DOCSLIB.ORG

Essay Question Parsha Inner Dimensions

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Essay Question Parsha Inner Dimensions a project of www.Chabad.org Vayeira 5763 (2002) G-d Revealed Himself to You, How'd You Comment Know It's Him? You're sitting in your room and meditating when you hear a voice. Is it the real thing? Is it another Said the Divine Attribute of of your roommate's pranks? Or just your imagi- nation running wild? How to know? Chessed (love): "As long as Abraham was around, there was Nine, Eleven and Ten nothing for me to do, for he did Essay Where have I heard the numbers 9/11 before? Then my work in my stead." it comes to me. In Sefer Yetzirah, the oldest . Kabbalistic text, a cryptic phrase states: Ten sefirot (Sefer HaBahir) of nothingness; ten and not nine, ten and not eleven People Knocking on my Door Question The mezuzah on our front door seems to act as a beacon that draws charity-seeking individuals to our door at all hours of the evening and night. Frankly, we are considering removing it! Story The Probelm One day, a rich and learned Jew came to one of the great European centers of Torah learning to search for a fitting match for his wise, pious and The Doctor beautiful daughter Why do we go to a doctor? Does a doctor give life? We The Feet We go to the doctor because Inner One way to treat what ails the soul is through the we need to repair not just our head -- talking through the problem. Many are now souls, not just our bodies, but our Dimensions realizing, however, that starting at the other end of world as well. We have made a the body might be equally if not more effective sefirot of nothingness; ten and not nine, ten and not world that brings sickness. That same world must now bring life. Vayeira — Genesis 18:1-22:24 Parsha G-d visits the sick, disguised angels eat bread and meat, Sodom is overturned, Lot gets drunk, Sarah laughs and gives birth, a truce is sworn over seven sheep and a well, and a father and son meet the ultimate test of faith on a Jerusalem mountaintop For more information or to subscribe new material to one of our many insipiring added daily! periodicals log on to: www.Chabad.org This magazine contains sacred Torah material. Please do not discard. www.Chabad.org Comment Divine Throne... and gazing upon the divine wis- dom... the divine spirit will come to rest upon him...” If G-d Revealed (Mishneh Torah, Laws of the Fundamentals of Torah 7:1). Himself to You, Actually, the Chassidic masters maintain that every Divine revelation does come out of the blue — How'd You Know simply because it utterly transcends whatever “preparations” for it are made by the finite human It's Him? mind and heart. Still, in order for that “out of the blue” to happen, the recipient of the revelation must first attain his or her utmost potential. You’re sitting in your room and meditating when you hear a voice (voice? vibe? thought wave?) say- 2) You’re told to do something. As a rule, when G- ing, “Hi there! This is G-d. I’ve come to reveal d speaks to people it is to give them a task. And Myself to you!” chances are that it’ll be a very, very difficult task. G- d appeared to Abraham to tell him to “go from your Is it the real thing? Is it another of your room- land, your birthplace, and your father’s house” and mate’s pranks? Or just your imagination running found the Jewish people — a task that required him wild? How to know? “to be on one side, with the entire world on the other Let me say from the onset that G-d never revealed side.” Moses’ vision at the burning bush was to send Himself to me, at least not quite that way. So I’m not him to take the Children of Israel out of Egypt and much of an authority on how to tell the real thing. lead them through the wilderness to the Promised All I can do is look at the numerous Divine revela- Land (Moses had the sense to turn down the job, and tions reported in the Torah and try to glean some it took G-d seven days and seven nights of pleading general pointers. and threatening to get him to accept it). The Prophets 1) It usually doesn’t come out of the blue. were spoken to so that they should take their very Abraham first heard from G-d after 72 years of unpopular message to the people — a task that searching for the truth, finding it, devoting his life to entailed the risk, and even the forfeit, of their lives. it, and teaching it to the world. Moses first saw G-d The revelation at Sinai was to give us the Torah — at age 80 — that is, after 80 years of being Moses. with its 613 commandments, thousands of by-laws And the greatest Divine revelation of all time (that’s and directives, and millions of pages of (still grow- the one I was at, but I only have a hazy memory of ing!) commentary. it), at which G-d revealed Himself on a mountaintop [A notable exception seems to be the Divine rev- in the presence of the entire people of Israel and the elation to Abraham recorded at the beginning of the souls of all future generations — that came after 220 Parshah of Vayeira (Genesis 18:1): the Torah simply years of G-dly living by the Patriarchs, 210 years of relates that “G-d revealed Himself to him” without refinement in the “smelting pit” of Egyptian exile, stating