When Life Crashes or Judaism & the Art of Computer Maintenance

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My Computer crashed yesterday. It wasn’t the first time. A long while back I had Microsoft Windows. I got the “Blue Crash Screen”. I had to figure out how to get my computer back up. I tried their recommended methods. No avail. I tried another version of Windows – but I had to find that Windows key to get it back. Didn’t work. Finally I just backed up my files and installed a new  Operating System instead of Windows – Linux. Fedora to be exact. Yesterday I just reinstalled Fedora again.

OK. Initially – It took time to adjust to a new Operating System. But now I am still running Linux. Yes I have Laptops that run Windows – but I am fine with Linux.

When Life Crashes

Similarly – a longer time ago I was living the high life. Yes I had ups and downs – but I was having a good time. Till my life crashed. I experienced sufferings as a teen. Yes – teen problems but crushing nonetheless. So I tried to make small changes to my life. I was sure – deep inside – the crash was a message from G-d / Hash-m. Before I became more dedicated to Judaism – I didn’t hesitate to make a Joke at the expense of other’s discomfort. I was funny – but at times I could hurt others feelings. For that I regret. The sufferings prompted soul searching.

The Connection between computers & life

We experience ups and downs. Many a time – these can be interpreted as messages. Messages from G-d / Hash-m to improve. To become closer to him. G-d is our father – and at times He steps in to wake us up to that fact. Or wake us up to strengthening our relationship with Him.

At times it is a little crash – like losing a wallet. At times it is a bigger crash – like losing one’s savings in the Stock market. Computers at times run slow, or fail – but it is up to us to get them up & running again. Like in life- when in difficulty – we try to find out how to get up and running again.

Don’t Give Up

But G-d does not want us to give up. If there are troubles – it is a time to reflect and prompt ourselves to improve. Embarrassing a person in public is forbidden in Torah. It is like killing. So as a youth – due to my troubles – I became more sensitive to people’s feelings. I apologized to the people I might have hurt. Now I try to joke in a way to bring a person up not down.

The Nurse that Gave Up

Some give up when life becomes harder. When sufferings raise their head. That’s the last thing G-d / Hash-m – your Father – wants from you. I still feel badly for the nurse who gave up on life – when she encountered so many cases of Covid – some she helped to save – some she couldn’t.

G-d  doesn’t want us to give up. At times He wants us to change our perspective on life. To take on a Torah perspective. In life it is forbidden for a person to take one’s life. The closer a person is to the person he/or she kills the worse it is. Killing – the one person that is closest to oneself, who is oneself – is one of the worst transgressions.

Ask All Your Questions to an Orthodox Rabbi

So what should that nurse have done. She was suffering from not being able to help as many people she could have. Apparently – she could have presented herself to an Orthodox Rabbi to ask for an explanation for why G-d sent Covid. Why was she not able to save as many people as she could have. Why did she have to witness so many deaths? What was a proper course of action for the future. What is a Torah outlook to cope with her difficult situations.

Pain is not the Worst Thing

People experience pain. But pain is not the worst thing that can happen. Not achieving what one can in life is worse than pain. Pain – like money comes and goes. But one who doesn’t achieve their potential in life – they can’t repair it after death.

David HaMelekh / King David wanted sufferings to come to him – because it gave him the opportunity to turn to G-d on a more emotional level – and to him even pain was preferable to a non-relationship with Hash-m.

Although I shy away from suffering – when I did suffer as a youth – I remember  it was easier to feel closer to Hash-m. All barriers between us were removed because – what was important in my eyes before – became secondary to relieve may suffering. I knew the way was to seek spirituality – by becoming closer to Hash-m through Torah.

How to Fix Life & Computers

When a computer crashes – you can try to fix it with software utilities – or try a new operating system to get your computer back on track. When Life crashes you can change little things and stick to the same lifestyle or you can try to try a new lifestyle that will help you change your outlook and attitude on life. Even if you are a bit unfamiliar – you can reduce the downtime in the future.

