B"H
At the moment, we are reading the "Book of Exodus - Sefer Shemot" in the Synagogues on Shabbat. We study and hear about the Israelites being slaves in Egypt. After Yosef died, life went down the drain and happiness and freedom turned into depression and slavery. There was no hope but one family represented the opposite. The family of Yocheved and Amram and their three children Miriam, Aharon and Moshe. They belonged to the few people who never gave up hope.
When we read all this today, it seems like nice stories. Something romantic and many times even tragic. But we may ask ourselves: "What does this all have to do with me ? Okay, the Jews were in Egypt, then got out, became real Jews through the Torah and walked around in a desert. But am I in a desert ? Isn't this rather old stuff although I don't deny the Torah fact ?
As we already know, the Torah was given from G - d to the Jews forever. The Torah is valid eternally and it is forbidden to make any changes. Until this day, the Torah is, besides the general concepts, teaching each of us something personal as well. And when we look deeper into the matter and try to understand "Egypt", we come to the conclusion that "Egypt" can be a whole concept. Of course, I am not physically there but what about my own personal Egypt ? Am I really that free in any kind of sense ?
Each of us has his or her own personal Egypt. The physical Egypt by being caught in the material world. All our dependencies, habits and addictions. Furthermore, the even much worse "spiritual" Egypt. When you have lost all hope, don't care anymore and when you are locked up into your own thoughts which don't let you any freedom and escape.
This is today's Egypt and we can learn this from "Sefer Shemot". This is the message the Torah is giving us now ! Next week, Parashat Beshlach, is telling us about the Exodus and maybe we should use the time preparing our own Exodus from OUR individual Egypt !
Showing posts with label Thora. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thora. Show all posts
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Cain und Abel (Hevel)
B"H
Someone once asked me why G – d accepted Abel's sacrifice and refused Cain's.
The two characters of Cain and Abel (Hebrew: Hevel) are not easy to understand. There are already different opinions about their origin. The kabbalistic ZOHAR (Book of Splendor) says that Eve (Chava) had sexual relations with the snake. This happened when she ate from the "Tree of Knowledge – Etz HaDa'at Tov veRah".
It goes without saying that no human being has ever been able to explain the real meaning of what it means to eat from this tree. And what or whom does the snake represent ? What exactly was the tree and what does it mean having sexual relations with the snake ?
As we know, many times the Torah uses a symbolic kind of language. Let's stick to the ZOHAR where it says that the snake wasn't really a living animal but rather an inner voice convincing Chava to eat from the tree. The "Yetzer Harah – one's evil inclination", our own negative disposition trying us to persuade following our own desires instead of our intellect. When we do something wrong we know exactly that something negative is due to follow but we still keep on sinning.
The snake represents a inner persuasion to act against G – d's will. "Well, it won't be too bad", Chava may have thought.
At the moment, she and her husband Adam ate from the tree, both awakened the "Yetzer HaRah" in humanity. The difference between good and evil came into existence. Until then, there was only Good although the two of them always had the Yetzer inside of themselves. It was G – d Himself who had created the "Yetzer HaRah" in order to bring the concept of "Free Will" into this world. Without "Free Will" we would be puppets and couldn't do any Tikunim (soul rectifications). When Adam and Chava finally ate, they awakened the Yetzer and since, we are commanded to fight the Yetzer. An act, Adam and Chava regretted later on in life. Kabbalistic literature tells us that Avraham rectified Adam's act and did a Tikun for his soul, as Adam's Nefesh (lowest soul level / animal soul) was reincarnated in Avraham.
After the sin with the tree, the first child was conceived and born with an exposed Yetzer. And this was Cain, as he was the oldest of the two brothers. And as Cain was the first one, he received the full doses of the new Yetzer and Abel (Hevel) received a little less. Thus, both of them had very different character traits and didn't get along too well.
We usually see Cain as the evil brother and Hevel as his victim. But not only Cain got the Yetzer Harah but also Hevel. And, therefore, Hevel was not such as great guy as we seem to believe. He was not that innocent at all. The Midrashim "Sefer Adam HaRishon" as well as "Sefer Seder HaDorot" teach that Cain was the first bringing his sacrifice. According to the "Midrash Tanchuma" he did so at the same spot where once Adam HaRishon had brought his sacrifice after he was thrown out of Gan Eden (Paradise). The famous spot was the Temple Mount (Har HaMoriah) in Jerusalem.
The Torah describes Cain as someone working the fields and therefore, he sacrificed fruit or vegetables. According to Rashi, Cain only sacrificed fruit which fell of the tree or was of a bad quality anyway. Cain simply didn't care although G – d deserves only the best. Hevel saw his brother bringing the sacrifices and became jealous. "What he can do, I can do much better ". And thus, Hevel brought his own sacrifice. As he worked with animals, he took one of his animals and sacrificed it. An animal of good quality and this is why his sacrifice was accepted; at least according to most commentaries. But what about Hevel's envy ? Didn't he just bring the sacrifice because he saw Cain ?
The commentator Kli Yakar makes an amazing statement which is widely accepted. When Hevel became jealous, it was in a positive way of being jealous.
And what is "positive jealousy" ?
Everything negative in this world can be turned around into something positive and this also concerns the envy of a person. Let's assume that I am too lazy to walk to the Synagogue but see someone else running there. Then it can happen that I become jealous in a positive sense. Envy showing that I have the desire to serve G – d. Why only someone else and not me ?
This is exactly what happened to Hevel when he saw his brother bringing his sacrifice. Cain didn't care that much but he sacrificed. That's very nice. But Hevel, first of all, sacrificed a great quality animal and secondly, Cain had aroused his positive envy. Therefore, Hevel had the greatest Kavanah (intention). And these are the reasons why his sacrifice was accepted by G – d.
Onkelos has the same opinion.
But why is it still hard to understand that everything depended on the envy ?
Because both brothers were equipped with extremely high souls from their father Adam and, therefore, should have been able to act differently. Hevel shouldn't have waited until he becomes envious but instead brought his sacrifice without the passive help of his brother.
And why did Hevel have to die ?
The easiest solution would be to say that Cain was jealous and upset. However, there are also different statements in the Midrashim. The Midrash Tanchuma states that both brothers had been already fighting for a long time and Cain just finally lost his temper. In kabbalistic literature we find a further reason:
The two brothers were born with twin sisters. Cain had one sister and Hevel had two. And this is the actual reason why Cain was jealous. He wanted Hevel's second twin sister but his brother didn't want to give her to him. And this is why Cain killed his brother. But the Kabbalah goes much further. The souls of the two participants in this incident as well as the soul of the twin sister in question were reincarnated. Later on, Moshe included a part of Hevel and when he killed the Egyptian taskmaster, he actually killed Cain. Again the reason was a woman. The Egyptian had a affair with a Jewish woman and Kabbalah sees a connection between the struggle between Cain and Hevel who were originally fighting about Hevel's second twin sister. First, Hevel lost and now, due to Moshe, Cain lost. Thus, Hevel's soul underwent a Tikun. One could also sarcastically call it "revenge".
