 |
|
July 3, 2008
Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski: A spiritual budget (TOUCHING!)
Jeff Jacoby: Israel still paying for its defeat
JWisdom:: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part IV by Rabbi David Aaron
July 2, 2008
Jonathan Tobin: Appeasers Make Poor Patriots
The Kosher Gourmet
By Kathleen Purvis: Slaw, y'all: For BBQs or Sabbath dinner, these southern recipes are something else!
JWisdom:: Rabbi Mordechai Becher: Jewish Rx for A Simpler Life
July 1, 2008
The Jewish Ethicist
by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. I think it's important to leave a legacy to my children. How much should I save towards this end?
Paul Greenberg:A President who is history deficient?
JWisdom:: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Poland's Unique Antisemitism
June 30, 2008
Jonathan Rosenblum: Remembering the architect of Torah Judaism for the modern world
Abe Novick: Hulk: Still a Jew?
JWisdom: : Putting the Spirit Back into Spirituality, Part 2: The Abandoned Child
June 26, 2008
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Quantum leap to evil
Caroline B. Glick: Victimized families must not be allowed to dictate policy
June 25, 2008
Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Today in Biblical History: King Jeroboam of Israel prevents pilgrimage to Jerusalem
Jonathan Tobin: Real Friends and Real Enemies
JWisdom:
Raping of reason By Rabbi Sroy Levitansky
June 25, 2008
Steven Emerson: Kristof: Never Mind the Terrorists
Stratfor Intelligence Briefing: Mediterranean Flyover: Telegraphing an Israeli Punch?
JWisdom: Rabbi David Aaron: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part III
June 24, 2008
Caroline B. Glick: What were they thinking!?
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Guilty knowledge
JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Warping Innocence
June 23, 2008
The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Diploma dilemma
Jeff Jacoby: A world without children
JWisdom:
Rabbi Dovid Gross: Putting the Spirit Back into Spirituality --- Introduction
June 20, 2008
Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: Man: The Crowning Glory of Creation
Caroline B. Glick: Israel's darkest week
JWisdom: We aren't worthy? by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky
June 19, 2008
Rabbi Elazar Meisels: The saints who don't come marchin' in
Chris Christoff:
Muslim woman demands an apology from Obama after camera snub
June 18, 2008
Jonathan Tobin: Still Dancing Around Jerusalem
The Kosher Gourmet
by Steve Petusevsky: Chilled fruit and vegetable soups
JWisdom:
Souls Need A Check Up? by Rabbi Mordechai Becher
June 17, 2008
Rabbi Avi Shafran: Baby Einstein
Caroline B. Glick: Bush's rhetoric, Bush's policies
JWisdom:
Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part II by Rabbi David Aaron
June 16, 2008
Varda Branfman: Bob Dylan, won't you please come home?
Diana West: Academic dares to question the 'religion of peace'
JWisdom:
Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Positive Backfire
June 13, 2008
Rabbi Berel Wein: Trading manna for whine
Caroline B. Glick: Peace with friends
JWisdom: From the mouths of … by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky
June 12, 2008
Michael Feldberg: Meet Paul Revere's pal, the Orthodox Jew who played a key role in laying Boston's cultural and business infrastructure
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Manweiler: No need to be tempted by Wendy's mandarin chicken salad
JWisdom: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part I by Rabbi David Aaron
June 11, 2008
Rabbi Avi Shafran: What would Hillel say?