I did it with my computer and my life. With my computer I moved from Windows to Linux. With my life I moved from following the flow to following Torah Judaism.

Judaism, Logic & Practicality

People who like computers – in general like logic. I like logic. Judaism was the ultimate source of life for me because it answered all the questions I had and provided a logical framework for everything I do. I also like practicality – in Judaism we translate concepts into actions. It is not enough to say as it says in Torah – “Love Your fellow as Yourself” –  the Torah provides specific laws to put it into action – Like not speaking Lashon HaRah / Evil speech about others, giving charity, doing acts of kindness, etc.

Self-Improvement & Torah.

So what do you do when life crashes? Reflect. Reflect how to self-improve. Reflect how to get closer to Hash-m through Torah – for Gentiles through the 7 Noahide Laws from Torah and for Jews – the Shulchan Aruch – Jewish Code of law. (Link poiints to Kitzur / Abridged Shulchan Aruch)

Sometimes I look back and imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t take steps to improve. I would be a different person than I am today – and I am happy I did take those challenging but highly beneficial steps.

6 Ways to Tell if You are a Reincarnated Soul

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The Torah Talks of Reincarnated Souls

A person is sent to the world to perfect themselves. G-d gives the soul several chances to follow the laws of Torah – the 613 commandments for Jews and the 7 Noahide laws for non-Jews. If they do do what is good & just in the eyes of Hash-m – they go to a higher level of existence. If not G-d gives them chances to correct their faults. I heard – a person gets 3 chances. The Ari”zl – a great Rabbi Kabbalist – said that most people today (in his time and most likely now) are reincarnated souls.

When Adam HaRishon / the first man was created – he was composed of many souls. Each soul branched off. The Soul of Moshe Rabbeinu / Moses our teacher was in a part of Adam that did not receive nourishment from the Etz HaDaat / Tree of Knowledge that Hava / Eve and Adam sinfully ate. (see Zera Shimshon – Matot – who brings this from מהרע”ה author of the Amudey Shiva / עמודיה שבעה). Since he was not tainted with this transgression – Moshe was able to speak the words directly from Hash-m / G-d – As opposed to other prophets that had only transmitted words of G-d that they heard in an unconscious or dream state.

The Torah tells or many examples of reincarnated souls – see Sefer haDorot. Some Examples – Moses was the reincarnated soul from Hevel / Abel and also from Noah. Rabbi Akiva – was the reincarnated soul of Zimri. Some have a spark from a previous soul. Rabbi Akiva also had a spark from Shechem ben Hamor.

Are You carrying a Soul?

At times a person has to come back to this world to do a tikkun – reparation for the sins of a past life. If the person didn’t do many sins and needs a small tikkun – Hash-m gives them a chance to enter into someone’s body to do a particular Mitzvah – that was lacking in the soul.

Did You Wake Up speaking Another Language?
I read an article on a psychological condition that a person wakes up one morning speaking a different language. It’s called bilingual aphasia. It is documented. Many scientists and psychologists do not understand the phenomenon or give a weak explanation. The Torah has a simple explanation – that person was a reincarnated soul. In a previous life – they spoke that language. They reverted back to a past lifetime.

Hypnosis – Are you one of these reincarnated souls?

In a book called “The Coming Revolution – by R. Zamir Cohen or an article on his site hidabroot.com – that talks about Hypnosis to a past life. The book talks about many phenomenon that demonstrate examples of concepts written in the Torah. In it he writes about a person that did hypnosis. The hypnotist took the person back to a point before he was born. At that moment the person started speaking French & started telling him of his past life. The person was a keeper of the Horse stables in the palace of Versailles, France.  He was killed in a duel. The Hypnotist checked the facts and found they corresponded to the person’s story.

Trustworthy Hypnosis

If a person wants to see a hypnotist – obviously – one should check his reputation and make sure he is honest. One trustworthy Dr. that I know that does do Hypnosis – is Dr. Peter Resnick. He told me once that a religious Jewish girl was having fears to get married. She was afraid of losing her children. He did Hypnosis and found that in a previous life she lived on an island where a volcano erupted and she lost two daughters – r”l.