Some generations later, after Cain had killed Hevel, his descendants killed him with an arrow. The incident was actually an accident and not at all intended. Cain was shot when he went out hunting and some parts of his family mistakenly thought that he is an animal. He was shot and died.
It is said that all his descendants were of bad character traits and that all of them died in Noach's Flood. This is why Cain has no descendants. However, there are claims on the Internet that the descendants of Cain once built Atlantis which was eventually destroyed because the people were only evil. This is just a theory and nothing has been proven but it does sound like an interesting idea.
Moreover, the Midrashim state that neither Cain nor Hevel really looked like a human being. At least not the way their father Adam did. Only Adam's third son Seth (Shet) was born according to Adam and only Shet became the father of humankind.
Someone once asked me why G – d accepted Abel's sacrifice and refused Cain's.
The two characters of Cain and Abel (Hebrew: Hevel) are not easy to understand. There are already different opinions about their origin. The kabbalistic ZOHAR (Book of Splendor) says that Eve (Chava) had sexual relations with the snake. This happened when she ate from the "Tree of Knowledge – Etz HaDa'at Tov veRah".
It goes without saying that no human being has ever been able to explain the real meaning of what it means to eat from this tree. And what or whom does the snake represent ? What exactly was the tree and what does it mean having sexual relations with the snake ?
As we know, many times the Torah uses a symbolic kind of language. Let's stick to the ZOHAR where it says that the snake wasn't really a living animal but rather an inner voice convincing Chava to eat from the tree. The "Yetzer Harah – one's evil inclination", our own negative disposition trying us to persuade following our own desires instead of our intellect. When we do something wrong we know exactly that something negative is due to follow but we still keep on sinning.
The snake represents a inner persuasion to act against G – d's will. "Well, it won't be too bad", Chava may have thought.
At the moment, she and her husband Adam ate from the tree, both awakened the "Yetzer HaRah" in humanity. The difference between good and evil came into existence. Until then, there was only Good although the two of them always had the Yetzer inside of themselves. It was G – d Himself who had created the "Yetzer HaRah" in order to bring the concept of "Free Will" into this world. Without "Free Will" we would be puppets and couldn't do any Tikunim (soul rectifications). When Adam and Chava finally ate, they awakened the Yetzer and since, we are commanded to fight the Yetzer. An act, Adam and Chava regretted later on in life. Kabbalistic literature tells us that Avraham rectified Adam's act and did a Tikun for his soul, as Adam's Nefesh (lowest soul level / animal soul) was reincarnated in Avraham.
After the sin with the tree, the first child was conceived and born with an exposed Yetzer. And this was Cain, as he was the oldest of the two brothers. And as Cain was the first one, he received the full doses of the new Yetzer and Abel (Hevel) received a little less. Thus, both of them had very different character traits and didn't get along too well.
We usually see Cain as the evil brother and Hevel as his victim. But not only Cain got the Yetzer Harah but also Hevel. And, therefore, Hevel was not such as great guy as we seem to believe. He was not that innocent at all. The Midrashim "Sefer Adam HaRishon" as well as "Sefer Seder HaDorot" teach that Cain was the first bringing his sacrifice. According to the "Midrash Tanchuma" he did so at the same spot where once Adam HaRishon had brought his sacrifice after he was thrown out of Gan Eden (Paradise). The famous spot was the Temple Mount (Har HaMoriah) in Jerusalem.
The Torah describes Cain as someone working the fields and therefore, he sacrificed fruit or vegetables. According to Rashi, Cain only sacrificed fruit which fell of the tree or was of a bad quality anyway. Cain simply didn't care although G – d deserves only the best. Hevel saw his brother bringing the sacrifices and became jealous. "What he can do, I can do much better ". And thus, Hevel brought his own sacrifice. As he worked with animals, he took one of his animals and sacrificed it. An animal of good quality and this is why his sacrifice was accepted; at least according to most commentaries. But what about Hevel's envy ? Didn't he just bring the sacrifice because he saw Cain ?
The commentator Kli Yakar makes an amazing statement which is widely accepted. When Hevel became jealous, it was in a positive way of being jealous.
And what is "positive jealousy" ?
Everything negative in this world can be turned around into something positive and this also concerns the envy of a person. Let's assume that I am too lazy to walk to the Synagogue but see someone else running there. Then it can happen that I become jealous in a positive sense. Envy showing that I have the desire to serve G – d. Why only someone else and not me ?
This is exactly what happened to Hevel when he saw his brother bringing his sacrifice. Cain didn't care that much but he sacrificed. That's very nice. But Hevel, first of all, sacrificed a great quality animal and secondly, Cain had aroused his positive envy. Therefore, Hevel had the greatest Kavanah (intention). And these are the reasons why his sacrifice was accepted by G – d.
Onkelos has the same opinion.
But why is it still hard to understand that everything depended on the envy ?
Because both brothers were equipped with extremely high souls from their father Adam and, therefore, should have been able to act differently. Hevel shouldn't have waited until he becomes envious but instead brought his sacrifice without the passive help of his brother.
And why did Hevel have to die ?
The easiest solution would be to say that Cain was jealous and upset. However, there are also different statements in the Midrashim. The Midrash Tanchuma states that both brothers had been already fighting for a long time and Cain just finally lost his temper. In kabbalistic literature we find a further reason:
The two brothers were born with twin sisters. Cain had one sister and Hevel had two. And this is the actual reason why Cain was jealous. He wanted Hevel's second twin sister but his brother didn't want to give her to him. And this is why Cain killed his brother. But the Kabbalah goes much further. The souls of the two participants in this incident as well as the soul of the twin sister in question were reincarnated. Later on, Moshe included a part of Hevel and when he killed the Egyptian taskmaster, he actually killed Cain. Again the reason was a woman. The Egyptian had a affair with a Jewish woman and Kabbalah sees a connection between the struggle between Cain and Hevel who were originally fighting about Hevel's second twin sister. First, Hevel lost and now, due to Moshe, Cain lost. Thus, Hevel's soul underwent a Tikun. One could also sarcastically call it "revenge".
Some generations later, after Cain had killed Hevel, his descendants killed him with an arrow. The incident was actually an accident and not at all intended. Cain was shot when he went out hunting and some parts of his family mistakenly thought that he is an animal. He was shot and died.
