Walking down the road, a young man noticed a elderly gentleman sitting by a rolling walker. The man, elegantly dressed, was peering at his watch and looking down the street.

“Good afternoon, sir.”

The man was noticeably disturbed.

“Is there something I can help you with?”

“No. No, my ride is late”

“Do you live in the area”

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

“Well, I also live here and would like to know if you would like to know if you’d be interested in coming to our synagogue to learn about Judaism.”

“Not for me. I am not interested. I don’t agree with your kind of people and way of life. Judaism is antiquated.”

“Really? That’s interesting. How can you then explain why Jewish people survived all these thousands of years while the ancient Egyptian, the Greeks, the Romans and Babylonian disappeared? “

“A coincidence?.”

“Following these laws are one reason that we survived”

“And what is the other reason”

“G-d has protected us all these years.”

“Who says that G-d really exists? I don’t believe in anything I don’t see.”

“Do you believe in radio waves? You can’t see them but you know they exist because you can hear the radio. You know someone is behind the door if you hear someone knocking – even though you can’t see them yet.”

“If G-d exists, why does he allow such evil to happen in the world?”

“Let’s put that question aside for now. Do you believe that Picasso existed?”

“Yes.”

“How do you know?”

“There are paintings. There are newspapers and people who knew him.”

“Yes exactly how you know G-d exists. Just like when you see a painting you know there is a painter, when you see nature you know there is a creator. Take a chick – Do you think it was formed by random molecules flying around? Look at a tree. You are an intelligent person, Do you believe that all the cells, and branches and fruits of every single tree are produced by atoms randomly flying around?”

“It’s more complicated than that. I don’t want to shake your faith.”

“Don’t worry. My main concern is truth. I don’t want to follow a faith is not based upon truth or logic. Please Go ahead, how do you explain that there are billions of people in the world and they all look alike?”

“…excuse me I must call my lift company to find out where is my car.”

“Do you want me to drop you off, My car is parked down the block.”

“No thank you. Please excuse me as I must make a phone call.”

[after the phone call]

“If you want to know why bad things happen to good people…”

“Yes.”

“G-d gave people freedom of choice. If every person who wanted to strike someone else, their hand would freeze, there would not be freedom of choice. But just like their is a nature in the physical world there is a nature in the spiritual world. A person does bad, bad will come back to them. A person who does good, good will come back to them. And it is all calculated. If a man is insulted. It might mean that he insulted someone else previously. Thus his punishment is a result of his action. Like a person who drops a vase on the floor and it shatters into pieces – he should not complain that it broke – because the gravity pulled it down. A person who did bad should not complain that bad was done to them – it is the nature of the world – do good and get good. and the opposite.

But even in this there is a calculation.

Moses asked G-d to show him his ways.

G-d showed Moses a scene. The first man came to a well and forgot his purse. A second man came and took the purse. A third man came to take a drink. The first man came to retrieve his purse and accused the third man of taking it. The third man denied it and thus the first killed the third.
Moses saw this and was perplexed of the justice of what had transpired.

G-d explained:

The first man stole the purse from the second man. The second man finding his purse took it. The third man had killed the father of the first man. The first man thus killed the third man avenging the killing of his father by the third.”

“So why do people suffer unjustly?”

“I am sorry to assume you must have had a difficult life.”

“No. As a professor, My life was quite good.”

“So why do you look at the bad in life. Look at the good. A person can see life as half full or half empty. Or the completely full – like it says in Pirkei Avot – who is rich? the one who is content with his lot.”

“All faiths are the same, they are based upon – faith in the person who started the religion . It is belief not logic.”

“Not really. You are correct that most Faith’s are based upon the belief in the founders words that they spoke with G-d. Judaism is different in that it not just Moses, our teacher , heard the voice of G-d giving the commandments, but all of the Jewish people. Millions of people heard, G-d giving of the 10 commandments with Moses.”

This conversation is based upon a true story. The Professor was a former professor of Bio-Chemistry in Oxford university.

My Rebbe used to say an explanation on the verse – “How great are your wonders L-rd. All you made with wisdom.” He said that it is a wonder how both the highly educated and simple person have equal choice in believing in G-d. At times a Highly Educated University Professor will not believe and a simple person will believe in G-d.

Do You Believe

Many a time a person says they do not believe in G-d, but they really do. It is not that they explored the question on a philosophical level and came to a conclusion. It is that they first thought it is inconvenient to believe in G-d because belief entails acting in a certain manner. They would rather not conform to those restrictions. Rather than to be bound by them they say they don’t believe, but really they believe.

In Pirkei Avot it states “Know what to answer a non-believer  / heretic [in Torah].” This this doesn’t mean that you have to debate with them. It just means that you’ll know that which to answer a person who asks you questions regarding the Torah for your own sake. So that you will not have your faith in Judaism shaken by questions of heretics.

Some religions tell you to just believe and be saved. One must be very careful, because based upon one’s beliefs and actions will make the difference whether after life they will go up or down. The word “believe” lets you know this – in the word between the letters “be” and “ve” is the word “lie”.

Judaism – based upon Torah – is the only religion that millions of people heard G-d speaking to them to give a law – the Torah. G-d doesn’t change his mind. Most other religions were started by one man who said he had a prophesy from G-d. What do you believe more, if one person told you something or millions of people told you something?

The amount of current followers – as opposed to the amount of actual witnesses of the transmission of the law – is irrelevant to selecting the true belief system. Many people may chose to follow a religion because it is easier or more appealing to the eye.

Some religions say that “G-d changed His mind after the incident of the Golden Calf.” Obviously, He did not.
For three reasons

1. G-d did not change the Jews for another people because G-d knows all. He will not give a people a law if he knows they will not or cannot follow it.

2. After the incident of the Golden Calf – G-d instructs Moses to build a Mishkan / Tabernacle where He would dwell. If G-d did not forgive them – why would G-d dwell among the Jewish people?

3. G-d does not make up laws and then “change His mind.” G-d knows that the laws He gives are observable. If they weren’t he would not expect people to do them. The laws that G-d gave to the Jews are so fundamental – that He would not change them. Would any country do away with the law for cars to stop at a red light? G-d gave laws to the Jews rest on the Shabbat – to show the world G-d created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Why would He want to nullify that?

