How to Stop the Mighty Ego

B"H

"I was here 1st!" "I don't think he knows what he's talking about
anyways." "I don't have time for this." "I can't believe he swerved in
my lane!"

Many words like these are spoken or at least thought of almost every
day by each one of us. We all know how very hard it is to leave room
for another person. Why are we like this? Why do we feel annoyed with
others when our "space" is entered? Whenever our ego or outlook is
threatened?
Interestingly, Chassidic Philosophy addresses this issue, explaining
that there is an extremely deep source for these egocentric feelings:
G-d Himself.

Before the world was created; before any angels or spiritual worlds
existed, there was only One Being and Existence: G-d. As Kabbalah &
Chassidus explain, G-d and His "Infinite Light" (expression) Filled
all. There was none other Besides for Him. Purely Infinite, without
room for any other existence.

Then something unbelievable occurred: G-d Decided to Contract (Hide)
His Infinite Light (called "tzimtzum" in Kabbalah), making possible
room for another existence. Spiritual worlds ensued, followed by the
physical reality we see today, concluded finally with man and woman,
created in the Image of G-d, placed here on our earth.
Since we are all created in the Image of G-d, Chassidus explains, we
humans have (so to speak) the same feelings as G-d Does: Each of us
feels in a way, that we are infinite. I am all that exists. Oh, but
you exist too? You're only a detail in me. How do you better help me?
In imagination, there are people who feel that they don't end. Adam
the first man had everything he could have ever wanted in the Garden
of Eden. Only 1 thing was off limits! But Adam felt infinite...
True this is my nature; but G-d Created me this way; I'm in His Image!
So how can I be expected to limit myself and make room for others?
Because G-d Did just that. By "Contracting" His Infinite Light, G-d
Gave us a lesson and the ability to do the same.
We are able to, and need to, contract our egos and make room for
others around us. This is the Only chance at having a true
relationship with another person; a friend or colleague, a spouse or
family member. To be silent once in a while. To sit and listen
attentively to another.
This also applies to our relationship with G-d; To curb our egos and
realize there's someone Greater than ourselves, Greater than our
little world, who is Speaking to us all the time, but we just never
took a minute to stop and listen. To stop and think for a moment: why
am I here and what's this amazing world for?
Like our forefather Avraham of old, let's sit alone in nature: near
the constant beating of the ocean waves under the setting sun, or
anywhere away from school, the computer or TV, and gaze out at G-d's
amazing creation for a second. It can be while lighting candles before
Shabbat or during prayer, or even under your covers before falling
asleep: Let's be silent for a moment. take a second out of our busy
day and just wonder: What am I here for and what's this all about?
I wasn't always here. I was created. Why?
By placing ourselves to the side a bit and opening our hearts to G-d
and to those around us, may we merit everlasting Peace and Joy with
the Final Redemption with Moshiach Now.
Shabbat Shalom

-daniel


If you want to see a short and touching video of kindness:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKbsSj_TB_E

The Rebbe's Diamonds

B''H

Hey everyone, hoping all is well-and that this email reaches you in
peace and happiness.

In the last years of his life, the nearly 90 yr. old Lubavitcher Rebbe
would stand and give out dollars (to be given to charity) to an
endless line of Jews who would pass by him every Sunday. The span of
this line was often times 7-8 hrs. long. One Sunday, a mystified
elderly Jewish woman asked the Rebbe, after receiving a dollar, how it
was humanly possible to stand for so long?
The Rebbe, smiling, answered her, "one doesn't get tired counting diamonds."

This thursday marks the anniversary of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe's
assuming of leadership of the Chabad movement in 1951. It was evident
to all whom he touched that every Jew was truly a precious diamond.
Miracle stories abound (some I've heard 1st hand) of the miracles he
did. The pearls of wisdom and important guidance & teachings are well
documented. The Rebbe emphasized the way of life of a Jew in this
specific generation: A life characterized Joy, humility, and kindness.
But 2 things stand out most from the teachings of the Rebbe, and
everything that he stood for: 1) The love of our fellow Jew, and 2)
the imminent closeness of the redemption of our people from exile.
Both of them, the Rebbe taught, are also connected: Why did G-d
destroy the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem in the 1st place? Our sages say,
b/c of "causeless hatred" of a fellow Jew. To repair this and bring
the 3rd Temple and Redemption of our people to Israel, the Rebbe
demanded "causeless" love.
How can we be expected to do this, when by nature a human being loves
himself more than others? By realizing that every Jew has literally
part of G-d Within him (his soul), that he is a "diamond", this should
arouse love within you. You love G-d right?
Wait, but what if he/she doesn't do Mitzvot or learn Torah?