It is said that all his descendants were of bad character traits and that all of them died in Noach's Flood. This is why Cain has no descendants. However, there are claims on the Internet that the descendants of Cain once built Atlantis which was eventually destroyed because the people were only evil. This is just a theory and nothing has been proven but it does sound like an interesting idea.
Moreover, the Midrashim state that neither Cain nor Hevel really looked like a human being. At least not the way their father Adam did. Only Adam's third son Seth (Shet) was born according to Adam and only Shet became the father of humankind.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Sarah and Rachel
B"H
Since I gave up my bakery job, I have much more time doing something more useful in the evenings. My former job kept me occupied almost every night until I decided to escape and do something else with my life.
On Sunday I went to a Shiur about the Rambam and his "Moreh Nevuchim". A friend of mine convinced me to participate, and as the the whole Rambam - course seems to be endless, I will be busy for the time being.
I like classes where the participants are on a higher religious intellectual level and where people are challenged to think. And there is so much to think about the Rambam's philosophies anyway. The teaching rabbi is national religious and the rationality of the Rambam seems to fit him well.
However, last night I went to a another Shiur. A different rabbi and totally different people but sometimes we need a change. In the rabbi's living room we study the prophets and are now in the middle of the "Book of Micha". When the rabbi's wife and some of his daughters walked in, he announced that they all are just returning from Kever Rachel.
Today is the Yahrzeit of our fore mother Rachel and for some days already, thousands of Jews have been traveling to Rachel's grave. Bus No. 163 is leaving every twenty minutes from the Jerusalem Central Bus Station and the ride to Kever Rachel only takes about half an hour or so. You do not have to pass a checkpoint while traveling to the grave. The Kever itself is still on Israeli territory and the Palestinian Authority of Beit Lechem only begins a few meters further.
Rachel's Grave years ago
Rachel's Grave today. Due to security reasons, the Israeli army built a wall around it.
Another friend told me that she had also been to the Kever yesterday. Due to the great demand, she was forced to wait some time in front of the grave. On one side, people walked in and a second door was used as exit. My friend told me that people just pushed each other through which did not disturb the special atmosphere of the place. But I am not sure if I just want to be pushed through somewhere.
Already next week, another event is waiting. Then we read in Parashat Chaye Sarah about the death of our fore mother Sarah. Thousands of people are going to spend this particular Shabbat Chaye Sarah in Hebron. The Ma'arat HaMachpelah will be busy.
The Ma'arat HaMachpelah in Hebron
For the past years, the Ma'arat HaMachpelah has become the reason for another dispute between Jews and Muslims. As Adam HaRishon and Chava, Avraham and Sarah, Yitzchak and Rivka and Yaakov and Lea are buried in the cave, it should be out of question to whom the cave belongs. Furthermore, Avraham bought the Ma'arah from Ephron.
However, also the Muslims claim their right to pray in the Machpelah. Avraham (they call him Ibrahim) was their forefather as well, as they stem from Ishmael. As we all know, G - d chose Yitzchak as a forefather of the Jewish nation and not his brother Ishmael and there is another discussion whether todays' Muslims are the real descendants of Ishmael.
In 1994, the Jewish extremist Baruch Goldstein shot many Muslims inside the Machpelah and caused further violence. To whom does the Ma'arat HaMachpelah belong ? Two religions claim the inheritance.
For us Jews it is a disgrace that we only have access to all the halls inside the cave on special occasions. Of course, we can go there but sometimes the Hall of Yitzchak or the Hall of Avraham are closed for us.
As far as I know, Christians do not have access at all but I might be mistaken. Avraham is regarded as the forefather of Jews and Muslims and the Christians have no real connection to him anyway.
Further details about Kever Rachel and the Ma'arat HaMachpelah:
http://www.nahalat-hevron.org/francais/rachel.htm
http://machpela.com/english/
http://www.hebron.com/english/article.php?id=282
http://www.yarzheit.com/heavensregister/chevron.htm
Since I gave up my bakery job, I have much more time doing something more useful in the evenings. My former job kept me occupied almost every night until I decided to escape and do something else with my life.
On Sunday I went to a Shiur about the Rambam and his "Moreh Nevuchim". A friend of mine convinced me to participate, and as the the whole Rambam - course seems to be endless, I will be busy for the time being.
I like classes where the participants are on a higher religious intellectual level and where people are challenged to think. And there is so much to think about the Rambam's philosophies anyway. The teaching rabbi is national religious and the rationality of the Rambam seems to fit him well.
However, last night I went to a another Shiur. A different rabbi and totally different people but sometimes we need a change. In the rabbi's living room we study the prophets and are now in the middle of the "Book of Micha". When the rabbi's wife and some of his daughters walked in, he announced that they all are just returning from Kever Rachel.
Today is the Yahrzeit of our fore mother Rachel and for some days already, thousands of Jews have been traveling to Rachel's grave. Bus No. 163 is leaving every twenty minutes from the Jerusalem Central Bus Station and the ride to Kever Rachel only takes about half an hour or so. You do not have to pass a checkpoint while traveling to the grave. The Kever itself is still on Israeli territory and the Palestinian Authority of Beit Lechem only begins a few meters further.
Rachel's Grave years ago
Rachel's Grave today. Due to security reasons, the Israeli army built a wall around it.
Another friend told me that she had also been to the Kever yesterday. Due to the great demand, she was forced to wait some time in front of the grave. On one side, people walked in and a second door was used as exit. My friend told me that people just pushed each other through which did not disturb the special atmosphere of the place. But I am not sure if I just want to be pushed through somewhere.
Already next week, another event is waiting. Then we read in Parashat Chaye Sarah about the death of our fore mother Sarah. Thousands of people are going to spend this particular Shabbat Chaye Sarah in Hebron. The Ma'arat HaMachpelah will be busy.
The Ma'arat HaMachpelah in Hebron
For the past years, the Ma'arat HaMachpelah has become the reason for another dispute between Jews and Muslims. As Adam HaRishon and Chava, Avraham and Sarah, Yitzchak and Rivka and Yaakov and Lea are buried in the cave, it should be out of question to whom the cave belongs. Furthermore, Avraham bought the Ma'arah from Ephron.
However, also the Muslims claim their right to pray in the Machpelah. Avraham (they call him Ibrahim) was their forefather as well, as they stem from Ishmael. As we all know, G - d chose Yitzchak as a forefather of the Jewish nation and not his brother Ishmael and there is another discussion whether todays' Muslims are the real descendants of Ishmael.
In 1994, the Jewish extremist Baruch Goldstein shot many Muslims inside the Machpelah and caused further violence. To whom does the Ma'arat HaMachpelah belong ? Two religions claim the inheritance.
For us Jews it is a disgrace that we only have access to all the halls inside the cave on special occasions. Of course, we can go there but sometimes the Hall of Yitzchak or the Hall of Avraham are closed for us.
