Help
Sign In
choices
November 2008 
Essay on Free Will & Making Decisions
yaffie
At every given moment we have an opportunity to make choices. Some have already been made for us, and some we have made from our own desires and previous choices. For instance, the Jewish people awake from sleep in the morning, and the first thing that is done upon opening our eyes, is to say Modeh Ani, the traditional Jewish prayer of giving thanks for our souls being returned to us each morning, as death is a certain percentage of sleep... and then we wash our hands, brush our teeth, go into the shower, etc. There are no challenges about whether or not we need to bathe, brush our teeth, etc. we know and we do. It has already become second nature. Therefore, it is really not a choice. The time of choosing has already come and gone, finished, now it is the way we do things. We have beaten the inclination to be lazy (it is called the yetzer hara in hebrew) the opposite of good and right, of that issue into submission, or perhaps that was never an issue, or perhaps there was a different one. But whether by the grooming habits learned from our parents as children or by decisions we made in later years on our own and of our own volition, habits and behaviors, customs -- were created. And since most of us do that every morning; we call that a derech-- a way (that we do things.) That is the natural way we go about beginning our morning, and these are our habits. It has become automatic--rote, if you will. Chances are that we have learned and adapted this way long ago and it is part of our very essence and lifestyle. And now we have become in a sense - a slave to those values, habits, and behaviors that we have adapted and accepted as appropriate behaviors and standards.
However, when we come to a time and place with a new set of challenges and circumstances, we are presented with a test. Now we must weigh this according to both the desires of our heart and our will and then a decision must be made with regard to that test or challenge. So, we are put into a position to weigh the benefits and deficits of that opportunity, thought or action and to choose accordingly by exercising our free will or choice. The particular issue at that moment is called the bechira point, and this opportunity to make a choice, to exercise free will is called bechira. This is one of the ways in which we have been likened to our Creator, just as God has free will, so do we! We too, like God, have the ability to choose and to co - create. It is the time to choose one way over another. Once we have already made a decision to choose one way -- then that choice that we have just made, opens a world of brand new possibilities that brings with it more choices to make for the fulfillment and completion of itself. And, in doing so, it takes us to another spiritual level, either an elevation or a fall.
For instance, lets say one makes a choice to study medicine. Once we opt to take the first course in anatomy, the whole curriculum is then open to us, it is a whole new world, and presents the opportunity to learn everything there is to know about medicine and healing, about the human body, how it works, how to fix it, it introduces us to new friends, relationships, positions, etc. It opens up a whole new world!~
Most likely we will want to go all the way to complete the courses for the doctorate and will not rest until we have fulfilled those requirements necessary. Of course, we have the choice to stop at any given moment if we are deterred or distracted and decide to go in another direction....and if so, that door will then close and its entire world will be closed to us and all opportunity to fulfill those requirements to completion at that time will be lost. But until that time, we have become a slave to our studies and to all of the values and facets that lifestyle has to offer. Meanwhile we have created a derech, a way of behaving or of doing. It is then we no longer have this bechira, because once we have decided to study, there is no longer any decision to be made. The choice has already been made and now it has becomes a lifestyle of practiced behaviors, with all of its opportunities, demands, potential, and ramifications. Now as we go forward in that way, of endless study and learning, we have become a slave to that which we have chosen which is not bad. Hopefully it was a good choice and the decision was based on pure motives and desires based in purity from a heart of honesty and integrity.
But what if you have not chosen wisely and for one reason or another, your choice undermines your nature and your potential, your abilities? Perhaps you chose a path because someone influenced you to do that. Or perhaps it was your own ego that deceived you. Perhaps it was the desire for money or prestige that influenced you to make that decision. And now you are stressed out, unhappy, irritable, and depressed. You are confused. Your soul is not at rest. You wonder. Why am I so dissatisfied, restless? Perhaps you do not realize that the choice you made to study medicine was made from an outer influence or your own desires were not honest. Now you don't know where to turn to find the solution to your problem.
This is what it meant in the verse, I place before you this day...(two choices,) ie, for life or for death)...and therefore... "choose ye life." The choices we make, whether they are good or bad ones, will control and dominate us as long as we live in their domain, and they have the capacity to empower us by making us a master or they have a power over us to enslave. That choice we have made will take us as far as we allow it, incorporating all of its energies and expectations, its fulfillment or lack of it, until we come to a new place where we will once again make another choice, and will reach a new point of bechira. At this point, we will leave behind that world that we have inhabited and enter into another realm. This new level we reach is spiritually higher, depending on our hearts desire to become more like our Creator, and brings with it choices with different circumstances and potential, opportunities again emerging for higher levels of growth with new chances to make new decisions that will either broaden or diminish us. When we make those choices that have their roots in good, that are from the side of GOD, we will always become greater. God will never, ever diminish us or make us less! I believe you understand the point now.
Hopefully, the decisions we make today with their infinite reservoir of opportunity for expansion and elevation will be met with a choice made from our desire to be closer to and more like, God. They will manifest and be expressed in those higher levels of growth in kedusha-holiness. New potential and infinite possibilities are ours today. Based on the choices that we make today we will reach higher levels than we have sought before and will be strengthened in our desires to fulfill the position that we have been given. That is--that we have been called Tzelem Elokim, (made in the image and likeness of God). We are created in the Image and likeness of God, with His nature, His attributes and His character. But to really be that Tzelem Elokim, to say that we are made in God's Image, is to rise to conquer our evil inclination, i.e., our yetzer hara, and to meet those new challenges for growth and expansion which come from the discipline necessary to develop that potential--which is far greater and far surpasses any delusions of grandeur that we have ever had or will ever dream.
To know that what our choices are today can bring us to higher and higher levels of greatness is the reason for our very existence. To live at this level is to become a conqueror, as is written about God, who is called, Hashem Tzivakot, the L-ord of Hosts or armies! A being that has become a master over his own evil inclination and of his own nature by choosing and working to overcome those influences that undermine potentials of greatness--and by being willing to make decisions that will manifest in greater heights of holiness, is to be more like God and to move closer toward God and Godliness. To beckon to our calling in life at this exalted spiritual level is to be fulfilled, to be whole and complete, and to reach our ultimate level of perfection.
© Yaffa Leibowitz 2006
Access: Public
Thank you so much for your insightful essay. It awakened a great deal within me at a time when I needed greater understanding in the area of decisionmaking. It was well-thought out and very inspiring. Keep up the beautiful writing!
Thank you lydia!!
Blessing to you, and good luck in all your immediate decision making and new choices!!
