I felt badly for Harambe – a Gorilla killed when a child fell into his cage at the Cincinatti, Ohio Zoo recently.

The Torah has laws that forbid causing pain to animals (Tzaar Baalei H’aim). One reason for this law is to prevent people from becoming cruel. One who is cruel with animals, may become cruel to humans. (The Nazis used to inculcate insensitivity to cruelty by having soldiers raise a kitten for many months and then commanding them to kill it with their bare hands.)

Once Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi was walking in the Marketplace. A Lamb, that was to be slaughtered, quickly approached him to hide under his robe. He sent it away gently. He said “Go little Lamb, for this is why you were created.” In heaven, they judged that that was a lack of sensitivity and determined that he should be stricken with tooth pain. He endured the tooth pain for 13 years, until one day his maidservant was trying to hit little scurrying creatures in his house with a broom. He told her “Don’t hit them. Push them out gently.” Soon after his tooth pain stopped.

Noah was rewarded for his great kindness in taking care of the animals while in the ark.

One of the first laws given to Noah of the Noahide Laws, incumbent upon all mankind deals with animals. A Jew and a Gentile are prohibited from eating a limb taken from a live animal (Ever Min Ha H’ai in Hebrew)

Human Life Takes Precedence

One does not know what would have ensued had the guard not shot Harambe to protect the child.  Ultimately, according to Torah – he did the right thing. A human’s life always takes precedence over an animal’s life and usually, over Mitzvot.

The Torah commands Jews to observe Shabbat – one of the greatest commandments of the Torah. On Shabbat, one does not light fire or to cook. Yet, If one’s life is in danger, we must “desecrate” the Shabbat to save a life.

Life Takes Precedence.

If a man intends to kill an innocent person, one has the right to kill or maim the pursuer. If maiming is possible, it is preferable. At times, We are to kill to save the innocent person or people.

Mother – Negligence or Accident?

Should the mother of the boy be charged for the value of the Gorilla? Apparently not. Perhaps she was negligent, in letting her child roam around or perhaps it was a complete accident – children have ways of fleeing without the discretion of parents. A parent is responsible to pay for the damages of a child.

The Fence

The gate of the fence initially was 36 inches high – now the Zoo made it 42 inches. We have a law in the Torah to place a fence on a roof, to assure that no one falls off. This fence must be 10 Tefachim / Handbreadths.

Rabbis Differ about the measurement of a Tefach.

According to Rav Moshe Feinstein, the Tefach is 3.54 inches (9.00 centimeters). According to Rav Chaim Noeh, the Tefach is 3.15 inches (8 centimeters). According to the Chazon Ish, the Tefach is 4 inches (10.16 centimeters).

So According to the Chazon Ish, the initial size of the fence (36 inches) was problematic to use as a fence on a roof. He would have required it to be 40 inches. (10 Tefach x 4 inches = 40.) But apparently now they increased height to 42 inches it is good, according to him.

Why Gorillas Die

G-d does everything for a purpose. Even Harambe’s death must have a divine message or purpose to us.

Divine Message

Everything that occurs one can learn from. Each of our deeds has repercussions. If one person gets angry, he might cause a negativity to fill the air to cause another person to kill. (There was a true story like that). If a person or animal is killed, perhaps it is to make people feel badly that they will repent for not having fulfilled the word of G-d found in the Torah. Because of this this incident may serve to provoke us to do Teshuva / for past misdeeds.

Divine Purpose

The Torah states that in the generation that created the Tower of Babel – G-d punished them by changing their language. Some people, were changed into monkeys and elephants. (Talmud (Sanhedrin 109a)) It is interesting to note that those three animals are usually more intelligent than others. Was Harambe a soul from the generation of the Tower of Babel? I don’t know.

At times people are reincarnated. An interesting expose on the subject can be found in “The Coming Revolution” by Rabbi Zamir Cohen. In one chapter, he presents different humans that had similar physical traits and mental aspirations and achievements.

A person who transgresses Torah law may punished for sins that they did by becoming reincarnated into a rock, plant, or animal. Was Harambe a Gilgul of a person who sinned and possibly killed someone? Possible but I really don’t know.

One thing we do learn from the whole incident is to be extra careful with children. Keep them from animal cages. Don’t leave them alone in a Zoo, or a house or car – for that matter.

Lessons To Learn & Ways to React Positively

The Torah has many laws to not cause pain to animals. Kosher laws – teach us how to treat animals that are to be eaten. Kosher Animals are slaughtered in a way to not cause any pain to the animal.  Perhaps a great lesson to learn from the tragedy is – those Jewish people who still eat non-kosher, may want take upon themselves to start eating kosher.

