TALK ABOUT HYPOCRISY

I asked Rabbi Dashiff today why it is that parents find it acceptable to prohibit their children from doing certain things that they themselves cannot restrain from?

For instance, when I was much younger television was absolutely prohibited. Being that we weren’t too religious back then, I realize that it came from an educational, ‘proper parenting’ standpoint, as opposed to a Torah-based standard.

He provided me with not just an answer, but also more food for thought. His maxim is “INTEGRITY,” and in this case he used it to explain the following. Every single human being is always PROCESSING. Processing in the sense that he is trying to reach his own, individualized integrity. Since each person’s integrity is entirely different from the next, it is imperative that we try to keep that in mind when judging others. When I perform an action that is prohibited, I naturally give myself a million excuses, reasons for why I need to be doing precisely this particular deed.

Torah commands us to “Love your fellow as YOURSELF.” How is it possible to love another as yourself? You live with yourself 24/7, yet you are expected to love another as you love yourself, even a complete stranger? Torah says yes. And Rabbi Hillel even told an atheist that the entire Torah is merely commentary on this single commandment. Well, commentators explain that in order to love another just as you love yourself, you must grant him the million excuses that you give yourself. Or at least bear in mind that just as you would give yourself reasons, be sure that he has his own. As strong as your Yetzer Harah is in particular areas, his might be overpowering in another.

Rabbi Dashiff brought to my attention that we are all “processing.” We are all striving to be the best we can be, while at the same time we are trying to ration our observances so that we don’t buckle under the overwhelming intensity. Chassidim take on resolutions all the time. It would be unwise to take on every possible mitzvah and observation all at once; it would prove to be too much, overwhelmingly unbearable and disastrous.

Rather, we each have our own methods with which we engage in our “processing” toward our uniquely defined “integrity.”

Looking back, I may not have appreciated, then, the way my parents went about their processing when it came to my upbringing. But now… Man, they must have really been guided by some Higher Source. I mean, look at me. Here I am, in seminary, in ISRAEL…

I’m blown away.

IS JUDAISM A QUESTION OF “KNOWING” OR “BELIEVING?”

There is a definite distinction between knowledge and belief, especially in regard to serving G-d. Knowledge is obtained through multiple proofs, whereas belief is a sort of trust gained through one’s own intuition.

There is a popular “machloket,” difference of opinion among Rabbis about which is the superior manner in which to serve our Creator. The first opinion stems from the verse, “Tamim tihiyu im Hashem Elokeichem = Be pure/perfect with the Lord, your G-d.” This verse connotes “Emunah Peshuta,” simple, yet complete belief. This belief suggests a certain naiveté, lacking the foundation of the understanding upholding such belief.

The second verse, “V’yadaata et Hashem Elokecha = And you should KNOW the Lord, your G-d,” denotes the necessity to have concrete knowledge of the Creator in order to serve Him properly. Another theme, “Hitbonenut,” is complete understanding that catapults one into the service of G-d from a knowledge standpoint.

There are two levels of service of G-d:

The first level, based on the verse, “Zeh Kaili V’anveihu =My G-d, and I appease Him,” depicts the single entity of (Anveihu) Ani V’hu = He & I, unified. The second verse, “Elokei Avi V’Aromimenhu = the G-d of my Father, and I exalt Him,” is defined to mean that since G-d is so much loftier than us, while not one with us, we exalt Him.

Well, the first is KNOWLEDGE and the second is BELIEF. Why? Because when one has knowledge of the Creator and then understands, he becomes one with Him. Belief is when the concept is so lofty, so incomprehensible, that only belief remains to be had.
So what is better, to believe wholeheartedly in Him or to obtain complete knowledge, to completely understand Him? Well there are pros and cons of both.

FAITH:

The pros would be that such a strong belief is above understanding, so that should one’s knowledge be challenged, one’s faith would still soar high above the odds. Faith has no boundaries, no limitations. The con would be that faith does not generate answers. Should a question be raised concerning one’s belief, faith is not a substantial answer to satiate the appetite for understanding. Also, belief is not everlasting. Why? Well, it might conflict with knowledge. (For instance, a thief might have complete faith that G-d will aid him in the success of his robbery.)

KNOWLEDGE:

The simple pro is that to obtain knowledge, one tries to learn and understand, challenging and improving his mind during the process. The only con is that there is a limit to how much one can retain in the mind and even less in achieving understanding.

The simple answer is that we need a healthy balance of both. We can Know a lot of things in philosophy, but without Belief, it is all in vain. How does this balance come into practice? “Until the horizon I will KNOW, and what I cannot see, I will BELIEVE.” Meaning, I will know what I understand, and all else I believe is true.