The sin of the Golden Calf was the worst sin a person could commit – worshiping an object – whether living or not. Yet G-d forgave the Jewish people. So no other sin a nation or person could commit – would be as great. Meaning G-d would forgive any sin if the person does Teshuva / Repent sincerely.

After- Life

A person should clarify their beliefs. For in the end we will be held accountable. G-d gave us the tool to find the right faith – the honest and sincere pursuit of truth.

Kid: “Mr. Professor How are You today? Nice to see you. Did you happen to think about we spoke about the other day?”

Professor: “Yes and I think it is rubbish!”

Kid: “Really.”

Professor: “Yes. Prove to me that there is a G-d if bad things happen to good people.

Kid: “Well, the question of Why do bad things happen to good people was asked by Moses to G-d himself.”

Professor: “What did he say?”
 
Kid: “G-d said – paraphrasing – that during the course of one’s life a person does good and bad. At times a person is punished for the bad.

Torah Jews believe that people have a soul and it can be reincarnated into a new body, & that an afterlife exists. Transgressions done in a previous life – that a person did not repent for – are still in the account, and thus at times a person who did sins in a previous life may be cleansed from them in this life through suffering.

In any case the suffering serves as a triple purpose – one to cleanse a person from the bad they did in the past – be it in this life or a past life, it helps a person to reflect upon life in order to better himself and it is an opportunity for him or her to receive greater good in this world.

Once a man was to travel for business. He stepped on a rusty nail and the doctor said he couldn’t travel. He missed the ship he was to take – benefiting him. The ship he was to take eventually sunk. Had he not stepped on the nail – he would have been on the ship.

G-d sees the entire life span of a soul – from its inception – which was thousands of years ago. A person only sees – a span of a lifetime – at most 120 years, if he or she lives long.

 If you see a building – do you assume there is an architect and a builder – because there is plan and purpose and order. When one sees the world – the plan and purpose and order – we can similarly surmise that there is a creator.”

Professor: “So what do you say about the existence of bad? Why did G-d let the Holocaust happen? Doesn’t that disprove G-d’s existence?”

Kid: “No. Not at all. From the existence of a world of order – we learn that there is a creator – just like the existence of a building testifies that there is an architect.”

“If the architect burned down one of the floors of his building – would  you think that there was no architect. No. You would agree that there was an architect, but you wouldn’t understand the purpose of the architect in burning one of the floors of his building.”

“Now that you know there is an ‘architect’ in the world, you just would have to find out why he went ahead and burned the floor down.”

“Just like the holocaust or any bad thing – the bad that occured – does not disprove that there exists a world of order.”

“And to tell you the truth, there is much more good in the world than bad. Most of the people of the world survive every day. They are fed. They have clothes. They breath. They have money. They live decent lives.

Yes, we can try to understand why suffering exists, but it behooves us to recognize that there is much more good than bad in the world.”

You told me you had a rather good life. Why not look at the good that you had in your life and be thankful to G-d – rather than looking at the bad that occurs occasionally to others and think illogically that G-d doesn’t exist? You may look at the glass half empty. The Torah says to look at the Glass half- full.”

Walking down the road, a young man noticed a elderly gentleman sitting by a rolling walker. The man, elegantly dressed, was peering at his watch and looking down the street.

“Good afternoon, sir.”

The man was noticeably disturbed.

“Is there something I can help you with?”

“No. No, my ride is late”

“Do you live in the area”

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

“Well, I also live here and would like to know if you would like to know if you’d be interested in coming to our synagogue to learn about Judaism.”

“Not for me. I am not interested. I don’t agree with your kind of people and way of life. Judaism is antiquated.”

“Really? That’s interesting. How can you then explain why Jewish people survived all these thousands of years while the ancient Egyptian, the Greeks, the Romans and Babylonian disappeared? ”

“A coincidence?.”

“Following these laws are one reason that we survived”

“And what is the other reason”

“G-d has protected us all these years.”

“Who says that G-d really exists? I don’t believe in anything I don’t see.”

“Do you believe in radio waves? You can’t see them but you know they exist because you can hear the radio. You know someone is behind the door if you hear someone knocking – even though you can’t see them yet.”

“If G-d exists, why does he allow such evil to happen in the world?”

“Let’s put that question aside for now. Do you believe that Picasso existed?”

“Yes.”

“How do you know?”

“There are paintings. There are newspapers and people who knew him.”

“Yes exactly how you know G-d exists. Just like when you see a painting you know there is a painter, when you see nature you know there is a creator. Look at a tree. You are an intelligent person, Do you believe that all the cells, and branches and fruits of every single tree are produced by atoms randomly flying around?”

“It’s more complicated than that. I don’t want to shake your faith.”

“Don’t worry. My main concern is truth. I don’t want to follow a faith is not based upon truth or logic. Please Go ahead, how do you explain that there are billions of people in the world and they all look alike?”

“…excuse me I must call my lift company to find out where is my car.”

“Do you want me to drop you off, My car is parked down the block.”

“No thank you. Please excuse me as I must make a phone call.”

[after the phone call]

“If you want to know why bad things happen to good people…”

“Yes.”

“G-d gave people freedom of choice. If every person who wanted to strike someone else, their hand would freeze, there would not be freedom of choice. But just like their is a nature in the physical world there is a nature in the spiritual world. A person does bad, bad will come back to them. A person who does good, good will come back to them. And it is all calculated. If a man is insulted. It might mean that he insulted someone else previously. Thus his punishment is a result of his action. Like a person who drops a vase on the floor and it shatters into pieces – he should not complain that it broke – because the gravity pulled it down. A person who did bad should not complain that bad was done to them – it is the nature of the world – do good and get good. and the opposite.

But even in this there is a calculation.

Moses asked G-d to show him his ways.

G-d showed Moses a scene. The first man came to a well and forgot his purse. A second man came and took the purse. A third man came to take a drink. The first man came to retrieve his purse and accused the third man of taking it. The third man denied it and thus the first killed the third.
Moses saw this and was perplexed of the justice of what had transpired.