As far as I know, Christians do not have access at all but I might be mistaken. Avraham is regarded as the forefather of Jews and Muslims and the Christians have no real connection to him anyway.
Further details about Kever Rachel and the Ma'arat HaMachpelah:
http://www.nahalat-hevron.org/francais/rachel.htm
http://machpela.com/english/
http://www.hebron.com/english/article.php?id=282
http://www.yarzheit.com/heavensregister/chevron.htm
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
A White Lie ?
B"H
Parashat Vayeira teaches us that Sarah is laughing when she hears the angel saying that she will bear a child. Bear child at Avraham's and her age ? That's ridiculous.
According to Talmud Bava Metzia 87a she said at that very moment: "And my husband is old !"
But when G - d told Avraham about the incident, He turned around her words: "And I (Sarah) have grown old".
But is not anyone obligated to tell the truth and especially G - d Himself ?
Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz commentates that Sarah's original comment might have caused a dispute between her and Avraham. Each of us has to secure harmony between people. People should react wisely and not always tell the whole truth when a relationship or a friendship is in danger.
However, this does not mean that everyone can turn around the truth and later claim that his only intention was not to cause distress. Each of us should be wise enough to know what to say or not to say in certain situations.
Parashat Vayeira teaches us that Sarah is laughing when she hears the angel saying that she will bear a child. Bear child at Avraham's and her age ? That's ridiculous.
According to Talmud Bava Metzia 87a she said at that very moment: "And my husband is old !"
But when G - d told Avraham about the incident, He turned around her words: "And I (Sarah) have grown old".
But is not anyone obligated to tell the truth and especially G - d Himself ?
Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz commentates that Sarah's original comment might have caused a dispute between her and Avraham. Each of us has to secure harmony between people. People should react wisely and not always tell the whole truth when a relationship or a friendship is in danger.
However, this does not mean that everyone can turn around the truth and later claim that his only intention was not to cause distress. Each of us should be wise enough to know what to say or not to say in certain situations.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
A few Thoughts on Parashat Lech Lecha
B"H
The history of the Jewish People begins with Avraham. Before, neither Adam HaRishon nor Noach were Jews.
Avraham was the tenth generation after Noach and mankind had learned nothing and continued serving idols. Avraham's family lived in Ur Kasdim, in today's Iraq. When he was born, his father Terach was already 70 years old and Shem, Noach's son, was 390 years old. Avraham also still met Noach.
As I have mentioned before, the first generations after the Creation of the World, were created with a different DNA. A DNA which guaranteed them an incredible long life and G - d's intention was that people should use their life span in order to do Teshuva. However, they did not and, therefore, life expectancy was shortened.
Rashi interprets "Lech Leach" with Avraham being sent away for his best. G - d wanted to avoid that Avraham is being influenced by an idol worshiping environment.
Literally "Lech Lecha" means "Go to yourself" and the Sefat Emet sees the whole story metaphorically. When Avraham left Haran, he underwent a spiritual transformation. Each of us should do the same in a certain sense and strife for perfection. We should rise from level to level and never stop at one point in life and say "This is it".
It was the first of another nine tests, G - d gave to Avraham. But why did he need to be tested at all ? He never complained about leaving his family and moving to another country and he was always anxious to do G - d's will.
The tests show that each of us has a "Free Will" and can choose different options. To do G - d's will or not to. Without noticing it, we are tested every day in our life, and we should never rest upon our good deeds.
We can learn many things from Avraham which does not mean we should get depressed because we are not on such a high level. What each of us is able to do is searching for the ONE G - d who created the world. Nothing exists in this world without being created by G - d, and everything can be elevated to its original divine source (Noam Elimelech).
Every individual has different capabilities and limits. The Vilna Gaon said that each Jew can gain a certain Torah life according to his level and no one should be depressed over not reaching the highest levels of perfection.
As already the famous chassidic rabbi, Rabbi Susha, said:
After I die, G - d will not ask me: "Susha, why were you not like Avraham or Moshe" ?
Rather He will ask me: "Susha, why were you not Susha" ?
Means, each of us should try to use his own potential for the good.
Shabbat Shalom
The history of the Jewish People begins with Avraham. Before, neither Adam HaRishon nor Noach were Jews.
Avraham was the tenth generation after Noach and mankind had learned nothing and continued serving idols. Avraham's family lived in Ur Kasdim, in today's Iraq. When he was born, his father Terach was already 70 years old and Shem, Noach's son, was 390 years old. Avraham also still met Noach.
As I have mentioned before, the first generations after the Creation of the World, were created with a different DNA. A DNA which guaranteed them an incredible long life and G - d's intention was that people should use their life span in order to do Teshuva. However, they did not and, therefore, life expectancy was shortened.
Rashi interprets "Lech Leach" with Avraham being sent away for his best. G - d wanted to avoid that Avraham is being influenced by an idol worshiping environment.
Literally "Lech Lecha" means "Go to yourself" and the Sefat Emet sees the whole story metaphorically. When Avraham left Haran, he underwent a spiritual transformation. Each of us should do the same in a certain sense and strife for perfection. We should rise from level to level and never stop at one point in life and say "This is it".
It was the first of another nine tests, G - d gave to Avraham. But why did he need to be tested at all ? He never complained about leaving his family and moving to another country and he was always anxious to do G - d's will.
The tests show that each of us has a "Free Will" and can choose different options. To do G - d's will or not to. Without noticing it, we are tested every day in our life, and we should never rest upon our good deeds.
We can learn many things from Avraham which does not mean we should get depressed because we are not on such a high level. What each of us is able to do is searching for the ONE G - d who created the world. Nothing exists in this world without being created by G - d, and everything can be elevated to its original divine source (Noam Elimelech).
Every individual has different capabilities and limits. The Vilna Gaon said that each Jew can gain a certain Torah life according to his level and no one should be depressed over not reaching the highest levels of perfection.
As already the famous chassidic rabbi, Rabbi Susha, said:
After I die, G - d will not ask me: "Susha, why were you not like Avraham or Moshe" ?
Rather He will ask me: "Susha, why were you not Susha" ?
Means, each of us should try to use his own potential for the good.
Shabbat Shalom
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Did Noach mess it all up ?
B"H
The famous question on Parashat Noach is always: Was Noach a Zaddik (righteous), yes or no ?
It says in Sefer Bereshit 6:9 that he was a Zaddik but until today, many people think differently. Wherever you go this Shabbat, you might hear different opinions about Noach. My rabbi, Rabbi Mordechai Machlis, always emphasizes that Noach was a Zaddik.
Maybe, first of all, we should learn a few more details about Noach and his generation.