I like how you've spoken about being more like God. This is a great teaching, Jesus said, “be ye therefore perfect, as you Father which is in Heaven is perfect.”
In my view, it's about that endless pursuit of perfection, the more like God we are, the more we can relate to Him, and for me relationship is what it's all about.
However, I must point out that there is a difference between being like God, and the same as God.
The way I see it, God is evolving, and we are also evolving. God is the standard of perfection, He is the ultimate, evolution has no ceiling, it continues for ever, and so it goes…
Gosh Dan! We are not the same as God!! That isn't even possible, we are finite and flawed~God is perfect, and while we CAN strive and should strive for perfection and tikkun olam, fixing ourselves and the world, we struggle through needing. But we can certainly emulate Gods attributes, those ten powers that God uses to rule the world. Those ten characteristics, (middot, ) powers, we can emulate those. lovingkindness, discipline, harmony, beauty, royalty, union, speech, wisdom, knowledge, giving, foundation, kingship. These we can emulate and hence we are called, Tzelem Elokim, made in the likeness of God the Creator. This WE CAN DO!! This I will slowly start to address on my blog..The sefirot and their part in our lives..
Also, I meant to say this is the problem i have with the beleif of christianity that jesus is God!! How can that be??? No man can be God. How can a man who has practical needs, ie, showers, eating, drinking, elimination (to use the bathroom) baths, healings, purifications, to grow and develop, to fix himself and the world, to die…etc.etc. Although we CAN be holy, and I am sure that jesus was very holy and learned, disciplined; no man who is finite, flawed, imperfect, can be God, because he is human, imperfect, a creation of God, but MAN and never GOD….but he can be holy to the degree that he will reach his own highest potential, with discipline and love to perfect his own attiributes and character, and while he reaches forth to perfection is still not omnipotent, finite, or omniscient.. none is perfect, save God..
Let me correct myself: we are holy; whatever is created by God has God within it, therefore, we are holy…however we can destroy that likeness, by our behaviors and need to constantly strive to grow in that holiness. you cannot go against God and God likeness and keep that designation of holiness if you do so, you will destroy the amount of kedusha, holiness within you. and the more sin, and the more we go against the grain of what is Godlike, the more we close off the free flow of the spirit of God within us..This is the problem with opening ourselves to many other experiences that might have a form of outer trapping that resembles spirituality but lacks the power and authenticity. You cannot have it both ways, there is no such thing as a little bit pregnant. You either are striving to be Godlike and therefore emulating Gods blueprint with a whole heart, or, you are dabbling and therefore uncommitted and deceiving only yourself, because we can con ourselves very well, yes?? And, we need the balance between the disicipline and the lovingkindess which manifests harmony, symmetry and beauty. everything else is full of baloney..
hahah. that was for free!
Gosh Dan! We are not the same as God!! That isn't even possible, we are finite and flawed~God is perfect,
***Yes exactly, that is why I wanted to point out that like and same are different, to illustrate that point that you have pointed out, to try…***
Tzelem Elokim, made in the likeness of God the Creator. This WE CAN DO!! This I will slowly start to address on my blog..The sefirot and their part in our lives..
***Sounds good, are you into Kabbalah? I haven't researched Kabbalah much myself, but I am well versed in mysticism, so I will be able to relate. Kabbalah is Judaisms mystical counterpart, each religion has a mystical counterpart, religion and mysticism are part of the Path (Dharma).***
Also, I meant to say this is the problem i have with the beleif of christianity that jesus is God!! How can that be???
**Well of course not, but you should recognize that not all who believe in Jesus believe he was/is God. I for example except him as the Son of God, but not as God HimSelf. Jesus prayed to God HimSelf, anyone who reads the Bible on their own will conclude that Jesus was the Son of God, not God.**
Although we CAN be holy, and I am sure that jesus was very holy and learned, disciplined; no man who is finite, flawed, imperfect, can be God, because he is human, imperfect, a creation of God, but MAN and never GOD….but he can be holy to the degree that he will reach his own highest potential, with discipline and love to perfect his own attiributes and character, and while he reaches forth to perfection is still not omnipotent, finite, or omniscient.. none is perfect, save God..
**That all sounds good, sister. I like to quote Jesus because in my view he achieved the pinnacle of human potential, but the main point is that I agree that a human cannot be God. The BIble itself says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son… That is proof enough that he wasn't God, because God sent him. It is quite clear, but you know how it is, people like to look for short-cuts, and for them Jesus is like a get out of hell free card, in my opinion of course.**
“Let me correct myself: we are holy; whatever is created by God has God within it, therefore, we are holy”
**That is a good point as well. As you may know the Bible starts out in Hebrew: “B'reisheet bara Elohim…” which means, 'in the beginning God created/brought forth. I prefer to say, 'brought forth' because it is indicative that God made us of HimSelf. The true meaning of 'create' is to make something new from what's already present, but religious fundamentalists have concluded that we aren't part of God. It's strange, but people have concluded that there is somewhere outside infinity. Where do they get that logic? We actually exist within certain areas within God, inside of Him, because we are finite, existing within infinity, nothing but God exists. We exist as parts of God. Meditation merges our individuality with God's universality. This is a mystical truth that has been known all along, but not by everyone, just those who have embraced the path of the mystic.**
Yes, i agree with you. To create is to make something from NOTHING. We are the created in that God was first. We are in God becasue God is finite and we are a spark of God Himself. The spark can expand however depending upon our connection to God and to oour efforts to move over, in a sense, and allow God to be bigger than us, ego.
Nothing exists that isn't a spark of God. I meant to add that and forgot, lol..not a tree, not any life at all.
I do agree with you in the sense too, that Jesus was highly evolved spiriutally. But I cannot say if we was the most evolved, after all whatever we know of jesus is only from the NT and that was written 200 years later, so basically, it s hearsay. However when it comes to being Maschiach, well, there are the greats: Moses and King David too. I am not sure that Jesus didn't fall, however. This i do not know…because all haved sinned and come short of the glory of God, as it is written….however, that doesn't negate what he was in his humanity…..
Have you seen my essay on shavuot?? it starts on sunday nite i beleive. The holyday of the giving of the torah, take a look.
Stephanie, that is my hearts desire. To carry the light and pour it forth..
thank you. read some poetry..you will like it….
Daniel, no, it is the opposite, to create is to make something from NOTHING…EX NIHILO…..creation does not come from SOMETHING, as i understand it.
Yes, i agree with you. To create is to make something from NOTHING. We are the created in that God was first. We are in God becasue God is finite and we are a spark of God Himself. The spark can expand however depending upon our connection to God and to oour efforts to move over, in a sense, and allow God to be bigger than us, ego.
