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With Rosh HaShanah just a little more than two weeks away - we anticipate already the 100 blasts that will be blown on the day(s) itself. For Ashkenazi Jews, the Shofar is already blown every morning during the month of Elul at the end of the Shacharit prayer.
We are familiar with its look - either a creme or black (and creme) colour. It's curved, and it usually looks well polished! How is it made though? The first fascinating video takes us through a short tour of what is involved. The second video teaches us more about the different types of Shofar we can use.
It is amazing - in the Jewish way of life - we use everything to sanctify Hashem. Indeed - everything we use is made in the most beautiful way too! We make use of all of creation in order to uplift creation. Here, the horn of a ram will be used to break through the heavens - and the hearts of the Jewish people. A thing of war - but also a thing of protection (for both the animal and ourselves).
We use the feather of a turkey to create the quill with which to write Sifrei Torah, Tefillin and Mezuzot. We use the wool of sheep to keep warm so that we can do what we need to to serve Hashem in the world in the cold winter months.
We use wool for our Tzitzit strings and garment! We use the hide of the animal (even a dead kosher animal which was not killed for this reason at all) to produce the boxes and straps of the Tefillin. We use this hide to produce the parchment upon which to write the Sifrei Torah, the Tefillin and the Mezuzot. We use the citron, the myrtle, the palm branch and willow branches on the festival of Sukkot. We wave them during the festival associated with water as we pray for the Land to be blessed with an abundance of blessed rain in the winter season.
All of creation is used by the Jew in uplifting life itself. All of creation is uplifted in the life of a Jew.
We live in special times when we have the ability to learn from so many today. One of the biggest things one can see through the variety of videos shared, is just how much people are showing today how important it is to stick together - to be together. There are videos showing us how people judge others by their cars and their looks, and videos showing how important it is to stay far from this. Has G-d ever displayed such in-your-face footage of what is happening in the world and awakening us to strive to improve ourselves to prepare for a better world where peace will reign?
When will that be - and what will that time be like? It will be when we learn to unite and care for each other - as we should; when we learn to stop our harsh judgments of others, expecting them to live the exact same life as they do - only with less pleasure than we have. When we are able to give freely to the other - just because. When we value the other - just because. When we realise the other can feel - just like we do. These in-your-face videos show us just how much G-d is speeding up our lives towards that time - making us open our eyes to see how far we have strayed from truth, and how important it is to awaken and to see the Oneness of life.
Let us not forget, that when something is wrong, it is wrong. The message is not to give in to everything because everything is right. It is that we need to take care to stay far from needless baseless judgments based only on a baseless hatred.
What wonderful teaching we can learn from a video like below. Enjoy!
The famous question: Did human beings come from apes, or did God create this world (and many others too)?
The story was once told about the famous Posek - Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. It happened on one occasion that he was sitting on an airplane. On the plane there was a very disruptive young boy who showed very little respect to his grandfather. On this same plane, Reb Moshe sat with a grandson of his who seemed to be showing his grandfather much respect throughout the journey. Reb Moshe was asked how it happened to be that on one side of the plane the grandson showed his father little respect (with the grandfather even giving in to his grandson), yet on the other side of the plane, a grandson would show his grandfather so much respect.
Reb Moshe answered: It is because they believe that they are descended from apes. Since this is so, it is only natural that the grandfather should show his grandson much respect - after all, he is two generations further removed from an ape. Whereas in our case, we received the Torah over three thousand years ago. As each generation comes about, we are further removed from the greatness of the generations before us which are one generation closer to that Godly experience of hearing God and seeing the Torah as it was given by God. This is why the grandson shows his grandfather much respect.
It's an important decision to make that affects our entire lives. Are we living as improved apes? Or are we living as souls from God? For those who continue to believe in the ape (let alone frog) theory, it is a wonder how they can continue to see the miracles of the world and imagine that yes indeed this entire world came about through a non-existent Bang that made life in a most basic form which then miraculously changed over the millions of years where nature became humans.
Yet - for the believer in a God - it is not all that difficult to perceive the true miracles of life as implanted in the world. Here, they are implanted by a Being who has taken everything into account already - to make a world filled with miracles - operating like nature - and allowing us to live as we do.
In fact, it takes a far greater believer to believe that we came from apes, than that we have come from God - as souls living in bodies. In this wonderful video clip, Rabbi Avigdor Miller shares with us one of the most remarkable of miracles we take for granted. The apple - the apple tree - and the pip! Here, God has implanted a miraculous entity which continues to allow itself to grow forever. Indeed, He has also created a ground surface able to receive the miraculous seed. He has created the winds and the winged creatures who eat the seeds inside the apples dropping them from their bodies with their digested food - to continue to implant themselves into the ground. The ground awakens, taking the genetics of the seed, causes it to grow - and another life-sustaining tree grows!