Noach was born in the year 1056 according to the Jewish calendar. When Noach was born, Adam HaRishon had died already. Noach's grandfather was the great Zaddik Methusalem (Metushelach). Noach followed his grandfather rather than his father Lamech who had left the religious path.
As the Generation of Enoch (Chanoch), the Generation of the Flood continued worshipping idols. Especially certain planets, as the sun. In their opinion, G - d had left them and those planets were in charge now. They started to do whatever they wanted, as they thought that G - d is too far away to see them. People just behaved like animals (Midrash Tanchuma). Each of their thoughts was only evil.
There was no need for them to pray. To whom ? G - d is far away and we are having a good life, so they thought.
And they were right; they had a convenient life. Life expectancy was unbelievable high and they only died when their time had come. Illnesses were never heard of and after a certain age, they just dropped dead. The reason for such an incredible life expectancy was to do a Tikun Neshama (see Sefer Adam HaRishon). However, also the air differed from ours today and thus ensured long life.
After a while they just abandoned G - d and claimed that they do not need Him anymore. The only thing we need is water and for that we have our springs and lakes (see Talmud Sanhedrin 108a).
Noach did not get involved in all the sins of his generation such as stealing, murder, sexual perversions,etc. and instead studied "The Book of Adam HaRishon" and "The Book of Chanoch".
Everyone has the power to change a certain fate through prayer but it seems that here Noach failed. He did not pray for his generation, as Avraham did later on in the case of Sodom.
At the age of 480 years, he started building the Ark, as G - d had commanded him. For the next 120 years, Noach was busy building the Ark. The Talmud Sanhedrin 108b explains the reactions of his environment. The people laughed about him and thought that he is an old fool. "What flood", did they ask.
Rashi asks why G - d saved Noach by letting him build an Ark. Why suffering through all the difficulties and the curses of the people ? All this was to cause people to repent. G - d never carries out punishments right away but gives people time to do Teshuva.
According to the Jewish calendar, the Flood occurred in the year 1656 (2104 B.C.E.). The Talmud gives stealing for the reason of the Flood but I do have my personal opinion. At the time before the Flood, the DNA of the population worked in a different way. As the Generation of the Flood used to have sex with animals, also the animals saw the behaviour of the people and did the same among each other. Only the fish refrained from any kind of perversion and were not killed in the Flood.
In those days, people gave birth to strange creatures after having sex with animals. They destroyed the whole Ma'aseh Bereshit which, for me, is the real reason for their destruction. G - d did the same to them when he changed His Ma'aseh Bereshit. According to Talmud Rosh HaShana 11b - 12a, He changed a certain star constellation called "Kimah" and made thus the Flood possible.
Boiling hot and cold water came onto the people and they mostly burned to death while Noach and his family were save in the Ark.
But why was he such a great Zaddik, as it says in the Torah ?
First of all, Noach did warn the people but after being curses all the time, he just gave up after a while. G – d saved him because He saw a great potential in Noach which could lead him to perfection (Shlemut). However, Noach did not use it in the end.
Changes of the world after the Flood:
1. The Shechinah went further away.
2. The air changed and the seasons started. Before the Flood, weather was always the same.
3. Health was not the same anymore and suddenly people needed hot springs to relax.
4. Life expectancy was shortened due to the changes of the air. Before, people became nearly 1000 years old and now only approx. 400 years.
5. Due to the changes of air, fruit and vegetables started to rotten.
6. Noach and his family received the "Seven Mitzwot of Noach – The Noachide Laws".
7. People were allowed to eat meat.
8. The Malbim claims that out planet had changed its location.
The question always bothering me was:
Where are all the dead bodied (skeletons) of the whole generation ? Although there are different Talmudic opinions about where the Flood really took place, should there not be any signs of thousands of skeletons or leftover ruins ?
I found the answer in Talmud Zevachim 113b. There is says that the dead bodies are in Shinar a place in Babylon. Shinar is the town where 340 years later, the Tower of Bavel was built.
All the dead of the Flood were dumped in Babylon and Rabbi Ammi said: He who eats earth from Babylon is as though he ate the flesh of his ancestors.
And can we learn from the Generation of the Flood ?
First of all that G – d is never far away or leaving us. It sometimes might seem so but He is always present and knows exactly all our good and bad deeds. We should never become arrogant in times when we have a great life and no sorrows.
But must Noach not have been in such a great shock seeing all the people die and being thrown into a completely new world ?
It says in the Yalkut Reuveni and the Midrash HaNeelam that he started to cry when he came out of the Ark.
Last night I went to a Shiur with Rabbi Mordechai Machlis and he said that he had heard many similar remarks by Holocaust survivors. As Noach, they saw a new world order after coming out of the camps.
There are times when it is very positive to have a new start in life. Things might change for the better. However, one can never forget his past but should try to learn from it.
The famous question on Parashat Noach is always: Was Noach a Zaddik (righteous), yes or no ?
It says in Sefer Bereshit 6:9 that he was a Zaddik but until today, many people think differently. Wherever you go this Shabbat, you might hear different opinions about Noach. My rabbi, Rabbi Mordechai Machlis, always emphasizes that Noach was a Zaddik.
Maybe, first of all, we should learn a few more details about Noach and his generation.
Noach was born in the year 1056 according to the Jewish calendar. When Noach was born, Adam HaRishon had died already. Noach's grandfather was the great Zaddik Methusalem (Metushelach). Noach followed his grandfather rather than his father Lamech who had left the religious path.
As the Generation of Enoch (Chanoch), the Generation of the Flood continued worshipping idols. Especially certain planets, as the sun. In their opinion, G - d had left them and those planets were in charge now. They started to do whatever they wanted, as they thought that G - d is too far away to see them. People just behaved like animals (Midrash Tanchuma). Each of their thoughts was only evil.
There was no need for them to pray. To whom ? G - d is far away and we are having a good life, so they thought.
And they were right; they had a convenient life. Life expectancy was unbelievable high and they only died when their time had come. Illnesses were never heard of and after a certain age, they just dropped dead. The reason for such an incredible life expectancy was to do a Tikun Neshama (see Sefer Adam HaRishon). However, also the air differed from ours today and thus ensured long life.
After a while they just abandoned G - d and claimed that they do not need Him anymore. The only thing we need is water and for that we have our springs and lakes (see Talmud Sanhedrin 108a).
Noach did not get involved in all the sins of his generation such as stealing, murder, sexual perversions,etc. and instead studied "The Book of Adam HaRishon" and "The Book of Chanoch".
Everyone has the power to change a certain fate through prayer but it seems that here Noach failed. He did not pray for his generation, as Avraham did later on in the case of Sodom.
At the age of 480 years, he started building the Ark, as G - d had commanded him. For the next 120 years, Noach was busy building the Ark. The Talmud Sanhedrin 108b explains the reactions of his environment. The people laughed about him and thought that he is an old fool. "What flood", did they ask.
