Kidneys and Teshuva, and the power to control time.
Parshat Bo. (Bo= "Come")
Kidneys and Teshuva
What are kidneys? Kidneys filter out the bad from your blood, and leave the good.
I am on my journey of doing teshuva, and for several months right as I was really moving forward in this process, my back was hurting me so badly right in the spot of my right kidney. I think about how my kidney was making itself known to me just as I was at a pinnacle moment of filtering out the bad from the good in my spiritual life. Parshat Bo has a message for me as to how I can continue on this path of cleansing and filtering. In Bo, Hashem tells Moshe to "Come to Paroh." Just as Moshe had to face Paroh straight on, I too have to face straight on the things I want to filter out spiritually. But hashem does not tell Moshe to "go" to Paroh, but rather to "come." From this, I learn that not only do I have to face my challenges, but I have to know that I am not going alone. Rather, I am "coming" with hashem, who is with me all the while, just as he was with Moshe when Moshe had to face Paroh.
We have the power to control time
In Parshat Bo, we also learn about Rosh Chodesh. We are told that in this parsha, we shall consider it the first month, because it is the month we were taken out of Egypt. The Jewish monthly calendar is based on the lunar cycle. Just as the moon has no light of it's own, but is actually just a reflection of the sun's light, so too are we a reflection of Hashem's light in the world. Now-a-days, we have a set calendar telling us when the new months begin. Before, however, the new month had to be declared by witnesses who could see the sky and see that it was, indeed, a new moon. If the sky was cloudy on the day that should have been rosh chodesh, then the witnesses could not declare it rosh chodesh. In that case, they would wait until the next day when they could see the moon. Only then would they declare the new month. Then, the new month would begin a day later, but nevertheless, the day they declared it would actually be the first day of the new month. The entire calendar will follow accordingly. In this way, we see how our actions were really capable of declaring and controlling time.
We have the power to change the stars
In Parshat Bo, there is a point where Paroh says to Moshe, "fine, take your people out of Egypt, but know that evil will befall you in the desert." What does Paroh mean by "Evil will befall you in the desert?" One commentary says that Paroh's astrologers looked into the stars and saw that there was an evil omen upon the Hebrews, and that there would be bloodshed if they were to leave. Of course, we know that the Hebrews did not experience bloodshed when they went to the desert, and yet Paroh's star gazers were not wrong. Indeed, the stars did predict evil and blood, but when Hashem felt angry with us, he remembered that we trusted him, he remembered our actions, and he took the blood of circumcision to appease his anger. The bad omen was still there, but by our actions, we were actually able to change the way the omen was played out. We learn from this that we actually have the power, through our actions, to change the future, to really re-align the stars! This is one reason why we know we are not supposed to get our future told: because we have the ability to change a decree based on our actions.
We also know that Hasem promised that the Hebrews would only have to be in Egypt for 200 years, but we know that he wanted certain things from us before we would merit leaving. Of course, whether we deserved it or not, he would have to let us leave by 200 years. Now, we are hoping for the time of moshiach when there will be peace on this earth. We know that it has been promised that this time should come by the year 7,000 at the latest, but we also know that we have the power to change the stars, to change our decrees, based on our actions. Therefore, if our actions merit it, we can bring in moshiach sooner. We know that we have the power to control time, to realign the stars, to change our mazel. We see it happening in parshat Bo, and now, if only we can be like the moon and reflect Hashem's light in this world, we can change our mazel again and make peace on this earth, now!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Shvat: Fixing Eating
Shavua Tov v' Chodesh Tov!
Today is 2 Shvat. Today we did a wonderful class at Simchat Shlomo about the teachings of Rev Carlebach about the month of Shvat. I am copying it down to share:
Shvat is the month to fix: eating
tribe of: Asher
letter: tzaddik
Shvat:
Every month you have to fix a certain emotion, a certain something in your soul. Everybody knows that in Kislev you have to fix sleeping. Last month, Teves, the fixing was anger, and this month the fixing is Le'ita, stuffing yourself.
