Nourishment for the Neshama

Balak - The End by Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky

2010-07-23T20:48:00Z

In this shiur, Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky discusses the prophecy of Bilaam regarding Moshiach and the end of days

Tisha B'Av 5770 Program B

2010-07-22T17:07:00Z

This is Program B from Tisha B'Av 5770 - the audio from the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation CCHF video

Tisha B'Av 5770 Program A

2010-07-22T17:01:00Z

This is the audio from Tisha B'av, CCHF Program A

Tisha B'av Rabbi Zev Leff 5770

2010-07-20T16:33:00Z

Reflections on the joy of closeness to the Creator

2010-07-18T15:44:00Z

Looking at the world today, it might seem to a non-religious person that religion itself is the cause of today’s troubles. After all, look at all the wars, killings, and suffering that is rampant in the name of the Creator. For this reason, people may turn to atheism, secularism and more. Doing so takes a person into unreality!

Reality is understanding that there is a Creator Who makes us every moment and Who is running things to the smallest detail. If we comprehend this – even just intellectually - we logically should want to understand more. How could we not investigate, for after 120 years, we surely don’t want to find out that we lived in unreality!

How do we expand our consciousness to bring us into reality?

The most tangible way is to explore something that we can understand internally, our emotions, our personal energy – specifically, our own Gd-given piece of eternity, called our soul.

We, mankind, are made in the Creator’s image. Therefore, it makes sense that we should strive to be like the Creator. How do we get to know Him? His Attributes of Mercy are described in Tomer Devorah (see other articles on this blog).

As we develop a close relationship with the Creator, with Hashem, there are certain things that come into focus which dispel the notion that religion is the cause of today’s troubles. What we find instead is that all people – whether religious or not -- have a nature that needs to rise to a level, of being more lovingkind, like the Creator, in order to be happy and healthy in this world. We are instructed to choose life!

For example, a person may not respect another person - i.e. may not have love and fear of the Creator - and they come to feel aggravated, disappointed, and entertain unhealthy thoughts that are damaging to himself as well as to the other person. Anyone who works on drawing closer to the Creator, blessed be He, comes to understand how much each and every one of us is loved unconditionally, is given patience, mercy, and good so that we can continue our spiritual journey. When we understand our own imperfections and how good the Creator is to us, it is incumbent upon us (upon we who wish to emulate Him) to have more patience and respect and tolerance for each other. We learn to turn our eyes upward and trust in the Creator. Yes, our adversary may be plotting to harm us or tear us down. But no, our thoughts remain invested in emulating the Creator and we choose not to entertain negativity of any kind.

The Creator does not want us to divert and unleash the holy energy that He sends us to destroy the world or each other. He wants us to live within the frame of reference and the morals that He sets out for us. Thus, if we trigger within ourselves gevurah and cruelty in His name, we run the risk of taking it to such extremes as we see today – the diversion of holy energy for human goals. It is incumbent upon mankind to remember the Creator’s goals of love, tolerance, mercy, kindness and personal growth and to set spiritual goals according to His moral standards rather than goals of human nature – dominance, destruction, control, and death. Those who feel that directing their energies toward dominance and control is proper are experiencing a counterfeit pleasure. The greatest pleasure a person can know is the pleasure of using our holy energy and creativity in a way that is pleasing to Hashem, that acknowledges Him as the King, as the Creator and life force behind the universe. A good test of whether we are using our holy energy in the way we were designed to use it is to see if we and those affected by our actions are nurtured and benefiting from our actions.

There is tremendous power in latching onto gevurah for human goals. By understanding how easily trapped people can be by the attractiveness of power, control, ego victories and more, we may be seduced into setting a course for these goals, which are quite achievable. We know how to persecute. We know how to tear down. We know how to exclude. We know how to use and take. We know how to victimize. We know how to manipulate. If these are your goals, you can certainly achieve them, and there are many fine examples of it to emulate. And the mitzvahs that we do along the way? They will accrue to the people we hurt, for chances are that in order to be successful with the goals above, people would need to hide behind community position and good deeds to cover their true intentions. Only the Creator, Who knows the intentions of every person, can judge. But judge He will, and if we use our mitzvahs to jockey for position so that we can fulfill our taking agendas, those mitzvahs go to the ones we hurt.