the purpose of the visit. But our sages are and an intense 49-step process of spiritual advance- quick to find numerous directives and instructions to ment by the people during the seven weeks from the be learned from G-d’s visit, from the duty to visit the Exodus to Sinai. sick (Abraham was recuperating from his circumci- In the words of Maimonides: “Prophesy comes sion) to the greatness of hospitality (Abraham inter- only to a sage great in wisdom and powerful in char- rupted the visit to rush out and offer food and rest to acter; one whose desires never overpower him but three passing Bedouin).] rather always exercises the power of his mind over In any case, in all the recorded cases of Divine his desires; and is possessive of an intellect that is revelation, the person seems to have known that it broad and true. A person who possesses all these was G-d. So I guess that means that if you’re not attributes, and who is whole in body, who enters into sure it is, then it’s probably not. the orchard of divine wisdom... sanctifies himself, Yanki Tauber, [email protected] is content editor and removes himself from the ways of the masses of Chabad.org who follow the frivolities of the times... and whose mind is forever directed Above, focused upon the Comment | Essay | Question | Story | Inner Dimensions | Parsha | Week at Glance 22 www.Chabad.org Essay the indispensable nature and inalienable rights of Nine, Eleven and every human being on earth, by virtue of our con- nection to G-d, who chose each of us to fulfill our Ten unique mission. And it is this Divine ingredient — the dignity of Malchut — that was missing from the demonically distorted religious beliefs of the attackers. Love of G-d is one with love of all people, if for no other rea- son than their being reflections of the Divine Image. 9/11. Nine Eleven. September 11. One can have an elaborate structure of all nine Ruminating on the first anniversary of Tuesday elements — a complete intellectual and emotional September 11, feeling the grief and trauma of my system — but if you are missing the tenth dimen- fellow New Yorkers as they and thousands of visi- sion, Malchut, everything is compromised. tors solemnly gathered at Ground Zero, something Malchut also represents the Divine presence with- rings a bell. Where have I heard the numbers nine in nature and all of existence. At the pinnacle of Yom and eleven before? It then comes to me. In the Sefer Kippur — the conclusion of the Ne’ilah prayer — Yetzirah (Book of Formation), the oldest Kabbalistic we declare that G-d is One and we repeat seven text, attributed to the patriarch Abraham, a cryptic times that “HaVaYaH hu ha’Elokim” — G-d that phrase states: “Ten sefirot of nothingness; ten and transcends all of existence is one with the G-dliness not nine, ten and not eleven.” within all of existence. The ten sefirot (divine attributes) are the basic Religion that believes in a G-d in Heaven but for- building blocks — the spiritual DNA — of all of gets about G-d’s presence on Earth (ten minus one existence. Exactly ten. Not nine, not eleven. Exactly — nine), or annihilates life on Earth (ten plus one — ten, not more, not less. Precision is critical to all sys- eleven), will be fundamentally bankrupt. tems. One missing or extra point in a computer pro- gram, one deficient or additional cell, can wreak 9/11 — and all the events of the past year — devastating havoc. remind us that science, politics, economy, every one of our systems, must include the tenth dimension, 9/11 is a day that shook up our entire system, a Malchut, for us to survive.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Toward a QQ Meaningful Shavuot
    ­ B”H Q Toward a QQ Meaningful ShavuoT A Personal and Spiritual Guide to Shavuot Making Shavuot Relevant EXCLUSIVE FOR SHLUCHIM By Simon Jacobson Author of Toward A Meaningful Life , A Spiritual Guide to Counting the Omer and 60 Days: A Spiritual Guide to the High Holidays 1. whAt iS ShAvUot? Page 2 5. the SiGnificAnce of MAttAn toRAh Page 18 2. MAttAn toRAh Page 4 a. formal giving of the mitzvoth a. what is torah? b. Uniting heaven and earth, spirit b. the general torah structure and matter c. why was the torah given in a desert? c. the 10 commandments d. G-d chose Us, we chose him 3. diffeRent nAMeS of the holidAy Page 12 e. Special role of children as guarantors f. Special role of women 4. lAwS, cUStoMS Page 13 a. Special prayers; torah readings 6. MoRe iMPoRtAnt eventS Page 21 b. Staying up the first night; tikkun King david and Baal Shem tov’s yahrzeits leil Shavuot 7. MAjoR ShAvUot theMeS And inSiGhtS c. Megillat Ruth Page 24 d. eating dairy e. everyone, even newborns, participate 8. SPeciAl SUPPleMent: 250th AnniveRSARy in hearing the 10 commandments of BAAl SheM tov’S yAhRzeit lecture/Sermon/class : how the Baal Shem tov changed the world Page 33 loAded with MAteRiAl – excellent for your all-night-Shavuos classes and discussions XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Q whaT iS ShavuoT ? Q in the 23rd chapter of leviticus, the torah instructs: you shall count for yourselves, from the morrow of the Shabbat, from the day on which you bring the raised omer— q seven complete weeks shall there be.
