All action, starts up there....

Miracles & Prophecy in OUR TIME. Mind blowing stories/lessons.

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Knowledge is Power -- G-dly Knowledge is SUPER POWER.

In the North, there lived a French Jew, Yehuda Ben Souson and as a result of a blessing he received from the Rebbe (Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson) through Rabbi Shmuel Azimov, it was born to him after ten years of Marriage an only child, a daughter.

At about ten years of age, the girl started complaining of severe pain in her head and after some tests, it was discovered she had a large tumor in her brain. Loi OLaini. Their only solution was to travel to Boston and consider their options once there.

The doctors in Boston offered two possibilities. One, to do an operation however, they could not guarantee she would awaken from it. The second option; leave things as is and she would last at the most another half a year.

The father immediately went to Brooklyn NY for a private audience with the Rebbe, and broke out in overwhelming cries.

The Rebbe looked at him and said, “When the month of Adar comes, one must increase in Joy and you came here to do the opposite??!  Who gave you permission to bring depression into my room”? The father thought the Rebbe was making light of the situation in such a difficult moment, and started to cry out, “this is the life of my daughter”. The Rebbe held strongly on to his position and again responded to the father. “And, is that how you intend to save your daughter, by bringing depression and sadness into the room, in the month of Adar?”

The father said, he is prepared to be joyous, but how is that possible. The Rebbe answered. “Adar is a month of Joy because ‘everything was turned on its head’; The Rebbe then turned his hands over from right to left and said, “turned over, everything turned over”.

The father left the room, and suddenly remembered he forgot to ask the Rebbe what to do regarding the operation.

The father submitted a letter, and the Rebbe answered through the secretary, he already addressed the issue during the private audience. The father did consider the words “it’s all turned over” but still nevertheless insisted on receiving a clearer directive. The Rebbe answered. “If he insists on asking, he should take guidance by asking a third Doctor”.  (The father only understood this entire exchange with the Rebbe later on.) The third Doctor advised them to go ahead with an operation. To the amazement of the Doctors when they opened the girls head there was no more tumor there. However, the operation had a great price on the daughter and she lost her ability to speak.

That Passover the family was staying with relatives in Flatbush NY and for the last meal of the holiday Moshiachs’ meal, they decided to walk to 770 Eastern Parkway and spend the meal as all Chassidim do with the Rebbe. During one of the breaks at the meal, the Rebbe called the father over, gave him two pieces of Matzah, and told him. “Matzah is the bread of cure and also the bread of faith. Give one piece to your daughter she should have a cure, and the other piece should be for you to have (more-deepened) faith. Your daughter doesn’t have to lose out because you are lacking in faith.”

Later on in the evening after Havdalah, when the Rebbe was giving everyone some wine, as the father was passing by, the Rebbe told him. “Normally the month of Nissan is a month of (energy for strengthening ones) faith, and then afterwards the month of Iyar is a month of (energy given to) cure. In your case however, “it’s all turned over”, and the cure of your daughter should not (have to) wait until you have faith. First she will be healthy and afterwards you will gain your faith.”

That evening, the daughter’s memory, and speech, came back to her. 

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The following is a PS to a letter sent by the Rebbe.

“You write regarding the Jew from Bulgaria, who says he is waiting to see miracles and wonders etc. and then …..(will observe more) ….  tell him, that if he will look to his own past he will see many miracles and wonders, as long as he does not care to fool and dupe himself. And also, why would he want to challenge the Creator of the world and its conductor, that He, G-d forbid bring upon him, another time, to constricted straits, to a position of danger, and then have to save him! It is understood the fears there will have to be until the relief comes , when he was already in such situations in the past, and, was saved. It is only that the evil inclination is taunting him in order to keep him from fulfilling the commandments of the Creator of the World.

May it be G-ds will, you will “speak words from the heart that will certainly enter the heart” and he will go on the straight path, the path of Torah, our Torah, the Torah of Life, which is best for him, not only physically but also spiritually. –  This alone that I write regarding a Jew I have never seen, who was in the past in a very dangerous situation and was saved , this alone should be enough (to have proven a G-dly sign) that immediately, as he receives this message, he should begin to put on Teffilin, eat kosher, keep Shabbat etc. May it be G-ds will you will share good news regarding this.”

It’s incredible the open miracles and prophecy of the Rebbe in these two situations.

