Exposing Wokism: Transgender Bender

Welcome to truth over falsehood, where you will be equipped with information that will strengthen your ability to discern truth from lies and reflect upon some very important issues in regard to the Woke Revolution.

Today’s podcast has to do with the proliferation of transgender ideology being propagated within the educational system, specifically, K-12; yes, that even includes preschoolers, who are being seeded through indoctrination with the ideas of Queer Theory. The vulnerable minds of children are being influenced by an agenda meant to compel them to think differently about biological reality.

Breaking the Spell

from Darkness into Light: a personal revelation of faith

I was recently inspired by a speaker at a luncheon, after morning services at the place of worship that I attend every Sabbath. He spoke about his experience in the Israeli military, as a commander in the Golani Brigade, leading his unit on a dangerous mission in 2014, during Operation Protective Edge. The mission was accomplished, yet, at a significant cost to his unit.

He went through a year of rehabilitation in the hospital, and continued to suffer from PTSD. I asked him when he began speaking. He responded, that he began speaking several years ago. I followed up with a question, Did speaking publicly help with PTSD? He responded immediately in the affirmative, stating that it is therapy for him.

This resonated with me. And, the timing, around my own hesitance to begin speaking openly about my own experience is more than a coincidence. With that said, I will begin to recount, in as much detail that I am able to provide at this time, my own narrative, concerning my experience the before, during, and after, participation in a New Age Millenarian Therapy Cult.

To start with, for myself, and others who have been in a cult, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is invariably something to contend with by all ex-cult members, regardless of what type of cult they have been in. For myself, to begin bringing these things out into the open is like breaking a spell, so that I may be liberated from the chains to my past that bind me.

In fact, it wasn’t until five years after I broke free from my therapist, that a counselor at the False Memory Syndrome Foundation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania took the time to explain to me that I actually was being held as a “mental hostage” all of those years. Thus began, at that time, an objective inquiry into what I had actually been subjected to all of those years.

Darkness into Light

Recently, I have been reflecting upon whether or not to begin disclosing material of a personal nature, especially in regard to my past. The primary question of mine has been how to bring the experience of my past out into the open with friends and family. However, it struck me that it might be easier to do so, even in a more comprehensive way, via one of the platforms whereof I have been presenting my thoughts on what is most important to me – my religious path.

For it is solely my connection to G-d that has brought me through everything that I have been dealing with for decades. The aftermath of what I went through still resides in my heart, in need of redemption from the shadows that still surround that experience, so many years ago. What better way to reclaim my past, by bringing out into the light, what remains hidden, in the darkness of my psyche.

My background in psychology has helped me to review my experience in a more objective manner, than if I did not have that background; yet, the emotional components remain stuck to some degree, only showing up in ways that may be considered as maladaptive coping mechanisms with material that has yet to be resolved from the perspective of therapy. I am my own therapist; and, G-d is my mentor. This is how it’s been more or less, ever since I escaped from a New Age Millenarian therapy cult in 1994.

I may decide to create an accompanying video for each topic that I delve into, so as to go into more depth on that topic, in an up-front, candid, honest way, beyond what is possible through the more cerebral process of writing. For, I only now realized what has been influencing me subconsciously to withhold disclosure about my experience in the therapy cult: an implicit threat against talking about the nature of the therapy sessions, made by my therapist years ago.

parasha Ki Seitzei 5783

According to the Rashi translation of Shir HaShirim, that is recited erev Shabbos, by the pious, Israel asks G-d, where He will graze His flock. Elokim responds, that we should follow in the footsteps of the sheep, our forefathers, who walked in the ways of H’Shem. Yet, we have strayed, is this not so? Or am I the only who realizes this from the perspective of my own experience, judging myself first?

As a people, we have strayed, for we are K’lal Yisrael, and no part of the whole can claim redemption from the rest of the whole, as if G-d favors the righteous and excludes the rest. Rather, He calls us all to return to Him, from whatever level we currently stand upon the ladder of inspiration and deveykus (attachment to G-d).

In this week’s parasha (Torah portion), we learn about the woman who is taken captive during a battle against Israel’s enemy. This woman is treated with great respect, and is permitted to mourn for her parents, her people, and her previous life, prior to being taken captive.

She represents the neshamah (fem,. soul), of a penitent that G-d takes captive to draw that soul to Himself. Israel, personified in Shir Hashirim, is self-aware of her past deeds that were not pleasing to G-d. She marvels at G-d’s mercy, how He responds to her in a compassionate manner, drawing her toward Himself anyway.

The month of Elul is the time when the King is in the field, figurative language for G-d’s close proximity to us during the month of Elul that precedes Yom HaDin, the Day of Judgment.

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Holy Discomfort

If the animal soul is neglected, as required to follow the pursuits of the godly soul, how will this affect the psyche? The soul may be nourished by the righteousness that ensues on the derech (path), when it applies itself to study and prayer. Yet, the resistance from the animal soul may manifest in unpleasant feelings, because it is being deprived of its way upon the person. So, there is the soul, with all of its attributes, divided into the godly soul, and animal soul. Yet, these two are part of the whole. Therefore, both affect the person, within the framework of mind, body, and spirt.