    [Show full text]
  • Living the Story About Life in the Midst of the Coronavirus Pesach Guide
    ב״ה Wellspringswww.chabadlehighvalley.com Spring 2020/Pesach 5780 DEVORAH’S RECIPE CORNER HOW TO BE Passover CONTAGIOUS ALMOND COOKIES 10 Things I’m Learning Living the Story About Life in the Midst of the Coronavirus Pesach guide A Little Nosh for the Soul Compliments of Chabad of the Lehigh Valley St. Luke’s has been named one of the IBM Watson Health™ 100 Top Hospitals in the Nation. Shana Tova, To learn more visit: stlukes100top.org NOTE FROM THE RABBI Wellsprings Magazine Passover is here... the snow is gone, the weather is turning warmer and the birds are Dedicated to back from their trip to the south. Spring is the Love and in the air! Inspiration of the In Judaism, the proximity of Passover to Lubavitcher springtime is not coincidental. The Torah Rebbe calls Passover “chag ha’aviv” the Holiday of OB”M Spring. In fact, every few years, the Jewish calendar which is lunar-based, is recalibrated to match the solar calendar, for one purpose: to ensure that Passover is in spring. Wellsprings Why spring? The reason is simple, yet profound. While Rosh Ha- shanah marks the beginning of the world’s creation, Passover com- memorates the birth of the Jewish people. For 210 years, the Jewish people were in a womb-like state during the Egyptian servitude. Like a fetus that has all its limbs developed but is unable to control them, our ancestors were living in a suspended state, “a nation within a nation.” And on the 15th of Nissan, they were “born” into freedom. As we celebrate Passover amidst the chirping of the birds and the Editorial flowering of our gardens, we not only remember the birth of the Jewish people 3,300 years ago, but actually re-experience our own Rabbi Yaacov Halperin rebirth.
    [Show full text]
  • Jewish Studies Adult Education the Way It Was Meant to Be
    The Center for Jewish Studies Adult Education the way it was meant to be Fall Semester 2005 Courses Study Groups Lectures A project of Chabad Women’s Circle Children’s Programs Holidays Prayer Services The Center for Jewish Studies Friends of Lubavitch of Bergen County WELCOME Shalom elcome to The Center for Jewish Studies. Our goal here at Friends of Lubavitch of Bergen County is to provide the most Wcomprehensive, interesting and educational adult Jewish studies program that one can find. We offer courses, which will be a finite number of classes on a certain topic in Judaism; study groups which are ongoing weekly classes that are continuous; and of course our famous lectures where we have scholars, authors and other such Jewish luminaries for an evening of inspiration. Unless otherwise noted, every course, class and lecture is for men and women of all ages and all backgrounds. The courses and classes are geared to both those who have no formal Jewish education and those who have an extensive background - everyone will find each course and class fascinating and worthwhile. We will also be continuing our Chabad Women’s Circle, a hands-on evening with a fascinating lecture, wonderful desserts and much The Center more. This year we have added a Mommy and Me to our many is dedicated to the programs as well, please see page 20 for details. living legacy of The Lubavitcher Feel free to drop in on and sample any course to see if it’s for you, Rebbe, with our “complimentary evening pass.” Rabbi Menachem If you have any questions (on any of the classes or courses) please Mendel Schneerson feel free to call me at 201-907-0686 or e-mail me at [email protected] at anytime.