G-d explained:

The first man stole the purse from the second man. The second man finding his purse took it. The third man had killed the father of the first man. The first man thus killed the third man avenging the killing of his father by the third.”

“So why do people suffer unjustly?”

“I am sorry to assume you must have had a difficult life.”

“No. As a professor, My life was quite good.”

“So why do you look at the bad in life. Look at the good. A person can see life as half full or half empty. Or the completely full – like it says in Pirkei Avot – who is rich? the one who is content with his lot.”

“All faiths are the same, they are based upon – faith in the person who started the religion . It is belief not logic.”

“Not really. You are correct that most Faith’s are based upon the belief in the founders words that they spoke with G-d. Judaism is different in that it not just Moses, our teacher , heard the voice of G-d giving the commandments, but all of the Jewish people. Millions of people heard, G-d giving of the 10 commandments with Moses.”

This conversation is based upon a true story. The Professor was a former professor of Bio-Chemistry in Oxford university.

My Rebbe used to say an explanation on the verse – “How great are your wonders L-rd. All you made with wisdom.” He said that it is a wonder how both the highly educated and simple person have equal choice in believing in G-d. At times a Highly Educated University Professor will not believe and a simple person will believe in G-d.

Do You Believe

Many a time a person says they do not believe in G-d, but they really do. It is not that they explored the question on a philosophical level and came to a conclusion. It is that they first thought it is inconvenient to believe in G-d because belief entails acting in a certain manner. They would rather not conform to those restrictions. Rather than to be bound by them they say they don’t believe, but really they believe.

In Pirkei Avot it states “Know what to answer a non-believer / heretic [in Torah].” This this doesn’t mean that you have to debate with them. It just means that you’ll know that which to answer a person who asks you questions regarding the Torah for your own sake. So that you will not have your faith in Judaism shaken by questions of heretics.

Some religions tell you to just believe and be saved. One must be very careful, because based upon one’s beliefs and actions will make the difference whether after life they will go up or down. The word “believe” lets you know this – in the word between the letters “be” and “ve” is the word “lie”.

Judaism – based upon Torah – is the only religion that millions of people heard G-d speaking to them to give a law – the Torah. G-d doesn’t change his mind. Most other religions were started by one man who said he had a prophesy from G-d. What do you believe more, if one person told you something or millions of people told you something?

The amount of current followers – as opposed to the amount of actual witnesses of the transmission of the law – is irrelevant to selecting the true belief system. Many people may chose to follow a religion because it is easier or more appealing to the eye.

Some religions say that “G-d changed His mind after the incident of the Golden Calf.” Obviously, He did not.
For three reasons

1. G-d did not change the Jews for another people because G-d knows all. He will not give a people a law if he knows they will not or cannot follow it.

2. After the incident of the Golden Calf – G-d instructs Moses to build a Mishkan / Tabernacle where He would dwell. If G-d did not forgive them – why would G-d dwell among the Jewish people?

3. G-d does not make up laws and then “change His mind.” G-d knows that the laws He gives are observable. If they weren’t he would not expect people to do them. The laws that G-d gave to the Jews are so fundamental – that He would not change them. Would any country do away with the law for cars to stop at a red light? G-d gave laws to the Jews rest on the Shabbat – to show the world G-d created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Why would He want to nullify that?

The sin of the Golden Calf was the worst sin a person could commit – worshiping an object – whether living or not. Yet G-d forgave the Jewish people. So no other sin a nation or person could commit – would be as great. Meaning G-d would forgive any sin if the person does Teshuva / Repent sincerely.

After- Life

A person should clarify their beliefs. For in the end we will be held accountable. G-d gave us the tool to find the right faith – the honest and sincere pursuit of truth.

In the first chapter of Pirkei Avot / Ethics of the Fathers (Mishna 14) we learn about Selflessness & Selfishness:

He [Hillel – a great Torah Sage] used to say: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am [only] for myself, who am I? If not now when?

Torah words are profound that through the accepted methods of derivation, we can learn many messages. He says “If I am only for myself who am I?” The phrase “Who am I?” can be interpreted – as “What kind of person am I” or as “I have lost my sense of identity.”

We would think the opposite – the person who acts only the way he feels – the way he likes, dresses what makes him feel popular – would be a very attuned to himself. Hillel says, the opposite is true. It behooves us to ask – With all our accessories that direly call to express our individuality that state: “I got to be me!” – Are we any any closer to our real self?

Hillel says – The more that a person reaches into himself to help others – even at the expense of his or her own personal comfort – becomes more close to his true self.

It is understandable. Man is called a “goer”. Going doesn’t just mean physically moving – it means rising up spiritually – by continuously becoming a better person.

The Creative Person
The creative person is not one that just creates new images or works – the ultimate creativity is re-creating oneself to become a better person. This may mean one must nullify his own personal desires for the good of others or the society. When he nullifies his own desires – he is able to help more people and thus become a greater individual.

Obviously, one must know what is good to help others properly. Thank-G-d, G-d outlined how to be good in the Torah. Many Mussar (Torah Self-Improvement) works exist to help a person reach a higher level of being.

That is the job of a parent to nullify one’s own interests at times to do what’s best for the child.

Most pleasures in the world are permitted according to Torah – Eating, Drinking, Enjoying Nature, Learning. The ones that are forbidden are usually those that have no other purpose than to gratify self-serving desires – that brings no good into the world.

The Creative Mindset – Creative vs Maintaining Work

A creative person sometimes looks at work as – “maintaining work” or “creative work”. Creative work – you add something new to the world, a new idea, a new business, a novel Torah thought. Maintaining work – is maintaining the status quo. Surely that work is necessary – but it is not the kind of work that the creative type likes to do.

Learning Torah is always creative – for we learn and bring out novel ideas and insights & better ourselves in the process.

A successful CEO once remarked to a business magazine his job was to make his job obsolete. He empowered others so he did not have to do the job himself.

Apparently his company was successful.

He hit upon a point – being great means nullifying your will to do good for others. Did he lose? Apparently not. His company was successful. One who empowers others is usually successful.