Nothing exists that isn't a spark of God. I meant to add that and forgot, lol..not a tree, not any life at all.
I do agree with you in the sense too, that Jesus was highly evolved spiriutally. But I cannot say if we was the most evolved, after all whatever we know of jesus is only from the NT and that was written 200 years later, so basically, it s hearsay.
Scholars have studied the authenticity of the NT, I can provide you with a link if you like. I think we both know that the real reason you doubt the NT is because you probably have a problem with accepting Jesus as the messiah, but that is another issue that isn't really all that important in my eyes, the important thing is that we correct mistakes in philophy. I'm unsure why you are willing to accept the authenticity of any of the Bible at all, how do you know any of it actually occured? And how do you know that what's there is accurate? But like I already said, it's a problem with Jesus' identity, not actual authenticity, there are even non biblical mentions of jesus, I would go so far as to say there is more reason to believe in Jesus than any of the “greats” as you call them. Jesus was able to heal all types of affirmities, bring back the dead and even resurect himself, as well as bearing the karma of his disciples. **
I am not sure that Jesus didn't fall, however. This i do not know…because all haved sinned and come short of the glory of God, as it is written….however, that doesn't negate what he was in his humanity…..
**Fall from what? As far as I know, he ascended to heaven, I see no reason to assume the worst. Why do you say all have sinned and fallen short, are you implying that a person cannot live a sinnless life? Sin is only to purposely do something wrong. A person isn't supposed to sin, that's the point, to live a good life, everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone sins. You don't have to be God to not sin, that is a misunderstanding. Why would people assume such a low view of humanity. And why would God create a situation in which no one can succeed? I actually find that dogma to be very negative, irritating actually. If we must sin then why ask forgiveness, we can't stop ourselves anyway? What a crule existence for fundamentalists, to live a life in which there is no hope of avoiding sin!
This mistake is unfortunate, but not quite as bad as the belief that a person goes to Hell after a single lifetime of sin. Where is the justice in that? Even humans are more just than that!! An eternity of suffering just for a single life of sinning? My God is just, and the punishment shouldn't exceed the crime, but once again, this single lifetime belief is just another misunderstanding of scripture.**
creating something from something is not creating, it is only changing. The verse, “and God created” …. refers to something unprecedented, something that never existed before, brand new…on the 1st day refers to having created out of nothing, – from a total vacuum…next referring to the creation of man, with intelligence, higher form of being than the animal kingdom…man was created in the image and likeness of God, with intelligence and free will, to make choices..
creating something from something is not creating, it is only changing. The verse, “and God created” …. refers to something unprecedented, something that never existed before, brand new…on the 1st day refers to having created out of nothing, – from a total vacuum…next referring to the creation of man, with intelligence, higher form of being than the animal kingdom…man was created in the image and likeness of God, with intelligence and free will, to make choices..
**You haven't understood my points, not at all actually. I have given you logic, science and the Bible. God is omnipresent and infinite, there is no vacume where there is any empty space, if there are areas where that is so, then God isn't omnipresent, God must be everwhere to be omnipresent.
Creation means to make something, and you can't make something without using something else. That is just how it is, that is how it's always been. It is completely illogical to believe that there are areas outside of infinity, and also illogical to think something can be made from nothing, this belief of yours is illogical and unscientific, and completely without any basis within scripture. **
Hi! Are you familiar with tzimtzum? the self constriction of God's Light. This involves one of the most important concepts of the kabbalah, as well as one which has been a source of confusion to many scholars. The ari describes it this way. “Before all things were created…the supernal Light was simple and it filled all existence. There were no empty space…When His simple Will decided to create all universes…he constricted the Light to the sides…leaving a vacated space..this space was perfectly round..In the center he drew the kav, a thread like line that did not reach the periphery.
After this constriction..there was a place in which all things could be created. He then drew a single straight thread from the infinite Light..a kav, which did not penetrate to the periphery and brought it into that vacated space…It was through that line that the Infinite Light was brought down below..”
In the literal sense the concept of tzimtzum is straightfoward. God first 'withdrew' his Light, forming a vacated space in which all creation would take place. In order for His creative power to be in that space. He drew into it a 'thread' a kav, of His light. It was throught this thrread that all creation took place. Now the kabbalists say that it is not to be taken literally, since it is impossible to apply any spatial concept to God. Rather, this is speaking in a conceptual sinse, since if God filled every perfection man would have no reason to exist. God therefore contstricted His infinite perfection, allowing a 'place ' for man's free will and accomplishment.. The tzimtzum took place in Gods LIGHT, not his essence. This all comes from the Zohar.
At the head of the King's authority
He carved out of the supernal luminescence
A lamp of Darkness.
And there emerged out of the Hidden of Hidden–
the Mystery of the Infinite–
an unformed line, imbedded in a ring…
measaured with a thread…
This is the reference of tzimtzum…Obviously if God were to dominate every space there would be no place for us or imperfection.
I
beautiful essay
Hi! Are you familiar with tzimtzum? the self constriction of God's Light. This involves one of the most important concepts of the kabbalah, as well as one which has been a source of confusion to many scholars. The ari describes it this way. “Before all things were created…the supernal Light was simple and it filled all existence. There were no empty space…When His simple Will decided to create all universes…he constricted the Light to the sides…leaving a vacated space..this space was perfectly round..In the center he drew the kav, a thread like line that did not reach the periphery.
**According to the Bible God is everlasting to everlasting, there is no empty space, space is only a creation of God's as well as time. Even if there were no space to speak of there would still be God, and there is nothing but God. He's like a continuous flow and we're part of that continuum. Even before creation itself it wouldn't be correct to say it was empty space, it was just God, He exists and is real, therefore it is not really empty space as far as that which is real is concerned. And what do you mean by “simple Will?” There is nothing simple about God's will. God's will was never simple, God didn't evolve, He has always been.**
After this constriction..there was a place in which all things could be created. He then drew a single straight thread from the infinite Light..a kav, which did not penetrate to the periphery and brought it into that vacated space…It was through that line that the Infinite Light was brought down below..”
**This teaching is incorrect, God is universal, there is no need for Him to withdraw to create something, He just alters HimSelf to make something more simple, He is omnipotent, and far from needing to withdraw to leave “empty” space.**
In the literal sense the concept of tzimtzum is straightfoward. God first 'withdrew' his Light, forming a vacated space in which all creation would take place. In order for His creative power to be in that space. He drew into it a 'thread' a kav, of His light. It was throught this thrread that all creation took place. Now the kabbalists say that it is not to be taken literally, since it is impossible to apply any spatial concept to God. Rather, this is speaking in a conceptual sinse, since if God filled every perfection man would have no reason to exist.
