THE ULTIMATE GOAL IN PERFORMING G-DS COMMANDMENTS IS, TO SUBJUGATE THE EVIL INCLINATION.

All of these ordinances are to subjugate one's evil inclination and improve one's character. Similarly, most of the Torah's laws are nothing other than "counsels given from distance" from "He Who is of great counsel" to improve one's character and make one's conduct upright. And so it is written Proverbs 22:20-21: "Behold, I have written for you in the Torah prominent matters, to inform you of the veracity of the words of truth, so that you will respond truthfully to those who send to you."

Blessed be the Merciful One Who grants assistance.

G-ds commandments are the ultimate recipe to gain mastery over ourselves.

ONE IS NOT ALLOWED TO LIE EVEN IF HE INTENDS IN THE END TO DO THE HONEST THING.

It is forbidden for a person to lodge a false claim to distort a judgment or prevent its execution. What is implied? If a person was owed a hundred dollars by a colleague, he may not lodge a claim against him for 200, so that the defendant/borrower will admit owing one hundred and (then will) be obligated to take an oath. (Since anyone who partially admits to a claim must make an oath.)

If a person owes a colleague a hundred dollars, and the colleague claims 200 from him, he should not say: "I will deny the entire amount in court so that I will not be required to take an oath (since according to the Bible, one who denies the entire claim is exempt from taking an oath before the judges) and acknowledge the debt of the 100 dollars (later on) in private."

FORBIDDEN TO SELL DANGEROUS ITEMS….. EVEN TO SOMEONE, WHO MIGHT SELL IT, TO THE PROBLEM PERSON

It is forbidden to sell to dangerous people (who have a presumption of acting unlawfully) any weaponry. We may not sharpen weapons for them or sell them a knife, chains put on the necks of prisoners, fetters, iron chains, raw Indian iron, bears, lions, or any other object that could cause danger to people at large. One may, however, sell them shields, for these serve only the purpose of defense.
Just as it is forbidden to sell such weaponry to these type of people, so too, is it forbidden to sell it to an otherwise upright person who will sell it to these people.

It is permitted to sell weapons to the soldiers of the country in which one lives, because they defend the inhabitants of the land.

MAN’S NATURE IS SUCH THAT IT CAN NOT BE RELIED UPON TO ALWAYS TO WHAT’S RIGHT, THEREFORE WE NEED, “LAWS”.

…Human nature tends to increase his property and attach importance to his money. Even though he made a vow or consecrated something, it is possible that he will reconsider, change his mind, and redeem it for less than its worth. Hence the Torah states: "If he redeems it for himself, he must add a fifth."

Similarly, if he consecrated an animal in a manner that its physical person becomes consecrated, he might reconsider. In this instance, since he cannot redeem it, he will exchange it for a lesser one. If he was given permission to exchange a superior animal for an inferior one, he will exchange an inferior one for a superior one and claim that it was superior. Therefore, the Torah removed that option, forbidding all exchanges and penalized him if he made an exchange, "It and the animal to which its holiness will be transferred shall be consecrated."

All of these ordinances are to subjugate one's evil inclination and improve one's character.

Playing Robin Hood - Just touching? NO NO - Verbal Abuse - why the hardships?

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• Knowledge is Power – G-dly Knowledge is Super Power.

Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezritch (1704 – 1772) would encourage people to study the laws of the Bible, as compiled and written by “the Holy Maimonides – the Rambam”, saying he heard from his master the Baal Shem Tov (1700 – 1760) the study of Maimonides laws were a spiritual assistance to be imbued with respect and awe of Heaven, and had the power to chase away negative energies. (Just by studying, alone!)

The following great words of wisdom are from the actual words of Maimonides, from his 14 volume magnum opus – Yad Hachazakah – Strong Hand.

• Stealing from the rich to give the poor – is that a Mitzvah???

When one steals or obtains an object through robbery and offers it as a sacrifice, it is invalid and the Holy One, blessed be He, hates it, as [Isaiah 61:8] states: "[I am God Who...] hates a burnt offering [obtained] through robbery." Needless to say, it is not accepted.

If the owner despairs of its return, (according to Scriptural Law, the owner's despair is enough to effect the transfer of the property) the sacrifice is acceptable.

