We at Ohr Binyamin and Jerusalem life wish all our readers a sweet and healthy year. A year full of purpose, good tidings, and Torah and Mitzvot.

Rosh HaShana is to take an inventory of who we are and how we can better ourselves and better the world.

Yom Kippur is a chance to connect with the Creator by voiding ourselves from physical needs – to emulate the angels. We thus can concentrate on bettering our relationship with the One who said ‘Let there be Light’.

Here are some good resolutions:
1. Be More open-minded or active about receiving a Torah education
2. Do a Good Deed every day.
3. Learn about a new mitzvah daily.
4. Read stories about Judaism.
5. Start attending a Torah lecture at an Orthodox synagogue
6. Learn or refresh your Hebrew
7. Take five minutes a day to learn Torah.

Happiness.

Accessible to the Common Man?

Judaism says: Of course.

To find happiness we have to ask ourselves : What makes a person happy? and how come many are not?

Pleasure that establishes a closer relationship with Hash-m (G-d)
There is some truth to the following statement,

Pleasure brings happiness.

But it must be qualified:

1. Pleasures that bring a person to a richer relationship with Hash-m brings happiness. Those that distance a person from Hash-m do the opposite.

Many people have all the money they need. They have access to all the pleasures in the world, but still feel a lack in their lives. Apparently it is the lack of spirituality in their lives.

One reason people go on vacation to distant places is unconsciously they search for spirituality.

Having a positive spiritual relation with Hash-m will uplift a person – in the short-term and long-term. A person finds happiness when he or she is spiritually connected to the source of all good – Hash-m.

There are many proofs to this.

I have a friend in Florida – a retired salesperson. Just like many, he went to enjoy the rest of his days. Today he lives his life doing Bikur Holiom – Visiting the Infirm. He tells them Jokes, offers his help and uplifts their spirits. Although he is doing much for them, they are also doing good for him. For when he does acts of kindness he receives purposeful living.

Ask yourself – What makes me happy?

Note the commonalities between all of those activities. Taking care of the children – this is doing act of kindness. Having guests over – kindness. Helping others – kindness. Apparently everything that makes a person happy – there is a Mitzvah involvement. Some people think that it is the activity that makes the person happy. In a sense it’s true – the reason being is because the activity involves doing a mitzvah.

What are the things that bring a person closer to Hash-m?

Four things help a Jewish person to become closer to Hash-m – observing the 613 commandments, learning Torah, doing kindness and achieving one’s purpose in life.

Gentiles have a similar four but their list entails following the 7 Noahide Commanments for all humanity, learning Torah applicable to them, doing kindness and achieving purpose in life.

2. Be happy with what you have. Don’t compare. You have what you need.

In Pirkei Avot (4:1) it says “Who is Wealthy? – One who is content with his lot.”

One reason why people are not happy because they reflect upon what if, only if or what they don’t have.

What If?
What if – this happens or that happens?

Don’t Worry. Be Happy
To that the Torah says – Don’t worry.

Don’t worry about the past, because it has already passed.
Don’t worry about the Future – because you never know what will happen.
Don’t worry about the present because it passes in the blink of an eye.

A person’s imagination drives them to illusions that in the end cause them sadness. Think positive.

What I don’t have
A person will overlook all the blessings they have and look at what they lack. They look at what others have and what they don’t have. Really it should be the opposite – they should look at what others don’t have and what they do have.

Seeing What others don’t have – you can feel you better about what you have and you can do kindness to them to help them with what they lack.

Appreciating what you do have – allows you a life appreciating your blessings. A good exercise is to take a piece of paper. List all the good things you have in life. Post it in front of you. All these things are things to be happy for. All these things one can be grateful to provider of them all – Hash-m.

Hash-m gives you what you need. If you don’t have it, it means you likely don’t need it now. Would you be jealous of an Air Force Pilot that has a F-16 jet? No. Because you don’t need it.

Only If
“If I only had a million dollars, I would be happy.” “If I had this car, I would be happy.” These are statements that one makes in their mind that has negative repercussions. One is always looking to the future for happiness. But even if they get what they want, it will not necessarily lead to their happiness.

Be Happy Now. Let go of all those dependencies.