**It isn't for men to know God's reasoning, His intellect is far above ours, our's is to just know what we are to do. God is universal, and universality allows it doesn't restrict. When you say God had to withdraw, that is like putting a limitation on Him. What God does is to alter part of His being so it can function on its own, as if it's seperate. However this is only functional seperation, there is no essential seperation as you are implying by speaking of empty space, if God is omnipresent there cannot be empty space.**
God therefore contstricted His infinite perfection, allowing a 'place ' for man's free will and accomplishment.. The tzimtzum took place in Gods LIGHT, not his essence. This all comes from the Zohar.
**Again, universality allows God to do whatever He wishes with His essence, there is no need to create empty spaces. Anything that is God's is part of His essence and Being, there is nothing else. Again, that is what being omnipresent means, He's everywhere, everything is part of Him. You can't break God's deepest apects down like He's being studied, He is beyond our ability to comprehend after a certain point.**
At the head of the King's authority
He carved out of the supernal luminescence
A lamp of Darkness.
And there emerged out of the Hidden of Hidden-
the Mystery of the Infinite-
an unformed line, imbedded in a ring…
measaured with a thread…
This is the reference of tzimtzum…Obviously if God were to dominate every space there would be no place for us or imperfection.
**There is enough space within infinity for all eventualities, why would God need extra space when He has infinity to work with?**
Skylar!! Thank you so much~! I am glad you found beauty in it. And I hope you will enjoy and be enriched by it as well as other work.
Blessings to you..
Now Dan!
You didn't understand. God didn't NEED extra space. There was no 'extra space' there was only 'different space.' God only had to move some LIGHT over to have a space that was devoid of much of his LIGHT> because God WANTED to create a place within the center that other universes and kingdoms could survive in. Survive without being dominated by THE LIGHT. So that man could think and grow, be independent! He didn't create more space. He simply moved the LIGHT over to create darkness and an imperfect space in the midst of HIS LIGHT, HIS infinity…Thank you for sharpening me.. We couldn't exist in a perfect space with all of our flaws and imperfections so HE made it possible for us to grow and develop, to 'fix' ourselves and the universe. Tikkun Olam..repair..Did you read my poem, Solitude? It is the first time now that I correlate these two understandings, and I wrote that before i 'knew' anything about God. Prophetic indeed.
The imperfect space, the vacuum which was dark now from where the light was moved was for our benefit. This is a function of Gods love. If God were only just, then how could we exist in our imperfection ? We couldn't. This is where free will comes from!!! He gave us this space to exist in so that we could choose and make choices from darkness and light, grow, have trials, etc. expand, make good decisions, learn from the dark and gravitate to the LIGHT because in a true sense, God is a gentleman, God does not exert HIS will over us or dominate us. The purpose of all of this FREE WILL! We have room to make plenty of choices, good and bad. Either we make good decisions that will add LIGHT and growth to us, even to move in darkness which will diminish and steal life and light from us… the kav is for US….that is the whole point of our being. We are here to make tikkun olam…to fix…ourselves and the world…I hope now I have brought forth some light on this issue.. that you understand what I understand in my limitation and imperfection…
Dan,
How can we but not sin if we are imperfect and not God? The torah says that “there is none without SIN, no, not one.' Because to sin means to miss the mark. We miss the bullseye often because we do not have the same power total power of God, we are Godlike when we manifest desires to express God, but we are not God and we don't always have that intention…there is a little thing called desire that comes into play and then their is ego. Because we are NOT God, we are human and do not have the same potential, we are a spark of God..
We do like the short cuts, as you say…haha…We are selfish often, we are not always striving for the highest good. How can you say otherwise?? Are you saying that you are God then?? That you dont' sin?? What is that philosophy and that logic?? That Moses wasn't as great as Jesus?? Jesus taught MOSES…it is written in the book of hebrews that jesus told the disciples, do not worry (about the new people being brought forth and how they live) because MOSES is being taught every SABBATH in the SYNAGOGUE…””
How can anyone in truth with any objectivity or honesty say that jesus started another religion, that jesus went away from judaism or that jesus was greater than moses…??? Jesus was all jew….and jesus taught judaism….jesus never taught anything else. jesus studied with the kabbalists and the rabbis and was a product of them.
It is obvious that there was another agenda of men who wrote about what jesus was and wasn't. That one verse is proof that he isn't God, wasn't teaching a different doctrine than judaism, isn't making himself greater than MOSES, and only God knows who and what HIS greats are, and their motives, that he was certainly a rabbi, a teacher learned by his great teachers, a propet and a healer. I don't know about him being messiah, because i dont' see messiah on earth and messiah will not be killed or die……and we haven't gotten there yet in our history as far as i see……but what i do see is that we are approaching the desperate need for the messiah to be revealed..
And it's quite ok with me if it will be jesus, just as its ok with me if it will be David or whoever it will be….. NO?
**Sister, good clarifications, I'm satisfied with that!**
Dan,
How can we but not sin if we are imperfect and not God? The torah says that “there is none without SIN, no, not one.' Because to sin means to miss the mark. We miss the bullseye often because we do not have the same power total power of God, we are Godlike when we manifest desires to express God, but we are not God and we don't always have that intention…there is a little thing called desire that comes into play and then their is ego. Because we are NOT God, we are human and do not have the same potential, we are a spark of God..
**I believe there is a difference between sinning, and to not be perfect. A sin is something intentional. Like if you run someone over with your car who just jumped out into the road, that to me is an accident, not a sin. No one is perfectly good, only God, but the ideal situation for a human is to no longer sin, and serve God. It's like when Jesus said, “Why callest thou me good, only my Father which is in Heaven is good.” It's because there is a certain amount of darkness within everyone, everyone is selfish to a certain extant, everyone must be selfish to a certain degree. God has no vulnerability, God is free to do nothing but care for others. If to be human is to sin, then that seems most unfair.**
We do like the short cuts, as you say…haha…We are selfish often, we are not always striving for the highest good. How can you say otherwise?? Are you saying that you are God then?? That you dont' sin?? What is that philosophy and that logic?? That Moses wasn't as great as Jesus?? Jesus taught MOSES…it is written in the book of hebrews that jesus told the disciples, do not worry (about the new people being brought forth and how they live) because MOSES is being taught every SABBATH in the SYNAGOGUE…””
**Well, I never claimed to not sin myself, I'm saying that it can be done, no one is forced to sin, it's a choice. It isn't a sin to not be God, it's a sin to do something wrong. Jesus teaching about Moses doesn't imply that Moses had the stature of Jesus. Going by scipture, Jesus was greater, I don't see how anyone can dispute that.**
How can anyone in truth with any objectivity or honesty say that jesus started another religion, that jesus went away from judaism or that jesus was greater than moses…???