Fears and Dreams – revealing a past life?

A person who has fears may be fearing due to a trauma in his or her life – or a past life. If they have vivid dreams of past events – it might also be a sign of being a reincarnated soul.

Speaking with the Autists

There are certain autistic people that are able to communicate through a preocess called Facilitated Communication. These Jewish autistic people are highly connected spiritually. There is a site and books on the subject. One book is called “Secrets of the Soul”. For French speakers / Francophone is “le livre d’Annaëlle” One site that allows you to communicate with one of these autistic people is called dani18.com – apparently you can email them.

A Rabbi I know – Rabbi Perez – went to see one of these autistic people. I Believe it was Binyamin. Rabbi Perez was formerly a non-Jewish minister in Mexico. He investigated Judaism and finally converted to Judaism. He married a Jewish Moroccan woman. He asked the Binyamin. Binyamin told him he was a soul that previously lived in the Holocaust. At that time he was married to a woman – who’s soul was the same as the woman he was currently married to. Rabbi Perez asked – why did I have to go through the process of being born a gentile and have to find and convert to Judaism – while my wife was born Jewish. Binyamin answered – Before your wife died – She did teshuva (Repented) – You didn’t do teshuva before you died. So you had to take another stem in this life to become Jewish. When his wife heard the story – she replied that’s interesting – I always had an a affinity with Ashkenazi customs.

Speaking with a Gadol

A gadol is a great rabbi. Usually they are recognized by the vast majority of Orthodox Jews as great rabbis due to their Torah erudition, their holiness, purity and their kindness. Some rabbis are able to tell things – that the average person can’t see. Baba Sali – was able to tell people things that were hidden. He would be able to tell what was happening in other areas read a person’s sins. He gave blessings as well.

Now a days it is more rare to find a person on that level to see things hidden from others. But they can be found with proper investigation. Obviously one must do their due diligence to determine if the Rabbi is accepted and on that high spiritual level.

The Torah cautions from going to soothsayers and fortune tellers. Whatever is available in the positive is available in the negative. Meaning there are people who can tell you things hidden to others – through sorcery or black magic. Pursuing the avenues of impurity is forbidden by the Torah. Everything that is available in the impure manner – is available in the pure manner.

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*** Le livre d’Annaëlle ; contes d’Annaëlle – Annaëlle Chimoni

  • 21 Janvier 2010 / 9782918518020

Annaëlle, huit ans, est condamnée au silence et peut-être à une fin précoce.
La méthode de la ” communication facilitée ” mise au point en Australie puis développée en Amérique, en France et en Israël, lui permet de parler avec nous par clavier informatique interposé. Soutenue par sa foi religieuse et celle de ses parents, dotée d’une étonnante clairvoyance, elle nous ouvre ainsi les ports de son monde intérieur et nous apporte la preuve, s’il en était encore besoin que les enfants polyhandicapés ou autistes sont sensibles au moindre battement de paupière du monde.
Le Livre d’Annaëlle n’est pas seulement l’autobiographie d’une jeune vie, avec ses souffrances et ses joies intenses, il est aussi un témoignage d’amour et de vérité universelle, un appel de Dieu aux hommes. Son enfermement, Annaëlle le reçoit comme une suprême liberté, car elle vit en Dieu. Elle n’a rien oublié de la parole de son origine, elle raconte ses vies antérieures et parle du Talmud et de la Bible avec une érudition digne des plus grands maîtres.
Il n’est pas jusqu’au Grand Rabbin Joseph Sitruk qui ne s’écrie un jour lors d’une conférence : ” Un sefer Torah dans un corps humain, s’il yen avait un, je citerais le nom d’Annaëlle : une main humaine capable de dire ce qu’une main céleste a dicté aux hommes. Elle est à elle seule une Torah vivante, avec des yeux et un sourire… ” Son livre fut un immense succès. Annaëlle aurait dix-neuf ans aujourd’hui et demanda expressément à ses parents qu’à cette date soit publié son deuxième livre (inédit) sous le titre choisi par elle : Le livre inachevé.
On y côtoie le Golem ainsi que le Maharal de Prague, l’esprit de l’eau et le souffle du Messie, les réincarnations, le Berger transhumant, les contes et ce sentiment ténu qui traverse les deux livres, que nous avons regroupés ici, de joie, de force et de confiance absolue en la Providence divine.