A man once asked the Rebbe for a blessing for his brother, who "had no
connection to Judaism."
The Rebbe suddenly became serious, and answered: "He's the son of
Avraham, Issac and Ya'akov, Sarah, Rivkah, Rochel and Leah. Tell him
he has a connection." The connection of a Jew's neshamoh (soul) to G-d
isn't open for debate. It's a fact. It's never lost, only sometimes
covered over.
And what if a Jew doesn't feel this connection?
Then he just has to clean off his diamond, to remove the dirt. To
reveal what's already there.

The Rebbe told us (like only a leader of a generation can) that the
final redemption of our people is at hand. Any minute now "Moshiach"
will come and redeem all of us to Israel, bringing everlasting joy and
peace to our people. What is left for us to do in these last moments
of exile? To increase in good acts, "Mitzvot", any prayer or Torah
study learned; this will bring us 1 step closer to this imminent
redemption. With joy and positivity, each of us can personally improve
on 1 thing at a time. 1 Shabbos candle lighting, 1 tefillin wrap, one
kind word to another, one big smile directed to a sad person, this is
what will bring the redemption speedily in our days.

for more on the Rebbe, visit:
http://www.chabad.org/therebbe/default_cdo/jewish/The-Rebbe.htm

Total Trust - a lesson from Oklahoma

The other night I heard a beautiful story from Rabbi Weg, Chabad
"shaliach"(emissary) to Tulsa, Oklahoma. He described how tough the
situation was for him and his wife there, when they first arrived.
(One can imagine Oklahoma wouldn't be the easiest place to find Jews
and be successful financially, etc.)
Every holiday, when he would send out invitations to the Jews of
Oklahoma to come over to celebrate, he would also send a copy to "770"
in Brooklyn, NY, to the Lubavitcher Rebbe (who sent him to Oklahoma in
the 1st place)...
After Sukkot 1 yr. (in the fall), R. Weg was having an especially
tough time. He had little support, no $, and even if he did have, the
city wasn't cooperating much to allow for his public activities
anyways. This bleak period was only getting tougher as "Adar" came
around (Spring time). One day, R. Weg received in the mail an RSVP
envelope to his Sukkot invitation! An RSVP 5 mo.'s late seemed
unusual. The letter was from 770. Eagerly opening the letter, R. Weg
found a dollar bill (The Rebbe would often give dollars out to be
given to charity) and a note, which read:
"In G-d we trust."
Rabbi Weg realized the message the Rebbe was telling him: No matter
how tough times may seem, a Jew must trust in G-d, and realize that
G-d Is truly the only One in Control.
(By the way, R. Weg said if the note had come a month earlier when
times weren't as bad, he would've thought it was nice. The Rebbe
somehow knew exactly then he needed this message most).

This is something we can all learn from. We must always trust in G-d,
our Father and Creator. Regarding 'Trust', Chassidic Philosophy
revealed a special secret, hidden from past generations. That when one
decides to think good, it will therefore be good (in yiddish: "Tracht
gut, Ve'zine gut"). Meaning, that if 1 thinks positively, putting
total trust in Hashem-realizing truly that He Is the only Decider in
the world, then NO matter what situation you are in, whether you are
"deserving" or not, Hashem Will Help you succeed! In "reward" for your
trust in Him, for your working to realize the truth, for going beyond
the worldly norms of logic, measure for measure G-d Goes beyond the
"norms" of nature for us, whether we are deserving or not. SO
remember, no matter the situation we are in, we must make sure to
always put our total trust in G-d. If we make this a habit, a state of
mind throughout
our days always, then life will be much more true, and much more
sweet.*

*Parenthetically: [Ideally, Chassidus explains, one has to work to the
pt. where it is real by us in our hearts and minds, that no sickness,
enemy, or other has ANY independent power-rather it is only G-d. There
are no "middle men". And that which G-d is Doing is actually a hidden
good! But since we want revealed good, in a way that we can understand
it as good, we must have trust in Hashem that He Will Help us in a way
of Revealed Goodness. Also, we must continue to serve G-d through
Torah & Mitzvot, making natural vessels for His Good Will, not only
depending on good to come without any service]. If you have any
further Q's, feel free to ask.
-Adapted from Likkutei Sichot of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Book 36, 1st
sicha in Shemot

Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel