Category Archives: Hashkafa

THE BEAUTY OF A SUNSET – THE MAKEOVER

Many of us  are reaching the age when we look into a mirror only at calculated moments – that is, after we are prepared to see only what we would like to see and are able to  ignore the rest.  In our adolescence we were taught that   youth equals success and aging is what happens to someone else.  Believing ourselves to be immortal, invincible and in control, we took the credit for  G-d given gifts of intelligence, strength and attractiveness. Alas, we are now paying the emotional and spiritual price of these attitudes.   The blush of youth has left our cheeks, our speed and vigor have diminished and we are more disillusioned then we ever dreamed we would be.  So many people spend large sums of money on cosmetics, tonics and therapies of all sorts in the hope of restoring strength, loveliness and enthusiasm. Yet, for the most part, we are disappointed with the results.

We desperately need a “makeover” in this area, but how do we go about getting one – and how much will it cost?  There must be a better way, we groan, as we are dragged kicking and screaming into our “twilight” years.

The essential “ingredient” for this “makeover” is to recognize that the Creator is the source of all energies and abilities.

When we begin to absorb this idea into our pores and circulate it in our systems and understand it intellectually and emotionally, then a heretofore dormant quality within us will begin to awaken.  That quality is humility.

The acquisition of humility is not a matter of a brief exercise or meditation.  It requires our wholehearted commitment and a determined plan of action.  We must constantly examine and test our reactions to make sure that our “Thank you to G-d” is real and not rote because taking credit for ones endeavors can become a lifelong habit.    Now, as we  perceive ourselves  losing our position and place in the world,  if we are not careful, we may tend to clasp even more tightly to those moments of accomplishment and achievement.  We may find ourselves, once again, taking credit for our achievements in a last ditch effort to win back some of our former honor and glory.

We must not do this.  It is crucial that we recognize that it is this very need to take credit for our accomplishments that has created our downfall and not the aging process.

And, ironically,  it is often our “failures” and not our accomplishments that will pave the way to our success.  Egos do not necessarily deflate by themselves. When a person, whose wealth has made him haughty, experiences financial disaster,  his ego is deflated.   Whether it is unsightly wrinkles or the forced retirement of a workaholic, when the “sun” sets and the “day” wanes, its decline helps us to achieve the feeling of humility that allows to recognize the temporal ness of life and allows us to  focus upon the true and eternal values.

So now let us look in the mirror again, however this time, let us learn to appreciate the signs of aging as an indicator, notifying us that the time is measured. Through graciously accepting the portion the Creator has given us and use our experiences to nurture and teach, our faces will begin to shine with an inner expression of beauty.  When we no longer feel embarrassed about aging, then we can communicate, without awkwardness or fear, the crucial message that time is short and the work is long and acts of kindness are potentially many.  We can then teach our younger counterparts that we must use the daylight hours as golden opportunities to choose to do the Creator’s Will.

When we reach this higher consciousness, we are instantly transformed.  We will no longer see ourselves as old and useless, but as servants of the Creator who have a special message to deliver that is uniquely crafted from  the very lessons we learned during our lives. When we wholeheartedly accept our new roles as messengers, we will experience a renewed sense of purpose even greater than the purpose we felt when we were raising our children or building our businesses.

Relating this message to the persons who will most need to hear it and benefit from it,  provides  spiritual nourishment for us that is kosher and that allows us to thrive and grow.

If we live with this attitude we will age like fine wine becoming more valuable with each passing year.  We will mature.  We will never cease to educate.  We will become a living embodiment of the Creator’s message.   Torah principles will displace the secular view of aging and we will become shining beacons transforming what might have been a dark and overcast “twilight” into the splendor of a “sunset”.  We will become enlightened beings who are truly happy with our portion [sameach b’chelko].  Our praise of the Creator in acknowledgment of his perfect creation will bring a personal, deep inner peace and tranquility during our visit through the “evening hours” of life and the next generation will then be able to learn this important lesson from us.

If we strive to achieve this positive attitude during our “sunset” years, thereby acknowledging the Will of the Creator as perfect, then the true light of day, will eternally shine for us in the world of truth – (haolam shekulo tov) the world that is completely good.

 

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© Yehoshua Binyamin Falk

All rights reserved

First publication:  Jewish Observer Magazine

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS NOT BUILDINGS – THE SOLUTION TO THE ISRAEL-GAZA CRISIS

Did you ever wonder what could be one of the underlying motivations for Hamas to once again renew their missile attacks, even though every time they have done so in the past, they are quickly overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the Israeli military?

Well, perhaps the following explanation can be one reason for this sad situation. The pattern of conflict over the years has been the following:

First – Hamas starts a barrage of missile attacks until the Israeli military launches a full scale offensive which destroys many buildings and much of the Gaza’s infrastructure.

Second – Many good hearted nations step in to call for a cease fire.

Thirdly –  After the cease fire, Hamas finds supporters to help donate money to rebuild destroyed buildings and infrastructure.

Fourthly – This rebuilding is a great boom for government status of Hamas as it put many of its unemployed to work and greatly improves their employment statistics in the eyes of the world.

Fifthly – A number of years later the whole cycle is repeated with the old being destroyed and rebuilt with the new again at the expense of Israel and Hamas supporters.

Ironically, it is like Hamas is “contracting” the Israeli military as the demolition “crew”, who works without pay and with great expense of their own, knocking down the old, so that Hamas can petition their supporters to “foot the bill” to rebuild Gaza’s cities and infrastructure.

Since the truly unfortunate devastating “price” of war is through the loss of innocent life and injuries on all sides, it is high time that the nations of the world recognize the futility of trying to rebuild a nation who feels it can gain from its destruction. Instead the world powers should spend their money and resources on helping to educate and guide people on the sanctity of life and how to fairly negotiate for their rights and send them a clear message that there will be no rebuilding funds in the future if they are seen as the aggressors.

May the outcome of such efforts, to resolve conflicts peacefully, finally allow all peoples of the world to feel safe enough to turn their weapons into plowshares, thereby cultivating true universal peace and prosperity for all mankind.

POSITIVE MIND SET – MIND OVER MATTER HIDDEN WITHIN THE OLIVE

                                   

                A study was conducted by
a team of researchers from New York
University who used   functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), in
an effort to determine whether the trait of optimism can be identified with a
particular area of the brain.  The subjects
were told to think about the outcomes of important future events as they were
being scanned.  The scans showed that the
more optimistic the person’s outlook was, the more activity emanated from a part
of the brain known as the Rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex which the size of
an olive (kezayis).  The implications of
this discovery resonate in other areas of our lives and are worth some
additional exploration.

          The propensity for optimism
has long been a defining element of human culture. Winston Churchill, a
previous Prime minister of England,
once said: “A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity, whereas an
optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.” Optimism produces a positive
outlook that we perceive as joy.  Our
holy (Torah) Jewish teachings instructs us to strive to achieve a state of
happiness (simcha) – (mitzvah gedola li’yot b’simcha).  This heightened state of positive consciousness
provides us with the incentive to improve ourselves and the world around us.

 In order to
fulfill these optimistic goals, the Creator has provided us with food that
contains within it sparks of holiness that are made available to be spiritually
absorbed through the blessings (brachas) we say before and after eating.  The minimum amount of food required in order
to say an after blessing is an an olive sized portion (kezayis) of the food. 

Can we find a connection between the (kezayis)
olive sized portion of food necessary for an after bracha with the olive sized “seat”
of optimism in the brain since spiritual reality is reflected in this physical
world?  Perhaps one of the reasons that an
olive has been chosen to represent the minimum size (shiur) for a concluding
bracha is that its oil symbolizes wisdom and has the power to illuminate the
darkness.  Similarly the blessings we say
after eating contain profound spiritual wisdom which has the power to illuminate
even the greatest darkness with the supernal “light” of positive optimism.