3. Don’t make your happiness dependent on some one or something else – i.e., once I will have this I will be happy

A person sometimes looks to others for attention, honor, help or other things. When they don’t receive it they become upset.

The Torah teaches that one should not become emotional because of someone else does not act they way or do what you expect them to. If you are calm you control the situation. If you are not the situation controls you. Be in Control.

4. Educate yourself and get in touch with your true self by learning Torah

Learning Torah allows you to enjoy more of a satisfying relationship with G-d and others.

Jews have many aspects of Torah they can learn. It is recommended for beginners to learn the Humash / 5 Books of Moses or Tanach – Torah, Neviim (prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings). (Recommended : The Artscroll Humash / 5 Books of Moses)

Establish a daily learning time. Even 5 minutes a day. (The links section has sites that will hook you up with a learning partner)

Gentiles can learn about their 7 Noahide Commandments.

5. G-d is Good

G-d is Good. He does the best for you. Knowing this, one can overcome many obstacles. When he or she does encounter an obstacle – it could mean you have to make more of an effort or that it is not in your best interest to receive that which you are vying for.

6. Prayer is available.

When you pray to Hash-m, things you thought were impossible become possible. Of course, you should also make the proper effort.

7. Achieving Your Purpose.

Sometimes a person does what they can in terms of Mitzvah Observance – but still feel may a lack.

Why?

The Torah says that a person is brought to the world to achieve a particular purpose. To Find One’s purpose one must investigate their strengths and use them to do what they can to help the world by doing something that is congruent with Torah.

8. Know You are Special

In the history of the world, there never was or will be someone exactly like you. You have special abilities, talents and strengths that make you special. Focus on improving yourself and developing your own talents. Don’t think about bringing others down – bring yourself up.

Sometimes one feels down for the past. One can always start over. (Click here for Article) Regardless a person should recognize they are created in the “image” of G-d. Just that makes you special

Knowing your special attributes can help you contribute much for the good of the the world. Using them, you achieve your purpose.

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A Free Card is a available on the Subject. The “You are Special Card.”

A friend asks you to go to a tennis match. He knows the players personally. You are an avid fan and have many questions to ask about the sport.

Before the two professional players play – they have a pregame show.

It is a fund-raiser for kids against drunk driving. Teens run onto the court, positioning themselves for a game of doubles. One throws up what appears to be a ball and serves it to his own team-mate. It turns out to be a water balloon. It splashes all over him.

The team-mate takes his tennis racquet to serve and throws it up instead of the ball. A dog comes out from the bleachers, grabs the ball, and throws the ball over the net.

The other team, not to be outdone hits the ball the dog threw into the crowd. They then are up to serve. They serve a ball over the net. Hitting the ground, it splits in two pieces… The show continues. The crowd roars with laughter.

Now it is the professionals turn to play their match. Each one is precise in their movements. They serve the ball at speeds rivaling the speed limit. Each displays a wonderful display of determination and skillful mastery of the game.

After the exciting match, you go down to the court with your friend to meet the people of the show and the professional players.

Who do you ask your questions about tennis?

The players or the teens in the show?

If you wish to perfection your game you would ask the professionals. Why? Because they followed precisely the rules of the game. They served how it says in the rules, they followed the rules when the ball went out of bounds, they followed the judgements of the judge. In short, they played exactly according to the rules.

Now, one is interested in Judaism or Torah. One wants to bring spirituality into their lives. So who should they ask to find out more?

The ones that are following the rules in the Torah.

Jews observe the laws of the Torah stringently. In the Torah it says – don’t eat pork. Jews don’t eat pork. It says don’t cook milk and meat together. Jews don’t eat milk and meat together. It says observe the three pilgrimage holidays – Passover, Shavuot and Succot – the Jews observe Passover, Shavuot and Succot. The Torah says don’t follow after G-ds of wood or stone or make an image of G-d from anything in heaven (ie, spiritual or astral) or on earth (ie, physical) – the Jews don’t make representations of G-d.

Have a Question?

I never read Mein Kampf – written by Adolf Hitler. I don’t wish to tarnish my thoughts.

However, I believe it says something like:

….Jewish People …. leaders of industry, controlling world….

