B"H
"Charm is false and beauty is vanity." (Proverbs)
Human history is littered with examples of ideas that were thought beautiful in their time, and continued to have a following long after their inherent ugliness—and evil—was revealed.
Why? Because we begin from our senses, from what catches the eye or the heart—so we are prone to latch on to dazzling but misleading premises, and to remain married to them long after they have ceased to hold any promise.
The solution? We need to work from the inside out, probing essences rather than sensations, seeking order, and from that process, a glorious aesthetic emerges.
Truth—when it is uncovered—is beautiful, but beauty is not truth.
-Chana Silberstein (http://www.chabad.org/asktherabbi/challenge_cdo/aid/470887/jewish/Answer-1.htm)
I've just been wondering a lot lately, whether beauty means anything. I mean, why did God Create beautiful people. And why are we attracted to external, physical beauty? If we're taught that the inside, the soul of everyone and everything is what it's all about, why the external beauty?
I haven't come to a complete answer yet, but from these words here I think the idea is that what's truly beautiful is the inside; who one really is, his/her soul and personality. If it is kind and compassionate, if it is "true" in its goodness, than it is really BEAUTIFUL.
AN external beauty though, is not true. It's not insignificant; it is a creation of G-d. But if the INSIDE doesn't match the outside, than this "beauty" isn't true, and we should try not to get stuck on our 1st glances. We must train our animalistic sides, not to just look once and judge on looks, but to appreciate the deeper side, the true side. Sorry models. sorry Brittany Spears, sorry MTV-
-Daniel
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Leaving our Personal Egypt
B"H
Egypt. Man... That place really sucked.
Egypt, as many of you know, is called in Hebrew "Mitzrayim." Funny
enough, there is another word in Hebrew
with the exact same spelling: "Maytzarim", meaning limitations or constraints.
When the Jewish People left Mitrayim, they left it not only
physically, but spiritually. They left the limited outllook on life
they had in Egypt, and embraced an entirely new appreciation for G-d
and free life afterword.
Every Jewish Holiday is a time frame, whether a day or 8 days, in
which a certain spiritual energy from what occurred in that time is
present now.
Passover is that time of the yr. in which we have a special ability to
leave our own personal limitations, our Mitzrayim. For some of us its
jealousy or greed; there's laziness or depression, anger, addiction,
arrogance, ego. There's the feeling of having to always please others.
So how do we break through these "limitations" that seem to be so a
part of us?
First of all, we have to Identify that we have a problem to begin
with. Now, a very essential way of breaking out of our limitations is
by using our MINDS, and not our hearts. I see a rich person driving a
Ferrari and FEEL jealous? THINK about the life of this person you
don't end up seeing-perhaps his life isn't so great once he parks his
car at home. I feel angry and impatient b/c someone's driving slowly
in front of me? I THINK "if this were the last day of my life, how
important would this be." Or I THINK about 'how everything's Divine
Providence, controlled by G-d, even this. I'll end up at my
destination when I'm meant to.' Or the one I like most; to think: 'By
practicing my being patient NOW Even when I don't feel like it, I
improve my ability to be patient with those I love later on. I also
become a more truly patient person through this practice.'
In every situation, each of us has the ability to overcome our natural
impulses. We also have the obligation to. Our Rabbis tell us that "in
every generation, and every day, A Jew must recall the leaving of
Egypt." In various situations throughout our day, we have the ability
to win. To think, feel, and act what's right. To show that we have
some control over ourselves. We're not just like animals who are
limited to their natures and impulses. We are human beings, and Jews,
who have a G-dly Soul and a mind which can check that impulse and
feeling. What's deeper, is that most likely- our feeling is Wrong, and
our thought out conclusion is really right. Chassidus explains that
our soul resides primarily in our brain. Almost everything, that we feel
right away is "for sure true" ["that she hates me" or "he's full of
himself" or "everyone's out to get me today"] -is false. When we use our minds and truly exert ourselves to think from someone ELSE's
perspective, to put ourselves in their shoes-why he might be acting
this way, or why I'm really feeling this way about it, we can realize
the truth.
By learning more Torah and about character improvement, and by trying
to act right and not just how we want to act, we can fulfill our
missions here on earth.
Even though we're supposed to break out of our limitations every day
of the yr., we have the special ability to do so at this time of yr.
(Passover begins this Sat. Night and continues for 8 days). This
Passover, let's make the firm decision to change ourselves, to break
through our personal limitations, our personal Mitzrayims.
Good luck and Happy Passover!
-Daniel
P.S. if anybody needs a place for the seders, contact me or visit
Chabad.org for the location of the seder near you.
Egypt. Man... That place really sucked.
Egypt, as many of you know, is called in Hebrew "Mitzrayim." Funny
enough, there is another word in Hebrew
with the exact same spelling: "Maytzarim", meaning limitations or constraints.
When the Jewish People left Mitrayim, they left it not only
physically, but spiritually. They left the limited outllook on life
they had in Egypt, and embraced an entirely new appreciation for G-d
and free life afterword.