            The more stringent view
of some Rabbis (poskim) is that because of certain halachic factors, regarding
the size referred to for the measurement of a shiur, it is preferred if
possible to eat double the quantity – two kezaysim – before making an
after-bracha. Perhaps we can also gain from these thoughts that, as we come
closer to the final redemption (geula), since spiritual stature of the
generations has lessened, and we should endeavor to “re-double” our efforts to
reawaken our optimism. Perhaps you may you ask, where do we see two kezaysim in
our fMRI models? Interestingly enough, there are actually two areas in the
brain opposite each other, each about two inches from each of our ears where
these optimistic impulses have been observed.  

              Our brachos act as spiritual
“refineries” to transform the physical food into a refined source of spiritual
energy. In the fourth bracha of the blessings after a bread meal (Bircat
Hamazon) we say: “…He did good, He does good and He will do good to us.
He was bountiful with us, He is bountiful with us, and He will be bountiful
with us forever with grace and with kindness and with compassion, with relief
and rescue, success, blessing , salvation, consolation, substance, support ,
compassion, life, peace and all good
and of all good things may He never
deprive us.

              See how beautifully this
blessing itself it filled with an such an optimistic view of  life. May we all merit a life filled with
blessings.

All articles appearing on this blog are copyrighted by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin Falk. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share/download/copy this information as long as it is accompanied by the copyright. Separately authored/copyrighted materia

HARMONIZING SOUL, BODY, MIND AND EMOTIONS

                        

           Since everything in the physical
realm has a spiritual connection let us try to unveil the metaphysical
underpinnings that corresponds to the four elements of air, earth, water and
fire in relationship to the three dimensional reality of person, place and
time.

         In relationship to people, air
can be perceived to symbolize the ethereal realm of our higher consciousness, while  the earthiness in us is the innate
power of our fruitful productivity, water symbolizes the flow of our
creativity, while fire is the spark which helps to illuminate the world.

             With regard to the essential spiritual place for
air, earth, water and fire lies within the four mystical cities of Tzaft,
Teveria, Jerusalem and Chevron respectively. Each of the holy places can in its
own unique way, help us harness our supernal energy.

           We also find a transcendental
connection between the time related Jewish Holidays and these four elements of
air, earth water and fire. How so?

           Blowing of the shofar on Rosh
Hashana – the New Year – gives us the opportunity to refresh the universal spiritual airways.
Just as the air vibrations passes from the narrow end of the shofar to its
expanded wider opening, so also Rosh Hashanah shows us how to travel the airways
of expanded consciousness.

          Prostrating ourselves down to the earth
on Yom HaKippur is a time for planting those spiritual seeds that will throughout
the year germinate in the soil of potential.

             Succos not only brings with it a special
mitzvah connected with water but it is also a holiday which can help us open
the flow of higher awareness.

         And lastly but not least, rejoicing on Simchas
Torah allows us to rekindle our flames of supernal passion thereby weaving our soul, body. mind and emotions into a magnificent seamless tapestry with design and purpose.

           May we always be at the right place at the right
time!

All articles appearing on this blog are copyrighted by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin Falk. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share/download/copy this information as long as it is accompanied by the copyright. Separately authored/copyrighted materia

REFRAMING OUR LIFE

                                      

                                        GIVE UP … AND GET MOVING

 

            When G-d (Hashem) wants us to change, first He gives us an opportunity to do so on our own by providing specially directed means and methods and special days throughout the year in which we  can examine our deeds, choose to make amends and alter our modes of behavior. Sometimes, when we have not quite managed to make the necessary changes by ourselves, He gives us a nudge . . . It is how we react to that “incentive” that determines success or r’l failure. When we see the “nudge” as a positive force directed towards us for our good and our growth then we are “reframing.” 