Yearning for a Relationship with G-d – The Month of Av & It’s Significance

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The Hebrew months have an influence on the world. In Adar – when Purim falls – it is a month of rejoicing for the Jews. In Av – it is a month of difficulty.

The Month of Father

“Av” in Hebrew means father. We would expect a month that is named Father to be a month of consolation and happiness. Let’s break down the month into parts. The first 9 days lead up to the destruction of the first Beit Hamikdash / Holy temple – by the Babylonians and also to the Second Beit Hamikdash over 600 years later.

The Zodiac Sign of Av

The sign of the Month of Av is the Lion / Leo. One signification of this period is we will be more successful if we rise and reinforce our spiritual efforts – in becoming closer to Hash-m – as would a lion rise to chase it’s prey. This month comes before Elul – whose sign is a pure maiden / Virgo. In the month of Elul Jews do Selichot – prayers asking for forgiveness and purification from sins. We thus get ready for the Month of Tishrei – The Month of the Scale / Libra – when all human beings are judged by G-d.

The Second Part of the Month

The second part of the month starting from the 15th of Av – callled Tu – B’av – were days of rejoicing. Half the month passed and now difficulty turns to rejoicing. The young maidens would dance before the single men – so the young men could search for a suitable wife and court suitable young woman in search of a mate for marriage. Like it says:

There never were in Israel greater days of joy than Tu B’Av and Yom Kippur. On these days the daughters of Jerusalem used to walk out in white garments which they borrowed in order not to put to shame any one who had none …

 

The daughters of Jerusalem came out and danced in the vineyards exclaiming at the same time, “Young man, lift up your eyes and see what you choose for yourself. Do not set your eyes on beauty but set your eyes on [good] family.” As it says, “Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that fears Hash-m, she shall be praised.” (Mishlei / Proverbs  31:30) (Talmud: Tractate Ta’anit 26b)

“No days were as festive for Israel as the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur,” for there is no greater joy than having one’s sins forgiven – on Yom Kippur for the sin of the Golden Calf and on Tu B’Av for the sin of the spies. In the Book of Judges, Tu B’Av is referred to as a holiday (Judges 21:19).

The First Part of the Month

The first part of the Month deals with doing acts of mourning – how can we reconcile the difficulty with the the Name of the month “father”?

In Eicha / Lamentations – it talks of the destruction of Jerusalem. One of the verses says – “All who pursued her arrived at her.” (Eicha 1:3) Torah verses written in Hebrew can be understood in various ways according to the permitted ways of understanding Torah. It can also be read “all who pursued Hash-m / G-d – arrived – to Her.” (“The Divine Presence” – G-d has no gender – at times He is Referred to as male and vice versa.)

In a Jew’s Life the Goodness of G-d is always present – In good times and the reverse. When the Jewish temple was being destroyed – someone peaked into the Kodesh HaKodashim / Holy of Holies – the most holy part of the Temple. Inside was the Aron / the Ark of the Covenant.

The Cherubim on the Cover of the Ark – represented the relationship between G-d and the People of Israel. When they were on good terms – the Cherubim were facing each other. When the Jews were sinning – the Cherubim looked away from each other. At the time of the Temple’s Destruction the Cherubim were hugging one another.