… The Jews brought several “problems” to Humanity – a conscience, morality and the quest for perfection. The quest for perfection is found by circumcision. Circumcision shows that man is not perfect and must perfect himself…..

The reason many give for antisemitism is the “Jews control the economy, the financial markets, etc.”

The Fallacy
Many who complain about the Jews find reasons. The question is : Are those reasons valid?

Let’s assume that Jews control the economy – which is not the case. There are many factors that lead to a healthy economy. But for arguments sake let’s say the Jews can make or break the economy.

Now ask another question – is the economy basically being run well or not?

Apparently most are satisfied with the economy. Most are satisfied how industries are being run in the world. The economy is being run pretty well. So what is the reason to complain? If the Jews are the best people for the Job – to assure that the economy runs correctly – so why the hatred?

Apparently – the reason for hatred of the Jews is not because of the reasons people give.

First they have hatred and then they try to find a reason to make it sound respectable.

There is a series explaining antisemitism called : Why The Jews?
(The Torah explains the real reason for antisemitism – but we will not explore it now.)

Let’s take Hitler’s reason’s for hatred:

Jews Give World a Conscience
A conscience is having thoughts about the validity or propriety on one’s actions before and after the act.

Is it good to have a conscience or not?

Apparently it is good. It prevents many from doing crimes – from stealing and doing other bad. Look at people in prisons, people who committed crimes, people who stole, people who committed adultery. Most are miserable for the acts they committed. Some broke families. Some destroyed other people’s lives. Some destroyed their own lives.

So is it better to have a conscience and not commit crimes or not to have a conscience?

It is better to have one.

Thus, Jews are providing a tremendous “service” to humanity by helping people have a conscience.

Morality
Would the average person live in a world of lawlessness or a world of mutual respect and morality?

Jews Champion the Quest for Perfection
People searching to perfect themselves experience new vistas in life. We become renewed and rejuvenated and do good to others and the world.

So – the Quest for Perfection – is it good or bad for the world?

The Quest for perfection is good for humanity.

The Revelation
The hatred for the Jews reveals the Chosen status of the Jews. To understand the concept of being Chosen, one must reflect. It means that the Jews have a certain responsibility to uphold the values of the world. If we give people a conscience, we are achieving our purpose.

Hitler was bothered by the Jews because they gave the world a conscience. Indirectly antisemitism is an admission to the fact that the Jews’ existence makes people have a conscience. It is admission to the Chosen status of the Jews. Hitler did not complain about any other people giving people a conscience. Many people would rather live life without thinking of the consequences.

The problem is – is it better to feel badly before doing the act one wants to do and not to do it. Or is it better to do a bad act and live with the consequences of the act for the rest of one’s life. Hitler made a negative out of a positive attribute. Unfortunately, many fell for it because they wanted to believe the bad.

The honest person who does have an animosity towards the Jews – would be better off confronting it and trying to understand the purpose of the Jewish people. One way is to learn about the Noahide laws for all people – Jews and Non-Jews – given to Moses for the benefit of humanity as a whole.

Jews also teach people that you can always start over. So even though we give people a conscience to teach people to not do bad. We also teach them if they did the bad – there is a way for sincere repentance.

Imagine, you are the child of a powerful king. You know your father loves you. but you desire a closer relationship with him.

The Royal Banquet
One day, you hear your father is preparing a royal banquet. He arranges the musicians of the royal orchestra to attend. He invites royalty and ambassadors from every country. He orders delicacies from the Four Corners of the Earth.

As a prince(ss), you are obligated to attend. Your father, the King, asks you personally to be present.

Would you attend?

He then reveals the banquet’s purpose.

The Promotion
The reason for the banquet is to promote you to being viceroy – second in command after the King. Your royal salary is to be raised to 10 times its current level. In your new position you could do tremendous good to the citizens of your country and the people of the world. You could help the needy in the way that you previously thought was impossible and done many other projects to better the world.

Position of Greatness
Your range of duties is to be extended to a region of countries. You are to be given a new staff of 500 to help you. In your new position, you could maintain a much closer relationship with your father. He intends to also confide in you the Kingdom’s Royal secrets.