Jonathan Tobin: UNRWA and NGOs: The Real U.N. 'Insult'
JWisdom: Sara Yoheved Rigler: Greatness Made Simple: How a momentary decision shifted life's course and destination
June 6, 2008
Rabbi Pinchas Stolper: Revelation: The basis of faith
Binyamin L. Jolkovsky: Mere hours after becoming Israel's new 'best friend' Obama backtracks on status of Jerusalem
Caroline B. Glick: UN choosing to protect rogue nuclear programs
JWisdom: Sameness in difference by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky
June 5, 2008
David Lightman: Now Obama wants to be Israel's newest 'best friend'
Obama's remarks to AIPAC policy conference
The Kosher Gourmet
By Ethel G. Hofman: Shavous cuisine: Ruby Fruit Soup, Lokshen Kugel with Cheese, Key Lime Curd, Calsone Casserole Frittata with Wild Mushrooms, Sun-dried tomatoes and Olives, Baked Tilapia with Pepper Cheese Cream and Brown Sugar Shortbread
JWisdom: Why a Jewish Jerusalem makes so many nervous by Rabbi Mordechai Becher
June 4, 2008
Jonathan Rosenblum: A different sort of 'religious broadcaster'
Jonathan Tobin: Misgivings on the Road to Damascus
JWisdom: 44 Years Without An Argument? by Sara Yoheved Rigler
June 3, 2008
Daniel Pipes: Obama vs. McCain on the Middle East
Everything's Relative: There is a crisis growing in Orthodox synagogues worldwide, reveals Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkel
JWisdom: White Facades; Black Secrets by Rabbi Mordechai Becher
June 2, 2008
The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q: Lie to outsmart discriminator?
He writes the songs that make our souls sing:Gavriel Aryeh Sanders interviews Jewish music legend Ben Zion Shenker; includes stirring, uplifting song
JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Of laws and lives
March 22, 2007
J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !)
Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)
|
| |
Jewish World Review
April 8, 2005
/ 28 Adar II, 5765
Sick minds, sick bodies
By
Rabbi David Aaron
The power of our beliefs to heal or harm
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
The Jewish Sages gave a spiritual rather than physiological explanation for the disease tsara'as (generally translated as "leprosy") which affected not only the body but also clothing and the walls of houses. According to one source several sins could possible be the cause:
R. Shmuel bar Nachmani said in the name of R. Yochanan: Because of seven things the plague of leprosy is incurred, namely, slander, the shedding of blood, a vain oath, incest, arrogance, robbery and envy. (Arakhin 16a)
However, most Sages concur that the main cause for tsara'as was slander and gossip.
How can we understand the physical impact of our moral and spiritual actions?
The Kabbalah teaches that the world you and I live in is a product of our perception of reality. The philosopher Immanuel Kant probed this concept. He asked: Do we see reality or do we see our perception of reality? Kant's answer is that we do not see reality, but only our perception of reality. In other words, is this world reality? No, this world is your perception of reality. Therefore, the focus and clarity of your consciousness will determine the kind of world you live in.
This is expressed in the Kabbalistic Classic, the Zohar's, commentary on the story of Jacob as he's going to Egypt to be reunited with his long-lost son Joseph. Jacob has misgivings about leaving the land of Israel, even to see his beloved son. G-d appears to Jacob and says, "Jacob, don't worry. Joseph will close your eyes." The Zohar queries, what does this mean? According to Torah, when a person passes away, someone must close the eyes of the deceased. The Zohar explains that the colors and textures and shapes of this world exist in your eyes. In order to enter a new world, a higher world, after death, the soul must first leave this world. This world exists in one's eyes, so the eyes must be closed in order to take leave of this world and see a higher world. G-d is announcing to Jacob that he is going to die in Egypt and Joseph will be there to close his eyes to this world, so that he will be able to enter, i.e. see, the next world.
Is the Zohar saying that this world is an illusion? No. The Zohar is saying that this world is your subjective perception. Your consciousness of reality determines the world you're in. Your consciousness of G-d determines how much of the light and the truth of G-d will be allowed into your world. To the extent that you acknowledge G-d, to that extent G-d will be in your life. This is a very crucial idea. Although G-d is, G-d is not revealed in your perceptual world unless you actively acknowledge and invite G-d in.
Each one of us has a choice. You can believe that this world is filled with the presence of G-d who cares about it and guides it. Or you can believe that this world is one big accident, a chaotic mess. The choice is yours. But remember what you believe is ultimately what you will see and experience. What you believe creates the world you live in.