For the sake of the enhancement of the altar's [honor], it was decreed that if it became public knowledge that a sin-offering was obtained through robbery, it does not bring about atonement even if the owner despaired of its return, so that it will not be said that the altar consumes stolen property.

……we see the power of the Sages: that if there is a significant reason - as in this instance - their decree can nullify the validity of the sacrifice.

• Eat in Moderation and don’t eat like a glutton. It’s unacceptable.

It is a negative commandment of the Torah…. Do not eat or drink like a glutton and a drunkard, as [Deuteronomy 21:20] states: "This son of ours is a glutton and a drunkard."

• Some very sharp words on verbal abuse.

Verbally abusing a person is more severe than taking unfair advantage of him financially. For the latter can be repaid, while the former can never be repaid. The latter involves only the person's possessions, while the former involves his person.

And with regard to verbal abuse, Leviticus 25:17 states: "And you shall fear your God," for the matter is one of feelings. With regard to all matters of feeling, the Torah states: "And you shall fear your God."

Whenever a person cries out because of verbal abuse, he is answered immediately, as implied by the conclusion of the above verse: "...I am God."

• Just Touching….. Is a huge NO NO, and leads to much worse. PERIOD.

Whoever shares physical intimacy with one of the Biblical forbidden relationships without actually becoming involved in sexual relations or embraces and kisses [one of them] out of desire and derives pleasure from the physical contact should be lashed according to Scriptural Law. [This is derived from Leviticus 18:30 which] states: "To refrain from performing any of these abominable practices," and [ibid: 6 which] states: "Do not draw close to reveal nakedness." Implied is that we are forbidden to draw close to acts that lead to revealing nakedness.

A person who engages in any of the abovementioned practices is considered likely to engage in forbidden sexual relations.

• Hardships may be your biggest blessing.

……Know that the World to Come is hidden away only for the righteous… The fact that you see Israel suffering difficulty in this world [reflects] the good that is hidden away for them. For they cannot receive an abundance of good in this world …… For their hearts may become bloated and they will err and lose their reward in the World to Come, as [Deuteronomy 32:15] states: "Jeshuron became fat and rebelled."

The Holy One, blessed be He, brings upon them an abundance of retribution solely so that they will not perish.

The path of recovery is the path of real true joy. Simchat Torah & Dancing.

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Knowledge is Power - G-dly Knowledge is Super Power.

Once a Chassid /student came to His Rebbe/ teacher and asked. “What’s the point of asking G-d for forgiveness when we know, and certainly G-d knows, we will fail again?”

The Rebbe asked the student to look out the window and tell him what he saw.

“I see a child falling and getting up again, falling and getting up again.”

The Rebbe told his Chassid. “The point is not so much that the child falls, because that is natural. The lesson is to see the child stand up one more time, each time he falls.”

“On Yom Kippur, and for that matter every day which is a miniature day of judgment, our hope and prayer is that G-d grant us the ability, to stand up just one more time, every day. Every time we do so and we take another step, we strengthen our muscle and habit to fall less often, and to stay standing for a longer period of time.”

In the book of Nechemia it tells us, the entire congregation who returned back to Israel after the destruction of the first Temple 587 BCE made Sukkot/huts together with Ezra the scribe 458 BCE. They sat in them, and there was an inordinate amount of joy, not seen from the times of Joshua - 1500BCE!

So, for over one thousand years that sukkot was being celebrated, as attested by the prophet, this intensity and degree of festivity and joy was never celebrated before!! How does that figure?

On the path of serving G-d there are those that never break the law, (almost never) and there are those who are learning from their mistakes and constantly re-evaluating and improving their thoughts, speech, and actions. Which of the two has greater value in the eyes of G-d?

The one who always goes along the path of the righteous, never veering off far from the right road has been constantly progressing. The one who has stumbled and failed along the way, has detoured, been delayed, bruised and bumped.

Our sages tell us, “in the place of a returnee, even a great righteous man cannot stand.”

The person who lost to his instincts and temptations tasted the superficiality of a narcissistic lifestyle. Tasted failure and experienced the epiphany of knowing the difference between living a worthwhile life and just living to push time along. This realization and the strength to overcome the old habits makes this person way more understanding, way more stronger, and with way more depth and breadth of knowledge than the person who never failed.

The generation of Joshua was those, of the righteous. They entered into the covenant with G-d on the plains of Moav, and they were motivated by the experience of their own eyes which saw G-dliness, to observe all that was written in the Torah. When they entered the land of Israel, they were on a very high spiritual level.

The returnees back to Jerusalem was after the destruction of the Temple and the pursuant harsh exile of Babylon which was brought upon them as the prophet Jeremiah had warned so many times, because of their failures and rebellion against G-d.

When they finally repented realizing the folly of their ways and returned back to Jerusalem to rebuild the second Temple, their joy was far more richer and deeper because, of all the terrible occurrences that was now behind them, than the generation of Joshua could have ever realized or appreciated.

They saw the bad and were now using all of it as a spring board to start anew all over again. They experienced deep darkness and appreciated the value of light like never before.

That is why they celebrated the Holiday of Sukkot now and at this time with a “tremendous great happiness and joy” in the most powerful and passionate way EVER.

The Holiday of Sukkot comes after the repentance and introspection of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. That is why the Torah/Bible tells us THREE times to be happy on this holiday. The happiness that is available after one has failed and rehabilitated themselves is by far the greatest, way more than any of the other holidays.

Rabbi Sar Shalom of Belz once said. “I am not able to explain fully the deep understanding for the dancing on Simchat Torah. But one thing, one must know. Any prayers that are not able to ascend (to G-d) throughout the year, will go up on this day, through dancing (and Joy of this Holiday).

Are some people just born, Happier? What about dancing? The Season of Joy (-:

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Knowledge is Power. G-dly Kowledge is Super Power.

One would think, or could think, happiness is a prejudiced outcome of genes and circumstances.

If someone has goodne$$, his family is blessed with health, he has no difficulties, he should be happy. While, someone who is going through hardships, bad health, difficulty making a living, this person shouldn’t be able to be happy. However, this is clearly not the case.

There are people who have it all, every reason to be content with life, and still, they are not happy, while others have nothing, and are always happy. One, always sees the cup half full, the good side and blessings, and minimizes the empty side. This happy camper, accustoms himself to see in everything the points of light, and therefore always feels things are good and a blessing for him. While the sour face, always sees the darkness and the angle that is lacking.

Being happy takes practice and is not categorically a natural trait, it’s entirely dependent on the person. Anybody who decides to see in everything the filled side of the cup, the good, to be happy with his lot and be filled always with gratitude to G-d, for all the beautiful things, like children, grandchildren, health, livelihood, the sunrise and the sunset, can, and will be happy in their attitude and approach to life and its daily occurrences and experiences.

The greatest and strongest foundation for this mentality and perspective to life, is faith. Faith must be fed with thoughts that are supportive. A person’s faith in G-d who runs the world. The persons belief and knowledge that all that G-d does is perfect and is motivated only by kindness. Whether you missed the bus, or someone is not well, you don’t allow worry to bring you down, because you are filled with faith everything will turn out for the good. This faith not only helps the person through the hardships, it actually is a catalyst to bring the cure and remedy.

Happiness, joy and dancing are sometimes spontaneous. Mostly, happiness is dependent on the person himself. You can decide and want to be happy, or remain in sadness and depression, even if it is subconsciously, for some payoff reason.

Joy on its deepest levels, to make the most powerful impact on our lives, is a gift from Heaven; it must have a spiritual element to it. In order to be truly happy and joyous we need blessings from the G-d to open for us the gates of happiness.

Chassidim are always dancing, because they are always longing to lift themselves from the earth and its materialism, if only just a few inches. This elevation brings Joy.

The Holy Baal Shem Tov said, when people give a hand to their friend and their friend to his friend, and they gather and unite together in spirit, body and thought, this bond of unity between them connects them with the Honorable Holy throne of G-d Himself.

When a person dances with his entire soul and body, it is like shaking a garment from all the dust and dirt that is on it. When a person dances with G-dly inspiration, this brings out the soul from the physical. The sand and dust falls, and the clothes become clean.

In the Talmud it teaches, elevating ones voice when praying, arouses concentration. When a person sings, this stimulates and awakens the feelings of the G-dly spark inside, to feel and experience an inner happiness.

In the Holy book of the Zohar it is written, “When we are happy, G-d above reacts to us, in a happy and giving mood.” Rabbi M.M. Schneerson encouraged us, to be happy, sing and dance, for no other reason than because, this is what will bring out from ourselves real blessings and real joy, and this will bring the ultimate of blessings from G-d.