Every Jewish Holiday is a time frame, whether a day or 8 days, in
which a certain spiritual energy from what occurred in that time is
present now.
Passover is that time of the yr. in which we have a special ability to
leave our own personal limitations, our Mitzrayim. For some of us its
jealousy or greed; there's laziness or depression, anger, addiction,
arrogance, ego. There's the feeling of having to always please others.
So how do we break through these "limitations" that seem to be so a
part of us?
First of all, we have to Identify that we have a problem to begin
with. Now, a very essential way of breaking out of our limitations is
by using our MINDS, and not our hearts. I see a rich person driving a
Ferrari and FEEL jealous? THINK about the life of this person you
don't end up seeing-perhaps his life isn't so great once he parks his
car at home. I feel angry and impatient b/c someone's driving slowly
in front of me? I THINK "if this were the last day of my life, how
important would this be." Or I THINK about 'how everything's Divine
Providence, controlled by G-d, even this. I'll end up at my
destination when I'm meant to.' Or the one I like most; to think: 'By
practicing my being patient NOW Even when I don't feel like it, I
improve my ability to be patient with those I love later on. I also
become a more truly patient person through this practice.'
In every situation, each of us has the ability to overcome our natural
impulses. We also have the obligation to. Our Rabbis tell us that "in
every generation, and every day, A Jew must recall the leaving of
Egypt." In various situations throughout our day, we have the ability
to win. To think, feel, and act what's right. To show that we have
some control over ourselves. We're not just like animals who are
limited to their natures and impulses. We are human beings, and Jews,
who have a G-dly Soul and a mind which can check that impulse and
feeling. What's deeper, is that most likely- our feeling is Wrong, and
our thought out conclusion is really right. Chassidus explains that
our soul resides primarily in our brain. Almost everything, that we feel
right away is "for sure true" ["that she hates me" or "he's full of
himself" or "everyone's out to get me today"] -is false. When we use our minds and truly exert ourselves to think from someone ELSE's
perspective, to put ourselves in their shoes-why he might be acting
this way, or why I'm really feeling this way about it, we can realize
the truth.
By learning more Torah and about character improvement, and by trying
to act right and not just how we want to act, we can fulfill our
missions here on earth.
Even though we're supposed to break out of our limitations every day
of the yr., we have the special ability to do so at this time of yr.
(Passover begins this Sat. Night and continues for 8 days). This
Passover, let's make the firm decision to change ourselves, to break
through our personal limitations, our personal Mitzrayims.
Good luck and Happy Passover!
-Daniel
P.S. if anybody needs a place for the seders, contact me or visit
Chabad.org for the location of the seder near you.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Redemption's on its Way
B"H
We pray 3 times a day for it, our ancestors longed for it all their
lives, and its a basic tenet of our religion: The coming of Moshiach
and the Jewish People's Redemption from exile.
Since the destruction of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem about 1,800 yrs.
ago, the Jewish people have been in 'galus'-exile. Dispersed among the
nations of the world, under trials and tribulations, practicing our
religion in danger, Jews have experienced exile harshly. But even in
good times, physically and spiritually successful and free, Jewish
People are still considered in Exile. Until our righteous Redeemer,
descendant of King David, comes and returns us to Israel with the
rebuilding of the 3rd and final Temple, ushering in world peace and
true happiness-we are still in exile.
During the long years of exile, the Jewish People have radiated the
light of Torah and Mitzvos amid all conditions and situations. Our
final challenge is to confront today's unprecedented moral confusion
and spiritual oblivion. We Jews are sent to be a 'light among nations'
in this world-to radiate goodness and truth to those around us and of
course in ourselves.
In the Talmud (written about 1,500 yrs. ago) it is written: "With the
advent of the footsteps of Moshiach, insolence will increase and
prices will soar...the government will turn to heresy and no one will
rebuke them; the wisdom of scholars will degenerate, those who fear
sin will be despised, and the truth will be lacking; youths will put
old men to shame, elders will rise in deference to the young, a son
will revile his father, a daughter against her mother..."
But when Moshiach comes, he will bring only goodness and joy,
perfecting both individual & community.
Today, truth is unrevealed, evil overpowers good, and relationships
are confused.
Our world is abnormal. But once Divine truth is revealed, the world
will be transformed to an ideal state.
Imagine people who live in darkness. Having developed all kinds of
ways to cope with their predicament-canes, ropes, sound signals-they
can't imagine managing without such things. Yet the minute a window is
opened for them, their life changes completely. We are those people.
It's hard to imagine, but WHen Moshiach comes, we will truly desire
Torah and Mitzvos like we huger for food today. There will be no wars,
hatred, or jealousy; there will be no need to fight evil, for goodness
shall reign.
But how long do we have to wait for Moshiach to come already? Another
1,800 yrs.?? 1st of all, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, leader of our
generation, declared repeatedly that Redemption was coming at any
moment. The Rebbe, on countless occasions, told us that we are now the
last generation of exile and the 1st generation of redemption. Our
redemption is imminent, the Rebbe told us, we just have to increase in
Torah and Mitzvos, like Tefillin for boys or lighting shabbos candles
for girls, to increase in goodness and kindness to others, and
anticipate Moshiach's imminent coming!