When one just absorbs info or “kills time” they are actually nullifying their potential to become a greater individual – because that time could have been used to become a greater being to help more people. I see people on the metro and on the bus tuned out of this world. Some with the phones. Others with the Ipad. They are cocooned in their world. Occasionally, It’s a ruse to confuse to divert one’s attention from self-improvement.

G-d created a beautiful world. He created it for man to enjoy – food, drink, family, nature, Torah. The difference between permitted Torah pleasures and the forbidden, may be explained as the permitted pleasures are those that serve to improve the world or the individual’s closeness to G-d. The forbidden ones do the opposite or have no other purpose than self-gratification.

In this week’s Torah reading, we learn about Donations for the building of the Mishkan / Tabernacle. The Parasha of the Week says – G-d asked the Jewish people to give a portion / “Teruma” of their wealth from their hearts. In the Parasha – the word Teruma is mentioned three times.

One was for the donation of the silver socket foundations that held the beams of the Mishkan.
Another donation was for the daily offerings.
The third donation was for the building.

Apparently all three donations are of importance – the start up funds for a Torah Institution. The contributions for the daily operations. And the Building Fund donations.

The Mishkan is also called the Mishkan Ha-Edut” / Tabernacle of Testimony. Why? Because it was a testimony to the world that G-d forgave the Jews of the Sin of the Golden calf and would live among us. It says “You shall build me a sanctuary and I will dwell among you.” G-d’s dwelling with the Jews demonstrated that he forgave them. It also showed that the road to self-improvement has ups and downs. One goes up and occasionally falls. Also it is a message that when one sanctifies himself, with Torah and Mitzvot – a person becomes a vessel to accept the Divine Presence among us.

When one gives of himself for Mitzvot, Torah or for doing acts of kindness – each one helps to build the world. Each one helps to build the individual.

Nibiru is a Planet that orbits around the sun. It was discovered recently by a team of astronomers – at the California Institute of Technology. They announced that they have found new evidence of an icy planet lurking in the darkness of our solar system. Far beyond the orbit of Pluto, “Planet Nine” is the name they gave it” Some Call Nibiru Planet X (X = 10 in Roman Numerals)- because previously Pluto was considered the 9th planet. Now that they demoted Poor Pluto from planet status – they call it Planet Nine.

Published in the Astronomical Journal, their paper, estimates the planet’s mass as five to 10 times that of the Earth. But the authors, astronomers Michael Brown and Konstantin Batygin, have not observed the planet directly. They derived it by observing discrepancies in other planets orbits. Some Estimate its orbit around the sun to be about 3,600 years, others say it may take 20,000 years.

I guess they are going to teach young kids – “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Me Nine Noodles” – for the Order of the planets.

The Cover-Up

Some claim this is planet the mysterious Nibiru, that is shrouded in secrecy. Apparently NASA has known about it for many years but has been denying the existence. They are afraid if people know about the negative effects it may cause, people may panic. Some important people in the government already prepared bunkers for the arrival. They say that if this planet gets too close to the earth the gravitational pull may cause massive flooding. In the worst case scenario – they say some of the states may be completely flooded. They say the safest place to be will be the Land of Israel.

In any case it would make sense to keep a two week supply of food in the house and make plans to follow the 7 Noahide laws and move to Israel – for at least the time that flooding will subside. Pure Speculation, but possible is that this is the star that passed by the earth in the time of Noah – that caused massive flooding. Possible? If this is the case the orbit will probably be around (Current Hebrew Year 5776 – Year of Flood 1696 = 4,080 years)

The Jewish Sources of Information

Once President George Bush asked the CIA how the Jews have access to top secret information before others. They answered, they go to the outside of the synagogue and talk about latest events. George Bush decided to disguise himself as a Hassidic Jew to verify this. Dressed with a beard and side locks he turned to a congregant and asked – “What is the latest news?” The man answered non chalantly “President Bush is among us.”

A person connected to Torah has access to information that the average person does not. Why? Because the Torah was written by G-d and contains all information. Like it says in Pirkei Avot “Turn it and Turn it, because all is in it [the Torah]”

Some say I believe what I see. That limits knowledge to things visible to the eye. Radio waves are not visible to the eye. Yet we know they exist.

The scope of Jewish knowledge is greater – for it takes into account – the spiritual dimension. It takes into account G-d’s total knowledge as written in Torah – which includes prophecy and Torah codes. Near-Death experiences & “Facilitated Communication” with Autists.

The Torah Itself
The Torah, – which includes the Tanach, Talmud, Midrashim, the Zohar – reveals secrets that are not known to or cannot be derived by man. Aish HaTorah – has a seminar – the Discovery Seminar – that shows how spies verify if a message they received is truth. They put a message through several tests. At Aish they put the Torah through those tests. One of the methods of verifying the Truth of a message is to show that the information contained therein is true. The Torah says that All Fish that have scales have fins. A scientist would never venture to say this – because if they found a fish with scales and no fins – he would lose his reputation. The Torah says it. Till today no one found a fish with scales and no fins.

Autists

A Book came out about 15 years ago called the “Secrets of the Soul.” It talks about a method of communication with autistic people – called Facilitated Communication – discovered by a university professor. When they used this form of communication – with certain autistic people – they discovered that they are highly intelligent and connected to the other world. There is a whole site on the messages that these people give. Recently, they gave a message about Nibiru. They say that it may cause great flooding – confirming what Nasa scientists have known about for years.

Torah Codes

The Torah Codes are encoded information found in the Torah. It works like this: Take a letter skip every certain number of letters – and you will find a word. This is called Equidistant Letter Skip (ELS). Using Torah Codes researchers found names of contemporary Rabbis next to their date of Birth or death. And many other recent events. Rabbi Matityahu Glazerson – Versed in Torah, Science and Codes- found codes of Nibiru and Elenin in the Torah. Elenin – is a comet. Some words close to it he found are “comet”, “star”. It is found near the the verse talking about “When it will be painful for you and all these things will occur at the end of time and you leave from the good path…”

Near-Death Experience
In Judaism we believe in the after-life. The soul comes to this earth in the clothes of a body – to acquire merit to be able to live a greater – eternal life as a soul. This is the world where one can inherit merits – only through the doing of the Mitzvot and good deeds. Gentiles do their 7 Noahide laws and Jewish people do the 613 commandments.