Alternatively, perhaps we have become trapped in fulfilling the wishes of powerful people who we are controlled by, who we don't wish to be victimized by. Have we subjected ourselves to man instead of to the Creator? Is our concept of the Creator conscious and growing or something unattainable and remote, such that we feel we must align ourselves with and rely on man-made societies and structures? Are we abandoning reason to cause the powers that be to turn their wrath upon us just so that we can do what is good and right in the eyes of Hashem? Surely there must be a heter, a leniency, so that we can live in this world and still keep our mitzvahs?

For Jewish people, the concept of Ein Od Milvado is central. We place the Creator at the center and being out of rapport for even one moment means that we have departed from reality. There are not two solutions, one for the next world and one for this world. There is only one approach that brings us the greatest pleasure imaginable, to think, speak and act in ways that are pleasing to the Creator. Settling for counterfeit pleasures might be easier, but only for this world. Heaven help us!

Let us make for ourselves certain goals – that if we see we are concerned with ego pleasures and things that have this world “me” as a goal, make sure that we are not being controlled by comfort and wants. Instead, look upward and see what the Creator wants from us and do it. A day of comfort and ease may feel pleasant but it is empty and lonely compared to a day when we are able to bring in the Creator’s light, to feel bonded and connected to Him through mitzvahs and middos, to feel close, small, and beloved to Him. Yes, our lower self might silently grumble, but soon, over time, even our lower self will feel lacking if it seeks only comfort and ego victories, for these pale in comparison to the joy a person can truly experience in this world from mesiras nefesh, mitzvahs, and connection through emulating His Attributes of Mercy.

May the Creator have mercy on those who are not ready or able to embark upon the task of attaching to Him, for this is normal and average and understandable, given how we are constructed. Yet I pray that we train ourselves to make ourselves in His Image so that the light we bring to the world may make us meritorious for redemption and so that we will not be embarrassed when the Moshiach comes.

Reflections on why to make the effort to rise above negativity

2010-07-16T19:21:00Z

Chazal tell us that we have no separate existence from Hashem and that everything that Hashem sends is good, for our ultimate growth, development and benefit. The corollary of this idea is that there is simply no place in Judaism for negativity. Yet, when we look at our daily lives, most of our day is involved with struggling with negativity – from the outside, from the inside, all high blood pressure inducing. This thought process IS what we are here to work on – overcoming our negativity and becoming holy. What does this mean in a practical sense that will HELP us with our negativity? How does this reality lighten our burden?

When we see how hard we struggle on a daily basis with negativity, and we make the effort to rise above, then we can realize that if someone is doing harm to us, they are probably in the same type of struggle as we. The key is to remember our own effort with our own struggles. Should we choose to tackle our own struggles and make a conscious decision to make ourselves in Hashem’s image, our struggle becomes taking actions that are pleasing to Hashem in the situations we find ourselves. Meeting our test means to find a mitzvah to do or a middah of Hashem’s to emulate. The external circumstances may or may not be relieved, but our decision at our free will point is HUGE and is the test we face. When we make an effort to emulate Hashem’s attributes of mercy or follow the morality of the Torah, we catapult ourselves to a new plane of existence – we can have a new perspective on that quality of our lower nature, and on human nature in general. Once we see that we have choice, and we see how much work it is to train ourselves to make the right choice, we have acquired many things – self-control builds self respect. And we have acquired perspective. By seeing the work it takes to overcome, we can bring peace to the world - after all, the negativity is not about us – for we, by rising above, show that we are above it, can choose the high road. Instead, we can see that the negativity is a product of people being trapped in the sub-conscious space of human nature. By instilling G-d Consciousness within us, we uproot the most gripping negativity that we have to face – uncertainty, fear, anger, unknown, and hate. We can insulate ourselves from actions that OTHERS direct toward us when they fall victim to these same gripping negative energies - by showing Hashem that we choose to rise above human nature, that we strive to be holy, we make it possible for Hashem to treat us above nature and protect us from the harmful actions directed toward us.

Rebbetzin Heller says:

"If one can imagine another person's struggle with themselves and remember our own struggles, it will surely bring us to profound compassion, which will in turn overcome all hatred."