Now open your hearts in the deepest way.
This is a Torah from the Holy Ishbitser, open your hearts please.
You know friends, animals don't stuff themselves, they eat exactly as much as the need. Why is it that we human beings have such infinite hunger? Now listen to me friends, you see what it is? The truth is that we are the only creatures in the world that can reach beyond ourselves. The lowest person can become the highest. At the lowest moment in my life, I can reach out and become the highest. We have something; we are infinite. The question is only what are we doing with that hunger? If you don't know what to do with it, you stuff yourself with money, pleasure, with food... anything. But the truth is that G-d gave you this feeling for something unbelievable.
Now listen to this sweetest friends, every month also has one letter.
THe letter of this month is tzadik, tzadik means a holy man. What's a holy man? what's a holy woman? what's holy? Holy is if I lived with that hunger with stuffing myself to the deepest, highest, holiest. Some people stuff themselves with pleasure, some people stuff themselves with good deeds. Some people cannot stop looking for another Chinese restaurant, and some people can't stop looking for a poor man, to bring joy to another human being, very special life.
I want to bless you and me, we should meet the right people, holy people to teach us how to lift oneself up.
One more very beautiful thing. The Ishbitser says that Le'ita means that I am stuffing myself so much that I don't even bother chewing it.
I just throw it into my mouth and swallow it. You know what that means on a spiritual level? To chew something means that I am cutting it down to my level. If I don't chew it that means that I want it the way it is.
What's bugging you and me? You buy a book on theology, it has nothing to do with G!d, you know why? It's chewed over food, chewing G-d to my level. What is theology? Chewing everything to me level, but who wants that?
Why is it that sometimes you go to a synagogue, and the rabbi gave a speech but gevalt, he has two million teeth the way he chewed the portion of the week. It's so low; I don't want that. I want something so holy. I didn't come to synagogue to chew. I come to synagogue to be stuffed with something exalted, unchewed...unchewed.
But again... it's up to us. I could stuff myself with something stupid, or I could stuff myself with something holy.
Now open your hearts for one more minute. Everybody knows that the twelve months are divided by the twelve holy trices. This month is the month of Asher. What is the specialty of Asher? it says, "Barush Mibanim ASher," Asher has the most beautiful children. And it says that all the kings of Israel wanted their daughters to marry from the tribe of Asher because they were so beautiful. Obviously not only physically, but on the highest level. You know friends, a lot of people, when they talk to their children they chew it so low, like it's cute, but there is no G!d in it anymore, nothing left. Then the children grow up and they think G!d is a joke. They think other people are a joke. What did you tell them about life? You know what you have to do with children? Stuff them with unchewed food. Give it to them. It's so holy. Don't touch it. Just give it to them the way it is. Take a fire from heaven and just put it in their hearts. DOn't tell them that Shabbos is cute and fun.
At one time I was somewhere in the city, thank G!d I was there because there was the biggest desecration before our non-Jewish brothers and sisters. It was Channukah and two people were on the program, humble me and the president of the community. It was a big city. They interviewed him first. They asked him, "what is Channukah?" He had this really chewed food expression on his face. He says, "Channukah, lots of fun. Lot's of parties, latkes, and a lot of fun."
If I wasn't Jewish then it's clear to me that these Jews are crazy.
That's all you have to say about Channukah? When we kindle the lights by the door and we want to turn the whole world to G!d, that's all you have to say, latkes and fun? Who was his rabbi? My children were three years old and they knew more about Channukah than most probably he and his rabbi, and how much his rabbi will know when he will be 150.
You see what it is, do you know what the worls is looking for? RIght now the nights are very long, lots of darkness in the world. You know what the world wants when it's very dark? Don't give me something to chew on. Stuff me with something exalted, something holy. Give it to me the way it is.
Baruch Mibnem Asher. ASher knew the secrets how to give over G!d to his children. Don't make it childish. Give it over to them on the highest, deepest level, and then your children are so beautiful that all the kings of the world want to be part of your family.