**I never recall Jesus starting any new religion, I do recall him correcting people's understandings concerning the truth. When dealing with God's prophets all we have are the stories of their lives. Going by the stories that we have Jesus had done greater things than Moses. Did Moses resurect himself from death, could he raise anyone from the grave?**
It is obvious that there was another agenda of men who wrote about what jesus was and wasn't.
**There is no teaching of Trinity, or that Jesus was God in the NT, but there are people who missenterpret the text. The motive of those who wrote the NT was obviously to preserve the teachings of Jesus.**
Dan, people beleive what is easiest for them regardless of its relevance or truth, don't you find that true? Whoever want to beleive those things do….some people receive without using their own head to question. I went from catholicsm, to nothing for many years, till my 30's and then to christianity and then to messianic judaism when i understood something was very wrong while i was in ministry…having been through so many bible schools, and then coming to understand that no, no man can be God!!! God is not so small~~ and then to learn hebrew, to conservative, reform, not in that order, and to orthodoxy and conversion..
I have to go to work now, but will talk more later..
blessings..
Hi Yaffie, I enjoyed reading your essay on Free Will & Making Decisions. I found it very enlightening and backed by practical experience along with the simplicity to have others discover for themselves. I know that everything aligns around a decision, and its great to be reminded that there is logic and choice to paths. Some people are living out a dream their parents set up which can lead to not being on a purpose of their own choosing; while some children take on the path their parents help guide them into and for them it becomes like a life continuum of carrying on the family torch. Both have great lessons attached – just in the experience of living and surviving well or not.
Thank you for the learning curve presented to me and the lesson. I enjoy sharing other paths of enlightenment and tools that work for the betterment of all. You are a beautiful soul. I take writing in as an artform on the screen or paper bound by covers or borders, but the heart and essence is the art I now share from you.
Dan, people beleive what is easiest for them regardless of its relevance or truth, don't you find that true? Whoever want to beleive those things do….some people receive without using their own head to question.
**We humans are very emotional, many times people choose things that feel good rather than things that are based upon sound logic. It's mysterious to me why someone chooses this or that religion. Why do some people enjoy Hebrew, and others like Arabic? The biggest problem that I see are beliefs that defy logic. If we are to adopt beliefs that are illogical we would only happen upon actual truth by dumb luck.**
I went from catholicsm, to nothing for many years, till my 30's and then to christianity and then to messianic judaism when i understood something was very wrong while i was in ministry…having been through so many bible schools, and then coming to understand that no, no man can be God!!! God is not so small~~ and then to learn hebrew, to conservative, reform, not in that order, and to orthodoxy and conversion..
**I went through a lot of searching myself, I'm familiar with various belief systems. At this point I don't much like any of the established religions because they are based so much upon interpretation, and people force themselves into following things that make life inconvinient. I think devotion to God is key, but I don't agree that the form this should take is all kinds of rites that seperate you from everyone else. There are parts of each religion that I know of that I dislike, all kinds of dogmatic things that don't even make sense. When I practiced Judaism I was told by my Rabbi that if I accepted prophet Muhammad or Jesus I would be cut-off from my people! Then a little later I found out about the re-discovery of the blue dye used to color some of the Tzit Tzit which is a Biblical commandement. My Rabbi at that time told me I couldn't purchase these because I had to wait for some group of old men to say so first. Even the wearing of the Yarmulke is just an opinion of a scholar. Don't get me started on the whole mixing meat and cheese problem!! And who cares if I decide to shave my face or not? And the list goes on… Life is hard enough without rules like that. **
**Christianity has the problem of thinking Jesus will absorbe all your sins, when in actuality he really only took the sins of his disciples. This is a pracice that is better known among traditions that know about enlightened beings, which is what Jesus was. An enlightened being. That is the meaning of his declaration, “I and the Father are one.” It bothers me to know that people even pray to Jesus, but the way I see it is that this is a missenterpretation of scripture rather than a deliberate act such as praying to some made-up god such as Ganesh.**
**I suppose people often times need the structure of an organized religion, it's important to be a follower in some way, rather than someone who just thinks they know better than everyone. Everyone who gets anywhere must be a follower, everyone must embrace the guidance of a teacher. Notice that John the Baptist had disciples, and he even sent them to Jesus because Jesus was the appointed messenger of the time. This is why Jesus said, “no man comes to the Father but by me.”
Jews seem to be unwilling to accept Jesus as the Messiah because he doesn't fulfill all of the criteria, but the important thing as I see it, is that a prophecy has no actual power, they are just some details to help recognize the messenger that is comming. If a man comes along and does things no human has ever done and informs you he has been sent by God and can defeat any Rabbi around then why not accept him? Jesus was obviously the one they were waiting for, but people dissagree because of some formalities. Another “Jesus” will come, God looks after us, but people are stubborn. Who knows what reasoning they will use to reject the next one?**
**The way I see it, what's important is that when you have the chance to meet a true master that you follow despite whatever scripture you consider infallible. I don't think it's at all important wether or not it's a sin to eat shellfish or whatever, the important thing is that you are trying to do what you believe God wants from you, what is most righteous, that is all any of us can really do. But there comes a time when you are blessed with the opportunity to go beyond fundamentalism and what books say and meet a master. That is when your missunderstandings will be cleared up. **
I have to go to work now, but will talk more later..
blessings..
**I look foward to your responses. Blessings to you as well.**
This is a mouthful and will take some effort on my part to respond, more like the effort of time…
! I will respond after I have made and had dinner later tonite..
Ah, I see you've said on my blog comments that you think the relationship between man and women is more important than our relationship with God. That is something I've never heard even once in all my searching. I've never seen this in any scripture I've read. Do you remember when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? This was to determine that he feared God, and would put no one before God as his priority.