Rebbetzin Heller Learning from Tragic Mistakes - Naaleh

2010-07-16T15:49:00Z

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Perek 19: Learning from Tragic Mistakes
Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah HellerClass:

Sefer Yechezkel

Added: July 14, 2010
Class Number: 22 of 22 Time: 41:51
Topics: Exile / Prophecy / Tanach
In this shiur (Torah class) on Sefer Yechezkel, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller explains the two parables presented by Yechezkel in chapter 19. The parables speak of two lions who misuse their abilities and of a vine that could have been fertile but is no longer. Both meshalim (parables) refer to the end of the independent monarchy in the Land of Israel, and the reality of exile. This Torah class is available online in streaming video and for download in mp3 and ipod video formats.

The crux of chosenness

2010-07-02T19:54:00Z

Below is a draft of a dialogue I am trying to make to help us out of negativity once again. To print, click tiny printer icon at the bottom of the essay. Comments welcome as this is a developing work.

Inspiration for the challenge of doing this can be taken from Tehillim 123 Verse 4:

"Our soul is fully sated with the mockery of the complacent ones, whith the contempt of the arrogant."

The Artscroll version offers this comment on verse 4 above:

"Israel's attempt at spiritual fulfillment and its effort to teach that life must have a spiritual goal are greeted with derision by those who are content with and proud of their material and hedonistic successes."

May this essay help to overcome this internally, where we have the potential ability to do so!

Upset happens. Let's say it is a real threat, not just a negative fear. A threat, where someone is taking action. I feel I have to "do something" to respond (when we feel lack, it generates will to do something - it puts us at our free will point, are we going to choose to bring something constructive or destructive to the world?), yet because I have limited political power, what I "do" might likely be used against me - because I have no political power in the situation, my word against the word of someone more credible in the circles that are trying to be influenced. How do we decide how to respond constructively? Are we able to find the high road if we don't first know there is a low road? A young person, idealistic, may be somewhat naive or inexperienced....then when put to the test, we develop our actions to conform to the moral standards we hold. What morality shall we go by? Will we meet our own standards for ourselves? Will we settle? Will we become cynical?

Lower self: “I want to be right, I want to protect myself, I don't want to be dominated. I am not being unreasonable..." (these are adult concerns that can and do seem to run our lives. )

Higher self : I am going to tell you something…these are secondary concerns (because we have a primary concern of Avodas Hashem.)

Lower self " I think I should go stick up for myself, go talk to them and try to get to the bottom of it"

Higher self    " They will deny it and take a small grain of what you say and build a profile that makes YOU look like the bad guy – just look at the Flotilla for what I mean. They will react to your statements as accusations and will further alienate others to you by saying what you did. That is the skill of politics because of the shallow view most people use to make moral assessments

Lower self "I am so frustrated. Do you expect me to just take it? I feel lack and I have will to do something"

Higher self "Everything that happens is for our ultimate growth and development!"

Lower self "What - I am supposed to become a gibbor in humiliation?

Higher self "Humiliation is actually very good for the soul. It humbles us and purifies us. But there is another step. Everything that happens is for our ultimate growth and development in becoming more like Hashem, more merciful, more loving.

Lower self "You mean what I am supposed to do is love these people?!!!?"

Higher self "Actually yes. Because Hashem is counting on YOU to pray for them, to love them, to forgive them. It is a great honor and privilege to do so."

Lower self "That is out of this world. No one does that..I have never seen it. I think you are crazy. You must be out of your mind. Who would do that???"

Higher self "Moshe Rebbeinu. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchiv. And many more, like in the story of Yerabum where the prophet davened for the king who wanted to kill the prophet when the king's hand shriveled."

Lower self "I am not on that level. You must be kidding me. How can I be sincere about that? It is too hard.”

Higher self "Are you interested in primary concerns (spiritual goals) for yourself or secondary concerns? Are the secondary concerns going to keep you from approaching what you are sent here to do?

Lower self "what do you mean? I am here to survive, take responsibility, do acts of kindness, keep mitzvahs, etc. These are my hishtadlus and my concerns.