BUILDING BLOCKS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
How would I act if I really believed that G-d's presence filled my life, my home, my office, my city, my world? How would I speak to my wife and kids? How would I treat the stranger? To the extent that I think, speak, and act in accordance with this heightened awareness, to that extent, G-d can be present in my world. It's not just a matter of believing and saying so. We have to acknowledge G-d's presence in the world constantly, by how we conduct our relationships, how we speak to and about others, how we eat our lunch, how we do virtually everything. Spirituality without a daily discipline is just a hobby.
It is not only through a collection of very deep ideas that I build consciousness of G-d. I need a daily concrete way to walk the talk. The so-called "good-deeds" and "rituals" of Torah tradition are designed to be building blocks to nurture and concretize consciousness all day long, so that I can channel G-d's presence into the world and into my life.
By increasing my consciousness of G-d, I thereby allow the light of G-d and all the gifts of spiritual wealth to pour into the world. Few realize the true goodness in deeds and the real richness in rituals. They are really invitations to G-d. What we are saying in both words and actions is, "G-d, I want to get You into my life!"
When I reach into my pocket and give charity to the beggar on the street, when I smile at the person next to me in the supermarket line, when I extend myself to help my neighbor unload heavy packages, when I spend quality time with my kids by reading with them, I am inviting G-d into my world. All these good deeds actually become invitations to bring the Divine into our world.
EXILING G-D
I have choice. I can nourish the consciousness of G-d through my speech, thoughts and actions. Or I can neglect it. I could choose to filter out the divine qualities from my awareness, and thus live in a godless world. Kabbalah refers to that state as "the exile of G-d's presence." In other words, I can throw G-d out of the world.
An amazing verse in Psalm 119 says, "I am a stranger on earth." According to some commentaries, the "I" refers to G-d, who considers Himself present in this world, but unrecognizable by anyone.
In another astounding verse, we are told, "You are my witnesses. I am G-d." The Midrash comments, "If you are my witnesses, I am G-d. But if you are not my witnesses, I am not G-d." What does that mean? It's an unbelievable idea. G-d depends upon our acknowledgement in word and deed in order to enter into our world. For G-d to appear in our world we must be G-d's witness. G-d, so to speak, depends on our consciousness in order to enter into our world.
Without our consciousness, the light of G-d cannot illuminate our world, so we will find ourselves in a frightening darkness. That darkness which results from the absence of G-d's light creates the space for evil and disease.
I am always amazed when I take off in an airplane, on a dark gloomy cloudy day, how bright it actually is once we get passed the clouds. I always try to remind myself during dark times in my life that the light is actually still shining. I just need to pierce the clouds and let the sunshine in. The darkness comes only because something is blocking the light.
We can block G-d's light from the world by creating cloudy consciousness through our thoughts, speech and actions. If we close our eyes to seeing G-d, we'll create a dark world which is seemingly governed by chaotic and destructive forces.
The Kabbalah says that you and I have the dimmer switch in our hands. We can either turn the light of G-d up, creating a whole and radiant world filled with health and joy, imbued with the presence of G-d, or we can turn the dimmer down, creating a dark, gloomy, ugly, Godless world. Our consciousness, which is nurtured by our thoughts, speech, and actions, becomes the vessel to receive the divine presence and the vehicle to transmit the divine blessings into our daily lives.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes uplifting articles. Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
To comment, please
click here.
JWR contributor
Rabbi David Aaron is the founder and dean of Isralight, an international organization with programming in Israel, New York South Florida, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Toronto. He has taught and inspired thousands of Jews who are seeking meaning in their lives and a positive connection to their Jewish roots.
He is the author of the newly released, The Secret Life of G-d, and Endless Light: The Ancient Path of Kabbalah to Love, Spiritual Growth and Personal Power , Seeing G-d and Love is my religion. (Click on links to purchase books. Sales help fund JWR.) He lives in the old City of Jerusalem with his wife and their seven children.
© 2005, Rabbi David Aaron
|