The holiday of Sukkot, opens wellsprings of joy. Eating in the Sukkah, Shaking the Lulav & Etrog, dancing with the Torah, will draw joy for the entire coming year! These days, are THE source of joy. Whoever is happy in these days of Sukkot, with the help of G-d, will be happy (ier) a whole year.

This means literally lifting ones foot and dancing with the Torah, singing in the Sukkah and clapping ones hands while praying over the Holiday.

Turning boring prayers, into moments of inspiration and bliss.What are services? Who serves Who?

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Knowledge is Power.
G-dly Knowledge is Super Power.

On Rosh Hashanah morning, the Rabbi noticed little Adam was staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the synagogue. It was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it.

The seven-year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the Rabbi walked up, stood beside the boy, and said quietly, "Good morning, Adam."
"Good morning, Rabbi," replied the young man, still focused on the plaque. "Rabbi Resnick, what is this?" Adam asked.

"Well, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service."
Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque. Little Adam's voice was barely audible when he asked: "Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur service?"

Children say the darndest things. Many of the times, if not most of the times, they are mimicking what others have said around them.

For many adults, let alone the children, services at the synagogue are one boring chore. Like having to go to the dentist or maybe worse, and that may not be a bad thing!

Why do we call going to synagogue, services? I think for many it’s because they expect to be served entertainment. Titillated and tantalized with all sorts of amusements, jokes, in the many shapes and forms.

Our instruction manual as Jewish people, our constitution, presented by G-d to Moses, after we were liberated miraculously from Egypt, is the Bible. In it is written, “and you shall labor – serve G-d with all your heart.”

The Talmud which explains the Bible, asks, what is the service and labor of the heart? And it answers, Tefillah – liberally translated as prayer. G-d is commanding us to “serve” Him. We fulfill this commandment, through the formula of our Siddur – prayer books, designed by the Rabbis of the great Assembly, during the times of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Prayer, or services is meant to be the time set aside at the beginning of every day, and on a larger scale, at the beginning of a New Year, for us to labor, to serve, worship and connect with all our hearts, with G-d.

In the mystical book of the Zohar, it writes, “when is the time for war – internal struggle, this is the time of prayer.”

Prayer is a very special moment we are granted the opportunity, through and because of G-ds commandment, to serve Him, to connect with spirituality. To become more than just body, to view the world and life from a higher and purer perspective.

The world in all its coarseness drags us down. The more dense the matter, the more gravity pulls to “it”. The more materialistic we are, the more we get sucked into it and into its black hole. Ultimately, running after and chasing worldly pleasures leaves us feeling very empty and personally unaccomplished. Worse than, and more persistent, than a bad toothache.

The time of prayer, is to focus entirely on the tension that exists between the body and its drives and the yearnings of the soul. While the body seeks everything that is superficial, immediate, and fleeting, the soul craves and hungers for the deep, long lasting G-dly values that must be unearthed. After all, that’s where the feelings of the soul are coming from. It is a war internally, and with our surroundings. An internal struggle to discover, where we may be steering off course, and where we may need some re-routing to put us in line with more valuable goals and purposes.

The prophet says regarding these days, “seek G-d when He could be found, call Him when He is close.” This, reaches its zenith on Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement.

The next time you pick up the Siddur, an authentic prayer book, put yourself into the words, entirely. See yourself from the perspective of the words, as they sing and cry out to G-d. Let your soul soar in the direction of the Psalmist, King David, the sweet singer of Israel.

Going to a Synagogue will never be the same. Not only will you start looking forward to go to synagogue for the tremendous spiritual high, you won’t want to leave anymore! It’s with this kind of opening inspiration, our days and our years, our lives, become a true blessing.

Warmest wishes for a Sweet,
Inspirational, Healthy & Happy New Year.

The Piece of Jewelry, purchased with her little innocent heart. Rosh Hashanah Story.

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The following is a true story, told by Rabbi Elimelech Biderman from Jerusalem.

A little girl, of about seven years old went to a jewelry store, and asked the owner whether a particular piece of jewelry was real. The seller nodded and said, it was.

The little girl said she wanted to buy it, and the owner said, it costed a lot of money. “Do you have enough to pay for this expensive piece of Jewelry”, asked the owner.

The little girl smiled and said, yes she did. She took her purse, placed it on the counter, opened it and out poured some small change and a couple half shekels.