What are the blessings & Significance of Shabbat?

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One of the very important practices and pillars of Judaism that define what it is to be Jewish, is the observance of the Sabbath.

One of the very important prayers for protection is shortened on Sabbath because our sages tell us, “Sabbath (on its own, by itself) protects those who observe it”. One of the legal presumptions on Sabbath is that even a simple Jew who observes the Sabbath (and is influenced by its energy) will not lie. “More than Sabbath needs to be guarded, Sabbath has guarded us.”

Sabbath is one of the hallmarks of the entire Bible. It is an oasis in time an island of peace and tranquility. “The Shabbat comes, peace and tranquility comes.” Shabbat is a gift to G-ds chosen people, a sign between G-d and us.

When a person observes the Sabbath, he reinforces within himself and all those who know and see his observance, that it was G-d who created the world and made it in six days, and rested on the seventh day. Shabbat actually means rest. It is the day when G-d created on, and in that day, inner rest and rejuvenation.

Sabbath closes any of the loose ends of the past week, in addition mysticism tells us, Shabbat carries in it the blessings of the following week. That is why the groom and bride will make a special effort to be blessed in the synagogue on the Sabbath prior to their wedding, and the same for someone going on a trip, or any other big event.

The punishment for not observing the Sabbath is a very serious one. “You shall Guard the Sabbath because it is holy… whoever does (forbidden) work, will be excised from amongst his people.”

One of the forbidden “works” on Sabbath that opens up the tractate that discusses Sabbath in the Talmud, carries in it the main essence and theme of the day. It is the prohibition not to carry from a private domain, (a home), to a public domain, (the street), and vice versa. This very serious rule represents the Sabbath in a most powerful way, reminding us to recognize these two distinct types of domains and realities in the world.

Observing the Sabbath demonstrates and expresses the unity principle.

The one observing the Shabbat is proclaiming through his observance the recognition that G-d and only G-d is the ultimate master of the universe. He created it in six days and rested on the seventh and “there is nothing else but Him”. The Sabbath strengthens and deepens our bond intellectually and emotionally with this unity and oneness domain and its consciousness. “G-d is with me and (therefore) I shall not fear.” We realize the importance of studying the Torah (G-ds wisdom) and the observance of its commandments (practicing G-ds will). It deepens our awareness and attachment with this Holy and G-dly domain.

After the Sabbath, we re-emerge into the public domain and we see how many entities there are, competing with each other, conflicting with each other and fragmented from the unity of G-dliness. It is their lack of faith and knowledge in the unity principle that puts them under so much avoidable stress and anxiety. In this public domain, it truly is a world where the bigger animal devours the smaller one and everyone does as they please.

Shabbat is the strength to identify this very sick attitude and distance ourselves from it. Every morning when we do our prayers and we are granted a miniature Shabbat experience, a time to reflect on the oneness of G-d all around us and in our worlds, we draw from the blessings of the Grand day and the grand inspiration of Shabbat to once again address and take on another day and not be threatened by the "public" domain.

There is another domain that is in essence private, but is shared, by many private individuals. Like a courtyard or shared property. Our sages tell us because it appears like a public property, if we make a certain act called an Eiruv, we can carry in this area as well, and between the private property of an individual and vice versa.

This domain, represents those areas in life that are not like the fragmented, problematic area of public property that is devoid of G-dliness and which is always forbidden to carry within it, or between there and a private property. The Public property where G-d is not noticed or included is totally forbidden.

The private property has G-d written all over it. It’s all private and the oneness of G-d is seen and felt everywhere like in a synagogue or in a prayer book.

The intermediate area which is in essence private and is therefore “kosher” requires one more little act to bring out its’ spark of blessing. As long as the object is kosher, or the place and time is acceptable, then, by using the moment or the object for a spiritual purpose we have included this too in the private domain of G-dliness (The spirit of Shabbat), where there is peace and tranquility. Our entire life becomes, an oasis in time and space.

Who will live?? And, for how long? ADVICE for patients and doctors.A NEW way of looking at things.

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Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezeritch (1704-1772)  said. “When a person is suffering, he should never say, “I have it bad”, because from the Creator no evil comes. He can express himself and say, “things are bitter”, because sometimes, the cure can (actually) be bitter.”