Today is 2 Shvat. Today we did a wonderful class at Simchat Shlomo about the teachings of Rev Carlebach about the month of Shvat. I am copying it down to share:
Shvat is the month to fix: eating
tribe of: Asher
letter: tzaddik
Shvat:
Every month you have to fix a certain emotion, a certain something in your soul. Everybody knows that in Kislev you have to fix sleeping. Last month, Teves, the fixing was anger, and this month the fixing is Le'ita, stuffing yourself.
Now open your hearts in the deepest way.
This is a Torah from the Holy Ishbitser, open your hearts please.
You know friends, animals don't stuff themselves, they eat exactly as much as the need. Why is it that we human beings have such infinite hunger? Now listen to me friends, you see what it is? The truth is that we are the only creatures in the world that can reach beyond ourselves. The lowest person can become the highest. At the lowest moment in my life, I can reach out and become the highest. We have something; we are infinite. The question is only what are we doing with that hunger? If you don't know what to do with it, you stuff yourself with money, pleasure, with food... anything. But the truth is that G-d gave you this feeling for something unbelievable.
Now listen to this sweetest friends, every month also has one letter.
THe letter of this month is tzadik, tzadik means a holy man. What's a holy man? what's a holy woman? what's holy? Holy is if I lived with that hunger with stuffing myself to the deepest, highest, holiest. Some people stuff themselves with pleasure, some people stuff themselves with good deeds. Some people cannot stop looking for another Chinese restaurant, and some people can't stop looking for a poor man, to bring joy to another human being, very special life.
I want to bless you and me, we should meet the right people, holy people to teach us how to lift oneself up.
One more very beautiful thing. The Ishbitser says that Le'ita means that I am stuffing myself so much that I don't even bother chewing it.
I just throw it into my mouth and swallow it. You know what that means on a spiritual level? To chew something means that I am cutting it down to my level. If I don't chew it that means that I want it the way it is.
What's bugging you and me? You buy a book on theology, it has nothing to do with G!d, you know why? It's chewed over food, chewing G-d to my level. What is theology? Chewing everything to me level, but who wants that?
Why is it that sometimes you go to a synagogue, and the rabbi gave a speech but gevalt, he has two million teeth the way he chewed the portion of the week. It's so low; I don't want that. I want something so holy. I didn't come to synagogue to chew. I come to synagogue to be stuffed with something exalted, unchewed...unchewed.
But again... it's up to us. I could stuff myself with something stupid, or I could stuff myself with something holy.
Now open your hearts for one more minute. Everybody knows that the twelve months are divided by the twelve holy trices. This month is the month of Asher. What is the specialty of Asher? it says, "Barush Mibanim ASher," Asher has the most beautiful children. And it says that all the kings of Israel wanted their daughters to marry from the tribe of Asher because they were so beautiful. Obviously not only physically, but on the highest level. You know friends, a lot of people, when they talk to their children they chew it so low, like it's cute, but there is no G!d in it anymore, nothing left. Then the children grow up and they think G!d is a joke. They think other people are a joke. What did you tell them about life? You know what you have to do with children? Stuff them with unchewed food. Give it to them. It's so holy. Don't touch it. Just give it to them the way it is. Take a fire from heaven and just put it in their hearts. DOn't tell them that Shabbos is cute and fun.
At one time I was somewhere in the city, thank G!d I was there because there was the biggest desecration before our non-Jewish brothers and sisters. It was Channukah and two people were on the program, humble me and the president of the community. It was a big city. They interviewed him first. They asked him, "what is Channukah?" He had this really chewed food expression on his face. He says, "Channukah, lots of fun. Lot's of parties, latkes, and a lot of fun."
If I wasn't Jewish then it's clear to me that these Jews are crazy.
That's all you have to say about Channukah? When we kindle the lights by the door and we want to turn the whole world to G!d, that's all you have to say, latkes and fun? Who was his rabbi? My children were three years old and they knew more about Channukah than most probably he and his rabbi, and how much his rabbi will know when he will be 150.