Belief is dependent on a source, while knowledge is based on one’s own arrival at personal understanding. The belief aspect is what is clearly “seen,” after the phrase, “seeing is believing.” Once one sees, it is engrained in Him as something that does not require proof. Understanding is where the mind is stubborn and requires proof in order to internalize it. Torah Knowledge consists of everything that has been proved in the negative, that it cannot be any other way, that there are no TWO G-ds and that He is not limited. The Belief is (in the positive) that there really is ONE G-d, limitless and eternal.

May we all merit to be strong in our Judaism, dependent upon the ingrained belief inherited from our ancestors, balanced with the understanding we each acquire on our own.

BROTHER, WHY MUST YOU HATE ME

A young boy is walking alongside his elder brother, who fails to notice the looks of malice thrown in their direction... The young "dati," religious Jewish boy mutedly screams from the depths of his soul, his seething rage rising from within and spreading throughout his body...

Why must you hate me, oh Brother of mine? Do you not realize we share the same hopes? The same dreams? What has the world come to, that one Jew should hate another? It will not bring Redemption any faster! On the contrary, hatred inevitably brought about the Temple's destruction!

Know that I love you. Despite all the hatred you harbor within. Dig deep inside of you. You and I... we are not so different. We both originate from One Creator, of whom there is a special spark instilled in our beings. Eternally; forever, and ever, and evermore.

Why must you hate me, dear Brother of mine? See how I love you. I long to reach out to you, to feel embraced in return. Is there not enough hatred existing in the world at large? Must there be even more hatred in our own little worlds? I can feel it. I can smell it. Can't you?

Let us show the world that we can rebuild the Temple through love, and not prolong its reconstruction by our own selfish prejudices. Let us no longer hate. Rather, let us retalliate by battling this hatred with limitless loving kindness.

May we all love once more. Amen.

A STAB THROUGH THE HEART

They promised to kill us, to capture each town,
Push us past our limit, to take us all down.
This stab, to exacerbate our constant strife,
We must not permit it to uproot Jewish life.

To those who believe it will bring added peace,
I wish I could scream at you, “What’s to increase?”
You’ll wait till the day you’re expelled from your own land.
And then, only then, will you fully understand.

The way the civilians cannot bare to let go,
The fertile land where Israel’s best vegetations grow.
These settlers protecting us at the front line,
Devotedly fighting for Jewish lives, yours and mine.

Arise, dear Brother, from your deepening slumber,
Let not another stab become but a number.
Do not be so blinded, the evil terror is just brewin’.
Should we not dare to stand up, our silence will be our ruin.

KOTEL FOR THE FIRST TIME

I am sure everyone gets a completely different feeling when they first visit the Kotel, and then each time following, but let me know if you can relate...
I first viewed "the Wailing Wall" from high above ground, from atop the Old City stone leading down to the main landing. I drew my breath in so fast... it was a sight to behold. So this was where so many Jews gathered... to sing, dance, weep and attempt to become closer to the Creator. With trepidation, I inched closer and closer to the Wall, jaw slightly dropped and eyes wide in wonderment. I had not previously conjured up any image of what I would actually see or what spirit would fill me at the moment I arrived. I continued to glide toward the Wall until I was stroking the aged brick. I pressed my forehead to it, breathed in deeply the fresh scent of tears and prayer, and then pressed my lips to the stone. I allowed my emotions to overtake me, overwhelming me with the empowerment of revealed G-dliness.
Standing there, I felt overwhelming opposing emotions. On the one hand, I felt unified, praying alongside hundreds of Jews, in the holiest place in the universe, with G-d evermore-present. Yet on the other hand, I felt so minute, so small. Who was I? What was I doing, pouring my heart out to G-d? My prayers seemed senseless while standing next to women tearing out their hair and slapping the wall with the fervor of their cries. There I stood, so insignificant, yet an important part of a whole. The sudden realization of my utter impurity brought me swiftly to tears. How could such a horrid person expect retribution? And to be gracing G-d with my presence, here? It felt so wrong. After once again pressing my lips to the aging brick, and slowly backing away from the Wall, I felt a huge weight lifted from my heart. Perhaps this is what I had needed.
To feel pure once more.

I have decided that this year, since so much time, effort, and money has gone into me having this once-in-a-lifetime experience, I will post my inspiring learning online. Check as frequently as you wish. Instead of this being a purely selfish year, I want to spread the inspiring things I learn so that you may be affected as well...