For most of us, reframing actually begins after we have given up.  Until that point, we see the problem as being outside of ourselves and are busy trying to fix it.  It is only when we realize that we cannot fix it, that we are able to look inside ourselves and find a  deeper and far more lasting source of healing (refuah).  If we “reframe”  an experience that had plunged us into anxiety or despair, we become the beneficiaries of  a most powerful source of  enlightenment, a source capable of guiding us up the ladder to the next step in spiritually  (ruchnius), lighting the way for us in our spiritual journey.

                                          BECAUSE WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL…

 

The first step in the reframing process is fundamental.  It requires our staunch and unyielding determination to accept the fact that we are not in control of what happens to us. The only aspect of our lives over which we are given control is the freedom to try to make the right choices, however final outcomes are out of our control. Why is this outlook a fundamental first step?  Because as long as we believe that we have control over a given situation, we will struggle with trying to fix the circumstances instead of working to accept them. Learning to reframe our negative thoughts and replace them with a positive view comes about by realizing that it is our attitude that we have the ability to modify and not necessarily the situation. Unfortunately, as long as we are stuck in a mindset that tells us that we have to change the circumstances, we will have no incentive to change ourselves. Of course, we must be mindful of the fact that there are situations that do require our effort, and claims of trust (bitachon) and faith (emuna) do not give a license to sit back and wait for change to happen on its own; however, here we are considering only those things that we can not alter.

                                                   READING THE MESSAGE

The second step calls for us to treat the experience as a message or the person who has just insulted us as a messenger. For example, the depth of sorrow we feel when we learn that someone near to us has a serious problem, illness or passing can be seen as a reflective moment to help us put things into perspective and be mindful of what values in life are truly important. Through this we can re-strengthen our interpersonal relationship with others as well as our personal obligations with Hashem.

            Life’s trials are as individualistic and unique as we are, however to a certain extent each of us can attempt to decipher the inner meaning within difficult experiences by asking ourselves – in a form of a prayer, not a complaint: What can I learn and how can I grow from this test? 

            As long as we understand that the events in our lives are perfectly designed, sent to us from Hashem and given to us for our good, we can begin to use these challenges to help change our lives. Once the taxing situation becomes reframed it becomes a positive tool for growth.

                                                       

                                                      THE NEW VIEW

            Reframing trains us to see the will of the Creator in all of the events in our lives, and thus enables us to appeal directly to Hashem as the Source of Everything. It is like the man who is speeding through red lights. When he is stopped, he explains to the officer that he is bringing his wife, who is in labor, to the hospital.  He is likely to get a police escort instead of a ticket.  However, those who see events as “acts of nature” have no where to turn.  They are like the man caught driving through a red light by a traffic surveillance camera that cannot respond to explanations.

            The Creator runs the physical world in the same way He runs the spiritual realm – in order to allow us to understand His ways without having to become mystics or seers.  If a person chooses to believe that events such as disease, famine, flood and accidents are dictated by the laws of nature and are as immutable as the traffic surveillance camera in our earlier example, then for that person any effort at prayer and supplication to G-d will appear to be unavailing and the person will not seek and thus will not find any means for avoiding the consequence.  Indeed, that person is perhaps worse off than the man who ran the red light.  The driver at least knows that he was ticketed because he was caught on a camera. 

The person who does not see G-d’s omnipotence in nature, will not see the connection between his actions and the events that flow from those actions and will not know where to turn to try and exonerate himself.   When a person offers no defense at all in the Heavenly Court, the evidence is considered without his testimony and a harsher judgment is pronounced that might have been ameliorated with a sincere statement from the defendant.

        On the other hand, when we recognize that it is G-d who is directing nature and all events that occur are for the purpose of guiding us toward a more complete recognition of His presence in this world, then we will be able to act as our own advocates, turning directly to the benevolent Creator in times of need.  When this happens, we arouse the attribute of mercy from on High and elicit consideration by the Heavenly Court of the extenuating circumstances that motivated our choices.