The next world is the world of truth – because it is clear there that Hash-m, the G-d that revealed himself in the national revelation to the Jews, is the true G-d.

Recently, a 15 Year old boy had a near death experience and tells of what he saw in heaven. He says that the world nations will come to Israel for some reason – and then they will try to take it over.

Prophesy
The Torah tells of what will happen in the future. These have been very accurate. They spoke about the Gulf War and missiles being shot against Israel and shot down – like in Operation Defensive Edge. One in the Zohar talks about the 9/11 Terrorist Attack against the US. One speaks of the war go Gog ou Magog – which is basically World War III.

Spirit of Holiness
Holy people, who guard their eyes and learn Torah – are sometimes privy to information that is not known to the public.

Once a man was driving in Lakewood, New Jersey. Two old men walked into the road in front of him. He killed them by a No-fault accident. He still felt guilty, so he wrote a letter to a great Rabbi in Israel asking what he can do to atone for this accidental killing. The rabbi wrote back one word. “Amalek” Amalek is the enemy of the Jews that wants to annihilate the Sonei Yisrael. He looked into the matter and found that those two people he killed were Nazis in Hiding.

Rabbis suggest that everyone has a one to two week supply of food at home just in case.

Apparently Nibiru could cause havoc. Apparently people can avoid its devastating effects. Just like in the flood of Noah, if people repented the last minute – G-d would have nullified the flood – apparently we too have a choice to avoid the effects of Nibiru by Repentance according to Torah and doing good deeds.

My uncle is a matchmaker in France. That’s HIS Mitzvah. Professionally, he works in computers. He made over 100 matches that resulted in marriage. Once he asked an older gentleman in his fifties – why he didn’t get married all these years. He answered “I Forgot to.”

Today people are getting married later. Why? One reason is they want to “enjoy life” or “have a good time” and one day they will settle down. Some are still in good time mode. Some never get out of it.

One big problem is is that the person who you might have a good time with may not be the person you want to marry. Generally, one wants a spouse that is responsible and wants to raise a family that has good values. A person who will give you a good time may be irresponsible, fickle but fun. Thus people don’t always find the mate that is a good marriage partner. About 50% of couples that do get married end up in divorce.

Getting into Marriage Mode – Talking on the Same wavelength

So how can a person find the right mate? Look for what qualities you want in your marriage partner – not a person that will give you a good time. A person that will make you happy is not the same person that will give you a good time.

The simple solution is put yourself in marriage mode – instead of party mode. A Jewish observant professor – asked her class – how many people have no intention to marry the person they are dating? Many of the men’s hands went up. One of the woman who was dating a man that raised his hand was sincerely vexed. They were on two different wavelengths.

Observant Jews date to find out if a partner has potential to be a spouse. Obviously, they also want someone with whom they can enjoy life, communicate and have mutual respect. Their mindset is on finding out if their date is a good prospect for marriage. They are celibate until marriage. This helps them make a more unbiased decision.

Do You Really Want to Tie the Knot or Not

My friend ran a singles event for Hanukah for people over 30. It was a success. When I asked how it went, One person at the party noticed people were kind of lost. He mentioned his take on the event. He said many people there seemed to be there just to go through the motions. There to not feel guilty that they didn’t make their effort.

Apparently, one should pinpoint what is stopping them.

That was a novel thought to me. I thought people were sincerely interested in marriage.

Reasons for Remaining Single

Apparently many have reasons for not getting married. For some it is the fear of commitment. Some are looking for perfection.

Some are reluctant because something bothers them about their partner.

Marriage is not necessarily for a person to find a mate that will fulfill their requirements to the tea.

Marriage is to help the individual reach a greater level of perfection.

Thus the people whose list of requirements are lengthy or one or two aspects bothers them about the other is not necessarily a reason to reject a mate.

If a wife angers her husband – it is not a reason for him to reject her. A woman just sometimes mirrors or latches on to character flaws that the husband is to correct. So, Instead of returning anger for anger, it behooves him to correct his faulty character trait. (Also woman are very good at winning an argument :))

What are the priorities

Once an older boy was searching to get married. He went on many dates to no avail. He went to ask the Steipler Gaon, a great Rabbi, why was G-d making it so difficult for him to find the right mate for him. He already went on many dates. The Steipler answered him back “The second girl you met was your bashert (destined mate).”

Apparently, he rejected her because his standards didn’t conform to what was good for him.

Someone asked me “Why did G-d not let the Jews stay in Egypt longer – in the desert they claimed that they longed to return to Egypt?” The Jews were to stay there 400 years but only stayed 210 years.

I answered “How long did it take the Jews to leave Egypt?” The boys knew it was 18 minutes. Why didn’t G-d leave them more time? Because if they did remain in Egypt longer – they would have been slaves till today. The commentators explain that – if the Jews had not left at that time – they would have remained with a slave mentality till today.

What is a slave mentality – “The world is against us. Why do we suffer? Why are we mistreated in society? …” G-d took us out just in time – so that we wouldn’t develop a slave mentality.

G-d does all for the good – so even though something may not suit you – G-d may do something to ultimately help you.

Thus if a person receives a proposal for a marriage minded date – a person should think twice before rejecting it. G-d sent this person into your path – the least one can do is to offer it the appropriate consideration.

I used to take dates proposed very seriously. Sometimes I would go out even if the woman was average and did not fit completely my preferences – because I knew if G-d didn’t want it to work out, He would arrange that this match would be broken off. Obviously, the minimum requirements must be there.

I heard of some requirements for mates – some reasonable some not – he has to be rich, she has to buy me a house, he has to be perfectly righteous and have never failed in his service to G-d.

My cousin gave me a list of priorities to search for in a mate – A Kind heart, Has proper Torah values, has a desire to grow in spirituality, responsibility, attractiveness.

It’s a Mitzvah to marry

One needs to know that his wife is an ezer kenegdo – literally – “a helpmate against him” – if he does good – she helps him – if he does wrong she goes against him. (Or that is the way it is supposed to be).

Some will be quick and careful for purchasing a proper Etrog for Sukkoth. Yet when it comes to marriage they push it off.