When a person brands an event as bad and evil, they place a certain reality, truth and stigma on the event that it should actually become one that is without virtue, one that is forced within the parameters of the one looking at the experience, as being one that is no good and perhaps even bad.

A woman once came to Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor of Kovno (1817 -1896) and she cried bitter tears, the Doctor gave her husband only three days to live!

Let me divert a moment from the story.

We say in our morning prayers and praises, “ ….G-d creates cures (healing), He is awesome in praise, master of wonders……”. First, we mention the cures G-d creates and has allowed Doctors to discover. When a person is not well, Torah instructs us to go to a Doctor to be cured, and follow up on his advice.

If the sickness did not go away after all the professional consultations --- “He is awesome in praise”, we should intensify our prayers to G-d and mention His praise, specifically those that are in the book of Psalms. Reciting the prayer book of Psalms is a very powerful way to connect with, and draw blessings of healing and cure from Heaven.

If matters still have not improved and a person feels up against the wall ---  “Master of wonders”. We never give up hope. This morning prayer reminds us, to strengthen our faith, wait and expect for a wonder and/or a miracle to take place, “for I am the (ultimate) healer.”

Back to our story.

The Rabbi was totally bewildered and said to the frantic wife. “Is that so, he said three more days?!  I am not sure I will live out the rest of the day, (because) “nobody know his time” (when it will end) and he told you, your husband has three MORE days to live?? ”

Now that’s some lesson.

The Doctor cannot guarantee three days, no one has any kind of guarantee on even the next breath, and equally he/she has no right to limit the person’s life in any way whatsoever. Our attitudes, towards events that take place in our lives have a very significant and real impact on those events taking place.  If we see them as limiting and evil, we help make that a reality. If we see them as a bitter cure but on its way to improvement with G-ds help it becomes so.

The healthy way to live for ALL people, is in gratitude and appreciation for the gift of every breath of air. As King David expresses in his book of Psalms “ for every breath I praise and thank G-d.” No one knows his time and therefore the healthy attitude for every single person is never to take for granted the next moment, to value every second of time.

Once, Rebbetzin Rivkah (1833 – 1914) wife of Rebbe Shmuel contracted some pulmonary disease and the professor overlooking her case gave up on finding her a cure. Her father law, Rabbi Menachem Mendel told her. “The Torah (G-ds word) is the one that grants a Doctor, “permission to cure” and to be   

G-ds messenger in the field of healing. From these words it is clear, the permission granted the Doctor in the field of medicine ends with being able to cure. A Doctor does not represent his profession and mandate when he expresses despair on the patient. “

“Blessed is the man who trusts in G-d, “because when he does so,” G-d “reciprocates and” becomes his true security.”

"Rabbi, why is it so difficult? Why do I have constantly hardships, difficulties coping…?"​ STORY.

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Knowledge is Power -- G-dly Knowledge is SUPER POWER.

A young man began his return journey back to his spiritual roots and asked Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson the Lubavitcher Rebbe, "Rabbi, why is it so difficult? Why do I have constantly hardships, difficulties coping…?"

The Rebbe replied: "We are not angels, we are human beings. Angels have no tests and temptations; they worship the Almighty without any difficulty. But we, have been given trials and tribulations to use them as ladders, to climb and to rise."

The young man did not really understand what the Rebbe meant, and instead of explaining, the Rebbe asked him, "What do you like best? What are your hobbies?” I love art, especially paintings," he said.

"Who is your favorite artist?" Asked the Rebbe. "Picasso," he said. "And what Picasso painting do you like best?" The Rebbe continued. The guy described the painting "Sunset," his favorite painting in the world.

"In the painting one sees the beach. The sun is setting, a couple of kids are playing in the sand, and an old couple is walking in their direction. Sunset tells me a lot. It has a lot of meaning. The symbolism of the sun going down and the hope that tomorrow it rises again. The kids play and do not even relate to the elderly couple walking beside them. A generation goes and a generation comes. This gives me a lot of thoughts and feelings. "

"And how much is this painting worth?” Asked the Rebbe. "Right now it sold at a public auction at Sotheby’s for eight million dollars," the fellow said.

Asks the Rebbe: "If as Picasso painted, there was someone with a camera and just simply snapped the magnificent picture, at sunset, children, the elderly - what do you think would be more accurate? The painting by Picasso or the picture from the camera?” “Clearly the picture," the young man said.