Rashi asks why G - d saved Noach by letting him build an Ark. Why suffering through all the difficulties and the curses of the people ? All this was to cause people to repent. G - d never carries out punishments right away but gives people time to do Teshuva.
According to the Jewish calendar, the Flood occurred in the year 1656 (2104 B.C.E.). The Talmud gives stealing for the reason of the Flood but I do have my personal opinion. At the time before the Flood, the DNA of the population worked in a different way. As the Generation of the Flood used to have sex with animals, also the animals saw the behaviour of the people and did the same among each other. Only the fish refrained from any kind of perversion and were not killed in the Flood.
In those days, people gave birth to strange creatures after having sex with animals. They destroyed the whole Ma'aseh Bereshit which, for me, is the real reason for their destruction. G - d did the same to them when he changed His Ma'aseh Bereshit. According to Talmud Rosh HaShana 11b - 12a, He changed a certain star constellation called "Kimah" and made thus the Flood possible.
Boiling hot and cold water came onto the people and they mostly burned to death while Noach and his family were save in the Ark.
But why was he such a great Zaddik, as it says in the Torah ?
First of all, Noach did warn the people but after being curses all the time, he just gave up after a while. G – d saved him because He saw a great potential in Noach which could lead him to perfection (Shlemut). However, Noach did not use it in the end.
Changes of the world after the Flood:
1. The Shechinah went further away.
2. The air changed and the seasons started. Before the Flood, weather was always the same.
3. Health was not the same anymore and suddenly people needed hot springs to relax.
4. Life expectancy was shortened due to the changes of the air. Before, people became nearly 1000 years old and now only approx. 400 years.
5. Due to the changes of air, fruit and vegetables started to rotten.
6. Noach and his family received the "Seven Mitzwot of Noach – The Noachide Laws".
7. People were allowed to eat meat.
8. The Malbim claims that out planet had changed its location.
The question always bothering me was:
Where are all the dead bodied (skeletons) of the whole generation ? Although there are different Talmudic opinions about where the Flood really took place, should there not be any signs of thousands of skeletons or leftover ruins ?
I found the answer in Talmud Zevachim 113b. There is says that the dead bodies are in Shinar a place in Babylon. Shinar is the town where 340 years later, the Tower of Bavel was built.
All the dead of the Flood were dumped in Babylon and Rabbi Ammi said: He who eats earth from Babylon is as though he ate the flesh of his ancestors.
And can we learn from the Generation of the Flood ?
First of all that G – d is never far away or leaving us. It sometimes might seem so but He is always present and knows exactly all our good and bad deeds. We should never become arrogant in times when we have a great life and no sorrows.
But must Noach not have been in such a great shock seeing all the people die and being thrown into a completely new world ?
It says in the Yalkut Reuveni and the Midrash HaNeelam that he started to cry when he came out of the Ark.
Last night I went to a Shiur with Rabbi Mordechai Machlis and he said that he had heard many similar remarks by Holocaust survivors. As Noach, they saw a new world order after coming out of the camps.
There are times when it is very positive to have a new start in life. Things might change for the better. However, one can never forget his past but should try to learn from it.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Parashat Ekev
B"H
Last week's Parasha Va' etchanan ended with the Shema. Now, Moshe is telling us that if we keep the Mitzwot then G - d will keep His covenant with us and make us a fruitful and successful nation.
Once I went to a Shiur where the Rabbi spoke about the Jews being a great nation, keeping Mitzwot and all the Gentile nations looked up on us. The Rabbi' s words were: "Believe it or not, once we were respected by the nations". The people in class were starring at him and couldn't believe his words. Wow, we were respected.
Historically, it is a fact that we were; especially at the times of Shlomo HaMelech.
Israel is the only country in the world being completely dependent upon G - d. If the Jews keep the Mitzwot then Israel will be successful, if not, then we have to face the consequences. For everything we need to pray and nothing should be taken for granted. In the Shema and the Amidah (during the winter), we even pray for rain. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch wrote that our whole existence and well - being depends on the Mitzwot. Our mission is getting closer to G - d, as He and the Jews have a special eternal relationship with each other.
In Judaism, we always thank G - d for everything. Especially in the early morning prayer with all the Berachot. However, we do not even take food for granted. We say Berachot before and after the meal. Saying a special Bracha over food before a meal is very easy. You are hungry, you want to eat, so you say a quick Bracha. But afterwards when you are full, you also tend to forget G - d very easily and it is much harder saying a blessing when you do not have a desire any more.
The Talmud in Sotah 5a warns us to become arrogant. Never forget your Creator you depend on. In Sotah, a Mashal is given for the reward of not being arrogant. Why did G - d give the Torah to the Jews at the small mountain Har Sinai ? Why not at a impressive huge mountain somewhere else ?
The Gemara answers that before Matan Torah, all the mountains were arguing about which of them should be worthy enough of giving the Torah to the Jews. Har Sinai kept quiet and, therefore, received the big reward from G - d of being worthy.
Why does G - d hate arrogant people ? Because when they sin they do not regret anything. They even complain about the G - dly punishment and feel injustice.
For many outsiders or non - religious Jews it is disturbing that there is such a long halachic procedure for eating bread. First washing the hands in a certain way and afterwards saying the long Bircat HaMazon prayer. For them it seems like taking ages. According to my own experience I can tell you that once you start doing it, you just get used to it and it doesn't bother you any more.
The Bircat HaMazon you can find in any Sidur or Bensher and it can be said in any language (see Shulchan Aruch - Orach Chaim 185:1). It includes three Biblical blessings such as Birkat HaZan, Birkat HaAretz and Birkat Yerushalaim (Shulchan Aruch - Orach Chaim 192:1). In case that there are three men at the table, it is customary to say Bircat HaZimun first (Mishna in Berachot 51b).
In Judaism there is no meal without a Bracha. It doesn't matter if you eat an ice - cream or drink a coke. For everything there is a blessing. The Berachot are one of the first things you learn in Yeshiva and if you grew up frum, so you know them anyway. I am always amazed when I see three - year - old kids saying the Berachot.
In the blessings we always recognize G - d as the Creator of everything and thank Him for the Land.
How important the Land of Israel is showed me a chassidic story told by Rebbitzen Henny Machlis, the wife of Rabbi Mordechai Machlis from Jerusalem:
Once, a man who had just been to Eretz Israel came to a famous Rebbe. He told the Rebbe that in Israel the streets are of marble and that there are diamonds everywhere you look. The Rebbe was so impressed that he went to see the great beauty of the Land. But all he saw was just garbage in the streets and smelly gutters. Disappointed he went back to his country and complaint to the man who had told him the opposite. The man couldn't believe it and said: "What, you didn't see it" ?