Judaism is that banquet. You, as a Jew, are a child of The King of Kings. He has invited you personally to be present at His royal feast. As a member of the royal family it is our responsibility to be present.

Happiness and Serenity in Torah Living
Living Torah Judaism allows us to reach your potential in life. It allows us to receive more enjoyment, reward and satisfaction from your daily activities – like work, being with the family, learning, etc. It allows you to live a life in which every day has purpose and meaning. You better understand the “why’s” of what happens in the world around you. It also allows you to do more good. It allows you to become better on a daily basis.

Torah living adds a new dimension to your life. A spiritual dimension. It allows you to attain self-actualization. Every day, you maintain a closer relation with the Creator of the world.

A Full Life of Meaning and Purpose
Observant Jews live full lives in every aspect. They play sports, go on vacations, enjoy quality family time every Shabbat. The family is guided by the foundations of the Torah, which emphasizes loving your fellow, helping others, doing kindness, speaking nicely to others, maintaining peaceful relations and much more.

The Facts
What about the facts? A recent study has shown that those that observant Torah Jews are 20 times less likely to take drugs than the rest of the population. They have less problems of alcohol, much less incidence of divorce and broken families. They scored the highest in the Gallup-Healthways Happiness and Wellbeing Survey.

In reality, to really answer your question, you must try observing Judaism for some time to understand it. If you asked me “What’s so great about a certain wine?” My best of words wouldn’t be able to describe it. To properly appreciate Judaism – you should try it out. Here are suggestions of activities in Judaism to explore – An article on ‘How Can I Bring More Spirituality in My Life in Judaism?’

If there is only one activity that you should choose, learning Torah is recommended. Here are some sites.

The royal banquet is Judaism. We are the guests of honor. The King awaits our presence.

When G-d Gave the Torah to the Jews at Mount Sinai – He gave two Torahs:

The Written Torah – the 5 books of Moses.
The Oral Torah – the explanation of the Written Torah.

Initially the Oral Torah was passed down through the generations from Father to Son, from rabbi to student. For generations, it was learned by-Heart. To assure the proper transmission, the rabbis decided to write it down. Now the Oral Torah is known as the Talmud.

Examples why the Oral Torah / Talmud is Necessary:

The Torah says “Put a sign upon your arm and between your eyes.” What does that mean?

We learn in Talmud that it means “Wearing Tephillin.” How it is constructed and how to wear it is not explained in the 5 Books of Moses.

How do you wear something that is not described in the text? It must mean that there other information that accompanied the giving of the Torah. This is the Talmud.

It says “Do not steal” – several times. The Torah is not redundant – so why mention it more than once?

There are many seemingly extra words in the Torah? Why? The Torah is not redundant.

The Torah says – “Do not boil a Kid (Goat) in its mother’s milk several times.” Why? We said the Torah does not Use extra words.

The Torah says “You should take a beautiful fruit, the leaves of dates, branches of the stream, etc.” what does this mean?

Other religions cannot explain the answers to you. The Talmud explains the answers to everyone of these questions.

Just like you need a key to open a door you need the Talmud to explain what the Torah means.

The Talmud is also a proof of the veracity of Judaism’s explanation of the Torah.

How?

You are a Judge.

Ten people claim a certain castle belongs to them. The castle is empty inside. How do you determine who is the owner?

Answer:

See who has the keys to the castle.

The Talmud is the key to understanding the Torah. The Jews are the only ones who accept the Talmud as the explanation of the Torah. We are the only ones who have the key to the Castle.

If you wish to learn about Judaism see:
Articles on Judiasm
Jewish Links

Apparently to arrive at truth – you have to have a common method of determining the answer.

You have to use a method that anybody on earth could come to the same conclusion. Otherwise no one in the world could be judged. Everyone could say I thought the other belief system was right.

You can’t use scriptures because each religion disagrees with the scriptures of the other. Unless you find out the which are true scriptures – but let’s leave that aside for now.

You can’t flip a coin. Because that is pot luck.

You can’t use feelings because one person could feel a is right while someone else could feel b is right.

So the only way one can determine who is right is through objectivity and logic. G-d gave us a brain to think. We must use it objectively – putting our feelings aside – to arrive at the truth.