Higher self "Well, there is one piece of Jewish wisdom that seems to be getting lost here....all of that may be true with the physical Higher self of the world but you are not here for a smooth ride..you are here to repair something and to grow into a being that is similar to Hashem so that when you get to the next world your reward will be enjoyable for you. How enjoyable will it be to be part of Hashem when you don't have that much in common with Him? He is the kindest, most patient, most merciful, most generous, most loving, most everythingest being. If you can’t even love some of his creatures just because they insult you, want to control you, overpower you and want to harm you when Hashem is all day long feeding and sustaining them and other creatures who ignore, insult, cause damage to the heavenly spheres (including YOU at times) and more, you aren't going to be much use to Him, now are you???. Let Him know He can count on you here...feel His love every time you might otherwise feel outrage and blame them for doing ridiculous evil deeds and cry out to Him to forgive us, to have mercy on us, to send a new light into the world and a leader to teach us how to rise above what we have all come to do...focus on secondary concerns as primary. Do it because we all suffer from the condition of human nature and we are one body with many limbs and organs. They are YOU.

Lower self, "But how will that help me out of my predicament?

Higher self "Hashem can do anything. Let Him know He can count on YOU to shine His characteristics in difficult situations He will take care of the rest.

Lower self: "But what about complaining and crying out?

Higher self "Cry out to Hashem Who has the power"

Lower self "But doesn't that let the bullies take over? Don't we have to stand up to their lies and power plays?"

Higher self "You can't stop them. They even taunt you by saying that to your face. The charge they feel because of it, perhaps that is their reward. Perhaps they are being rewarded here with that. Do you want that for a reward? Only Hashem can stop them and He will or will not, when He is ready."

Lower self "and in the meanwhile, they rule?"

Higher self "You rule.   Who is mighty? He who overcomes his nature. You can be like Hashem. Think two world picture."

Lower self "This is a democracy. The underdog gets heard and the society makes room for him, that is how it works in America. I want to scream!"

Higher self "so scream. Are you really going to rely on people though?"

Lower self "Well that matters, doesn't it?"

Higher self "what tactics you use and rely on matters more than success."

Lower self "Getting myself all worked up and screaming at the top of my lungs - no one will care?

Higher self "take it a step further...look how the world responds with sympathy to the plight of those blowing themselves up. Sure they may listen and have sympathy. But look at your tactics. Are you willing to go down that road?

Lower self "That is what people do. We live in a democracy. If I am upset I go to complain and I get heard."

Higher self "that makes sense, but only if it is done within limits.

Lower self "Rules at a knife fight?"

Higher self "once the door is open to screaming, people don't have good barometers. If someone blows themselves up, it may feel at a glance like the ultimate in screaming. This speaks to the part of us that cares about the underdog. But the intensity level of it reveals something else.?

Lower self "what do you mean? "

Higher self "The intensity level of it screams I want to kill Jews. It does not scream anything about wanting compromise."

Lower self "How does this relate to my situation?"

Higher self "do you want revenge? Do you want to be right? Do you want to be protected? Or do you want their destruction and removal from power, do you want them to be nullified? All of these things are truly not up to you. This is Hashem's business. Your screaming is for things that are too intense. Yes, they may need to do teshuva. But you are just looking at the harm and it is filling you with hate and lowly responses. Screaming in your case is not bound by kosher boundaries. So no screaming allowed. It is too hard to dole out in proper proportions and will only escalate

Lower self "Oh come on! People complain and go to beis din and get heard"

Higher self "trust me, scream out to Hashem for forgiveness, mercy and to help you become more like He, be His partner in asking for forgiveness for all the Jewish people because this is our nature. Let HIm know He can count on YOU and He will take care of your issues, you know He can in a second. You do believe Hashem can juggle all these free will points to make them come out according to His will, don't you?"

Lower self "I want to go there but won't I look like a wimp?

Higher self "In whose eyes? And for how long? A lifetime? For eternity you will not look like a wimp."

Lower self "but how will that protect my family? "

Higher self "what exactly is wrong? How do you have the gall to think that it is not all for everyone's growth and development in becoming more like Hashem? Isn't that what is happening? Are you complaining that the primary concern is that we should strive to become like Hashem?   Be muvater. Shine light. Address things that come up with honesty, kindness, responsibility and with proper boundaries on hurtfulness in place – no hurtful talk, no hurtful actions.” Would you really rather that it was just all about secondary concerns?

Lower self "no, I don't think so. Can I really do it though? Won’t I slip back and get caught up again in my hatefulness and desire for fairness and justice?"