Once one realizes that marriage is a mitzvah – thus one should put aside some of their caprices for the priorities. A Rabbi once gave the following advice – write a list of 10 of the most important qualities you seek in a mate. If you find five out of the 10 – the are worthy marriage partner to seriously consider.

Marriage of the Same Religion and Similar Backgrounds

Some say opposites attract. But more commonality , common sense says will cause more common thoughts and feelings.

One reason for a Jew to marry Jewish, asides from the fact that it is prohibited for a Jew to marry out of Judaism, in the Torah is that – it it not fair to the resulting children. Psychologically, children from mixed marriage suffer from a lack of self-definition. They do not know if they belong in one camp or another. If they should celebrate this holiday or another. Should they believe A or B? What a great suffering to put children through for “love.” Love should be responsible and to build people and couples not just for one’s own selfish gratification.

The Levels of Marriage

Marriage is the ultimate conduit with which to serve G-d. There are several levels of marriage – like it says in the book of the River, the Kettle and the Bird.

One Level is where the couple – are like trading partners on a river. One does a and the other does b. they have different interests, but both gain.

A greater level is the kettle – where the fire and the kettle work in unison towards a particular goal – in this case to boil water.

A Higher level – is when the couple is like one, souring to spiritual heights like a bird.

Rabbi Aharon Kotler was one of the most influential Rabbis of the Torah World in the US. He came from Europe and reignited the embers of Torah that were extinguished in Europe during the Holocaust in the US.

He was burning with love for Torah and the Jewish people. He created the Yeshiva of Lakewood – one of the capitals of Torah learning in America.

He saved many Jews in the Holocaust through his meetings with Top people in politics, business and even the mafia.

In his quest to save Jews – he did not shy away from meeting even top mob figures.

From Emunah magazine:

This true story took place during World War II when twenty-four rabbis were being held in Italy and faced being returned to Nazi-occupied Europe and certain death.

Rav Aharon Kotler, founder and rosh yeshiva of the Lakewood Yeshiva,turned to the well-known askan and subsequent author of Ethics From Sinai, Irving Bunim, and asked him who could intercede on behalf of these 24 rabbonim. Irving Bunim suggested the Italian Mafia. Rav Kotler urged Mr. Bunim to contact them immediately.
After contacting them, he asked Rav Aharon, “Who are we sending to the meeting?”

Rav Aharon replied, “You and I are going.”

Off they went to meet the godfather of the Mafia, Joe Bonnano. Rav Aharon did not speak English, so it was Mr. Bunim who explained the problem of the 24 rabbonim trapped in Italy.

The Mafia chief asked Mr. Bunim, “Who is the elderly man sitting next to you?”

He told him, “He is the godfather of the Jewish people.”

“Really?” asked the Mafia chief.

“Yes!” replied Mr. Bunim emphatically.

“Tell him I want a blessing.”

So Mr. Irving Bunim turned to Rav Aharon and in Yiddish told him, “Ehr vill a bracha fun de rov. (He wants a blessing from the rov).”

“Zog eim ehr zol leiben lang un shtarben in bet.”

Irving Bunim turned back to the mafia chief Joe Bonnano and told him, “The rabbi blesses you with long life and you should die in bed.”

Upon hearing this, the mafia chief replied, “I like that,” and promised within 2 weeks to arrange the freedom of the 24 rabbonim stuck in Italy, which he did indeed accomplish.

Twenty-something years later, in 1964, a shiny black stretch limo pulls up in front of Lakewood Yeshiva in Lakewood, New Jersey. Two fancy-dressed men get out and walk up to the office. They say are looking for Rabbi Kotler. Out comes a man who introduces himself.

“No, not you,” say the two Italian guys. “We are looking for an older man.”

“That was my father,” says the rosh yeshiva, Rav Shneur Kotler, ”but he passed away a number of years ago.”
The Italian men explain that they are the Bonnano brothers, and that their father always “attributed his long life to your saintly father’s blessing. Now that he has just retired, we are taking over the business and we came here for the same blessing.”

“I’m sorry,” says Rav Shneur, “my father could do that, but I am not on that high level.”
Disappointed, but clearly understanding the concept of yeridas hadoros – the descent of the generations, the new Mafia chiefs bid farewell to Rav Shneur.

For saving 24 rabbonim from the Nazis, and with Rav Aharon Kotler’s bracha, Joe Bonnano – the Mafia godfather – lived to 97 years old.

And these are the Names of the the Children of Israel that are Coming to Egypt – Yaakov / Jacob, a man and his house came. (Shemot 1:1) Reuven, Shimon Levi and Yehuda. Yissachar, Zevulun, and Binyamin. Dan and Naftali, Gad and Asher. And all the souls that came out from the loins of Yaakov were seventy souls and Yosef was in Mitzrayim.

This week in the weekly Torah reading that we read in the Shabbat Morning Service – we start a new book in the Chumash / 5 Books of Moses – Shemot / Exodus. This book we are introduced to Moshe / Moses – who is born and eventually leads the Jewish nation out of Egypt as Free men. To Leave Egypt – we first learn how we got there.

Rashi – the classic commentator on the Torah – speaks on the first verse. Rashi usually explains the verses based upon the fact that he had an obvious question on the verse or verses. His implicit question on the first verse – Why do you need to tell me the names of the children of Yisrael (also known as Yaakov / Jacob) , entering Egypt. We know that the sons of Jacob entered into Egypt.

Rashi Answers – Even though (that G-d) counted them (the children of Israel) in their lifetime in their names – he returned and counted them after they died – to teach you of their being beloved (to G-d) – for they are like the stars – that go out and enter with their number and their names … all of them he called them in their name.

G-d loves his creatures. He loves people more than a parent can love their children. G-d has a special love for the Jewish people for they – followed him into the desert and traveled there for 40 years.

How are we to get close to G-d? A person asked a great sage, the H’azon Ish – how to achieve spirituality and closeness to G-d? He answered – G-d gave us laws called the Halacha – Jewish Law in the (work called) the Shulh’an Aruch (by Rabbi Yosef Karo). By following them we achieve closeness to G-d.

Basically spirituality is becoming close to G-d. G-d gave us the guide to become close to him. For Jews it is following the Halacha. For Gentiles – it is the 7 Noahide laws.