NOPE….YOU totally misunderstood.. what I said is that the relationship you have with God will express that manifestation of your love for GOD with a wife because God says ” ITS NOT GOOD FOR THE MAN TO BE ALONE AND SO EVE WAS CREATED…..why?? think about it…
he doesn't develop fully, he plays and does foolish things…not grounded, maybe goes in and out of relationships and beds, not committed to a person that he is repsonsible to; that is NOT reflective of GOD:
NEVER LEARNS HOW TO LOVE SO DEEPLY IN A COMMITTED RELATIONSHIP OF MARRIAGE WHICH WILL TOTALLY EXPAND AND BROADEN HIM, MAKE HIM REALIZE HIS FULL POTENTIAL, RAISING CHILDREN AND LOVING ONE WOMAN, HIS AND HER FLAWS…= GROWTH.
not committed to proliferation of the species…to raise a family, and saints after him…doesn't have to give in growing and loving alone…so many reasons…man and women are the way God wants it…that is the love of God poured forth into another..not just extraneous relationships…no, committed marriages..
hello?? God said be frutiful and multiply..
where do you get your doctrine from??
Now back to your other message which i didnt' address: the torah is a blueprint for life.
it teaches us how to think, it expands our minds, it makes us wise if we use its precepts..
it purifies us and refines us, our behaviors, values and attitudes, establishes our priorties.
I THANK GOD that I took HIS Words seriously.
At the age of 34 or so, I started a journey from being nothing to orthodox. i have seen everything there is to see just about in this world and been all over it. and i will tell you this: when you meet someone that takes Gods words seriously and eats those words as the prophet said it is life giving, expansive, refining…it is a washing machine that washes our brain and thoughts and shapes our lives…i thank God my life is shaped and my character is formed by the bible, torah..
First from my own education in Bible schools and in ministry and then later after I converted to Judaism and met my husband, i learned from him, a holy man, how to love in a way and grew as a woman light years beyond what i had ever experienced…and when you see someone who has been 'groomed' by judaism or even honest christianity, because i have been groomed by both, but refined by judaism…there is nothing like that individual on the face of the earth.
nothing..period
Also, the men that are groomed by the torah and the talmud: that really walk the walk, my GOD , THEY ARE BRILLIANT!! NOTHING LIKE THEM ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH…
now, I UNDERSTAND that you have some bad experiences, we all do, i have nightmare experiences from the conversion process…but i didn't cop out or run away….and in truth, when i told my friend what i went through, she asked me why would you ever hang in there yaffa? And i said: becasue we are not so great…but we have a GREAT GOD : people will always disappoint,,but i have my eyes on GOD>>>
maybe you have some misunderstandings dan…you have misunderstood me twice or three times already…but, we have to learn to chew the meat and spit out the bones…people are not perfect, we try, but we are flawed..we are not angels, as my late husband used to say daily…but we strive for the highest goals..you can't throw the baby out with the bathwater, dan…
it doesn't work for you or anyone…we want to accomplish our highest potential…and guess what? nothing does it like discipline…in spite of the fact that we hate it.
so Gods commandments are meant to discipline and purify, refine…
and they do the job, that's what i know.
Anyone that wants to pick and choose what he wants to buy and observe is selling only himself short….because the commandments of God are made to increase us, NEVER DIMINISH US…EVER… now go find yourself a good rav…
a rav is a shidduch….the pirke avot says, to find a rav, not any rav, no, because its a shidduch…he has to be the one who understands and communicates to you on your level, and yet be able to elevate you…this is the shidduch…
blessings to you my friend….
maybe you got mixed up between jesus, and eastern philosophy and torah……
try one mentor..
what I said is that the relationship you have with God will express that manifestation of your love for GOD with a wife because God says
**A relationship with God deals with every aspect of life because everything is part of God. Love for God includes love for others, because we are one, one with God. However, God HimSelf is the gounding aspect of it, just as you've pointed out that a wife is grounding, and centering, it is devotion to God HimSelf that ensures that we don't become overly attached to any of His creations, including our wives!**
” ITS NOT GOOD FOR THE MAN TO BE ALONE AND SO EVE WAS CREATED…..why?? think about it…
**Yes, the man needed companionship, as well as a way to populate the world, a wife is very enriching, but our hearts must belong primarily to God. We are all eternal, and our mates are only alive for a blink of the eye of eternity. God HimSelf is the one who will always have us as a priority, will always be watching over us. We have had countless husbands and wives, who don't remember us. God HimSelf is the first priority. A wife is just one of those things that enriches our lives and is good, but not necessarily everyone though. Some may choose to be priests or nuns, or maybe they are content to be alone. Others may just wish to date here and there and remain single. It's up to the individual.**
**The Bible is not one book, it is a collection of books. I actually view the Adam and Eve story as allegorical. I don't actually believe there was a talking snake that fooled Adam and Eve into eating an apple. That is a story meant to teach a lesson. Nor do I believe there actually is some evil red demonic fellow lurking. Satan really exists as the evil principle, the other half of duality, the destructive aspect of creation.**
he doesn't develop fully, he plays and does foolish things…not grounded, maybe goes in and out of relationships and beds, not committed to a person that he is repsonsible to; that is NOT reflective of GOD:
**That is all your opinion, to each their own. **
NEVER LEARNS HOW TO LOVE SO DEEPLY IN A COMMITTED RELATIONSHIP OF MARRIAGE WHICH WILL TOTALLY EXPAND AND BROADEN HIM, MAKE HIM REALIZE HIS FULL POTENTIAL, RAISING CHILDREN AND LOVING ONE WOMAN, HIS AND HER FLAWS…= GROWTH.
**There is no commandment for everyone to marry and have children, that is a choice. Mother Teresa was single, no husband, no family and did great. The Buddha was unmarried, Ghandi as well. Jesus had no children, and there are many selfless servants of God who remain single. You found it helpful to have a husband, and now you are assuming that everyone who doesn't take your path is wrong, that is your issue, sister.**
not committed to proliferation of the species…
**Many animals have that type of commitment, but humans can choose, their are plenty of other people with that commitment anyway.**
hello?? God said be frutiful and multiply..
where do you get your doctrine from??