Higher self " We all do. That is human nature. But humanity is counting on you to rise above that. Yes there is pain, but uprooting hatred and vengeance and hurtfulness that is carnivorous and destructive is crucial to the human soul. Even when there is pain that is not on that level, use this dialogue. Just read through it again. And let it take you where you really want to go, to the primary concern we all have, to make ourselves in the image of Hashem, merciful, lovingkind, patient, overlooking and more.   And the world is hungry for connection to Hashem. If the Jews don't do it, who will? We surely do not want these attributes to disappear from the world. This is Jewish wisdom that we need today. Can we count on YOU to shine Hashem’s light into this world, so that all the nations of the world can see His Attributes??

Loving Hashem

2010-06-28T16:53:00Z

How do we bring ourselves to grow in the mitzvah of ahavas Hashem? Gratitude is a huge way to do so. We have so much to appreciate that He gives freely to us, so many reminders of His Mercy.

But what about when it gets tough, like when we have to be mesiras nefesh? Most of us don’t want the restrictions involved in not doing what we want – we find the rules that justify that what we want to do is acceptable.

For example, I grew up at the beach and I love the beach. I have come to observe levels of tznius that no longer allow my family to go to the beach in season. Part of me wants so much to go to the beach! I miss it so much! How easy would it be for me to say, “Hashem wants me to be happy and I want to go to the beach so maybe I am not yet holding by not going to the beach. It won’t hurt really, will it? After all, a swim in the ocean is very good for everyone! I love swimming!” What such thinking reflects is that “I” is a separate entity from Hashem. Hashem gives us this free will. We are permitted to choose. So, it makes sense even more that I might say to myself, “I need this for me to be happy, how can I give it up? It is too much to ask.” Or “We aren’t supposed to withdraw from the world or give things up and live a stern life.” Many people would agree with all of that, including me! Except for one small point which turns the entire picture around.

I have no separate existence from Hashem. And, being in rapport with Hashem through that concept is the most pleasurable experience a person can ever hope to attain and the very greatest life a person can be blessed with. From that place, everything else is irrelevant, nullified and unattractive.

How did I discover this?

The first step was that it became clearly apparent to me that there is a spiritual reality to the world not some far off, “spiritual” talk, but a moment by moment spiritual reality, where every word is recorded as something that builds or destroys, where we have siyata deshemaya, that we are in a world attached to another world that is happening at the same time as we are here, and WE are playing out the scene on a stage set there. Through our words and deeds, we move heavenly realms, like a keyboard to a piano creates music. Have you ever had the experience of knowing absolutely that Gd exists and that every word of our Torah is true? If not, see “Seal of Truth” the video on this blog or at http://lazerbrody.typepad.com/lazer_beams/2008/07/the-seal-of-truth.html

Listen to people who have had life after death experiences. People, these confirmations of the absolute truth of Torah are urgent for us to comprehend on a deep level and are the first step to enhancing Ahavas Hashem. Now, the first feeling may be Yiras Hashem, as it should be. Why? Because if Torah is absolute truth, how do I measure up? Yikes! That is absolutely terrifying! Rebbetzin Heller in one of her shiurs says that sometimes she imagines after 120 years coming to heaven and being greeted by all the angels that she created – some crippled, some deformed – because of the way she conducted herself here. Absolutely terrifying. What is at stake? ETERNITY! If we don’t like sacrifice, embarrassment and pain here, are we going to like it any better there? This is Yiras Hashem.

But look! Hashem didn’t create us to punish us! He created us to give us benefit, both here and there! All He asks is that we choose to fear Him. Fear HIM. FEAR HIM!!

The emphasis on the word fear – here in this frame of reference, we see how easily we are influenced by those we fear. Are we afraid that our money will be reduced by our boss? We fear his power. Are we afraid that someone will reject us? We fear the loss of love. How do people gain support for their ideologies? It took many years of protests and verbal messages but governments relented to the “pressure” of same-sex couples, despite the moral statements we know about this from the Torah. Human sympathies are aroused when people cry out “UNFAIR”. We seem to be built this way – who can listen to a baby crying without responding?