Those Gentiles who are not careful about Ever Min HaHai / eating a limb taken from an animal that was still alive – can take upon themselves this Mitzvah. (Sometimes – certain meat factories start cutting up animals while they are still moving – one who eats from that meat – transgresses the Torah prohibition of Ever Min HaH’ai.)

We can always take the positive in every difficulty. G-d gives us challenges to overcome, and life lessons – sometimes difficult – for our benefit & for us to better ourselves.

Some people are highly strung. One word can trigger them. Maybe even one look.

Some are predisposed against certain people or questions.

I asked a person “Are You Jewish?”

They responded “That is an insult!”

I asked “If someone asked you “Are you an Accountant? – would that insult you?”

He responded “Yes.” I guess he wouldn’t like to be an accountant.

(Come to think of it Saying “Being Jewish is an Insult” is an Insult – but I let it slide.)

Some people were hurt in the past. Some have a disposition against you, because they heard something bad against you. So they act with an angry disposition towards you.

Rabbi Yitzi Greenman, a Fund-Raiser for Aish HaTorah tells of a story of a Wealthy individual who had an angry disposition towards Orthodox Jews. He was patient and persistant and eventually turned around that disposition to eventually get the man to give a sizeable donation.

So whose problem is it, if someone is angry at you? If you really hurt the other person – or perhaps you angered them – it would make sense to make amends – if the relationship is worth it. (In cases of marital / couple relationships an Orthodox Rabbi would be proper to consult before returning with a spouse that is abusive)***

But sometimes it’s not you. They had a bad day. They listened to “lashon hara” / evil speech about you or your kind. So it is not your fault. Something is wrong with the other person’s disposition.

The Torah gives the ultimate response to disarm a person –

“A Soft Answer turns away Wrath.” (Shlomo Hamelech / King Solomon in Mishlei / Proverbs 15:1) When someone is angry, the best response is not to stoop to an escalation of anger. The best is to remain in control. A soft answer helps one to both and disarm the angry fellow.

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***Also, in cases of Intermarriage – it would be better to just walk away – because of the Torah law – prohibiting it. The Torah tells us (Devarim 7:3-4) “Don’t marry with them – don’t give your daughter to his son, and don’t take his daughter for your son; lest he should turn your son away from Me, and they will worship other gods…”) (The Jewish View of Marriage) (Law on Intermarriage) (Meaning in Mitzvot – Intermarriage) Usually a child of a mixed marriage is confused. They are not sure where they belong. Besides the Torah’s reason, It is unfair to the children that may result from such a union. People who start off on the same wavelength, usually have more successful, happy marriages.

It was the eve of our move. We were leaving our apartment to move closer to my parents. We did what we could to leave the apartment clean and in good condition before we left.

My father used to say : “When you go to a place, make sure when you depart it is better than when you came.” That is a great principle in life.

If you have a job – make sure the place of work is better than when you came. If you live in a community – make sure it is better when you leave than when you came. Yaakov / Jacob made wells in his town of Be’er Sheva. He left the place better than when when he arrived.

Apparently that is our objective in life. When we leave this world it should be a better place because of our actions.

Back to the story … We called a company that sends over cleaning help. We were surprised when a big Russian man knocked on our door. “Hi. I came to help you with the cleaning.” After he walked in, we thought – “Not what we expected.” But we were courteous and explained to him what we wanted clean.

We still didn’t understand why G-d arranged that he be the one sent to clean.

Then – we got it.

We had tons of baggage to bring down the stairs, to load into our rental car. We needed someone strong to bring the baggage down and help us load the vehicle. He was the perfect person for the job.

What we thought was a fluke – that a big man was sent to clean, was really a blessing – he helped us to carry our belongings down the stairs and load them.

We sometimes second guess G-d’s actions – “Yeah, we know better.” Really, He knows what’s good and what is good for us in particular.

If we are properly attuned and live the Torah outlook, in the end, we will be able to discern – that all that happened to us is for the good. We will be able to live constantly with that philosophy that “All that the Merciful One does, He does for the Good.” Instead of complaining about the bad, we will see the good in all situations. We will live life with a positive attitude – instead of a negative view.

Sometimes it takes a big Russian man for us to realize.

As I youngster I was a sci-if fan. Not an official Trekkie, but I did like Star Trek. In the episodes at times an unknown crew member would appear who My friends would call an expendable crew member. During the course of the episode they would expire.

The main characters would remain. (By the way, did you know Spock and Kirk were Jewish?)

Our job in life is to break out of the flow of society and to do something significant to better the world. To break out of our comfort zone if the truth or Torah demands. Society pushes you to follow the maxim: “Drink and be merry for tomorrow you die.” Judaism adds one small point to that caveat – but accomplish something to better the world before you do.

Our goal is to better the world. That is what G-d expects of us.