**Of course, that was at the beginning, it wasn't addressing everyone. If someone tells you to shut up, should everyone shut up as well. It depends on who's being addressed. Christians make the same mistake when it says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so whosoever believed in Him would have everlasing life…” This doesn't imply that you must believe in Him or go to hell, nor does it apply to everyone for all time. It was for those who were alive at the time. You can't be a disciple of someone you've never met, they must personally accept you. Jesus was sent to teach and absorb the karma of those who were alive and accepted him as their teacher. God says things at certain times to the people of the time. It also says in the Bible that Gays should be stoned. Have you been doing that? That was a certain writers belief, at a certain time. Understand? Look at the time it was said and to whom, that is common sense.**
“This is the reference of tzimtzum…Obviously if God were to dominate every space there would be no place for us or imperfection. ”
**I want to again explain your mistake, and point out that it is not that I have missunderstood, but that you are making mistakes. See above that you state, “if God were to dominate every space…” God is infinite, infinite means without limit. If you can say, “God ends here,” then He is not infinite, undestand? We exists as parts of God, there is no essential seperation between anything, it's continuous, one. You're problem is you no nothing other than possibly Judaism and Christianity, and worse yet, you are going by interpretaions made by people, and then you have your own understandings, such as this, our relationship with our mate is the highest holyness nonsense. This is just something you believe, as you have proven, there is nothing to back it up in scripture, besides you're, it is not right for man to be alone (which was said concerning Adam), and “be fruitful and multiply,” which is again at a certain pivotal time, to cerain people.**
**God does dominate every space, there is only God. We exists like cells in a body, inside God. The difference is, we have free will. We can choose to be destructive due to having a spirit. Your problem is you don't understand mysticism. You are only as good as the people you are studying with. If you aren't studying with an enlightened teacher you haven't entered the path yet. Judging by your lack of mystical understanding you haven't met one yet. You are merely a fundamentalist, you are limited by that. You pretened to be able to tell me that I have gotten confused between Jesus and mysticism, but due to your ignorance of both Jesus and mysticism, you can't make any judgments upon them. **
**Masters only give out certain amounts of what they know, not all of it, that is for a disciple. A common Rabbi is not a master, that won't work. No book will give you everything you need, you need a living master. If your wish is to remain a fundamentalists and not reach enlightenment, that is fine. The most important thing is to be righteous, but for those who are ready, God requires that they become disciples in order to reach true objective contact with God HimSelf, not pure intellectual knowledge. People such as the Buddha, Prophet Muhammad, Jesus, Moses, etc. they have actually seen God. You will notice that people in the Bible were meditators, this is a requirment if you want reach enlightenment and meet God, it is on another level of perception.**
“The highest form of KEDUSHA, holiness, is not you and God. NO!! The highest form of holiness is the manifestation of unity and ONENESS between a man and a woman”
**As Jesus has said, “Love God with all your strength, all your heart, all your soul, and your neighbor as yourself.” Those are the highest commandments, no true teacher would allow you to walk around with such foolish misconceptions, and especially not when you may spread such things to others. God HimSelf is the priority. This is the message of all God's prophets. Have you ever heard a prophet saying, “your priority is to have a wife, that is the highest holyness??!!” That is silly, you are smarter than that sister!**
Why do you continually quote jesus?? Jesus is NOT god, jesus made mistakes, jesus had to go to the bathroom, jesus needed to eat, sweated, stunk when he perspired..needed a bath, he wasn't GOD, he was trying to FOLLOW God, ..and by the way jesus never said not to marry…and furthermore, jesus was married..
jesus is (was) a man. Jesus as you said so aptly, is not God..so, lets forget jesus here..
Now, I said that GOD Refracted HIS LIGHT!! not space..hello?? do you read well??
you agreed, but now you want to argue..
according to your theories and doctrines, lol, according to what you have stated dan,
you shouldn't marry, Dont bother beleiving God and that will be the end of the human species, lol, and that is a great blueprint and paradigm for life now, isn't it??
Dan your arguements don't make sense at all.
think about it, you are the one confused I am not and either is the zohar, or the mystics..go READ THEM , the true holy mystics.. if everyone of them did what you did and you beleive, dan, there would be no more holiness on earth, there would only be more of all of the tumah from the unholy people in the world to a greater degree than we already have now…..you would extinguish even holiness according to your theories and the porliferation of the species, so, I guess it would be just you and God for a bit….right?
your theories dont' add up..
.
Why do you continually quote jesus?? Jesus is NOT god, jesus made mistakes, jesus had to go to the bathroom, jesus needed to eat, sweated, stunk when he perspired..needed a bath, he wasn't GOD, he was trying to FOLLOW God, ..and by the way jesus never said not to marry…and furthermore, jesus was married..
**I challenge you to name one spot where I have claimed Jesus was God, as well as any spot when I claimed he made no mistakes. I also never claimed Jesus spoke against marriage, nor have I claimed to be against it, why do you put words in my mouth, sister. Endevor to improve your comprehension skills. Jesus also never said your wife is a priority. No prophet has ever proclaimed such a foolish thing. Only a silly person would say such a thing. All devotees of God who are on the Path understand that attachements are bad, and will bind you. God is the priority. You don't like when I quote Jesus because you force yourself into a man-made religion that makes idiotic claims such as “Jesus was crazy and Muhammad was a liar.” Ask your rabbi what he feels concerning Jesus and Muhammad. Muslims accept all prophets and messengers. You can only remain confident as long as you believe your fundamentalist programing is flawless which it isn't. You quoted a pitiful singular verse to back-up a flimsy conclusion that no religious person would ever back you up on.**
jesus is (was) a man. Jesus as you said so aptly, is not God..so, lets forget jesus here..
**You can forget Jesus if you like (I realize Jews have a problem with him) but he is a prophet from the Bible. His miracles are far greater than one such as Moses as well as being far more recent. Your snipet from the story of a couple dealing with a talking snake is surely the most reputable proof for a flimsly statement I assume? You obviously cannot comprehend the fact that when God speaks to a specific person it is them He is adressing, it isn't complicated.**
Now, I said that GOD Refracted HIS LIGHT!! not space..hello?? do you read well??
you agreed, but now you want to argue..
**I am pointing out that when you write you are presenting conflicting information, that is a flaw I am pointing out. You said “if God dominated every space,” those are your words. Omnipresent does mean that He dominates every space.**
according to your theories and doctrines, lol, according to what you have stated dan,
you shouldn't marry, Dont bother beleiving God and that will be the end of the human species, lol, and that is a great blueprint and paradigm for life now, isn't it??
Dan your arguements don't make sense at all.
**Where have a stated that people shouldn't marry, pray tell? My words were that it can be very enriching and I fuly believe in marriage. Why do you continuously put words into my mouth. Show a little Yozma (initiative) and quote me where I have made the statement. I believe it is optional to marry and optional to have kids. I respect the sacrifice of people such as mother Theresa and other selfless sevants of humanity that forsake family life in order to serve God. This marriage dogma of yours is completely unfounded, and just plain wrong.**
if everyone of them did what you did and you beleive, dan, there would be no more holiness on earth, there would only be more of all of the tumah from the unholy people in the world to a greater degree than we already have now…..you would extinguish even holiness according to your theories and the porliferation of the species, so, I guess it would be just you and God for a bit….right?