If one were to contemplate the unimaginable kindness that G-d provides for us every single second – and we would appreciate it – we would be tring to follow every single detail of the laws.

What does G-d do? He gives us life, makes every single cell of our body grow, gives us food – every single cell and molecule is being created for our good, he provides us with shelter, money… The list goes on.

Parallel to that is working on emulating G-d – by learning Jewish self-improvement works / Mussar – like Mesilat Yesharim / the Path of the Just, Orhot Tzadikim / the ways of the Righteous, Shaarei Teshuva / The Gates of Repentance, etc.

One more thing to become closer to G-d is to attach ourselves to the righteous Talmidei Hakhamim / Torah Scholars. The 20th of Tevet / the night of Dec 31 this year is the Yartzeit of the Rambam / Maimonides and Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira. Both tremendous sages. Both tremendous righteous people. Getting closer to and learning from the Righteous Torah Sages – in their lifetime or by attending Hilloula Celebrations for the Deceased Righteous Scholars – allows us to deepen our connection to G-d.

Light a candle in their memory and pray to Hash-m that in their merit your prayers will be answered.

Tetley Tea used to have short quotes on the tag of the teabag. One was “When Disagreeing Don’t Become Disagreeable.” Wisdom from a teabag.

Some say “I don’t agree, I don’t like.”

The Torah says respect every person. Be respectful to even a criminal. Treat him or her with common decency. This is the definition of tolerance – Being respectful to all.

Accepting all people’s actions because they do it – that is degeneration. If a person does something improper – respect them but take precautions to avoid you or your family from being improperly influenced.

Hating people because they have different point of view is not proper either. The Torah says just as one should not hate a person because they look different, they should not hate a person because they think differently.

Hate evil. Hate when people do evil.

The Rambam – Maimonides – states that the middle road is completion. Thus those who do evil – we act respectfully but do not condone their actions. If the need be, like if they steal, we put them to judgment – treating them with respect at all times.

Five people deserved a great honor in the Torah. One was a Righteous man, another a righteous woman, one a righteous convert to Judaism, one a wicked man, and one a zealous man. They were all people of truth. Their great honor accorded to them? They had a parasha / weekly Torah reading (of the humash / 5 books of Moses) named after them. They were Noah, Sarah, Yitro, Balak and Pinhas.

Noah searched for the truth in a generation of the flood – where all his co-citizens of earth were following evil. Sarah, our Matriarch, was the helpmate of Avraham, our Patriarch – who brought the truth that Hash-m / G-d runs the world in a generation of idol worshipers.

Yitro was a priest that followed after all different religions – and rejected them because of their falsity – before becoming a righteous convert to Torah. Balak, was the king of the nation of Moab, who hated the Jewish nation. He hired somone to curse the nation. His quality? That he didn’t hide his hatred – he wasn’t a flatterer, that in front of the Jews faces he would show favor, and behind their backs he would try to hurt them. He was honest – he hated the Israelites and acted with hatred. Pinhas stood for truth when he saw the Jews were acting immorally with the daughters of Midyan.

A thief once asked a rabbi what was one thing he could do to do proper Teshuva / repentance for the years of his stealing and wean himself off this negative trait. He wanted something easy to do.

The rabbi thought a moment and said – “never tell a lie. The man agreed – he thought it was doable. They parted ways. The rabbi met the man several weeks later and complained to the Rabbi “Rabbi, not saying a lie is too difficult for me. I want to go and steal – and I ask myself – “Is this the right thing to do?” and since I committed to telling the truth – I must admit to myself that it is not.

Eventually the man became a sincerely good person – following the laws of the Torah.

I met men of many races, colors, religions. Men that profess to being ministers, and the such. Many of them – were men of religion – but not necessarily men of truth.

If one only accepts truth they can arrive at truth. Prayer to Hash-m / G-d that one finds truth also helps.

Today one is free to choose their religion. But no one can choose their truth. Truth is independant of feelings. Thus G-d gave us the formula to arrive to following in his ways. Seeking Truth.

Many say they have truth – but they are liers. The fact they say they have truth – means that they are not comfortable in letting it be known that they have less than adequate anwers to simple questions.

Abraham, our Patriarch arrived at speaking with G-d because he was a seeker of truth. anyone who follows this formula will also be able to arrive to the service that G-d wants.

A person who seeks to follow in the path of goodness and G-dliness – first and foremost must be true to himself.

Today – religions are a dime a dozen. The “ism”s abound. Communism, Liberalism, Capitalism, Judaism. But the truth is – just like one chooses friends, one must choose their religion. It is not what feels right or seems right – it is what is right -even if it is not comfortable.

One of the first requirements in attaining true spirituality and closeness to G-d is being truthful.

The seal of G-d is truth. The point of this article is not to judge, but to give a person a starting point to think out their positions in life. Many a time I was going down a road and when I reached the end, I found it was the wrong road. The point is to illuminate the choice of paths so that one will not regret their choice of a path at the end.

Here are some questions – honest people may grapple with:

Many people swear by the “Bible.” Let’s for now consider the bible to be the five books of Moses. The 10 commandments are their credo. Yes they are devout. But every day they ignore the second commandment. The second commandment says that one is not to make any image of G-d – whether it be in heaven or on earth. Thus anyone who makes the image of G-d as an animal, man, object, star, planet, fire, or angel is transgressing that commandment. The person of truth – who follows the 5 books of Moses – will reject the religion that tells them to worship a man.

Some religions say G-d chose the Jews – but he changed his mind. Or He changed his laws or He gave a law to the people that people didn’t understand. Now come on. Do you really think that G-d, omnipotent, will give a law that people are unable to observe? If He gives it, He knows people can observe it. Or will G-d give a detailed set of laws and then say “You know what forget about it.”? In the Torah, that G-d gave us there are laws for Jewish people and laws for non-Jewish people. A Jew has 613 commandments from the Torah. A gentile has 7 commandments from the Torah (the Sheva Mitzvot Benei Noach / Noahide Laws). In Judaism, a gentile need not convert to becoming Jewish to get a place in heaven. If they follow their respective laws they get a place in heaven.