The Reason of Suffering

King David – was on the level to ask for suffering – because he felt closer to G-d. For him the suffering was worth the close relationship with Hash-m. A sincere father punishes because he loves the child – not out of anger. He wants the child to improve. He wants the child to live a fulfilling, meaningful life – so he chastises and guides his son or daughter through the ways of Torah.

Intimate relationship with G-d

It is this very intimate relationship with G-d that we Yearn for in the Month of Av. It is this very intimate relationship with G-d that we Mourn for on the Ninth of Av.

 

The Power of Compliments

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In Parasha Matot – G-d Tells Moshe / Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites. Moshe sends Pinhas. Why did Moshe not do it himself? Moshe had gratitude towards Midian. He took refuge there when he ran away from Egypt.

Many a time we have an opportunity to express gratitude.

A man once came home – he found his wife happy. He asked – why are you smiling. She said – their son came home and he did very well on the Mishna test. He told her it was he meatballs that she prepared yesterday that gave him strength to study and remember the material.

That compliment made her happy. He thought if that’s the power of a compliment – he will try to give more compliments. The man went back to his Kollel / Torah study group – and he gave the Rosh Kollel a compliment. “Thank you for the 13 yeas I have been here. You provide the Gemaras / Talmud books, the Shtenders / Learning stands,  and the coffee.

Some time later – he met the Rosh Kollel in the market. He said to him – I want to thank you. I was thinking of closing the Kollel due to lack of funding – and because of Your compliment I thought – “You know – I really did good to the community by opening the Kollel. Many people learned Torah. Perhaps I will try to continue it. In a several days I was motivated – & I raised the funds and I raised the yearly budget.”

The Power of a compliments

Use Sweet Words

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A sweet talker – in common vernacular – is someone with an assured and ingratiating manner. they are called a charmer or a flatterer. A person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives

The Three Weeks – Between the Difficulties

The Three Weeks between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av is a difficult period for the Jews and the world. This is the period when the Babylonians & the Romans attacked and destroyed the First and Second Beit Hamikdash / Holy Temple in Jerusalem – respectively.

Origin of Difficult Period

This period of difficulty was initiated in the Hebrew Year 2448 when the Spies – in the Dessert at the time of Moshe Rabbeinu / Moses Our Teacher –  return from 40 days in Israel with evil reports of the Land of Israel. Jewish people cry in despair, give up hope of entering the Land of Israel. G-d says to them since you cried in vain I will give you a reason to cry.

Build Your Faith in Hash-m & Yourself to Overcome Suffering

It started with a lack of faith in Hash-m / G-d and a lack of faith in themselves. To truely fix a problem, we go to the source – we solve the causes – not the symptoms. The problem to fix “Faith in Ourselves and Faith in Hash-m”

The Sweet Soul

My cousin – a sweet young soul – passed away at the tender age of 28 – right before this 3 week period of difficulty. He talked sweet – but was not a sweet talker. He was sincere, shy and kind. He was careful about his words – he used words that would not hurt, vex, sadden or offend people.

Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi / Judah the Prince] made a feast for his students, and brought before them tender tongues and tough tongues. They began to choose for themselves the tender tongues and left alone the tough tongues. He said to them, “Know what you are doing! Just as you are choosing the tender [tongues] and leaving alone the tough ones, so shall your own tongues be with one another. Therefor Moshe warned Israel, ‘and when you sell goods… [you shall not wrong one another]’
Vayikra Rabbah 33

Emmanuel – my cousin – “could not say no.” he was so sensitive to people’s feelings he didn’t want to make them feel badly by insinuating rejection of a request.

Lift People Up

We can learn from Emmanuel Issachar to lift up people. Any person you meet – Don’t spare kind words. Don’t spare your smile. Lift them up. Lift yourself up & you can better lift others up. Lift up others with you.

