reflections – The Tree of Life

Soul Maintenance

a motzei Shabbos reflection

Seeking refinement and purification of self should be of the upmost importance, as part and parcel of the experience of being a Yid. I would emphasize that it is written in Pirkei Avos that studying Torah should lead to observance of the mitzvot; otherwise, there will be a disconnect between the intellect and the heart, knowledge and practice, intention and fulfillment.

I struggle to maintain a sense of yiddishkeit day by day, unless I am diligent about the details of my daily practice. Outside of a community that is manifest in proximity to the individual aspirant on the derech, the path is more challenging.

Meeting once a week on Shabbos for in-person services, while attending an online weekday meaning with another shul is not enough to provide the essential grounding that I seek in Judaism. Yet, this is my walk, until another door opens, and HaShem shows me the way.

“A man’s heart deviseth his way; but the L-RD directeth his steps”

– Proverbs 16:9, JPS 1917 Tanach

In parasha Eikev, the Children of Israel are admonished not to stray from the derech and get caught up in the idolatry of the nations that they are about to displace in Eretz Canaan. Maintaining a sense of purity today, especially when one does not live in a more insular yiddishe environment, is challenging.

For myself, after nearly twenty years since I became ba’al teshuvah, it’s as if I am still not settled into the most advantageous niche for my spiritual growth. Yet, I trust that HaShem will lead me along the way to the next endeavor if required for my personal improvement.

Renewal of the Soul: Change

reflections on renewal: Changes along the path of life

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” – James Sherman

The Gestalt Psychology of Fritz Perls teaches that change happens in the present moment. This is a very different premise than the psychoanalytic assertions of Freud, about digging into one’s past to seek resolution. In my own life, I made a conscious decision to shift my perspective, starting with my moral compass in life. Starting where you are in life in order to effect change, speaks volumes to me in regard to a personal dilemma:

I often regret, not having been raised in accordance with a deliberate moral framework based upon Torah. It is as if I have no other recourse, than to accept H’Shem’s chosen path for me, to become a ba’al teshuvah later in life. Yet, how am I to look upon my early years in life? If I still regret having had a secular education (even though I was raised in a Conservative Jewish household), then, I have not accepted G-d’s design for me from the beginning. Yet, if I accept my past, I can still change myself, and the trajectory of my life.

In further consideration of the notion of change, the above-mentioned quotation, written by James Sherman, was written within the context of how to cope with rejection. This also played a role in my life, as I’m sure rejection has for many people. Today, many Jewish progressives are dealing with the harsh rejection of their peers. This rejection is prompted by the ideologically motivated exclusion of Jews from the rank and file of the Woke Movement. Yet, perhaps these disillusioned progressives with a neshama that knows the truth will prevail, will begin again, after learning that embracing the world’s standards in something that runs against the soul.

post Shavuot reflection 5783

As we descend from Sinai, after the receiving of the Torah anew in our lives, may we be compelled to reflect upon our experience, and bring the light and wisdom of the Torah forward with us day by day.

May H’Shem grant us the discernment to apply these teachings to our everyday challenges, and spread the light throughout the mundane as well as the sacred times. That all truth may flourish above and beyond the lies.

reflection: G-d’s Provision

mid-morning reflection:

G-d sustains us, whether we are conscious of this or not. Our awareness usually limits us to our immediate concerns in life; however, He would like us to have the wherewithal to accomplish our goals in tandem with His guidance. Therefore, let us remind ourselves of G-d’s providence and grace in our lives, and seek His guidance and mercy. Amein.

focus point: seeking G-d’s interactive presence

hisbodedus: (According to Wikipedia): The method [of meditation] involves talking to G-d in an intimate, informal manner while secluded in a private setting such as a closed room or a private outdoor setting.

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Soul Renewal: Changes Along the Journey of Life

“Some people will remain with us on our journey when we change; others will not.” – Tzvi Fievel Schnee

As I change, from time to time, over certain periods of my life, the adage that was made known to me, personally, by the founders of PD Seminars, at The Haven in British Columbia has become realized: I was told that some people would draw closer to me, and others would move further away from me. It is as if I can add this statement to my “facts of life” list, if indeed I had a facts of life list to begin with, written down somewhere in my personal journal. Yet, I never even though about beginning a list like that until now. The reason that I have even brought up this issue, is based upon my noticing that every once in a while, my Instagram account loses a follower: it is as if to say, that it is a fact of life for those who post on Instagram and other social media platforms; of course, this could apply to any other social media platform. Although I cannot be sure, I make the generalization with some certainty, despite any statistics; therefore, I hope that what I have mentioned in this specific post of mine, may be of some consolation to others.