The seller explained to the little girl that this is was an expensive piece of jewelry that costs more than a thousand shekels, and asked, for whom she wanted to buy this, and why it was important for it to be real.

The little girl looked up to the owner and said.

"My mother died six months ago," explained the girl. "And my older sister took it upon herself the burden of taking care of the house. She devotes herself to me in a way that is hard to describe. She tucks me into bed, wakes me in the morning, prepares sandwiches and dresses me. She prepares classes for me in the afternoon, and plays with me….”

"Today she is 18 years old, and I wanted to buy jewelry for her and make her happy ..."

The girl finished her story innocently, and turned helplessly out of the store, realizing she had no money to purchase any real jewelry in this shop, and/or in any other store...

The seller called her back into the store and packed for her that piece of jewelry in a beautiful little box. Overwhelmed, and not able to overcome the pure innocence from the little girl, he said, “It’s my present to you.”

Two hours later, an 18-year-old girl comes with jewelry in her hand and asks, whether this was purchased at this store.

The owner responded positively.

"Did she pay?" Asked the older girl. And again, the seller nodded in the affirmative.

"Did you not wonder, where did she get the money from ?" Her older sister asked with suspicion.

"You see" said the seller, "there are those who pay me with money. And there are those who pay with goods of equivalent value. Your sister paid me, with her pure little innocent heart”...
 
***

In our prayers over the High Holidays we plead before G-d, “Not with kindness (that we performed) or with deeds (that we did) are we coming before You; We knock on your door and beseech and implore You, as poor and humble souls.

If we may not even have the few pennies and half shekels, if we only give our hearts over to G-d during these ten days, beginning with Rosh Hashanah until Yom Kippur, “G-d desires the heart”, we will secure the jewelry necessary, for a Sweet blessed New Year.

Your soul deep inside yourself. Shofar & Rosh Hashanah. The connection with purpose & Meaning.

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Knowledge is power. G-dly Knowledge is Super Power.

Rabbi Sholom DovBer Schneersohn (1860–1920) the fifth Chabad Lubavitch Rebbe, was once travelling by horse and buggy. After some time, they stopped by a well and the chariot man let the horses drink some water. After a short break, the chariot man took out his whip and as if speaking to the horses said. “You think I gave you guys water so the straw and hay could taste better to your palates? Absolutely not. I brought you to the well to drink, so you would have more strength and motivation to pull the buggy. So now, giddy up….”

The Rabbi hearing all this, became serious and said the following to his students sitting with him.

“The world has a purpose, and is being directed and driven by G-d Himself, this is the G-dly Chariot. In order that we should be able to pull this chariot as partners with G-d to its G-dly and spiritual intended destination, G-d provides us with our physical needs. However, we must always remember, the essential thing in life, is not our possessions of straw and hay, but carrying out our purpose, which is to pull the chariot.”

The Rebbe added.” In order for the horse not to get carried away with its drinking and eating, every once in while the horses get whipped. For us humans, it should be enough a hint, or once in a while a reminder from a good friend.”

Rosh Hashanah, September 14, 15, 2015 are the days G-d decides the fate of the entire world. This is the day; 5776 years ago, man and woman were created and were judged for not listening to G-d. On the first day of creation, only after a few hours in the Garden of Eden, they were already transgressing G-ds will.

G-d said. “Just as you were judged and were granted grace on this day, the same will be for all future time. This day will be reserved for Judgement and grace.” Yom Kippur, the day of atonement is on September 23, 2015.

The most powerful and important act on this day, in addition to prayers, is listening to the sounds of the shofar from a person who knows how and what he is doing. King David writes in his book of Psalms. “Praiseworthy is the people who know the sounds of the shofar, in the light of Your countenance they go.”

Why, and what makes the sounds of the shofar so potent? Well, for one thing, it’s because G-d commands us so in the Bible. “Let them say before me verses of kingship, so I will bring their needs before me, through the sounds of the Shofar.” Everything happens on this very serious and critical day of Judgement, because of, and through, the sounds of the Shofar!!

When G-d made all of creation, it was with the power of His words and commands He made everything in the universe. When it came to making the human existence, the Bible tells us, G-d formed the human body from the earth on the ground, and then, G-d blew from deep down inside Himself, into the nostrils of this form, the breath of life.