Self-Improvement / Mussar

One way to better the world is to better ourselves. Intriguing that many know this already for the best selling books are cookbooks and self-improvement works. Why self-improvement? Apparently people intrinsically know that is one of the goals in life.

Torah taught self-improvement for thousands of years. Some classic Torah works on self improvement  / also known as Mussar works include – Messilat Yesharim / the Path of the Just, Shaarei HaAvodah by Rabbeinu Yona of Gerondi, Shaarei Teshuvah – the Gates of  Repentance, Duties of the Heart, The Ways of the Tzaddikim–Orchos Tzaddikim

A person who wants to make their acts more significant may start by learning to better themselves. Studying the above works – with a rabbi, a friend or even alone is an excellent starting point.

Knowing What is Good & Evil

Apparently people intrinsically know also what is good and evil. Yet the heart of man can deceive a person to think what is good is evil or vice versa. Look at people who condone terrorism. Obviously terrorism is wrong and evil, but people can find justifications for it.

Thus everyone can be tricked to think what is good is evil. Everyone who doesn’t believe in G-d can be fooled. And many who do believe in G-d are fooled. Look at the inquisition, auto-dafe, the crusades – all done in the name of religion.

No one is immune. Religions are accused of being cruel by atheists. Religions accuse atheists of being cruel. Both have some truth to their accusations.

So where is the truth?

The simple answer:

Torah.

Why Torah? There are thousands of Religions in the world. Atheism on a logical standpoint is illogical. Can you really believe that every single cell, every single animal, every single living plant, every single microscopic organism was created by random molecules flying around? It is illogical. As Spock would say.

Ok. So there is a G-d. How do I know he cares about what I do?

The Only Divine Revelation to a Nation

Basically G-d appeared only once in the history of man to a nation of millions of people – when G-d gave the Torah to the Jews about 3,000 years ago at Mount Sinai. He never repealed His laws. Thus they are still in effect.

In the Torah, G-d gave commandments for all people and commandments for the Jews.
G-d gave the 7 Noahide laws in the Torah to the Jews to teach mankind – for all people of the world to follow. He gave the Jews 613 commandments – as explained in the Shulchan Aruch, the Jewish Code of Law by Rabby Yosef Caro.

True Morality

Many religions committed atrocities in the name of religion. Atheists and idol-worshippers did the same. But the Torah is G-D’s word. True morality. The yardstick to use to know what is truly morality.

Let’s take one statement of the Torah. It says :

A person who is merciful with the merciless ends up being merciless to the merciful. 

One can understand it in one way – that by constantly being “merciful” with killers one ends up developing traits of cruelty. But there is a more basic explanation. Some people today condone Terrorism. They say, the terrorists, were oppressed by a nation (usually, they point the finger to Israel) and thus one should have mercy upon them.

The problem is is that when one gives no consequences to evil – those people end up doing more evil to the innocent. So by a person being merciful to the merciless, he ends up being merciless to the merciful, the innocent, the frail and helpless.

The first step in making one’s life more significant is to align one’s outlook and philosophy with that of the Torah. Then one can do true kindness. You do kind with the kind. And punish the wicked for their crimes.

What is Tolerance? Tolerance vs. Decadence

People have mixed up what is tolerance. Tolerance is not accepting any person’s wicked actions – that is decadence. According to Torah, Tolerance is being respectful to all people regardless of their actions. But if they committed or want to commit actions against others – they are punished or prevented.

The Torah is not naive. It says a person who wants to kill an innocent person, get up and kill that person. If a person says they want to kill others, we don’t hand them a gun – or a bomb for that matter.

In Pirkei Avot (Ch. 2 Mishna 4) it Sums it up Nicely on  Doing the Will of Hash·m:

4. He (Rabban Gamliel son of Rabbi son of Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi) used to say, make His [G·d’s / Hash·m’s] will as your will in order that He will make your will as His will. Nullify your will before His will in order that He will nullify the will of others because of your will.

Knowing what G-d wants, and seeing His philosophy from Torah – allows one to think clearly about morality. It is not the heart that directs the mind. Or one’s supposed “thought out position” that drives a person. It’s G-d’s will.

You Are What You Read

I used to learn with a rabbi who basically explained – that You are what you read. A person who constantly reads the New York Times begins to have the same positions as their writers.

If a writer is anti-Israel – the reader may develops an anti-Israel attitude. If the writer has a liberal attitude one becomes more liberal.

If one learns Torah – ie, a Gentile about the Noahide Laws and a Jew about the Shulchan Aruch – one learns morality the way G-d defines it.

Ultimately G-d is good. We with our limited mind cannot fathom His kindness at times, but eventually in this world we will find out why everything that G-d does is good.