                                        IS THIS DIALOGUE NECESSARY?

 

 We could well ask, “Why is this dialogue necessary?”  Doesn’t the Infinite Creator consider our unspoken justification when entering judgment?  G-d does not deny our unspoken rationale but it is we who create a barrier between ourselves and G-d by refusing to acknowledge the fact that He transcends the laws of “nature.”   It is we who refuse to recognize that He can, under appropriate circumstances, vindicate us.

           The one condition for Heavenly reprieve is to admit our errors, and resolve to do better in the future.  When we turn sincerely to the Creator, acknowledge His omnipotence and ask for His help and guidance when we have drifted beyond the permissible boundaries, we will be directed toward a G-dly way of life which will get us where we need to go, when we need to get there without adverse results.

      This is not to suggest that the Creator, in all circumstances, will accept our plea-bargains, but, at the very least, our outlooks will broaden, and we will be able to take a more holistic approach toward understanding and accepting our particular circumstances. The deeper our understanding of the fact that G-d tailors every circumstance in our lives in order  to teach, guide and help us to grow spiritually, the more we  will be filled with  sincere gratitude for our allotted portions.  As we progress through our lives in this manner, following the Torah , Hashem will provide us with the opportunity to enjoy  a new, elevated state of awareness. 

              This intimate relationship with Hashem is available to all, regardless of age, intelligence or skills. The main criteria are belief in G-d, willingness to follow His will and a sincere humility. With these foundational principles in place, the Creator will bestow upon us blessings of health, joy and peace. May we merit to re-enter the Palace of the King soon in our days.

All articles appearing on this blog are copyrighted by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin Falk. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share/download/copy this information as long as it is accompanied by the copyright. Separately authored/copyrighted materia

“SEASONING” OURSELVES

             

          Did you ever wonder, what is the deeper
symbolism of the four seasons of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter? This question
is even highlighted more by the fact that when Mashiach comes, hopefully soon
in our days, the seasons as we know them will cease to be , as it will be
springtime all year around.

         At the esoteric level, the four
seasons correspond to four of the Divine attributes. First the patriarchal
spiritual powers – referred to as the sifirah of Aba or Chachmah –– which
symbolizes the essence of universal wisdom. Then second the matriarchal
spiritual powers – referred to as the sifirah of Ema or Bina –– which then expand
and channel that pristine wisdom into understanding. From there the supernal
influx travels through Zair Anpin (which includes the sifirot of teferes to Yesod)
to Nukva (the sifirah of Malchus) which then has the power to connect and
elevate mundane reality with the ethereal realms.

             Abba corresponds to the Fall whereas Ema
corresponds to the spring. Therefore it is no coincidence that their spiritual
“temperature” are already close to the Spring of the time of the Mashiach.  

           In the meanwhile, Zair Anpin corresponds
to the Winter season which can be seen as the time of inner development of our
supernal potential, whereas Nukva corresponds to the Summer season which is the
outer development of the “fruits” of our actions.

             May we soon merit the springtime
bliss of a perfected world!

All articles appearing on this blog are copyrighted by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin Falk. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share/download/copy this information as long as it is accompanied by the copyright. Separately authored/copyrighted materia

GOING TO THE BANK TO CASH IN OUR PRAYERS


             Did you ever ask yourselves how to
explain, the three sections of prayer of first words of praise, followed by
requests and then finalized with words of thanks, to someone who doesn’t see any
connection between the cause and effect of such actions becoming effectual?

               Perhaps we can use the following (moshal)
analogy to better understand how the sincere expressions of our heart can help
to elicit abundant blessings. Let yourself picture receiving a very large check
in the mail, which you deposit in your account at the bank. Next the check goes
through a collection process which will hopefully clear and be finally credited
to your account.

           The “depositing” the check which brings
with it great delight, correlates to the praiseful joy we express for having
another opportunity to “deposit” our time and energy towards our spiritual
account.