Unlike everything else in creation, the great Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (1534 – 1572) teaches, humans are not bodies with the occasional spiritual experience. The life and identity of humans, are essentially the G-dly breath inside of us, experiencing life through the physical and corporeal body.

In order to blow the shofar, we must go deep inside to exhale enough air that will create the simple, and long enough, pure sounds, that come out of the shofar.

On this day, the beginning of a fresh New Year, we meditate on the two layers of our existence. The outer that desires immediate physical pleasures and the inner deeper dimension that is simple and pure, uncomplicated and humble.

On this day of Judgement we reflect on the purpose of our existence.

Are we waiting for the chariot man to remind us not to tarry too long at the wells of self-gratification? By listening intently, and “knowing” the sounds of the shofar, we evoke the memory that we are essentially spiritual G-dly souls with a mission mandated by the creator of the Universe to uncover the G-dliness and spirituality all around us.

The shofar is the call to reach deep inside, and discover the pure spark of G-d. To cut through all the distractions on the outside that make so much noise and remember, “May everything that has been made know that you have made it, everything that has been created understand that you created it, and everyone who has breath of life in his nostrils declare that the Lord G-d of Israel is King and His Kingship has dominion over all.”.

Happy Sweet New Year.

Worse than Licentious behavior!!..Atonement how??..Stealing a little..How to spend life and more..

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Knowledge is power – G-dly Knowledge is SUPER Power...

Allow Maimonides to be your life coach.
Higher Guidance that will provide you with the wisest Knowledge.

UNDOUBTEDLY, the most influential and celebrated of all Jewish philosophers is Maimonides (Moses ben Maimon). Over the course of his colorful lifetime, Maimonides (1138-1204) became renowned throughout the world as a scholar, rabbinic thinker, and communal leader. At the same time, he achieved international acclaim as a physician to the royal family in Cairo and as the author of key medical texts.

Maimonides' insights on ethics and law have exerted a profound influence upon Judaism for centuries. His books on health, medicine, and philosophy became classics for people of all religious paths and backgrounds. As the popular rabbinic saying has long declared, "From the time of Moses to the time of Moses Maimonides, there has arisen none like this Moses."

The following words of life guidance come directly from laws, as composed by Maimonides, as derived from the Bible and the Talmud.

Even worse than Licentious sexual behavior ………….

The punishment for the person who uses false measures (and steals) is greater than the punishment for licentious sexual behavior, for this is a sin between a person and his colleague, and this is a sin between a person and G-d.

Whoever denies the mitzvah (practice) of just measures, is considered as if he denied the exodus from Egypt, which is the first of G-d's commandments.
Conversely, one who accepts the mitzvah (G-dly commandment) of just measures is considered as if he acknowledges the exodus from Egypt, which brought about all of G-d's commandments.

Atonement must be earned.
It must come from one’s own heart and not forced.

Short intro. According to the Bible, a person who steals, when returning the stolen object must add a fifth of its value to the owner.….

…A person who takes a false oath denying a financial claim is not liable to pay an additional fifth unless, he himself admits his guilt. If, however, witnesses come and despite his continued denial establish his guilt through their testimony, he is liable to pay only the principal, but not the additional fifth.

The rationale is, that the additional fifth and the sacrifice were instituted for the sake of atonement. Therefore, he is obligated for them (and it will atone for his wrongdoing) only when it is his admission that makes him liable.

Stealing only a little bit…..Absolute honesty.

One may not bury weights in salt so that their weight will be reduced, nor may one heat while measuring a liquid.

This applies even if the measure is very small, for the Torah was concerned with even the slightest deviation from an honest measure, as implied by the mention of a mesurah in Leviticus 19:35. A mesurah is a very tiny measure, merely a thirty-third of a log.

How is it fitting for a person to spend his/her days………

When a person plays dice (for money)…. he does not violate the prohibition against robbery (from the person who unwillingly is forced to pay his bet.) He does, however, violate the prohibition against occupying oneself with empty matters. It is not fitting for a person to spend any of his days occupied in anything other than words of wisdom or pursuits that lead to a stable world.