The Rebbe was shocked and ran into his study to meditate for a few weeks. How could it be that a regular guy was able to see the spiritual beauty of Eretz Israel and he wasn't ?
This should teach us that we also have to look into things on a deeper basis and not just concentrate on the artificial surface. Hopefully we will all recognize the spiritual beauty of Israel and the whole world.
Shabbat Shalom
Last week's Parasha Va' etchanan ended with the Shema. Now, Moshe is telling us that if we keep the Mitzwot then G - d will keep His covenant with us and make us a fruitful and successful nation.
Once I went to a Shiur where the Rabbi spoke about the Jews being a great nation, keeping Mitzwot and all the Gentile nations looked up on us. The Rabbi' s words were: "Believe it or not, once we were respected by the nations". The people in class were starring at him and couldn't believe his words. Wow, we were respected.
Historically, it is a fact that we were; especially at the times of Shlomo HaMelech.
Israel is the only country in the world being completely dependent upon G - d. If the Jews keep the Mitzwot then Israel will be successful, if not, then we have to face the consequences. For everything we need to pray and nothing should be taken for granted. In the Shema and the Amidah (during the winter), we even pray for rain. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch wrote that our whole existence and well - being depends on the Mitzwot. Our mission is getting closer to G - d, as He and the Jews have a special eternal relationship with each other.
In Judaism, we always thank G - d for everything. Especially in the early morning prayer with all the Berachot. However, we do not even take food for granted. We say Berachot before and after the meal. Saying a special Bracha over food before a meal is very easy. You are hungry, you want to eat, so you say a quick Bracha. But afterwards when you are full, you also tend to forget G - d very easily and it is much harder saying a blessing when you do not have a desire any more.
The Talmud in Sotah 5a warns us to become arrogant. Never forget your Creator you depend on. In Sotah, a Mashal is given for the reward of not being arrogant. Why did G - d give the Torah to the Jews at the small mountain Har Sinai ? Why not at a impressive huge mountain somewhere else ?
The Gemara answers that before Matan Torah, all the mountains were arguing about which of them should be worthy enough of giving the Torah to the Jews. Har Sinai kept quiet and, therefore, received the big reward from G - d of being worthy.
Why does G - d hate arrogant people ? Because when they sin they do not regret anything. They even complain about the G - dly punishment and feel injustice.
For many outsiders or non - religious Jews it is disturbing that there is such a long halachic procedure for eating bread. First washing the hands in a certain way and afterwards saying the long Bircat HaMazon prayer. For them it seems like taking ages. According to my own experience I can tell you that once you start doing it, you just get used to it and it doesn't bother you any more.
The Bircat HaMazon you can find in any Sidur or Bensher and it can be said in any language (see Shulchan Aruch - Orach Chaim 185:1). It includes three Biblical blessings such as Birkat HaZan, Birkat HaAretz and Birkat Yerushalaim (Shulchan Aruch - Orach Chaim 192:1). In case that there are three men at the table, it is customary to say Bircat HaZimun first (Mishna in Berachot 51b).
In Judaism there is no meal without a Bracha. It doesn't matter if you eat an ice - cream or drink a coke. For everything there is a blessing. The Berachot are one of the first things you learn in Yeshiva and if you grew up frum, so you know them anyway. I am always amazed when I see three - year - old kids saying the Berachot.
In the blessings we always recognize G - d as the Creator of everything and thank Him for the Land.
How important the Land of Israel is showed me a chassidic story told by Rebbitzen Henny Machlis, the wife of Rabbi Mordechai Machlis from Jerusalem:
Once, a man who had just been to Eretz Israel came to a famous Rebbe. He told the Rebbe that in Israel the streets are of marble and that there are diamonds everywhere you look. The Rebbe was so impressed that he went to see the great beauty of the Land. But all he saw was just garbage in the streets and smelly gutters. Disappointed he went back to his country and complaint to the man who had told him the opposite. The man couldn't believe it and said: "What, you didn't see it" ?
The Rebbe was shocked and ran into his study to meditate for a few weeks. How could it be that a regular guy was able to see the spiritual beauty of Eretz Israel and he wasn't ?
This should teach us that we also have to look into things on a deeper basis and not just concentrate on the artificial surface. Hopefully we will all recognize the spiritual beauty of Israel and the whole world.
Shabbat Shalom
Thursday, July 26, 2007
A few thoughts on Parashat Va'etchanan
B"H
In this week's Parasha, Moshe is asking Hashem if he is allowed to enter Eretz Israel. So far, Moshe was not allowed to enter and meant to die without crossing the Jordan river due to the sin of hitting the rock with his staff instead of speaking to it.
In Talmud Sotah 14a, the question is being asked why Moshe was so anxious to enter Eretz Israel. The answer is that only in Eretz Israel, Jews are able to fulfill all the Mitzwot. Abroad they are limited. Just look at the coming up Shemittah year which only applies to Israel.
Prayers from Jews abroad do NOT go straight up to Heaven but first go to Israel, then to Jerusalem and then go up to G - d. Whereas prayers from Jews in Israel go directly up to Heaven.
Well, I do not think that Moshe had a problem with his prayers no going up immediately but still he was extremely anxious to fulfill all the Mitzwot.
Another very important issue in this week's Parasha is Intermarriage. All over the world as well as in Israel, Intermarriage is becoming the greatest danger to Judaism. Just look at the figures in the UK or the US. Unfortunately, also in Israel we do face the problem more and more. Many secular Israelis go to the Far East after their army service and when they come back, they come with a woman from India, the Philippines or a European non - Jewish tourist they met somewhere.
In Parashat Va'etchanan, Moshe tells the Jews not to assimilate with the nations which are living in Eretz Israel. The Canaanites, the Jebusites etc.
Destroy all of their images, do not turn to their idol worship and do not marry them. In Talmud Avodah Zarah 36a the question is coming up if the Torah only prohibits marriages between the Canaanites and the Jews and if it does not concern marriages between Jews and other Gentiles.
The answer is that the students of Hillel and Shammai as well as Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai say that this Torah law concerns ALL marriages between Jews and Gentiles. The Talmud Tractate Kiddushin 68a says that marriages between Jews and Gentiles are invalid according to Halacha. In case, the non - Jewish partner decides to convert to Judaism, the case is seen differently (orthod. conversion).
If you want to learn more you can look up the RASHBA on Tosafot and the Rambam (Mishna Torah - Hilchot Biah 12:1).
People who do intermarry mostly only see themselves and do not consider the problems they are causing. First of all, there will be many problems for the future generations. Children from those marriages do have an identity problem.