Thus, if we cannot understand G-d’s laws – it is up to us delve into them until we understand them. The mistake many make is they jump to a conclusion that either they are more moral than G-d or that they need not G-d to know morality.

Abraham & Morality

Abraham learned morality from his Innards. Apparently, he was so truthful with himself and others – he was able to learn truth from his innate, sincere and complete honesty. He also learned in a Yeshiva of Shem and Ever – descendants of Noah.

But really there cannot be morality without Torah. The Atheists that say they need not G-d to know morality are only affirming their morality usually by condoning the laws that were in the Torah for thousands of years. In the time period when Abraham, our Forefather was alive, people were sacrificing their children on altars. That was the morality of the day. Abraham, fought the world and taught them that it is immoral to kill.

A person living in that time period would also be able to condone child sacrifice. They would be able to deny the morality of the Torah. But now with hindsight we know that the Torah was right in condemning child sacrifice and the idol worshipers were wrong.

At the end of one’s life, one should look back and be thankful of what the added to better the world. One should not be like those expendable crew members, that are there just to fill up the scenery.

Eventually, people will realize that the values of the Torah are true values. The ones that learn them earlier than later will have a greater chance to achieve their potential in life – for they let their lives be directed by the master of all morality – G-d.

A person speaks faster than they type. Thus it helped me to become more efficient with typing text.

An old woman was selling fresh fruits and vegetables on a peddlers cart. “Fresh Apples!” She shouted.

Watching were little children, awaiting the right time to make their move.

The leader gave the signal and three little boys each grabbed an Apple. They ran away with all their heart. The old lady, with no hope of catching the swift youth, yelled “come back little swindlers!”

Just then a person interjected “Excuse me Madame. I’d like to purchase some produce.” It was her best customer.

She quickly understood, to vent her anger on this person or even to show her anger, would jeopardize  her sales relationship with this client. She put on a great big Smile. “Hello Mr. Jones, so nice to see you!” She beamed.

In one moment, quicker than a bat of an eye she changed her mood.

We many a time let our emotions dictate our mood. Someone angers us. It ruins our day.

Really, this is not the Torah way.

The way of the Torah is to be in control of one’s emotions and mood.

In Pirkei Avot /Ethics of the Fathers it states “Jealousy, and Honor (seeking) and (following one’s) desires) takes a person out of the world. “

Why those three things? Apparently, each of those three traits makes one dependent upon others for happiness. If a person gives him honor, he is happy. If not, he is not. If a person has more than their neighbor, they are happy. If not, not. Desires also put one’s happiness in the hands of others.

If one’s happiness is dependent upon oneself, others cannot hurt you emotionally.

Boy am I angry! He called me a chicken.
What,  that guy didn’t say please.
Look what those people did!
What do you want me to do he got me upset!

It is mind over emotions, rather than emotions over mind.

“You ruined my day!” Is not a valid excuse. Our happiness, mental health and mood are to be in our hands, not in someone else’s.

Being moody is no longer out of one’s control.

You choose your mood. Don’t let others or your emotions dictate your state of happiness.

Emotional maturity was a hot topic several years ago.

Exercises exist to become Emotioanally independent.

One is to list all situations that trigger your emotions. List aside each your regular reaction. Then list your desired reaction or the best possible reaction. Then act out those situations in your mind. Imagine yourself reacting in the best possible way.

If one has a bad temper, Torah books exist to improve their temper. One is “Anger: the inner teacher” By rabbi Zelig Pliskin. He provides stories, methods and examples to reduce anger.

Anger may also be caused by lack of Emuna / Belief in Hash-m’s goodness in guiding the world.  An excellent book that helps one to improve Emuna / Belief in Hash-m is called Living Emunah – Living a Life of Serenity through Faith” By Rabbi David Ashear. The second edition has also come out recently.

Many of one’s traits depend upon one’s self esteem. If one believes in themselves, they need not put down others. They need not attack with venom when someone ruffles their feathers. They are more in control.

Going cold turkey on news can help one to get out of being depressed with all the news in the world. Knowing the headlines is fine, but being an addict to news can cause the blues.

There are many traits one can work on – stinginess, belief in G-d, lash on harsh / gossip & speaking badly about others, jealousy, honor seeking, etc.

Torah Study also helps a person to improve their attitude on life. The Torah hashkafa / outlook and just plain learning Torah helps a person to improve their character traits. In it one learns that one’s actions are purposeful and at times the gravity of one’s actions. An example, speaking badly of others – even if it it 100% true – called Lashon HaRah. Lash on HaRah can destroy lives even though it is just words one expresses, one can cause tremendous damage with words. One can also cause tremendous good as well.

G-d gave us tools to use them for the good, to use them to build, to use them to heal. Using them for the good is our job in life to make this world a better place one action at a time.
The next time you imagine