"And how much do you think the picture would be worth?" The Rebbe continued to ask. The young man answered immediately: “they sell postcards of similar pictures for twenty-five cents."

The Rebbe said to him: "Tell me, how is it that for the painting people are paying millions of dollars, and the picture barely fetches twenty-five cents?"

"You know why?" Said the Rebbe, “a camera cannot make mistakes. It's a machine. Humans on the other hand can make errors and mistakes and that is why his creations and his works are worth eight million dollars.

When a painter paints, he invests his entirety into the painting. He gives his feelings, his perspective. You can see and feel his soul, the experiences he went through, because he puts himself in the picture. But the camera when it comes down to it, is just a robot.

In the same way, the Almighty G-d has billions of angels, they never make mistakes, but they are not as valuable as human beings exercising free choice. The prayers of Angels are not worth the same like that of a person’s prayer who says , "acknowledge G-d, proclaim His name, make His deeds known,…sing to Him, chant to Him, speak of all His wonders…”

The Rebbe concluded: "All the failures and tribulations you described are not meant to knock you down, but to gratify you even more. Because, every time you fail you are reminded that you are a human being on a mission and on a journey of improvement. If one time you could not pray properly, then the next time you exert yourself your prayers will be better. You, will have enhanced your own self. Your failures make the light! ".

“What is to give light, must endure burning.”

The revelation of G-d. Stress & anxiety relief. Fulfillment in life. Very SERIOUS stuff.

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As the days go on, it seems like the world is becoming more and more confused......

Knowledge is Power -- G-dly Knowledge is SUPER POWER

The great Philosopher and Jurist, Rambam - Maimonides (1138 - 1204) saw the greatest achievement in life, the greatest fulfillment of and in life, as someone who with his intellectual effort and power understood and appreciated the One, who created the entire universe. Someone, who throughout the day even while involved in mundane jobs, was always in the presence of, His Majesty. Someone who experiences G-d with him/her all the time.

This awareness, is the only healthy and blessed way to release oneself from past bad experiences and traumas, current tumultuous emotions, anxieties, stresses, and depression. This, is the only guaranteed way to happiness and joy ALL the time.

What I have just written, and what I am about to share with you, our holy Torah already tells us, “it is VERY close to you this matter, in (with) your mouth, and in (with) your heart, to practice.”

As Maimonides is wrapping up his Guide for the Perplexed, he writes. “…In conclusion….explaining the worship, as practiced by one who has apprehended the true realities peculiar only to Him, after he has obtained an apprehension of what He (G-d) is…….

At this juncture, Maimonides is making a very important and critical point.

Reality of “What G-d is”, is peculiar, unique, to EACH individual. As the Baal Shem Tov taught many times, a person’s own world is between his ears, in his brain.

Maimonides goes on to offer the reader a parable, which he says he invented, to appreciate more vividly the journey of life for the truly interested traveler. Where, the greatest degree of self-actualization takes place.

The Majestic King and ruler is in His palace. His subjects are partially within the city and partially outside the city. Of those who are in the city, some have intentionally turned their backs away from the Kings Palace while their faces are in the opposite direction. Others, are seeking to reach the Kings Palace and are facing in His direction, but have not made it to the Palace.

Some have made it up to the outside gates of the Rulers Palace and are walking around the walls looking for the gate of entry. Some have come inside and stroll about the antechambers.

Some have made it inside the Kings inner chamber and are with him, but have not necessarily heard his voice or seen him. They still require another effort to come within hearing and seeing range of the King & Ruler. According to their ongoing effort they will hear, see, or even get to speak with the King & Ruler.

Those who are outside the city, are all human individuals who have no doctrinal belief, neither one based on speculation nor one that accepts the authority of tradition….They hardly can be considered ( having reached the potential and true definition of) humans.

Those who are inside the city but have turned their backs to the rulers’ habitation, are engaged in speculation of G-d, but have adopted incorrect opinions because of either their own great errors or the errors of the one they follow. Since they hold on to these opinions and conclusions, the more they walk the greater is their distance from the rulers’ palace. These people are far worse than the first group.

The multitudes of people who follow the law, ignoramuses, who observe G-ds commandments, seek to reach the Kings Palace and to enter it, are pointed and face in the right direction. They, never get inside to see the rulers habitation.