Understanding our construct, take this a step further for the thicker skinned and -- TERROR. How has terror, the fear of being destroyed by those holding an ideology different from ours, affected our thinking about that ideology? Many have adopted it! Many find it important to try to appease those who deliver terror. Why? The answer is because we think we have a separate identity from Hashem and that WE are in charge of our existence and seeing to it that we survive on the course we chart for ourselves.

We ARE in charge of our existence and seeing to it that we survive on the course we chart for ourselves, BUT we have no separate existence. Surviving on the course we chart for ourselves includes both this world and the next. Realizing that what we do here matters for eternity is crucial. It is far better to fear Hashem than to fear any person or people or ideology because HASHEM LOVES US! He wants us to be happy AND he can provide absolutely everything that we need to make our lives here fantastic as well as giving us a blissful eternity. When we fear anything or anyone else, we are succumbing to emotions that are testing us simply to give us the opportunity to rise above our nature and find Hashem. Wow. We can master ourselves with Hashem’s help!

Imagine if you were employed as a consultant to go to a city 500 miles away to repair a small hole in the fence. You are given a bank account, a trailer home/car, the telephone numbers of people to take care of you while you are away and more. You arrive. Everything is so comfortable and nice! You are enjoying yourself day after day, the city is interesting, and each day, you don’t quite get to fixing that small hole in the fence. Finally, your oompany calls you back and they ask you about the small hole in the fence and you, embarrassed, say, “Oh yeah. I forgot.”

So how do we remember every day? We must realize every day that our soul is connected to Hashem and that He has provided us with a means of accomplishing our mission and repairing our souls by placing us in these bodies in this world. At no point should we overlook this. Instead, we should be communicating with Hashem the roadblocks, the questions, the issues – discuss it with the home office! And as He provides the answers, we begin to experience how HUGE Hashem really is. He can solve every problem we have (and every problem every person on earth has at the same time!) He asks for us to fear and love and appreciate Him.

When we place the idea of our soul being connected to Hashem at the pinnacle of our guiding thoughts during the day, our minds and bodies fall into line. When we communicate with Hashem throughout the day, we are speaking to the most loving, the kindest, the most intelligent, the most everything Being that anyone could EVER hope to relate with. THIS is the greatest pleasure imaginable, beyond anything anyone could otherwise experience.

We are built to fear – let us fear the One who loves us and see ourselves as inseparable. Let us love Hashem and then all of our relationships and dealings become a subset of that loving relationship.

May Hashem bless us with forgiveness, love, mercy and peace as we struggle through these concepts.

Golus

2010-06-28T00:02:00Z

Rabbi Frand in his 9/11 shiur said that the Moshiach will come when we are able to overcome the golus of Ishmael, the final stage of the golus of Edom. When he said that 8 years ago, in May 2002 to a group of women in Lakewood, I did not understand what that meant.

Nevertheless I have been thinking about it and have what may be a beginning of a thought for myself to pursue.

Anyone who has been reading my blog knows that I hold myself to a standard of no hurtfulness. I am told that my standard is extreme, beyond reasonableness because it can immobilize or cripple a person from handling interpersonal matters for success within otherwise moral standards of the Torah. Surely I have no intention of going beyond what the Torah requires. That is also not permitted and my view would be in need of correction and I appreciate being told so.

However, let’s assume for this essay that, while it is not required by Torah, it could still be very beneficial to follow the standard of creating positivity and not negativity in the world. What if I center my thoughts around emulating Hashem’s Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, no matter what? What if whenever I see something I object to in another person I find where in my life I am doing it, do teshuva on it, beg forgiveness for myself and for all Klal Yisrael because it is so easy to make such an error? What if in so doing, which requires introspection and hisbodidus, I build a relationship with Hashem that is so meaningful to me that I seek it out all day whenever possible? What if over the course of time I become sensitive to seeing that most of the negative emotions that I have – which come from my will being frustrated or ego defeats - are not productive and take me away from this wondrous relationship and are therefore unimportant – and irrelevant? Would this be consistent with Torah values? Would it be objectionable? Is what I have done foster my own spiritual growth or have I by sharing this standard created negativity in others toward me?