I have seen many of such children coming to Jerusalem. They became interested in studying in an orthodox Yeshiva and suddenly faced the problem that they had a non - Jewish mother and were not Jewish at all. Some even started hating their parents for doing such a thing as getting intermarried. The youngsters had to convert to Judaism and sometimes the non - Jewish mother made problems, as she rather wanted to see her child in church.
I heard about another famous American case where a Jewish girl wanted to marry a non - Jewish guy. However, the guy underwent an orthodox conversion course and, in the end, did not want to marry the Jewish girl any more. He became too religious and did not want to bother with a Jewish girl who is prepared to marry a non - Jew.
Even if Jews live abroad, they should always be aware of their special task in life. The Chozeh of Lublin, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Horowitz, said that our soul roots are in the Sefirot and in the names of HaShem. "You are a holy people and you are holy to Me". Unfortunately, too many Jews forget about this when the live among the nations. Money, cars, job etc., anything seems to be more important than their own identity.
Some months ago, there was an American guy at Rabbi Mordechai Machlises house on Shabbat who made a desperate speech. It was Shabbat afternoon and the guy said that at the same moment while he is talking, his brother in the States is getting married to a non - Jewish girl. When he was speaking, he was almost crying, as he was studying in the Yeshiva Ohr Sameach next door. He was so desperate that he asked the rabbi if there is anything we can do to cancel the wedding. Actually, he had though of a curse.
Of course, there was nothing we could have done and a curse is not the right response. Hopefully, sooner or later the brother will come to the conclusion to separate from his non - Jewish wife and find his real soul mate. Or the wife might convert to Judaism. Who knows ?
Anybody considering an Intermarriage at this moment and reading this article should reconsider it. Think about what you cause and what you do to your future children.
Each of us should think about our Jewish task in life, our purpose in this world and who created us.
Shabbat Shalom to all of you.
In this week's Parasha, Moshe is asking Hashem if he is allowed to enter Eretz Israel. So far, Moshe was not allowed to enter and meant to die without crossing the Jordan river due to the sin of hitting the rock with his staff instead of speaking to it.
In Talmud Sotah 14a, the question is being asked why Moshe was so anxious to enter Eretz Israel. The answer is that only in Eretz Israel, Jews are able to fulfill all the Mitzwot. Abroad they are limited. Just look at the coming up Shemittah year which only applies to Israel.
Prayers from Jews abroad do NOT go straight up to Heaven but first go to Israel, then to Jerusalem and then go up to G - d. Whereas prayers from Jews in Israel go directly up to Heaven.
Well, I do not think that Moshe had a problem with his prayers no going up immediately but still he was extremely anxious to fulfill all the Mitzwot.
Another very important issue in this week's Parasha is Intermarriage. All over the world as well as in Israel, Intermarriage is becoming the greatest danger to Judaism. Just look at the figures in the UK or the US. Unfortunately, also in Israel we do face the problem more and more. Many secular Israelis go to the Far East after their army service and when they come back, they come with a woman from India, the Philippines or a European non - Jewish tourist they met somewhere.
In Parashat Va'etchanan, Moshe tells the Jews not to assimilate with the nations which are living in Eretz Israel. The Canaanites, the Jebusites etc.
Destroy all of their images, do not turn to their idol worship and do not marry them. In Talmud Avodah Zarah 36a the question is coming up if the Torah only prohibits marriages between the Canaanites and the Jews and if it does not concern marriages between Jews and other Gentiles.
The answer is that the students of Hillel and Shammai as well as Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai say that this Torah law concerns ALL marriages between Jews and Gentiles. The Talmud Tractate Kiddushin 68a says that marriages between Jews and Gentiles are invalid according to Halacha. In case, the non - Jewish partner decides to convert to Judaism, the case is seen differently (orthod. conversion).
If you want to learn more you can look up the RASHBA on Tosafot and the Rambam (Mishna Torah - Hilchot Biah 12:1).
People who do intermarry mostly only see themselves and do not consider the problems they are causing. First of all, there will be many problems for the future generations. Children from those marriages do have an identity problem.
I have seen many of such children coming to Jerusalem. They became interested in studying in an orthodox Yeshiva and suddenly faced the problem that they had a non - Jewish mother and were not Jewish at all. Some even started hating their parents for doing such a thing as getting intermarried. The youngsters had to convert to Judaism and sometimes the non - Jewish mother made problems, as she rather wanted to see her child in church.
I heard about another famous American case where a Jewish girl wanted to marry a non - Jewish guy. However, the guy underwent an orthodox conversion course and, in the end, did not want to marry the Jewish girl any more. He became too religious and did not want to bother with a Jewish girl who is prepared to marry a non - Jew.
Even if Jews live abroad, they should always be aware of their special task in life. The Chozeh of Lublin, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Horowitz, said that our soul roots are in the Sefirot and in the names of HaShem. "You are a holy people and you are holy to Me". Unfortunately, too many Jews forget about this when the live among the nations. Money, cars, job etc., anything seems to be more important than their own identity.
Some months ago, there was an American guy at Rabbi Mordechai Machlises house on Shabbat who made a desperate speech. It was Shabbat afternoon and the guy said that at the same moment while he is talking, his brother in the States is getting married to a non - Jewish girl. When he was speaking, he was almost crying, as he was studying in the Yeshiva Ohr Sameach next door. He was so desperate that he asked the rabbi if there is anything we can do to cancel the wedding. Actually, he had though of a curse.
Of course, there was nothing we could have done and a curse is not the right response. Hopefully, sooner or later the brother will come to the conclusion to separate from his non - Jewish wife and find his real soul mate. Or the wife might convert to Judaism. Who knows ?
Anybody considering an Intermarriage at this moment and reading this article should reconsider it. Think about what you cause and what you do to your future children.
Each of us should think about our Jewish task in life, our purpose in this world and who created us.
Shabbat Shalom to all of you.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Additional Souls
B"H
Most of us know that every Jew does get an additional soul (the Neshama Yetera) on Shabbat. Some sources say that the Neshama Yetera enters our body on Erev Shabbat and according to other kabbalistic and chassidic sources, this neshama already enters our body on Wednesday.
However, a few weeks ago, I read a great comment from the Sefat Emet (one of the former Gerer Rebbes) on the Shemittah year. According to him do we not only get the Neshama Yetera on Shabbat but also during the whole Shemittah year.
Shabbat Shalom
Most of us know that every Jew does get an additional soul (the Neshama Yetera) on Shabbat. Some sources say that the Neshama Yetera enters our body on Erev Shabbat and according to other kabbalistic and chassidic sources, this neshama already enters our body on Wednesday.
However, a few weeks ago, I read a great comment from the Sefat Emet (one of the former Gerer Rebbes) on the Shemittah year. According to him do we not only get the Neshama Yetera on Shabbat but also during the whole Shemittah year.
Shabbat Shalom
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