**Not my theory, but the theme that is dominant throught the Bible. A relationship with God. Worship of God alone, and service to others, that is what I believe in, not an idolotrous obsession with being married.**
**I have never stated anywhere that I want to only be alone with God. I repeat, marriage can be very enriching, I am all for it, as well as raising righteous children. Life should be synergistic, including family, friends, recreation, meditation, health many things. My statement is that God should be at the forefront of our lives. “Put God first.” This is common knowledge. In all my time practicing Judaism I have never heard such a statement as our relationship with our wives is more important than our relationship with God Almighty.**
Ok, when I spoke about domination, i was referring to God dominating a space so that a person cannot survive, God didn't do that. God gave man the oppoturnity not to be dominated by God and therefore, moved the light over….that's what i said.
secondly, when you do emphatically gloss over the command to be fruitful and multiply….it seems like you are justifying your own belief that you and God you two and that is the highest goal..Of course judaism teaches that you must first love God, how can you love anyone without knowing the love of God?? but then, you must bring forth that love and take responsibilty also for a spouse, where that love is expressed. Men have the mitzva to daven three times a day so that they can put God first.
I am happy to hear that you dont' have to be a monk to love God and to be a devotee.
The highest form of kedusha, ask any rabbi, is the Godly love and expresssion of it between a man and woman, the marriage covenant, where all of the Love of God and the caring for each other is expressed.. I think everything i have said is so obvious and understandable..
I wish you a wonderful love and marriage.
secondly, when you do emphatically gloss over the command to be fruitful and multiply….it seems like you are justifying your own belief that you and God you two and that is the highest goal..Of course judaism teaches that you must first love God, how can you love anyone without knowing the love of God??
**The command to be fruitful and multiply wasn't given to you, it was said to Adam and Eve. I am trying to help you to understand that everytime a commandment is given you look to whom it was said. My relationship with God is the highest goal full stop. I have had the grace to meet my one, we are on the same path together. But we both know that we aren't the priority. We understand that God HimSelf is the priority in life. If it were to happen that our service of God caused us to need to be seperate, then that's what we would need to do. Wives come and go. You can love people without loving God. You can be an atheist and be a very loving person. **
but then, you must bring forth that love and take responsibilty also for a spouse, where that love is expressed. Men have the mitzva to daven three times a day so that they can put God first.
**This is where you get yourself into problems, when you say things like “must.” A person need not marry. Plenty of people decide not to marry. It is a choice.**
I am happy to hear that you dont' have to be a monk to love God and to be a devotee.
The highest form of kedusha, ask any rabbi, is the Godly love and expresssion of it between a man and woman, the marriage covenant, where all of the Love of God and the caring for each other is expressed.. I think everything i have said is so obvious and understandable..
**Sister, that is wrong. The rabbis are wrong, plain and simple. The priority is to serve God which includes serving others. Things such as wives and friends are enriching, but not at all compulsory. Forget what rabbis say. Look at the Bible. You will never find anything in the Bible that will say the highest holyness is the marriage covenant. You posted one verse to back-up you statement which wasn't even addressed to us, nor is it a prevalent theme in the Bible. You shouldn't put opinions ahead of God's guidance.**
If you analyze yourslef, you see you are all mixed up and contradictory…you have no clue what you are talking about. YOU CONTINUE TO CONTRADICT YOURSELF CONTSTANTLY. WE ARE not spiriutal if we go from bed to bed or woman to woman, we are not dogs…that copulate from animal to animal, that doesn't bring spiritual light.
iT SAYS THAT the HIGH PRIEST must have a WIFE!! ITS NOT JUST ONE VERSE, AND NOT MY OPINION…that is YOUR ISSUE BROTHER, YOU GOT A BIG PROBLEM WITH DEVOTION AND LOYALTY ACCORDING TO ALL YOU HAVE SAID.
YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR TORAH, YACOV LEFT HIS HOUSE TO FIND A WIFE, ELIEZAR WENT TO FIND A WIFE FOR YITZCAK, TORAH DEDICATES A LOT TO FINDING A WIFE..why did you think God spent so much time with the b'nei israel counting the tribles?? counting the tribes?? counting the children, the wives, the familes, hello?
GOD DIDN'T CHANGE HIS MIND, HE IS ETERNAL, YOU ARE NOT, YOU ARE MIXED UP, YOU TOOK TOO MANY MENTORS TO ADJUST TO YOUR OWN REBELLIONS.,
WHATEVER IS IN THE BIBLE IS FOR ALL TIME BECAUSE GOD IS ETERNAL, GOD DIDN'T CHANGE HIS MIND…ITS FOR ALL GENERATIONS FOREVER..
YOU like to pick and choose, you depend on your own understandings and your 'mentors' and your own comprehension, and then you criticize me and my rabbis?? I guarantee they are not as nmixed up as you!??
Maybe for YOU women come and go, maybe you can't make it with one woman, but my husband loved me so much he would have died for me and i remember anyone i loved very well…you need some middos improvement..you must not be doing something right..or maybe you can't love yourself and therefore cannot let someone else 'love' you and make a life with you. Or maybe you just think you are too 'holy'
for a woman? YOU are not eternal!! so women cannot come and go in your life, you will maybe live only as long as any wife. you are talking nonsense..
Dan, read Kohelet, It says that you should enjoy life with your wife..paraphrasing..
Daniel, why am i having this discussion with you?? It doesn't make sense. You obviously are only interested in promoting yourself and your own agenda, what suits you is what your beleifs are.. I am not GOD…maybe you are…and you are above any and all of my little understandings about GOD and holiness, all of the Fathers and Mothers fof the bible, the Rabbis', we are all dumb and you are the smart one….You are the TRUTH and the LIGHT DAN, maybe you are the guru messiah coming to light, too? The ETERNAL!!!
hmmmmmmm…
.
There are four sons: the rasha says : …”Your torah” and doesn't include himself…
Sorry, i am just a devotee to Torah and its precepts…I am not way out there buddy…
i can't compete with you…you are an anomaly….
Maybe you are the next jesus or
jesus incarnate or buddah, the next guru messiah?? hhhhhmmmmm…
The truth of the pudding is in the eating. The Jewish people have flourished in all of their adversity and circumstances, under all conditions throughout history. They are the only people who have flourished throughout history because they followed God and His precepts. All historians and scholars acknowledge this strange phenomenon..
ok, Daniel,…good luck brother..Do your own thing…your own agenda….good luck..byebye.