But how else can we see how close it is?
A great Rabbi (Kli Yakar on Parsh. Shemos) writes: "every day, close
to dawn, darkness is at its deepest...in winter, close to sunrise the
cold becomes stronger and is eventually conquered by the
sun...likewise Pharoah was more wicked to the Jews right before the
Redemption." These tough moments we have seen clearly in recent times.
Exile is like pregnancy: the fetus slowly grows and matures, until it
nears birth. Suddenly its mother experiences sudden birth pains, until
finally the child is born to intense joy and gladness around him.
Through the good deeds of us and our forefathers before us, the
maturity of redemption is fully ripe. Even the sudden birth pains have
surely been experienced by the Jewish people (I don't need to point
these pains out unfortunately), and now the birth of redemption will
occur at any moment to intense joy and gladness!
The toughest and darkest times are during these last years and
moments, we only have to light it up with faith and positive action.
Anything truly good we can imagine, true life and joy, is on its way.
let's just increase in good and prepare for it! Now between Purim and
pesach, between our 2 greatest redemptions, what better time than now
for Redemption. Moshiach Now!
(Most information here was taken from 'The Days of Moshiach-by Meachem Brod)
Shabbat Shalom
-daniel
We pray 3 times a day for it, our ancestors longed for it all their
lives, and its a basic tenet of our religion: The coming of Moshiach
and the Jewish People's Redemption from exile.
Since the destruction of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem about 1,800 yrs.
ago, the Jewish people have been in 'galus'-exile. Dispersed among the
nations of the world, under trials and tribulations, practicing our
religion in danger, Jews have experienced exile harshly. But even in
good times, physically and spiritually successful and free, Jewish
People are still considered in Exile. Until our righteous Redeemer,
descendant of King David, comes and returns us to Israel with the
rebuilding of the 3rd and final Temple, ushering in world peace and
true happiness-we are still in exile.
During the long years of exile, the Jewish People have radiated the
light of Torah and Mitzvos amid all conditions and situations. Our
final challenge is to confront today's unprecedented moral confusion
and spiritual oblivion. We Jews are sent to be a 'light among nations'
in this world-to radiate goodness and truth to those around us and of
course in ourselves.
In the Talmud (written about 1,500 yrs. ago) it is written: "With the
advent of the footsteps of Moshiach, insolence will increase and
prices will soar...the government will turn to heresy and no one will
rebuke them; the wisdom of scholars will degenerate, those who fear
sin will be despised, and the truth will be lacking; youths will put
old men to shame, elders will rise in deference to the young, a son
will revile his father, a daughter against her mother..."
But when Moshiach comes, he will bring only goodness and joy,
perfecting both individual & community.
Today, truth is unrevealed, evil overpowers good, and relationships
are confused.
Our world is abnormal. But once Divine truth is revealed, the world
will be transformed to an ideal state.
Imagine people who live in darkness. Having developed all kinds of
ways to cope with their predicament-canes, ropes, sound signals-they
can't imagine managing without such things. Yet the minute a window is
opened for them, their life changes completely. We are those people.
It's hard to imagine, but WHen Moshiach comes, we will truly desire
Torah and Mitzvos like we huger for food today. There will be no wars,
hatred, or jealousy; there will be no need to fight evil, for goodness
shall reign.
But how long do we have to wait for Moshiach to come already? Another
1,800 yrs.?? 1st of all, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, leader of our
generation, declared repeatedly that Redemption was coming at any
moment. The Rebbe, on countless occasions, told us that we are now the
last generation of exile and the 1st generation of redemption. Our
redemption is imminent, the Rebbe told us, we just have to increase in
Torah and Mitzvos, like Tefillin for boys or lighting shabbos candles
for girls, to increase in goodness and kindness to others, and
anticipate Moshiach's imminent coming!
But how else can we see how close it is?
A great Rabbi (Kli Yakar on Parsh. Shemos) writes: "every day, close
to dawn, darkness is at its deepest...in winter, close to sunrise the
cold becomes stronger and is eventually conquered by the
sun...likewise Pharoah was more wicked to the Jews right before the
Redemption." These tough moments we have seen clearly in recent times.
Exile is like pregnancy: the fetus slowly grows and matures, until it
nears birth. Suddenly its mother experiences sudden birth pains, until
finally the child is born to intense joy and gladness around him.
Through the good deeds of us and our forefathers before us, the
maturity of redemption is fully ripe. Even the sudden birth pains have
surely been experienced by the Jewish people (I don't need to point
these pains out unfortunately), and now the birth of redemption will
occur at any moment to intense joy and gladness!
The toughest and darkest times are during these last years and
moments, we only have to light it up with faith and positive action.
Anything truly good we can imagine, true life and joy, is on its way.
let's just increase in good and prepare for it! Now between Purim and
pesach, between our 2 greatest redemptions, what better time than now
for Redemption. Moshiach Now!
(Most information here was taken from 'The Days of Moshiach-by Meachem Brod)
Shabbat Shalom
-daniel
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