 

Goodness of a Good Tongue & Vice Versa

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“And Hash-m said to Moshe… ‘When you sell goods to your people [you shall not wrong one another]’ (Leviticus 25:1-14).” Another verse: “Life and death and in the hand of the tongue”… Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel said to Tavi his servant, “go purchase for me the best food from the market.” He went and bought for him a tongue. He said to him “go purchase for me the worse food from the market.” He went out and bought him a tongue. He said to him, “What is this? When I say to you to the best food, you buy me a tongue, and when I say to you the worst food, you [also] buy me tongue!” [Tavi] said to him, this is the best and this is the worst! When it is good, there is none better than it, and when it is bad, there is no worse than it.”

  • Vayikra Rabbah 33

Speak nicely to your family & friends.

Mazal Tov! Does Judaism Believe in Astrology or The Real Months of the Zodiac

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Strive for Truth

I Overheard the Rabbi in synagogue teaching “Michtav MeEliyahu.” In English it is Called “Strive for Truth.” A Sefer / book by Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler. He was talking about the influence of the Jewish Months.

The Time Spiral

Time in Judaism is not a straight line – it is a spiral. Imagine a spiral. in the middle is the beginning of time. Each complete single spiral represents the Jewish year. Draw a circle around the spiral. Make 12 slices – as you would in a pizza (instead of 8 slices – 12 slices). Each slice has a particular influence in the world. Each slice is a Jewish Month. Each Slice represents a particular influence on the world. As the spiral goes outwards we grow.

The True Astrology

He asked “Why do the Zodiac signs – start in almost the middle of secular calendar months? He  mentioned that really Astrology / the Zodiac signs correspond to Jewish months – which are months based upon the moon – a lunar calendar adjusted to the Solar Calendar.

Jewish Months & their Influence

Mazal is the astrological influence.  Adar (Pisces – the sign of fish) – the month of Purim – has good Mazal for the Jews. Haman thought he could persecute the Jews in that month – because he thought Jews would be occupied eating – because fish eat other fish. Nissan – the Jewish Month when the Jews were freed from Egypt – has an influence of freedom in it. The Purity of the Young Girl – Virgo – is the Month of Elul – when the Jews do teshuva (repent) for their transgressions. It  is the Month before Tishrei. Tishrei – the month of Rosh HaShana – is when the people of the world are judged. Thus the sign for Tishrei is the Balance scale because it represents judgement. The Flood of Noah occurred in Cheshvan – the sign of scorpion – because scorpions are water resistant creatures. (Rokeach Bereshit 7:6-13)

There is an excellent set of Sefarim / Jewish Books called – “The Midrash Says” – which explains the stories of the Torah. Their Passover “Little Midrash Says Haggada” (p.97) – has a list of the Mazalot. It explains that when the sun is found in a particular area of the sky where a pattern of stars is found – that has an influence over events. Hash-m causes the monthly Mazal to influence events in the world. The Egyptians picked up on this and worshiped that constellation. Hash-m told the Jews to sacrifice the lambs – as a test of their faith – in the month when the lamb constellation was strong – Nissan – to show to the world that it is only Hash-m / G-d who has power over the Mazal. Nissan is the Month of Passover.

Jews are above the Mazalot. Meaning with prayer and actions they can change what may be destined for them.

Chart of Jewish Zodiac

Hebrew

Name

 Transliteration English

Name

 Description Hebrew Month Hebrew Month Stars in the Constellation Dates of Sun’s Presence

טָלֶה

 Taleh Aries “ram/sheep”

נִיסָן

 Nissan March 21 – April 20

שׁוֹר

 Shor Taurus “bull/cow”

אִיְּיַר

 Iyar April 21 – May 21

תְּאוֹמִים

 T’omim Gemini “twins”

סִיוָן

 Sivan May 22 –

June 23

סַרְטָן

 Sartan Cancer “crab”

תַּמּוּז

 Tamuz June 23 – July 22

אַרְיֵה

 Aryeh Leo “lion”

אָב

 Av July 23 –

August 23

בְּתוּלָה

 Virgo “virgin”

אֶלוּל

 Elul August 24 -September 22

מֹאזְנַיִם

 Moaznayim Libra “scale”