See : find G-d through logic

See here : For Finding Truth of Torah through Logic

If you want attestation of the truth of the Jewish Torah – through science, Bible Codes, logic and archaeology see:
the discovery seminar

Gentiles who want to know what the Torah expects of them – see the 7 Noahide laws

I am relatively new to Judaism. I never had any formal education or family upbringing in it. I picked up books on the subject and find that Torah is profound and rich with noble ideas. I making small efforts to put some of these ideas into practice in my personal life. Yet, I am somewhat reluctant for I value my freedom and my personal identity. What does the Torah say about freedom?

Dear Friend,

The Torah was given to free man. Any effort that one makes towards putting it into practice will only increase the freedom one has and will not in anyway decrease it. The quotation written on the Liberty Bell in the U.S. comes from our Torah.

Let’s start by analyzing what freedom is. A common belief of our society is that freedom is doing what you want when you want without any restraints. However, according to this definition, we find that the freest person in the world is he who is dependent on alcohol. The alcoholic does what he wants, when he wants without any restraint. I ask you: Is an alcoholic really free?

The Torah defines freedom as the ability to be presented by a choice and to select the better course of action. For instance, I love ice cream. It is my birthday, and a good friend offers me a pistachio banana split in honor of my celebration. Now, I am posed by a dilemma. I know my wife prepared a special meal for my birthday. If I eat the banana split, I know my stomach will not be able to also contain my wife’s meal made with much heart and love. I can give in to my natural desire to empty the ice cream dish as fast as humanly possible and risk vexing my wife. Or I can desist from eating the delicious split and please my wife by enjoying her home cooked meal.

Giving in to eating the split will demonstrate my subjugation to my desires. Desisting from eating it, will show that my mind rules my body and not the other way around. I am in essence a free man for that moment.

In today’s society, subjugation comes in many flavors – subjugation to work / creativity, to the ideals of society, to what the “Jones” are doing, to time, to ones passions. To all of these the Torah sounds its liberty bell – ringing “Free Yourself!” To these the Torah provides the keys to freedom. It prescribes Shabbat – allowing one to free themselves from the shackles of a 7-day work week. It offers the Brit Milah – to free oneself from one’s own desires. The sanctification of the month allows us to even be free from the limitation of time.

Freeing oneself ultimately allows one to be oneself. Sounds nice, but is it true? Let’s ask what defines a person? Is it his possessions? If so, should we consider one who drives a Lexus better than one who drives a Ford. What about one’s diplomas? One’s physique? What about one’s relatives? It eventually becomes apparent that the person is really their value system and the way they act. You are what you do.

When a person frees themselves from the “chains” of being in style, with it, in fashion, a la mode, or just in – they begin expressing their own self to the world. They begin to open their horizons to being a thinking individual. Their own person, their own goodness. Expressing their real identity, not one that is slapped upon them because they wear nice clothes or drive a nice car.

Let’s take an example of a TV addict. Such a person’s life is centered around the events, programs and happenings of the television. His opinions will be those of the Ten o’clock news. His personality may even mimic the characters of popular sitcoms. Is this person a clone of their favorite TV character?

Did you ever ask yourself who am I?

As one lives the values of the Torah, the more freedom one will have.

Torah Learning brings True Freedom

Rabbi Yehoshua son of Levi said ”Every single day a heavenly voice comes out from Mount Horeb [Sinai], and says “woe to the creatures [of the world], from the insult to the Torah” [that they disregard learning it], for whoever does not occupy himself with Torah is called “reproached” [nazuf] as it says “A ring [nezem] of gold in the nose of a swine” is a beautiful woman that turned away from reason” and it says “And the tablets [of the Law – the ten commandments] they are the work of G-d – And the writing is the writing of G-d – inscribed [charut] on the tablets ” Do not read [it as] “charut” [inscribed] rather as “cherut” [freedom]. For the only one who is considered to be a free man is one who occupies himself with Learning Torah . And who ever occupies himself with learning Torah Behold he is elevated as it says “And from Matanah [name of place meaning – a gift – ie, of the Torah] to nachliel [name of place meaning – My inheritance is in G-d] and nachliel to bamot [name of place meaning – high altars].”
(Bamidbar 21:19) )Pirkei Avot 6:2

I am not an avid newspaper reader. But I do hear the currents and top stories from word of mouth. I heard about a debate going on in secular circles:

Does the world need religion?