    [Show full text]
  • UNVERISTY of CALIFORNIA Los Angeles Spiritual Narrative In
    UNVERISTY OF CALIFORNIA Los Angeles Spiritual Narrative in Sound and Structure of Chabad Nigunim A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Music by Zachary Alexander Klein 2019 © Copyright by Zachary Alexander Klein 2019 ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Spiritual Narrative in Sound and Structure of Chabad Nigunim by Zachary Alexander Klein Doctor of Philosophy in Music University of California, Los Angeles, 2019 Professor Richard Dane Danielpour , Co-Chair Professor David Samuel Lefkowitz, Co-Chair In the Chabad-Lubavitch chasidic community, the singing of religious folksongs called nigunim holds a fundamental place in communal and individual life. There is a well-known saying in Chabad circles that while words are the pen of the heart, music is the pen of the soul. The implication of this statement is that music is able to express thoughts and emotions in a deeper way than words could on their own could. In chasidic thought, there are various spiritual narratives that may be expressed through nigunim. These narratives are fundamental in understanding what is being experienced and performed through singing nigunim. At times, the narrative has already been established in Chabad chasidic literature and knowing the particular aspects of this narrative is indispensible in understanding how the nigun unfolds in musical time. ii In other cases, the particular details of this narrative are unknown. In such a case, understanding how melodic construction, mode, ornamentation, and form function to create a musical syntax can inform our understanding of how a nigun can reflect a particular spiritual narrative. This dissertation examines the ways in which musical syntax and spiritual parameters work together to express these various spiritual narratives in sound and structure of nigunim.
    [Show full text]
  • Integrating the Rational and the Mystical: the Insights and Methods of Three Hassidic̣ Rebbeim
    139 Integrating the Rational and the Mystical: The Insights and Methods of Three Hassidic̣ Rebbeim By: RONALD PIES Introduction The leading figures of hasiduṭ combined rational analysis of the hu- man condition with their own mystical insights. Through this synthe- sis they emerged as masters of psychological methods with which they served G-d and guided their followers. The rationalist strain in Judaism identified religious truth with the faculty of reason and the use of logic. Thus, Maimonides has been described as “… the typical rationalist, in that rational understanding stands immeasurably higher for him than the experiences men have through feeling and intuition.”1 It is more difficult, however, to define “mysticism” in the Judaic context. Still, Louis Jacob’s definition is a good start: “Jewish mysticism can be defined as that aspect of the Jewish reli- gious experience in which man’s mind is in direct encounter with God.”2 In this essay, I examine three seminal figures in the Jewish mysti- cal tradition: Rabbi Nahmaṇ of Bratslav, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liady and Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. 1 Borchsenius, Poul. The History of the Jews. Simon and Schuster, New York: 1965. 2 Jacobs, Louis. The Schocken Book of Jewish Mystical Testimonies. Schocken Books, New York: 1996. ______________________________________________________ Ronald Pies, MD is Professor of Psychiatry and Lecturer on Bio- ethics & Humanities at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He is also a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medi- cine. Ḥ akirah 6 © 2008 140 : Hakirah,̣ the Flatbush Journal of Jewish Law and Thought Rabbi Nahmaṇ of Bratslav Rabbi Nahmaṇ of Bratslav (1772-1810), a great-grandson of the Besht, has rightly been termed “The Tormented Master.”3 As Nahman’ṣ biographer, Arthur Green, notes, “the most essential reli- gious reality for Nahmaṇ was always the realm of his own inner struggle” (Green 40).
    [Show full text]
  • Religion Presented in Partial Fulfilrnent of the Requirements Concordia University Montreai, Quebec, Canada
    Chabad Lubavitch: The Centrality of the Rebbe in the Movement Du~gHis Lifetime and After His Death The Department Religion Presented in Partial Fulfilrnent of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts at Concordia University Montreai, Quebec, Canada National Library Bibliothèque nationale 1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bbliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON KIA ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada Your hk Votre reiemce Our liie Noire retérence The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sel1 reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfonn, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de rnicrofiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownershp of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Abstrac t iiz Acknowledgement iv Preface v Chapter One: Methodologies Chapter Two: The Histoiy of Chasidism Chapter Three: The Chabad Movement Under the Seventh Rebbe Chapter Four: The Death of the Rebbe Conclusion Appendix A Appendix B ABSTRACT Chabad Lubavitch: The Centrality of the Rebbe in the Movement Dunng His Lifetime and Mer His Death Daphne Lazar The Chabad Lubavitch rnovement provides modern-day sociologists and anthropologists with the opportunity to study a large, world renown messianic movement that identified its Messiah, narnely their Rebbe, Rabbi Menac hem Mendel Schneerson only to watch him die shortly after.
    [Show full text]
  • Daily Thought
    May 16, 2004 Shvout 5764 Daily Thought Comment: The Object Yanki Tauber The Personality Man turned away from G-d, searched for G-d, discovered truth, attained holiness. But Thing the physical world had no part in this; it was just scenery, a backdrop painted with patches of withheld light, against which G-d/man saga played You need to be honest with yourself: Are these feelings of Story: The Baal Shem Tov's Previous Live From the Chassidic Masters guilt and inadequacy based in Late one night, there was a knock on his door. On his threshold stood an old man with reality, or just a personality a long white beard and a countenance as radiant as the heavens issue? Does G-d really have it in for you, or is this just the Voices: What Jews Do Hannah B. Geshelin She looked me up and down as though I were a bug on a pin. Then she said the words pessimism of an anxious beast that still reverberate through my mind... inside? Idea of the Week: The Torah: An Anthology Compiled by Yanki Tauber If it is the latter, take a break 40 essays, stories, meditations and readings, each offering a glimpse into something from your self-derision and the Torah says about itself and its place in our lives nurture confidence in the Director of this universe. He Parshah: Bamidbar Numbers 1:1 - 4:20 carries you through every Numbers in the Book of Numbers: 4 camps, 12 tribes, 273 surplus first-born, 22,300 moment, but only as close as Levites, 603,550 Israelites -- each of whom count.
    [Show full text]
  • Shavuot 5765 | 1 Comment: Life As a Mountain by Yaakov Paley Question
    B”H Chabad.org Shavuot 5765 June 12, 2005 Comment: Life as a Mountain By Yaakov Paley The cause is the mountain itself: it simply and stubbornly gets in the way. The Daily Thought wind hits it with force, and must force its way around or over. As it does so, it carries little pieces of the mountain with it Escape Voices: Free Trial Period By Sara Esther Crispe Man, on his own, cannot It was the commercial that first attracted me. Then there were the bonus gifts, reach higher than his own and by the time my free-trial period was up I'd forgotten that my credit card was being billed monthly... ego. He cannot break out of his own skin, he cannot lift Question: How and When was the Torah Written? By Tzvi Freeman himself up by pulling at his To explain that, I would need a long conversation with you about what is G-d own hair. All of his and how G-d talks to people and why.... achievements are tied to his Essay: Nitzevet, Mother of David By Chana Weisberg own ego. All that he may He was Israel's mightiest warrior, revered by friend and foe; yet for the first 28 comprehend is defined by years of his life he was a lowly outcast, an object of contempt and derision his own subjective even by his own family... The secret story behind mysterious circumstances of King David's birth perception. He is a prisoner by virtue of existence. Essay: Small Town Jewry By Israel Rubin Rabbi Yosi ben Kisma was offered a dream budget--enough money to build a So G-d threw Man a rope.
    [Show full text]
  • Chabad- Lubavitch and the Digital Sphere Sharrona Pearla a University of Pennsylvania Published Online: 09 Sep 2014
    This article was downloaded by: [University of Pennsylvania] On: 11 September 2014, At: 10:53 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Journal of Media and Religion Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/hjmr20 Exceptions to the Rule: Chabad- Lubavitch and the Digital Sphere Sharrona Pearla a University of Pennsylvania Published online: 09 Sep 2014. To cite this article: Sharrona Pearl (2014) Exceptions to the Rule: Chabad-Lubavitch and the Digital Sphere, Journal of Media and Religion, 13:3, 123-137 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15348423.2014.938973 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content.
    [Show full text]
  • Divine Sparks Simon Jacobson ’Ll Never Forget the Question Posed to Me by Dox, Conservative, Or Reform? Anyone with Ia Woman in South Miami Beach
    February_shma.qxd:Layout 1 1/22/07 12:48 PM Page 6 Scherman: Societies and individuals large, aren’t we doing our young people a dis - cope with economic realities — over time service? making needed adjustments. The explosive Scherman: On the other end of the spec - growth of yeshivas and kolels has transformed trum, in the U. S. — especially in the Jewish Jewish life exponentially for the better. The community — the ideal is a college education, Orthodox world was almost moribund before preferably graduate school. But there are plenty it happened. I think it was Divine Providence of good Jewish boys and girls who can’t hack it. that gave the Jewish community and this coun - Goldin: You’re right. No community ben - try the prosperity that made this possible. efits from having just a cookie-cutter mental - What will happen next, no one knows. ity. I wonder whether we wouldn’t all be better Goldin: But you can project learning as served if we reset our expectations. What one option; not the sole option. Doing so about the dropouts — people leaving the would prevent giving those who don’t sit and Haredi world? learn the sense that they’re failing because Scherman: I think that by and large it’s they’re not in the elite. like the Neturei Karta demonstrating with the Scherman: I agree with you. Some of the Arabs or going to Teheran to embrace men who are not suited to full-time learning Ahamanidinejad. They get the headlines. Of feel that they’re failures. Every yeshiva recog - course a tiny percentage leave, but nothing nizes that problem.
    [Show full text]
  • North Jersey Edition Jersey North
    North Jersey Edition March 2021 • Nissan 5781 Exodus Magazine North Jersey Edition (English-Russian) published by Bris Avrohom of Fair Lawn | 201.791.7200 | JewishFairLawn.org Permit # 532 # Permit Paramus, NJ Paramus, PAID Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 07410 NJ Lawn, Fair US Postage US Avenue Lawn Fair 30-02 Non-Profit Org Non-Profit Bris Avrohom of Fair Lawn Fair of Avrohom Bris The Festival PASSOVER of freedom North Jersey Edition MARCH 27 - APRIL 4, 2021 Freedom is defined not by the absence of slavery, but by the presence of purpose! GET READY FOR PASSOVER! • Remove all grain based food and drink • Clean your kitchen for Passover • Sell your Chometz • Get wine, Shmurah Matzah and other Passover treats Visit www.JewishFairLawn.org/Passover Order Shmurah Matzah | Sell Your Chometz Seder in a Box delivered to your door | See Holiday Schedule of Services Published by The journey from slavery to freedom is an practice it, to live it. For them, exodus is from intensely personal one, especially when we mental slavery to freedom. consider it on a daily, existential level. We remember the Exodus not only every year on “From deep darkness to great light” expresses Passover, but also every day, several times a the experience in more spiritual terms. Some day in fact. And there is actually a blessing in people are able to transcend both the physical the morning blessings to recite daily that has and mental slavery, but feeling free from to do with becoming free. Because freedom oppression is not enough. They are bothered is a relative process – the freedom I achieve by the overarching darkness, decadence and today becomes a form of slavery if I remain spiritual emptiness within which we find stuck there for too long.
    [Show full text]
  • Fall 5769/2008 a Publication of the Montreal Torah Center
    FALL 5769/2008 A PUBLICATION OF THE MONTREAL TORAH CENTER BAIS MENACHEM CHABAD LUBAVITCH JOANNE AND JONATHAN GURMAN COMMUNITY CENTER • LOU ADLER SHUL BAIS MENACHEM CHABAD LUBAVITCH Gleanings From the Rebbe’s wisdom The Harder Easier Path There are two paths you could take: An easier path or a harder one. Knowing that G-d is everything, you may wish to reject all that the ‘world’ stands for. Since everything is emptiness and vanities, you may deny yourself even necessities, living far and removed from the banalities of mankind, engaging only in the truths of the spirit, running from the confines of physical, mundane life. This is the easier path. On the other hand, knowing than within each thing G-d can be found, you may be inspired to refine and elevate our world, struggling with all its facets to find their true purpose, seizing every opportunity to coax out a little more of the world’s inherent good, living a spiritual life by using physical things in an enlightened way. Both paths are true paths, and great sages have tread them both. But the second, more difficult one, is the one we will all have the most benefit from, especially today. Volume 13 Number 1 MONTREAL TORAH CENTER BAIS MENACHEM CHABAD LUBAVITCH Joanne and Jonathan Gurman Community Center • Lou Adler Shul INDEX Rabbi Moishe New Rabbi Itchy Treitel Nechama New Editorial . .3 Mazeltovs . .20 Pre-School & Day Camp Director Sponsors of the Day . .6 Sympathies . .21 Zeldie Treitel Program Director Youth Directors . .8 MTC Moments . .22 Rabbi Zalman Kaplan Adult Education Director Courses Schedule .
    [Show full text]