Seeking Restoration

“In that day, I will set up again the fallen booth [sukkah] of David: I will mend its breaches and set up its ruins anew. I will build it firm as in the days of old.” – Amos 9:11, JPSN

If our expectations for the future rest, primarily, upon our fears, anxieties, and concerns having to do with the present, then we may expect to transition to something different in our lives as individuals, and part of the greater whole, based upon our discontent of the current status quo. Yet, we should not permit our expectations to lead us astray, into thinking that some better “state of affairs” will come into fruition, as a result of efforts that have more to do with a vision of utopia, based upon a progressive understanding of social justice, in totale, rather than giving credence to the transcendent wisdom of G-d.

Moreover, there is a difference between social justice, bought with the price of losing our freedoms, while condemning those who are not in accord with the pseudo-morality that it proffers, versus a sense of justice that is balanced by chesed (mercy), bringing about a harmonious world view that treats all according to the same standard. G-d’s worldview and divine plan for humankind differs greatly in kind and means to bring his Kingdom into the world, as opposed to mankind’s vision of New Babylon that is already becoming a dystopian reality.

Therefore, let us strive to be in accordance with G-d’s promises for His people, by looking forward to the rebuilding of the Beish HaMikdash in the near future; so that we may not falter while the world around us descends into darkness, let us fully place our trust in G-d, and our expectations in his divine plan.

Rosh Chodesh Av 5782

This evening begins the month of Av, as well as the last nine (intensive) days of the three-week period of mourning for the destruction of the Temples, leading up to the ninth of Av – the day when both Temples were destroyed about six hundred years apart from each other in history.

After the breach of the walls of Jerusalem on Tammuz 17 by the Romans, the second Temple was destroyed, about 1,950 years ago. As a result, even though the state of Israel has been reborn (see Isaiah 66:8), we are still in exile until the time that the third Temple is built. May that day arrive soon. Amein.

Psalm 61: A Refuge in Exile

A Refuge in Exile: reflections on Psalm 61

It is interesting to note, that David’s flight into exile parallels the exiles of the Jewish people. Even today, during the current exile, we can learn from his words, in regard to the challenges that we face. For, we are indeed in exile, inasmuch that the Third Temple has yet to be built. So, even though, Israel has been a recreated state since 1948, many Jews still live outside of Israel in other countries around the world. The ingathering is not yet complete.

So, we may say with David, “May I take refuge in the shelter of your wings” (Psalms 61:5). Because, no matter where we live, the Shechinah, H’Shem’s Presence will be a refuge for the righteous. As is written elsewhere, “For He concealeth me in His pavilion in the day of evil; He hideth me in the covert of his tent; He lifteth me up upon a rock” (Psalms 27:5, JPS 1917 Tanach).

reflections: Psalms 55:23

Tehillim (Psalms): reflections on the Psalms

“Cast thy burden upon the L-RD, and He will sustain thee.”

– Psalms 55:23, JPS 1917 Tanach

If we ourselves took responsibility for shouldering our burdens, without seeking help from H’Shem, how could we possibly bear our challenges in life? Even in seeking the help of others, if we do not also rely on the L-RD, then we are limiting ourselves and Him. It is as if we may unconsciously say to ourselves, H’Shem can not effectually change my situation for the better. Or, as is written in Torah, in no uncertain terms, “Is the arm of the L-RD too short?” (Numbers 11:23) So, we would do well to understand that H’Shem wants us to depend on Him. As is written, “in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:6, JPS 1917 Tanach).

Rosh Chodesh Tammuz 5782

Today is Rosh Chodesh Tammuz,

the first day of the new month of Tammuz on the Hebrew calendar.

Aside from entering the auspicious month of Tammuz, wherein the 17th of Tammuz commemorates the breach of the walls of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 C.E., the three weeks leading up to Tish b’Av begins on that day. On the ninth of Av, both the first Temple in 586 B.C.E., and the second Temple in 70 C.E. were destroyed. Yet, we look forward to the building of the Third Temple, in like manner that light always follows darkness at dawn.

Tammuz is also a month of reckoning, whereof we may focus on ourselves, in terms of our own progress and lack thereof, taking stock of our weaknesses, as well as our strengths. Our “spiritual reserve,” may be running low; perhaps, akin to the sins that lead to the destruction of the Temples amongst those two generations, especially sinas chinam, baseless enmity. Yet, for myself, and K’lal Yisrael (All of Israel), I take hope, for our generation is the generation of return, both in the sense of teshuvah (repentance), and an actual return to Israel:

“And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt bethink thyself among all the nations, whither the L-RD thy G-d hath driven thee, and shalt return unto the L-RD thy G-d, and hearken to His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul; that then the L-RD thy G-d will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the peoples, whither the L-RD thy G-d hath scattered thee.” – Deuteronomy 30:1-3, JPS 1917 Tanach

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