תִּשְׁרֵי

 Tishrei September 23 –

October 23

עַקְרָב

 Akrav Scorpio “scorpion”

חֶשְׁוָן–

 Cheshvan October 24 – November 22

קֶשֶׁת

 Keshet Sagittarius “bow”

כִּסְלֵו

 Kislev November 23 – December 21

גְּדִי

 G’di Capricorn “horned goat”

טֵבֵת

 Tevet December 22 – January 19

דְּלִי

 D’li Aquarius “water bucket”

שְׁבָט

 Shevat January 20 – February 18

דָּגִים

 Dagim Pisces “fish”

אַדָּר

 Adar February 19 – March 20

 

If a person wants to look into their Astrology information – it is better to go to a person who follows Torah – who is knowledgeable in the matter. Some horoscopes are just made up by newspaper writers and people who are not versed in true Astrology. A person should also seek what is the Jewish law before consulting astrology, fortune tellers, hand readers, etc. – because fortune telling, soothsaying, magic, witchcraft, etc is forbidden by Torah for Jews & Non-Jews – according to the 7 Noahide laws of the Torah for all people of the world.

Lift Yourself & Others Up

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Ok. I ended the title with a preposition – “UP”. In grammar you’re allowed – but it is less formal. It sounds a little better than “Lift Up Yourself”. OK.

In any case – there is a mitzvah in the Torah for two towns that finds a dead body in between them – to measure the distance between their town and the body and the one that is closer makes a declararion “Our hands did not spill this blood and our eyes did not see” (Devarim / Deut 21:7)

It is the elder Jewish sages of the town that make the declaration. How can we think that the elders are going to kill an innocent person? The Bekhor Shor says : We did not see him to give him food for his journey and to accompany him after he left.

Accompany others with good words

Accompaniment is an important part of saying goodbye. When a guest comes to our house we provide three things – Ochel, Sheina, Levaya. Avraham Avinu had an Eshel – a tent. He used to do all three – give food, provide lodging and accompany the people when they left. When one goes on a trip we accompany them a bit and leave with positive words of Torah.

When a person passed to the next world we also accompany the departed to the grave.

In all accompaniment / Levaya – We are basically saying we are here for you. We give them Hizuk – strength to continue the journey. We say a kind word, we say a prayer to Hash-m, we give them a hug. They feel they have a friend. They feel loved.

This is why the elders make that declaration “We did not spill this blood.” We assume the person on the road met bandits or other danger (that was common at that time) and they did not have the emotional fortitude to put up a fight and thus succumbed to their wounds. If the elders saw the person and accompanied them – perhaps the person would still be alive today.

Thus – for us – we can learn – lift up people.Any person you meet – Don’t spare kind words. Don’t spare your smile. Lift them up. Lift yourself up & you can better lift others up. Lift up others with you.

(I didn’t end with a preposition. 🙂 )

G-d Said? Do it Because of Gratitude.

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You lost lotto. The Jackpot. $500 Million. Ok – maybe next time.

But you find out your friend won. He says “I Love you – my friend. Take my winning ticket.”

Is He For Real?

You don’t believe it. You think “it is a joke. Either the numbers are wrong. The ticket is fake. it’s an old ticket”

You check the date. Seems Right. You look at ticket. It has the markings of a real ticket. You check the numbers. Numbers are correct. You bring it in to the Lottery office. “Congratulations. You won the jackpot!” After asking for some papers – they make you fill out some forms asking whether you want to be paid one lump sum after taxes or every year a certain amount.

You don’t believe it. When you receive the first check for tens of millions of dollars, you faint. You pinch yourself. You wake up. You still have the check in your hand. You go to the bank and deposit it. The manager calls you and starts treating you with much respect. He asks you to start a Private Banking account. You check the account and the money is there.

A Small Favor

Now your friend – who gave you the ticket – asks you “can you take a drive with me once a week in the new Rolls Royce you bought with the money you won?” What do you answer?

Doing it For Gratitude

Anyone with a bit of gratitude will say “surely.”