It is not a silver coin inside the apple that makes it stand out. It is a simple seed that for us looks like nothing more than something we'd rather throw away. Inside it - however, is another apple tree waiting to grow.
So too, has God created all of nature this way. The wealth that surrounds us is hidden within nature. It is hidden in ways that cause us to think it worthless and even worthy of being thrown out. Yet, it's value is far greater than silver - far greater than gold! It's value is life itself - the greatest gift of all.
It is there, for everyone - even the apes. Enjoy the video!
I am constantly on the look out for acts of kindness! Of course, practising them oneself is the most important thing - that goes without saying. What amazes me is to see the tremendous kindness so often exhibited by those who don't have. I am amazed at the inconsistency regarding the ratio of wealth to actual goodness performed. How can it be that some are blessed with billions of dollars, and yet others have nothing save for their lives?
While the billionaire awakens with a full bank account each day, the poor man awakens to wonder how he will survive the day... Yet ironically, he will still find the means to give to someone that day. If they have nothing - they will so often given up their lives so that another may live. One who is blessed is surely tested each day and should become aware of the enormous responsibility on his shoulders - to others. If the poor can give up their lives for another - what will the wealthy person answer as to his reason for withholding his wealth?
This video shows the amazing quality that King Solomon speaks about. "There is one who feigns riches but has nothing; one who feigns poverty but has great wealth" (Proverbs 13:7). There are those who seem to be wealthy - but they have nothing. In truth, their wealth is never used. What then is it's benefit?! What honour can their be to feign the riches which will never be used to help others in need?!
While charity may be given - the bulk of their wealth remains locked up with no benefit accruing from it. Yet, there is another who seems poor (who really is poor) - yet his actions show how wealthy he really is. This man in the video shows us that sometimes it is those who lack everything - who are the wealthiest of all. "Who is wealthy?" Ben Zoma asks. "One who is satisfied with his lot," he answers.
Though this be the case, as a nation who should show others the light of life - we should constantly do everything we can to never have to see another in need - not for anything. It is not just the amazing video we need to see. It is not the amazing quality of watching one is lacks - give. It is for those of us who have, to do everything we can - so that another never need to go without.
The Cave of Machpelah... One of the most mysterious places in the world. The very architecture of the building that rests upon the Cave (under the ground) gives the picture a completely esoteric - perhaps magical - majestic look. Built by King Herod some 2000 years ago, the building adds to the awe of what really lies beneath it...
This is the place that Abraham purchased as a burial ground for his wife Sarah over 3500 years ago... and it would be the same place he would be buried. Isaac was buried there too - with his wife Rebecca. Here, Jacob is buried too with his wife Leah... but his other wife Rachel is buried on the way to Beit Lechem. The head of Esau can be found in this cave as well... Most mysteriously of all, it is here that the very first two people of Creation are buried - Adam and Chava (Eve). It is a place filled with holiness and the deepest of mysteries. It is said that it is the entrance to the Garden of Eden...
When one enters the Ulam Yitzchak (the Hall of Isaac), a section open only at certain times to the Jewish world - one will also see a structure built over a small sealed hole. Here is the entrance to the caves themselves... They say that the winds of the Garden of Eden can be felt here - and it is especially auspicious to recite one's petitions by whispering them at the entrance of the hole...
Let us always remember - we are not praying to the Garden of Eden. We are not praying to the stones in the building. We are certainly not praying to Adam or Eve - or any of the Forefathers. We are praying in a place of holiness - because the souls of the people buried in this place lived especially holy lives - their lives being dedicated to God. The place in physical terms has a spiritual counterpart. We are a part of this physical/spiritual holiness that exists in this place - and we direct our prayers from this point - much like an arrow shot directly through a perfectly straight tube would more likely hit the target to which the tube was actually touching - more so than an arrow shot without being directed through the tube - and at a great distance away from the target.
Here in Hebron - a place of holiness, we pray. Here, in the location closest to these souls - we pray. Our prayers directed to God - the Creator - who can supply all our needs. We are joined - much like the arrow shot through a narrow tube with its very end touching the target point!
A famous story speaks about Rabbi Avraham Azulai retrieving the sword of the Sultan which had fallen into this hole - lying closest to the actual graves of the holy souls (or bodies at least!) buried there.. More of the story can be found at The Fallen Sword of the Sultan. The Sultan's soldiers who had been sent down to retrieve the sword had died on their attempts to obtain it... When Hebron was liberated (see previous post - Hebron Day - 50th Anniversary of Liberation) 50 years ago, Moshe Dayan - Minister of Defense, sent a young girl named Michal down the hole to find out what lay beneath it - inside the actual caves. More of this story can be found out here.
Hebron is one of the 4 holy cities of the Land of Israel, the other three being Jerusalem, Tiberies and Safed.