Those who have come up to the majesty of His habitation and walk around it, are the ones who believe in true opinions on the basis of traditional authority, study the law concerning divine practices, but do not engage in speculation concerning the fundamental principles of religion and belief.

As long as one is involved and engaged in studying the sciences at best, they are of those who walk around searching for the gate. If they understand well, the natural things, they may have even entered the habitation of the King.

It is only when they understand Divine science they have entered the inner court and are with Him in His habitation. On this level, there are many different ranks.

Those, who have plunged into speculation concerning the fundamental principles of religion, have entered the antechamber of the Majestic habitation of the Ruler and King. People there, absolutely have different ranks according to the extent it is possible to ascertain in Divine Matters.

Then, there are the ones who renounce anything other than Him, and direct all their acts and intellect towards Him, know and feel His governance in all. This is the rank of the many prophets, their Divine inspiration, miracles etc. we read about in the Torah.

It is through their choices of conduct that they have refined their bodies and lives to receive the full flow of Divinity.

I invite any and all those reading this article to our classes, where we dabble and speculate in the Divine sciences, so we can at least be within the electrifying energy and scent of the antechamber, in which the KING Himself is found. In the antechamber of the King, you get to rub shoulders with powerful energy.

Knowing and respecting boundaries. The case for refugees and open immigration.

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Knowledge is Power - G-dly Knowledge is SUPER POWER.

The Talmud says, “A person who does not own (have the rights to) land (to build on it a home) is not (considered) a complete human being.”

Human existence is defined and complete, by the land and the home in which we live.

Giving charity and being kind is as well an essential expression of our character and humanity. The Prophet Micha tells us, “He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord demands of you; but to do justice, to love loving-kindness, and to walk discreetly with your God.” This is what defines our unique character traits as people of the book, and as G-ds people.

Although it is a Mitzvah and proper to help others, to give charity, one of the decrees our sages enacted is that a person (on a regular basis) should not give more than a fifth of his possession to charity, otherwise he might become himself a charity case.

Maimonides writes, “this is not piety but foolishness ….we should not have mercy on him. People of this sort and similar ones, our sages have said, “A pious fool is included in those who destroy this world.”

In the same way that it is essential for people to have their own space, be in control, and at home in that space, not feel threatened and at ease, in peace and tranquility, the same applies to the land and the homes in which many people live, which we call a country.

If anyone went shopping for a few hours and left their back door open, and a poor, unclean, hungry, homeless person violated someone’s private property by trespassing the boundary into private territory by coming in to use the facilities, and grab a bite, no one in their right mind would demand the homeowner allow this fellow space in the house for even one night or one hour, for the sake of mercy.

Things become a lot more complicated when the person coming in may have all kinds of diseases and is putting the inhabitants of the house at risk of sickness, or worse. Things become a lot more complicated when the resources this homeless person is using, comes at the expense of the inhabitants of those who are already barely getting enough food themselves.

Our country is a very wealthy and productive one, however our resources are not endless. In our country, we have veterans who deserve the red carpet for putting their lives on the line to protect and defend our ideals of freedom and democracy, and many are sick and hungry. We have citizens of this great country who don’t have health insurance, and barely make enough to get by from one day to the next. We have infrastructure on the brink of collapse.

Sure, I understand we are a country of immigrants, of legal immigrants. Immigrants, who came in through the front door, filled out forms the legal way and were part of acceptable quotas.

Jewish law does not allow one to put themselves in any danger for the sake of doing a kind deed for another. A person has a responsibility first and foremost to take care of themselves, and those who are close to them, before endangering their own lives for others. 

In the same way that every person has his own boundaries, and the boundaries of his own property that identify mine from yours, countries are the same way. Countries are like huge homeowner associations and gated communities. 

For the safety of everyone in a gated community, we just don’t allow anyone who we have no clue whom they are, to come in and roam around. Especially when we know they are hungry, and looking for a comfortable bed to sleep on, may not have the best character traits and may be sick and unclean. There needs to be a procedure that does not compromise the safety or jeopardize the health of everyone in the community. This is reasonable and the law.

Using this logic, there is no reason anyone would claim it should be any different for our, on a larger scale, gated community, our country, unless the person does not agree with any of the principles enumerated above.

It is the ways of G-d and the ways of blessing to be giving and kind. To lose respect for the importance of one’s own boundaries and identity as a human being, and exposing our own, to unvetted guests, is pious foolishness.