G-d / Hash-m gave us life, children, money, parents, friends, food – worth much than half-a- billion dollars. He asks a small thing to Jews “Observe the Shabbat. Keep Kosher. Observe Family purity.” Put aside the obligation thing. Out of pure gratitude – we should be motivated to listen. He asks a small thing to non-Jews “Observe the 7 Noahide laws from the Torah.” Put aside the obligation thing. Out of pure gratitude – we should be motivated to listen.

How grateful are we really?

 

What is the Reason for Turmoil in the World?

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Corona. 4000 Rockets sent against Israel by terrorists. 45 People Perish in Meron. A Building Falls in Surfside, Florida. Iran attacks the US. Fears of Impending Floods. What is happening here?

Why the Turmoil in the World?

The world is going through turmoil. What is the reason?

There is a word for reaching the truth by experience – by trying a way of life and rejecting falsity. I thought it was catharsis – but apparently that means releasing pent up stress.

In a sense a person follows a path in life – then either they discover it is good or not good. The stress they had by following a particular way of life is removed when they find another “truth” – until they find the real truth.

The Search for Truth

The path of Avraham Avinu / Abraham our Forefather was to investigate the ways in life. He investigated until he could find truth or rejected it if it was lacking truth. He rejected all idolatry, until he found G-d / Hash-m. Yitzro / Jethro did the same. Yitro followed all forms of Idolatry, Religions and cults until he came to the conclusion to the truth of the Torah. He then converted to Judaism. (Judaism does not require a person to become Jewish to receive a place in heaven – a gentile just follows the 7 Noahide laws from the Torah – for the sake of the Torah). Many of the “Ism”s came and went or came thinking it could solve the world’s problems – yet they did not – like communism, anarchism, fascism, Marxism, totalitarianism, liberalism, socialism, etc.

One day there will be no more war – when people find the truth. It takes effort and willingness to give up one comforts to find truth. Would you switch your smart phone for a flip phone if it meant pursuing truth?

G-d’s Messages

G-d / Hash-m is sending messages to the world. We think it as a bunch of random events – but really they are a wake up call for us to return to Our Father in Heaven and finally seek His help – seek His guidance – seek to do the good in His eyes – not only in ours.

Messiah on the Doorstep

We are in the period of the Messianic times.

Two ways to bring Truth to the World

The sad truth is logically – there are two ways to bring truth to the world. One by allowing people to find truth. In the over 5700 years of the world existence – the entire world never achieved that status. One nation did – the Jews  – when they received the Torah at mount Sinai where millions of witnesses heard G-d speak.

The Second way is to eliminate people who follow not the truth. There are grim prophesies that say in “World War 3” – if people don’t search for truth – One Third of the world population will remain. One Fifth of All Jews will remain.

Opportunities to Open Our Eyes

Thus G-d is giving us opportunities to open our eyes and return to his ways – Jews by following their Torah Commandments and Gentiles – by following their 7 Noahide laws from the Torah.

Ask a competent Orthodox Rabbi to explain you your questions on the world. He’ll probably be able to answer. The problem is – many people are attached to their lifestyles and want a semi-truth. A truth allows them not to change. It’s possible – but really should put all their lifestyle on the line if it means pursuing truth – that was the way of Avraham Avinu / Abraham our forefather – that’s the way of Yitro / Jethro.

News to Jews

To observant Jews, News is not just an outlet to learn what is happening in the world – it is a message from G-d / Hash-m to repent / Do Teshuva, improve and to return to Hash-m’s ways.

G-d is One

We say it in the last line of Aleinu Leshabeach / It is incumbent upon us – the Concluding prayer Jews say 3 times a Day. And on that Day Hash-m’s will be One [meaning all people will recognize Him as the True G-d] and His Name will be One [He will be the G-d that everyone will call to]. (Zecharia 14:9)  Zecharia also has some prophesies of our current time period.

Search for Truth

A simple message – a challenging task – search for truth.