           Then just as the bank “requests” for
the crediting of the check, before making it available to the account holder,
so we in our prayers  make “requests” that
will hopefully lead to a crediting our spiritual account.

               Finally just like after the
check has cleared, we are filled with thankfulness for this these available “funds”,
so also after our prayers we heartfelt offer words of thanksgiving for any and
all “funds” that have been or will be credited to our spiritual accountant.

                 May we all be blessed that our “deposits”
of Torah, mitzvos and misim tovim here and now also serve as available “credits”
for our Olam Haba.

All articles appearing on this blog are copyrighted by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin Falk. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share/download/copy this information as long as it is accompanied by the copyright. Separately authored/copyrighted materia

EXPERIENCING THE BEAUTY AND SIMCHA OF HALACIC AND SHABBOS PERCEIVED LIMITATIONS

                 Unfortunately there are some
people that feel that adhering to Jewish laws (halacas), especially the twenty
four plus hours on Shabbos,  feels overly
restrictive and limiting.  How can we
therefore explain to others how to truly appreciate the inner beauty and
expansiveness that is actually achieved through strictly adhering to each
halaca and keeping the Shabbos?

             First let us clearly acknowledge
that the nature of everyone is to feel free and unrestricted, That being said
also at the same time all of us without complaint or negativity everyday strictly
follow the exact rules and regulations for “dialing up” our cell phone or
activating our e-mail in our computer. We willingly and even joyfully push each
button in an exact order because any variance will a cause a malfunction of
some sort.

                  Therefore if we are so
willing to follow perfectly the cell and computer manual  instructions to a tee then why should we find
it so challenging to follow the Torah’s “manual” for keeping Shabbos or other
halacas? After all if that is what works – then do it!

                 Perhaps the following thoughts
will clearly explain the fundamental difference between our cell phone and computer
dial ups and our spiritual “dial ups”. Since no one wants to feel restricted or
limited we are always trying to find new ways to expand our horizons. Whether
though travel, entertainment, hobbies or numerous other intellectual or
emotional outlets each one of us in our own way try to fill our lives with
activities that help make us feel happy and fulfilled. The problem is that we
clearly see that many of those people who have everything they could possibly
want are not truly happy and definitely not feeling fulfilled. Therefore let us
ask why is this so?

              Perhaps we can answer that
although the need for expansion is legitimate and reasonable the direction that
most follow to try to expand is only in the horizontal direction. Take another vacation
or buying another gadget brings temporary pleasure at best. True joy comes
through connecting ourselves to eternal values.

   What is needed for true happiness and
fulfillment is veridical movement. Traveling vertically is the spiritual
component of our lives that connects us to our souls true purpose of living in
this world. This means for example that the same money that can be used to
awaken our physical senses for corporeal pleasures, but that same money can also
be used for acts of kindness.    

   Our problem is that our physical senses are
only calibrated to experience ephemeral joy and happiness which is within the
corporeal horizontal realm of existence.

                Therefore our goal is to learn
how to tune into our spiritual “senses” which can feel the vertical everlasting
joy and happiness that radiates from the fulfillments of mitzvos and keeping
Shabbos.

              Shabbos is a day of total
transformation from the mundane to the supernal, from the transient to the transcendental.

               To all our blog audience – Have a nice Shabbos                     

All articles appearing on this blog are copyrighted by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin Falk. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share/download/copy this information as long as it is accompanied by the copyright. Separately authored/copyrighted materia

LANGUAGE, LETTERS AND LIFE CONNECTIONS

Bs’d   

                                                                                           
                                          

                 G-d is (Echad) one, Hashem and
that Divine Oneness is never more apparent then in the deep and subtle
connections between language, even secular language, and life. In this case let
us take the English language, and examine the messages that travel just below
the surface of the words themselves, for here too we can find meaning and
significance.