After having been presented with the sides for the sake of religions by religious leaders representing religion, The answer that the secular thinkers came up with was “no – the world does not need Religion.”

According to Torah, the world does need Judaism and the Jews.

I can only defend Judaism’s position – for two reason’s

1) That is the only religion that I am more or less familiar with.

2) I believe that it is the only religion that claims it’s law – the Torah – was given by G-d to a nation of millions of witnesses – that never occurred again in history of man – and that the laws did not change from it’s inception.

The laws of Judaism are divine laws given at Mount Sinai – about 3,300 years ago. The laws that the people were observing 3,300 years ago are the same exact laws that Orthodox Jews are observing today.

When I say Judaism – I refer only to that which is called “Orthodox” Judaism – for lack of a better term. All the other “movements” cannot claim this necessity – because in their doctrines of formation – made by mortal men – are “amendments” and “changes” to Judaism.

In the Torah itself it says that the laws of the Torah do not change. It renders any “change” in the laws of Judaism – into non-Judaism. It is like a poison pill in a corporation. Or like the story of the soup – whose ingredients were changed one by one – leaving just an empty bowl. When you remove the ingredients it is no longer a soup.

Man’s laws change. G-d’s laws do not.

I am not defending Judaism – Just pointing out the following point.

Only a Divine law that does not change can assure the survival and morality of the world.

I remember taking Philosophy 101 in university with a middle-aged professor with a long white mane. He mentioned the argument called the slippery slope. The slippery slope argument concludes that a limit must be defined to a situation – otherwise you will slip down the slope. The example he gave was the passing grade for a test. The standard passing mark is 65. It is an arbitrary number. But it must be set – because – the weak student could argue to give him a passing mark if he got a 64 because it is just one less than 65. The next student could argue for a passing grade for 63 – it is only one less than 64. And each student could bring the passing mark down to 1 – because it is just one less than the previous mark.

I once asked the following question in a college class dealing with ethics – “Why in general is it acceptable to kill animals – but not acceptable to kill people?”

Possible answers include – humans are smarter. Not killing is for the good of society. Humans are more useful to the world.

All these answers allow an evil person to justify murder, euthanasia, or even genocide. This is exactly what Hitler did. Hitler did not say it was right to kill. He said it was morally wrong. His opinion was that we do not kill because it is not good for society. According to his reason for not killing – he would be morally correct to kill people who are not useful for society. Obviously this a warped way of thinking – and most recognize Hitler as the epitome of Evil.

Had Hitler succeeded at his plan he would have succeeded in not only destroying his enemies, but in destroying the world.

So what is the only reasonable reason why we do not kill? Because G-d said so. Any other reason one can give, murder can be justified.

The Jews adhere to the Torah that does not change. It is the definition of Morality – because G-d gave this document for the Good of humanity. It will not change. It will never change. Thus you will never have someone pulling the wool over people’s eyes to justify genocide because the Jews are standing – to assure – that morality will not become a slippery slope. The Jews are the standard of Morality in the world due to their adherence to the laws of the Torah.

Only Man’s laws Change. The Divine Law of the Torah does not change.

G-d gave the Jews very specific laws – what is killing that is punishable and what killing is not punishable – like killing for self defence. This is the power of the 7 Noahide laws – given to Noah for the continued peace and survival of the world. Gentiles are not required to become Jewish to receive a place in heaven. They Just must follow these laws.

The laws of the Torah – set the standard for Morality – to assure the survival of the world and assure that morality does not become a slippery slope argument.

When the world matures enough to realize this they will have the potential for true peace in the world.

This is the concept of the chosen people – the Jews are the upholders of the Torah – to assure the morality of the world.

This is one of the reasons that a Jew – should do his utmost to observe the commandments – for they are helping to uphold the morality of the world. This concept exists – with particular mitzvot – when the nations see the Jews observing the Shabbat – they realize that G-d created the world in 6 days and rested on the seventh.

There are other reasons – Like what is mentioned by Rashi on the “Hei” of “HaShishi” (The Sixth Day) on the sixth day of creation.