I have personally been to Hebron (the Cave of Machpelah) numerous times. It is most special to be able to stand in such proximity to these holy souls who had once walked in the very places I have stood. Here, one's prayers are especially powerful being so close to the gates of the spiritual worlds open to the words being spoken.
You can find out more about this holy place by seeing Cave of Machpelah on the Wikipedia.
I keep this very picture on my fridge in the form of a fridge magnet - so that whenever I need something to eat - I always remind myself of this beautiful and special place! These magnets are available from us directly for those interested, and for those wishing to purchase this picture, or see some of my others, you can do so right here. Please support me in the work I do. Thanks!
It's a famous expression - "just be a good person." Some people like saying it, because - strangely - it exempts them from performing practically any of the mitzvot (commandments) of the Torah. After all, once one is a good person, does one really need to perform G-d's commandments? Many feel that they already know what it means to be a good person in the world. Personally, I have often wondered what people mean by this. Do they ever speak about others? Do they disturb others' peace? Will they insult someone "for their good"? Tough Love after all! Now that is what being a good person could also be about! When confronted - will they acknowledge that what they thought was good - may well have hurt another - perhaps even destroyed their life!
Actually, most people don't actually go by any standard when it comes to "being a good person." They make it up as they go along - as to what they consider to be good! One person's good - is another's actual pain! Try asking someone what they feel to be the good they need - and one may find that it differs quite substantially from the good one feels one is actually giving!
The Torah provides the most objective view of what goodness is because it is a teaching which extends through every generation - for every single person. It reaches to the Jew as much as to the non-Jew - though the non-Jew need not observe all its commandments. In fact, it makes for a better world of goodness for everyone when one observes what one must. Let us not speak about "man-made" laws. Rather, let us speak about the objectivity of the Torah - which in essence allows one to express one's individuality within the boundaries of the Torah.
One becomes holy. One learns humility. One learns about the other - as much as one learns about oneself! His/her needs - as much as one's own! The beauty is its flexibility for the individual which allows for movement - within the realm of good. There is no one standard for everyone - but there is a level of good that exists on whatever level one finds oneself. Good - however, comes from understanding the values of the Torah - not from inventing in one's own mind what good actually is. As the Torah teaches, when one is cruel when one should be kind, one will be kind when one should be "cruel".
Much like a child must be completely prepared to hear from the teacher what the letters of the Alphabet are, before they can read - trusting the teacher no matter what they say - so too does one need to see and realise the value of the truth of the Torah as a basic standard - before one embarks on the process of growth and real learning.
Rabbi David Aaron shares a beautiful idea in animated form - so that we can see the difference between what we consider our own understanding of morality in life - and what the Torah wants from us - to be holy.
The Torah teaches (Deuteronomy 20:19-20), "When you besiege a city for many days to wage war against it to seize it, do not destroy its trees by swinging an axe against them, for from it you will eat, and you shall not cut it down; is the tree of the field a man that it should enter the siege before you? Only a tree that you know is not a food tree, it you may destroy and cut down, and build a bulwark against the city that makes war with you, until it is conquered."
Some say one should read the words, "is the tree of the field a man..." as, "for a man is a tree of a field..." The Torah teaches us the importance of not wasting. There is a purpose to all of creation. One may not simply discard something because one wishes to. One should take care of everything. One should definitely not just throw something away that could serve some purpose for something.
In today's times, throwing away food is almost a norm of society. They say that some 40% of all food is simply thrown away. It is for us to learn to appreciate everything available to us, and to value just how much goes into producing whatever it is that we have. We should naturally value another person in the same light as well - leaving behind the attitude of discarding the other when one has had enough of them. This is not a Torah approach by any means.
It's often a good thing to contemplate on the existence of something and how much has happened to it - before one considers simply throwing it away. Think of it.. when eating something as simple as a chocolate yoghurt treat! Have you ever really considered how much goes into it's production? How many people take a part in making sure you'll have it?
The owners of the farms who own the cows - who look after them. The cows that produce the milk. The workman who see to the milk. The milk which required further workers to pasteurize it. There's the packaging of the milk. The people who produce the containers for the milk. Even the graphic designers who must produce the graphics on the milk carton! Then there are the people who produce the printing equipment to produce the coloured graphics on the containers - and of course the designers of the containers too! Nobody thinks about it.
There are the people who produce the trucks which carry the milk to its destination. The people who learn about fridge design to keep that milk cool. The drivers. The teachers of all these people. The universities and colleges that have been built by architects and builders!
Then the people who must understand the cocoa bean which will be used as flavoring for the treat! The designers of the containers for the treat! There's the store owner who must see to the delivery - who must see to the packing on his shelves - and manage his entire store. The list goes on - almost literally ad infinitum.
All these people work day and night - to see to it that the 20 second taste is given to us on one particular day! It's amazing how the world works and just how much goes into us being able to enjoy something which we simply hadn't thought twice about - all for the value of a dollar and even less!