Here is my line of thinking: Along come some thugs who rig a flotilla and start beating soldiers with iron pipes. And some more thugs who throw bombs onto a road in Lakewood. And a huge thug who wants to blow up Israel. Where is the energy for these people coming from I fear? What if I, in taking so long to realize that my processing negative reactions when placed at behira, generates energy that is sustaining these thugs? Could it be that I, in my ignorance about my own human emotional construct and choices of where to focus my energy, unintentionally fuel the negative forces threatening us at this very moment? And if so, could it be that each moment I am successful in neutralizing and nullifying the amount of time I spend in negativity (thinking that it is productive to process there) that I have the power to neuter the forces that appear to be heading our way? Is there a Torah basis for thinking so? Is this what the Ramchal teaches us?

If so, then if “no hurting allowed” neuters and cripples those who want to harm us by depriving them of a source of energy, then I plan to cling to it in my philosophy. Then, I will not feel neutered or crippled in the least, but empowered and close to Hashem. And perhaps this would be a way to find ourselves out of the golus of Ishmael – to neuter the fear and power of his terror campaign.

If my thoughts here are correct, I pray that I be granted the insight from above to continue to do teshuva – that is, neuter my inner negativity -- and hopefully neuter the flow of energy to our enemies.

Comments welcome!

Chart to help us rise above our physical selves

2010-06-24T16:46:00Z

Lower self seeks this pleasurable subconscious reward When we feel this:	Put glasses on! Ask yourself, am I aligned with Hashem’s Will and what will help me look good from His perspective (i.e. what can I do that is similar to Him, that emulates Him)? Substitute this thought
I want to be right	Do not stray; Just be right in Hashem’s eyes
I want to make the other party wrong	Do not stray – no revenge, do not judge
I want to dominate the other person	No other power; do not stray, love your fellow Jew as yourself Treat everyone with respect; be dominant by making Hashem’s middos dominant in the world (Tomer Devorah)
I want to avoid being dominated by the other person	No other power, I have no separate existence from Hashem Who cannot be dominated by anyone
I want to look good	Do not stray; Look good in Hashem’s eyes, ego victories are empty and of this world alone
I want to avoid looking bad	Know there is Hashem; look good in Hashem’s eyes, fear Hashem, not people
I want justice or truth	No other power; do not stray; justice is the realm of Hashem, not man. Judge ourselves in His presence; be truthful with Hashem
I want to correct a wrong	No other power; I can correct only my own thoughts speech and deeds, not those of another
I want to be self-righteous	Hashem Echad; we have no separate existence from Hashem; serve Hashem, not our ego
I want to invalidate others or possul them	No other power; I control only my own thoughts speech and deeds – judge your neighbor favorably
I want to justify myself	Hashem Echad; I have no separate existence from Hashem
I want to protect myself from hurt or damage	No other power, Hashem Echad; whatever Hashem sends is good
I want to be vengeful	No other power, love Hashem; vengeance is Hashem’s business not mine
I want to be a victim	Hashem Echad; I have no separate existence. I am responsible for my thoughts speech and deeds to Hashem. Love Hashem
If I let go of the charge in the complaint then I will have to let go of the fantasy that I have or a way that I view the world (adv: and the fantasy is: __________)	No other power, I have no independent existence from Hashem, Love Hashem, humility
If I let go fo the charge in the complaint then I won’t communicate something that is ery important to communicate to the other party (and that thing is __________________)	Love Hashem, Fear Hashem, do not rebuke unless there is love in your heart and it is done solely for the benefit of the other person
If I let go of the charge in the complaint then I will have to change something in myself (and I don’t want to take the responsibility). (adv: and the thing that I have to change is__________)	Love Hashem; Fear Hashem; Judge others favorably and use what we see to repair in ourselves what is shown to us, for we are shown it so that Hashem can discern our judgment and use our judgment upon us for our identical failing.
If I let go of the charge in the complaint then I will have to slow down and that is very uncomfortable for me	Do not stray; love Hashem, Hashem Echad

How much does the lower self vision cost you:

Love for others or closeness

Love for yourself or self-respect

Well being or vitality

Self-satisfaction or fulfillment

Self expression

Effectiveness or achievement or greatness

Being transcendental

Expanded consciousness

Holiness

Closeness to Gd

Which of these rewards is holding me back from getting the charge down to an insignificant number? What am I scared would happen if I let go over this charge? What is holding me back from letting go of this charge?

NOW THAT THE CHARGE IS TAKEN OUT, PROBLEM SOLVE