You see what it is, do you know what the worls is looking for? RIght now the nights are very long, lots of darkness in the world. You know what the world wants when it's very dark? Don't give me something to chew on. Stuff me with something exalted, something holy. Give it to me the way it is.
Baruch Mibnem Asher. ASher knew the secrets how to give over G!d to his children. Don't make it childish. Give it over to them on the highest, deepest level, and then your children are so beautiful that all the kings of the world want to be part of your family.
Va' eira
V' eira
If G!d wants the hebrews to be free from Mitzrayim, then why bother going through the motions of having Moshe ask Paroh? There are many answers, but one thing that we can take away from this is that G!d does not want to just automatically give us everything that we need. Rather, he wants us to be able to know what it is that we need, lack, or long for, and to ask for it. (This is one reason for prayer)
The Hebrews are ultimately freed from Mitzrayim (Egypt, but also enslavement or exile) not only so they can no longer be slaves, but so that they can go to Sinai to receive the torah, and therefore be able to serve G!d. In this case then, what is lacked is the ability to fully serve G!d. So Moshe must ask to be freed from Mitzrayim, but he must first know what he lacks. So not only does he have to ask, but he (and the Hebrews) have to be shown the true power of G!d in order to not just know what they lack, but to long for it, so that they will ask for it and be able to receive it. Because G!d does give us free choice, we must ask for what we need in order that he should grant it to us.
Hashem wanted us to be free all along. He wants us to live by his torah, but we are free beings. We have the freedom of choice. Although he is always giving us clues and hints about the direction we should take, it is up to us to connect enough with our true selves and with G!d in order to be sensitive enough to hear G!d's perceive these hints, to know what we lack, and to know what we truly long for.
It is up to us to do tikkun (to improve the worlds and bring goodness into the world), to elevate this world. Therefore, we use our G!dly soul in harmony with our earthly bodies and physical selves to be able to hear the needs of our soul. Only then will we be able to know what to ask for, and only then will we be able to free ourselves from our own personal Mitzrayim (enslavements or exiles, whatever they may be for you personally).
In order to do tikkun in the world and create peace on this earth, we must start with knowing what we truly long for in our souls, and we may start by asking for that. That is the beginning to how we will ultimately do tikkun olam and heal the world.
If G!d wants the hebrews to be free from Mitzrayim, then why bother going through the motions of having Moshe ask Paroh? There are many answers, but one thing that we can take away from this is that G!d does not want to just automatically give us everything that we need. Rather, he wants us to be able to know what it is that we need, lack, or long for, and to ask for it. (This is one reason for prayer)
The Hebrews are ultimately freed from Mitzrayim (Egypt, but also enslavement or exile) not only so they can no longer be slaves, but so that they can go to Sinai to receive the torah, and therefore be able to serve G!d. In this case then, what is lacked is the ability to fully serve G!d. So Moshe must ask to be freed from Mitzrayim, but he must first know what he lacks. So not only does he have to ask, but he (and the Hebrews) have to be shown the true power of G!d in order to not just know what they lack, but to long for it, so that they will ask for it and be able to receive it. Because G!d does give us free choice, we must ask for what we need in order that he should grant it to us.
Hashem wanted us to be free all along. He wants us to live by his torah, but we are free beings. We have the freedom of choice. Although he is always giving us clues and hints about the direction we should take, it is up to us to connect enough with our true selves and with G!d in order to be sensitive enough to hear G!d's perceive these hints, to know what we lack, and to know what we truly long for.
It is up to us to do tikkun (to improve the worlds and bring goodness into the world), to elevate this world. Therefore, we use our G!dly soul in harmony with our earthly bodies and physical selves to be able to hear the needs of our soul. Only then will we be able to know what to ask for, and only then will we be able to free ourselves from our own personal Mitzrayim (enslavements or exiles, whatever they may be for you personally).
In order to do tikkun in the world and create peace on this earth, we must start with knowing what we truly long for in our souls, and we may start by asking for that. That is the beginning to how we will ultimately do tikkun olam and heal the world.
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