Then of course are the people who forget - that ultimately, it is the Creator of the world who provides everything - so that all this can come about. They forget to thank the Creator with a blessing before they eat and afterwards!
This video below provides a sped up view of what goes into producing a strawberry. It is fascinating to watch, and a great lesson for us to appreciate just how much goes into producing just one strawberry - so that we can have something to enjoy on a hot summer's day! Who after watching the video can still think about not valuing something as simple as this - and who can, without any good reason, simply throw away something that has taken so much and so many people to produce?
It's something we should all be doing. It's something we all say we'd all like to do more of. Really - it's something we need to have! But at the same time, it's something we so often lack the ability to do. We see another hurting - or going through a hard time, and we want to know the best way of helping them. Very often we might even misunderstand what the other is feeling or why we can't seem to get things right in helping them. They seem sheltered and often can't seem to get out of the trouble they find themselves in. What can we do to help? How can we help?
This beautiful and meaningful clip shares a story that we can all internalise and use in practice. It's the story about a pit bull that found herself abandoned. Brought in to Granite Hills Animal Care (see full article here) Dr Andy Mathis did not know what to do with the sick looking animal. Would putting it to sleep be the solution (as so many of us think when we see another in distress too(!)) or could he do something to save the animal's life? After much consideration the doctor thought up a plan! As the animal was not eating, he entered the cage together with her, prepared for himself his own meal in similar looking crockery - and ate together with her. Once she saw him eating, she began to eat as well. It's really a simple story - with not much more needing to be added...
The sick animal is apparently doing much better already and it looks like she will recover from her ordeal.
That's really what empathy is all about. When the other is suffering, it is not enough to offer, to suggest ideas, to even present "practical" alternatives. What it takes - is getting into the cage with the other, truly experiencing what they are going through, and then showing them a way out. In this way, everyone stands to gain. The other will value the kindness, follow on - and succeed, getting out of the rut holding them back from getting on with whatever they should be getting on with. As for the helper - they gain in becoming just that more sensitive, that much more honoured and respected - and no doubt will feel a tremendous sense of joy at helping the other to get well again!
Here's a story about life - the one in the video below of course! It's also about hope. We need to learn these important lessons - how we must look out and see the other. So often we just don't care. We have our own preconceived ideas about what the other must be - perhaps just because of the way he looks.
Strange - it's that person - the one who looks so different, who knows best what his true value really is. He's often around sharing it - but usually only to himself, because who else is really interested in listening?! But maybe he has a brother - maybe he is someone's brother - maybe your own! Even if he isn't, he too has a wealth of uniqueness he'd just so much like to give the world - if of course anyone is interested. Most of us go about our day to day's activities barely noticing those who lack. We need to realise how much talent the other may have - if only we give them a chance. Are we willing to?! Would we pay them so that they can actually live - so that they can share their talent? Or are we perhaps saving up for the next in smartphone technology - while the other barely has another person to even talk to... Are we done with purchasing two homes already and investing in the third - while the other must live in the streets - homeless? Do we actually care?!
It's a mixed up world where truly - those who appear to be on the top, may well be on the bottom, and those who look like they are on the bottom, are quite often - well on top! We need to see the soul inside the body. We need to value the other - as we value ourselves - and give them the opportunity to be the person they so much want to. If they need support - then we must do everything we can so that they they can live with us - with the goodness we have in our own lives - wishing for them the same things we wish for ourselves - valuing their money as we do our own... When we do - we will see just how much of difference they will make in our own lives too.
Tu Be'Shvat - the fifteenth day of the month of Shevat (this year - 2016 - falling out on Monday 25 January) is the day in the Jewish calendar that marks the birthday of the trees. It is a time when the sap begins to make its way up through the tree bringing growth and a preparation for the spring months coming ahead - leading to the festival of Pesach.
There's much more to understanding what the festival is all about. Just what exactly is all this excitement of the trees anyway?! What are we celebrating?! In this beautiful video Rabbi Yitzchak Schwartz and other rabbis speak about the beautiful meaning behind this special day - giving hope, encouragement and inspiration not just about trees - but ourselves as well!
What's left afterwards - but to continue with one's Torah study and acts of kindnesses! Contact Reb Eliyahu of Chessed Ve'Emet and book a time to learn online - a book of your choice.
Reb Gutman Locks has "been there - done that." After years of complete immersion in the deepest of meditative practices of other religions - himself becoming a guru - he now spends his days - as he has for the past 30 years - putting Tefillin on others in Jerusalem - in the Old City - right by the Kotel.
If you're interested in learning how Tefillin are made - you may want to learn the Shulchan Aruch - Chapter 32. If you want to actually see them being made - enjoy this amazing video! For more info about learning together - live, online, see Chessed Ve'Emet and Learning Together Online!