             “A is for Apple . . . B is for
Bird . . .”  a simple child’s chant with
an interesting twist.  There are
conceivably hundreds of words that start with each of the more commonplace and
popular letters of the alphabet.  A quick
perusal of any standard dictionary might lead one to believe that any
connection between these words is pure chance. 
But we know that there is no (mikra) accident in the world, so let us
look a little more deeply and see whether we can find in the letters a subtle
connection.  Let us look at the letter P,
which is for People and which could be a vehicle that helps connect us to
others.  P is  for  prophets
and presidents, professors, performers, politicians,
photographers, pharmacists and  painters.  P is for playwrights and peacemakers,
physicians and physicists, philanthropists and  poets, policemen and  practitioners.  P is for  press-agents and publishers, principals
and psychiatrists, psychologists and  postmen, pilots  and plumbers.

What is the common
link between all of these people? They all serve in professions
that benefit the public? They are all potential agents for
improving community service. They range in diversity from spiritual guides to
blue collar workers from educators and healers to business leaders and they provide
a gamut of services that form the infrastructure of society streamlining function
and maintaining its cohesiveness.

Since (Lashon
Hakodesh) Hebrew is the root of all languages we should be able to see a
connection to all these professions through the holy tongue. The most
obvious and striking linguistic connection between Lashon Hakodesh and English
in regard to these “P” words is that in Lashon Hakodesh the word for
worker is – Poal, indeed even a working word is a poal, a verb,  and the word for livelihood is – Parnosa. It
gets better, “P” or Peh is the first letter of the word for  pruta  a coin  classically
used by (Chazal) the Rabbis to represent the minimum monetary value – money
being the common medium of exchange in return for services rendered. (Mikra)
Coincidence?  .

             Realizing that there is a
concealed interrelationship within language, even every day secular language
can help us respect the power of speech, and help us to choose our words
wisely.  Using language with due
deference to its power will hopefully open our minds to the thought that the proper
pathway to prosperity is not only through our professions,
but through sincere prayer and philanthropy which leads to
everlasting pleasure and true inner peace.    .    

All articles appearing on this blog are copyrighted by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin Falk. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share/download/copy this information as long as it is accompanied by the copyright. Separately authored/copyrighted materia

THE STRADIVARIUS WITHIN OUR SOULS

                      

       What would you answer if someone sincerely
asked you: “What is the need of all the myriads of Jewish laws and customs,
after all aren’t they just traditional rituals of our forefathers without much
significance for us now in the 20th century?” Let us use the
following paradigm to try to explain how so called “rituals” like (Kiddush) the
blessing of wine on the Shabbath and holidays, the washing of the hands and
saying the blessing over the (challot) bread have essential meaning and purpose
for all of us at all times.

            Just as our bodies, minds and
emotions need vitamins, minerals and other necessary nutrients from the food we
eat for nourishment, so also to maintain the “health” of our souls we need to
be nourished from the spiritual “nutrients” that are encased within that very
same food we consume. How can we therefore explain the concept of spiritual
nutrients and their absorption?

                 Just as the food needs to be healthy
and we need to have good digestion in order to benefit from the food we eat, so
also the spiritual essence of the food needs to be healthy – which means to us
kosher – and we need to have good “digestion” at the spiritual level in order
to “absorb and assimilate – ie. – benefit – from what we consume.

       Therefore the question is: What is it
that we need to do in order to allow the spiritual components in the food to
become available for us? Just like in order to be able to enter and benefit
from the use of your home, if it has a combination lock, you need to first
press all the right buttons in the right order, so also in order to open up the
“pathway” of spiritual “absorption” we need to follow the precise spiritual “combination
codes” in order to access the “soul nutrients” within the food we eat. This means
that every detail of our laws and customs are not just rituals but are essential
steps that “unlock” thereby making available the spiritual value imbedded with
the food we eat.

          Therefore
even though we are the ones who say the blessings, it is actually us who are the
recipients of those very same boundless blessings that are channeled back to us
when we live our lives according to our holy Torah.

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