Does it make sense that G-d has a weakness? Being physical is a weakness. Being killed is a weakness. Anything that has a weakness must not be G-d. G-d is omnipotent. Once a person went to Japan to persecute the Jews. The Japanese official asked “what makes you so adamant to persecute them?” He answered – “They Killed our G-d” The Japanese official said “If Your G-d died, he must not be G-d.” That was the point of Avraham, anything that has a weakness cannot be G-d. Anything that is physical or spiritual has a weakness – it is limited. If it is limited – it has a weakness and cannot be G-d. G-d is unlimited and has no weaknesses.

Atheists – that do not beleive in G-d – have a problem in logic to deal with. Randomness does not produce order. Order is due to thought and intelligence. Thus, if there is order, there must be an intelligent creator who created and sustains the whole order of nature and the physical universe.

Agnostics – who believe in G-d but not in any particular way of religion, may ask themselves – does it make sense that G-d created a world without giving directions on how to conduct oneself. Would one make a city or counrty without laws? The Next step is to determine which set of laws are the laws that G-d gave. Judaism is more likely because it is the only way of like that has the fact that millions of people heard G-d speak at Mount Sinai about 3,300 years ago. Also G-d doesn’t change his “mind.”

The Messiah’s role is to bring the world to world peace. If a person whom people claim to be Messiah died and peace was not achieved in their lifetime – wouldn’t it mean that that person is not the Messiah? Why would G-d need that same person to be resurrected? – Wouldn’t it make sense for G-d to send someone else instead?

Some religions condone violence. Some religions have a history of tremendous cruelty to innocent people. Do you think that G-d really wants his innocent children to be hurt by other children? I don’t think so. Every act of violence in the name of the religion removes from its credibility.

Some people cringe when you mention religion. If I were them I would too. They include Judaism in the religion category and thus avoid it. Yet when it comes to stereotyping people of different races, or colors – they would consider you a bigot. The Torah says respect all people – but know that they are liable to follow the law. judaism should not be lumped into the category of religions – because It has not the negative aspects that other religions may have. Judaism was the founder of monotheism in the world – other such religions came after.

Some Jewish people refrain from giving children a Torah education. Their reason – they want their child to make A decision on their own. The problem is to make a proper decision one should be exposed to both sides, the Torah and the secular. If a child is only exposed to the secular, through media, like tv, newspapers and the like, they are only exposed to one side of the story. Their decision will not be balanced, but biased. A child given a Torah education is exposed to both sides of the story and can thus Truly make an unbiased decision.

The Torah guides a person to act with modesty. This includes dressing modestly. This is comprised of two aspects being covered and not attracting the looks of the opposite gender. In Torah, married Jewish Women cover their hair. Does the hair covering or clothing accomplish both aspects?

Many people observe holidays – that has its origins in idolatry and human sacrifices – falling pray to the marketers who want to make sales of their products. But they never found out about what is the origin of the holiday. Unfortunately, many Jews even observe these non-Jewish holidays that have their origins from idolatry, anarchy and tremendous cruelty. A Rabbi gave a lecture about the history of Xmas and New Years – gives an unsavory background of these days.

If you were G-d that was giving a law to the world – would you give it to one man and then tell him to propogate it? Or would you let millions of people know about the divine law? What makes more sense to you? Out of all the religions in the world – no religion even claims that millions of people witnessed the giving of the dive law – except Judaism.

People searching for spirituality – have to deal with the question: “What exactly is Spirituality?” The Simplest definition is the Method to become Closer to G-d. Given that, apparently wouldn’t it make more sense to follow the religion – that G-d actually spoke to millions of people in their nation to give them a Divine law – than to follow a sect that a random guru made up yesterday? Wouldn’t it make more sense to travel to Jerusalem for spirituality than the Far East.

Is Judaism more humanist than liberalism? Judaism wants the propogation of man to have a great world with a spectrum of all people. Liberalism – through its defending of same gender marriage – curtails that beautiful variety – by limiting the propogation of certain sections of the poulation. Judaism says every person must be treated with respect – but if they commit a crime they must be punished. Liberalism defends not the respect of the person who commited the crime – but the crime itself – leading to a degenerative society. Also by defending the criminals “rights” to doing the crime they cause millions of people to suffer. Is it better criminals suffer for their crimes – or that the whole poulation have to suffer from the worry of having such criminals among them in society?

Does my preferences or heart guide my values or does the truth or my mind guide my values?

People who complain about G-d’s role in the Holocaust or any other tragedy – are they also cognizant of all the tremendous good that G-d does continuously – every single moment?

People divide Jews into denominations. Just like they didn’t exist at the time Moses gave the Torah, they don’t exist today. When one gets to heaven, they will not ask were you orthodox or conservative – they will ask did you follow the code of Jewish law – the Shulhan Aruch? These titles serve to separate. We have one commonality – that we are Jews. And the Torah is the law that unites us.

There are basically three questions for a person to arrive at the Truth. To Arrive at belief in Judaism, one must answer three questions –

1. Does it make more logical sense to believe that G-d Exists or that He does not?

2. Did He give a divine law for people to follow?

3. Which law is it?

These are just a small collection of examples. But each person has to deal with being truthful to himself. In the end of life – the Torah says – a person will be sent to a world of truth – heaven. If they don’t arrive at truth here – they will find out the truth in the next world. I assure you it is better to find out here in this world than to find out later.

Thinking is beneficial to living a purposeful life. A person who acted a certain way in the past always has the possibility of starting again anew and wiping the slate clean. The first step is to want to find truth.

G-d gave us a brain to think. The idea of Judaism is to use our minds and questioning and inside fire to find the true path. The Torah is G-d’s word. It is not afraid of Questions. On the contrary, it encourages question. Truth is not afraid of questions. Falsity is.

Following the truth is not always convenient. Is not always easy. It does not always make you feel warm and cozy inside. One thing it does do – it does make you a real man or real person – that has the potential to reach closer to the one who said “Let there be Light.” This was the path of Abraham – of how he reached the tremendous heighs of illumination and closeness to G-d. It’s in everyone’s hands to also be closer to our Father in heaven – if we are adamant to truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

The quest towards perfection begins here.