So, what’s the point, the objective in life………………

All of these ordinances are to subjugate one's evil inclination and improve one's character. Similarly, most of the Torah's laws are nothing other than "counsels given from distance" from "He, Who is of great counsel" to improve one's character and make one's conduct upright. And so it is written Proverbs 22:20-21: "Behold, I have written for you in the Torah, prominent (and choice) matters, to inform you, the veracity of the words of truth, so that you will respond with words of truth to all those who send to you. (Inquiries).

9 truth, & 6=falsehood. It's all in the letters, the numbers. It's all in the energy of creation.

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A little numerology - nine the number of truth – six the number of falsehood.

We repeat in the Bible and in our prayers – G-d is Truth. The true Judge, our Judge is true, and you sit on your throne in truth, the signature (AND SEAL) of G-d (at the end of the High Holiday season of judgement) is truth. All his ways are kindness and truth, kindness and truth will bring forth your countenance, and many many more inferences of this sort, especially in our liturgy from the high holidays.

We read in the bible – “righteousness - righteousness you should (incessantly) pursue”. The commentaries explain; while it is true that this is a deceiving, lying world by its very nature, our job is to never stop looking for and pursuing the truth. Whoever runs after it here in this world, because he made this his objective, he is guaranteed he will get there, in the world to come, as the bible promises, “and you will inherit ….”

The language of the primordial snake to Eve on the first day of her creation was deceit and lies. As a result, Adam and Eve were judged and all the hardships and difficulties we must now endure are the consequences of that lie. The Angel of Death is called Samael, because his entire subversion, is one of blinding, hiding the truth from the person (In Hebrew-Lesameh) at the time of his enticements, that it is worth giving away the future, or better yet, not even thinking of the consequences, for immediate gratification.

That is why when G-d created the world, the words of creation itself, as recorded in the Bible, the first three words and the last three words used to describe this creation, the end letters spell, Emet-Truth. G-ds own imprint and signature, at the beginning and at the end, on the top and on the bottom of everything.

One of the verses we proclaim before the sounds of the shofar, as we prepare to appoint G-d as our King, is, “the beginning (the start) of your words are truth, and (as a result) forever, are all the decisions of your justice.”

If, right at the start of everything related to G-d is Emet- truth, and as I pointed out, Emet-truth is right there as the last letters right at the beginning and at the end of the words that describe creation, why does the bible begin with the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet “Bet” and not the first letter of the Alphabet “Aleph” which is also the first letter of the word truth?

In Hebrew, letters represent also numbers. The word truth-Emet when added up, Aleph is 1, Mem is 40, and Tof is 400, using the first numbers, excluding the tens, we come to 1+4+4=9.

The number 9, is the (numerical value) number of truth. If you multiply 9 by any number, you never get away from 9. 9x2=18. Eight and one is 9. 9x3 = 27. Seven plus two equals nine. 9 x 56= 504. Five plus four equals nine.

When you have the energy of 9, G-dly truth, it will always lead to nine. You will always be established and unwavering with the clarity of truth, 9.

Only because G-d is truth-Emet the story of creation and the Bible needed to start with a Bet, the second letter.

In Kabbalah it is written, every day of the week is influenced by the energy of another three letters of the Hebrew Alphabet. Seven days of the week, multiplied by three letters, equals 21 letters, and there are 22 letters in the Hebrew Alphabet.

When we begin the first day with Bet-2, Gimmel -3, Daled-4, we get, 2+3+4=9
The second day, Hay-5, Vov-6, Zayin -7. 5+6+7=18. Eight plus one equals 9
I will leave it to you to figure the other days……..
The seventh day Resh-200, Shin-300, Tof- 400, 2+3+4=9

Every day is truth, and has in it the infinite G-d of truth. Simplicity, strength and clarity are at the core underlying all the dirt that has fallen on top. It is this truth, we must dig for and pursue, and we are guaranteed to reach.

If the world was created starting with Aleph the first letter, we would get every day six.

Aleph-1, Bet-2, Gimmel-3, for the first day 1+2+3=6
The second day Daled-4, Hay-5, vov-6. 4+5+6= 15 One plus five equals six
I will leave it to you to figure the other days……..
Shabbat the seventh day would be. Koof- 100, Raish-200, Shin-300. One plus two plus three equals six!

Now let us take the word Sheker-falsehood in Hebrew, the opposite of Emet=Truth.

Shin-300, Koof- 100, Resh- 200. 3+1=2=6

G-d is truth, His Torah is truth and the life we live is one of truth and everlasting, like the truth itself.