In a sense, the distaste that the animal soul has for things spiritual may show up as negative emotions, that wear upon the person. Is this a sign that something is wrong with the person? On the contrary, it is like the feelings and discomfort we have when fasting on Yom Kippur. We are fasting for the sake of our soul; yet, the accompanying unpleasantness of the fast are a sign that it is working, like purifying us from the dross, until we are refined.

So even that well know adage from the secular world of exercise applies: no pain, no gain. If G-d made all things holy, wholly pleasant to the soul, without any resistance from the yetzer hara (stemming from the animal soul), then it would be easy to do good, and what reward could there be for that? Rather, because of the challenges and difficulties that oppose our endeavors to follow the path of righteousness, we are rewarded, both in this life, and the World to Come.

Family Matters

It is an illusion to think that we can leave our loved ones in the hands and expert care of professionals, who claim to offer services for the elderly. Admittedly so, this is a generalization; I am compelled to write about this issue, because my mother is in a less than ideal situation at a facility wherein she is on the independent living side of the facility at 82 years old, and clearly in need of more assistance than she is receiving there. The answer is not for her to transition to the assisted living side of the building; rather, her loved ones, including myself, should be at her side, throughout the day, guiding and comforting her.

People do not want to recognize the slow decline of life, inclusive of diminished abilities to function as one did in their younger years. We do not want to acknowledge that we age, as is natural, and enter a period of time, where we should be more focused on spiritual things, looking ahead to eternity. We are only concerned about material comfort, including that of our loves ones, as if we are absolved of our familial duties. So, my Mom is an independent living facility, losing her independence.

This is and has always been tragic – the slow and gradual shift away from family-centered life, to lives dependent upon our vocations, interests, and going our separate ways, all a part of the process of individuation, and finding “our place” in the world. Perhaps, if we have other means, we should not entrust our loved ones into the hands of professional corporations, who may not be as human-oriented as they could be, because after all it is a corporation with a bottom line. Love cannot be substituted for money as a motivating factor to treat human beings with compassion. And, I am as guilty as my brother and sister. And, we are all trying to make amends… somehow.

Elul Preparation: Day 6

Elul Preparation: Day 6:

The importance of Elul with respect to Tammuz and Av. The culmination of the mourning process for the Beis HaMikdash leads into the month of introspection: this is no coincidence; rather, everything on the Hebrew calendar is divinely ordained. The Bnei Yissacher explains, that the month of Elul is associated with the pasuk (verse), “I will extol Thee, O L-RD, for Thou hast raised me up…” (Psalm 30:2).

Inasmuch that H’Shem’s Presence is amongst us, we may be lifted up out of the mire, so to speak, through teshuvah, during the month of Elul. As a result, we should exalt Him above our everyday concerns, placing our focus on Himas our highest priority in life. This doesn’t mean that we have to spend hours upon hours each day in the synagogue and studying Torah; rather, in all that we do (see Proverbs 3), we must have our eyes gazing toward Heaven with H’Shem in mind.

The Bnei Yissacher notes that the second part of the verse, “and my enemies did not rejoice over me,” refers to the teaching from the Zohar that the months of Nissan, Iya, and Sivan were given as a portion by lot to Jacob, while the months of Tammuz, Av, and Elul were given to Esau. Esau took a dark pleasure, a type of schadenfreude, in Israel being deprived of the sanctity of these months as preparation. Yet, Jacob wrested these out of the hands of Esau, re-establishing them for the sake of preparing the soul before Rosh HaSHannah; so, Esau was not able to rejoice.

What deeper insights can be drawn from this teaching? Ultimately, the yetzer hara, perhaps, here represented by Esau, cannot succeed in taking the opportunity away from us to repent during the month of Elul, try as much as it may. Even so, our efforts must be in the form of a sincere endeavor toward teshuvah, or else, G-d forbid, our yetzer hara may hamper our efforts.

Elul Preparation: Day 5

“Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.” – Jeremiah 31:13, JPS 1917 Tanach

When the Holy One forgives the sins of Israel, there will be cause to rejoice. The Bnei Yissacher explains that the “young” refers to the baalei teshuvah (penitents) who become like new after a complete teshuvah, returning to G-d in all their ways. The “old” refers to those who were righteous from their early years, and were able to maintain their righteousness with G-d’s grace. Both will be on the same level, so that the penitents will have the same status as those who had always been on the derech (path).

He notes that elsewhere it is mentioned how the righteous will praise their youthful years, in regard having had the opportunity to learn Yiddishkeit from an early age, preventing them from following a wayward path. Conversely, the baalei teshuvah will praise their latter years, because those years compelled then to atone for their youthful waywardness. As mentioned above, “the young and the old together” will rejoice, both those who praise their youth, and those who praise their latter years.

Referring back to the verse mentioned above, I would posit, that “the maiden” can be understood as a reference to K’lal Yisrael. The young and the old, may refer to all balei teshuvah, and those who followed the path of righteousness from the beginning of their years. So, that there is no distinction, between those who returned to G-d in their later years, and those who have always been on the derech. We will rejoice together at the Geulah when all of our sorrow will turn into joy (Psalm 126). Until then, we struggle in Olam HaZeh (This World), guarding ourselves against negative influences, and seeking reconciliation with G-d, especially during Elul.

*based on Bnei Yissacher: Elul 5

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Elul Preparation: Day 4

Tikkun HaNefesh (Renewal of the Soul) Day 4

The first set of tablets were broken. The second set of tablets were received after Moshe was on Sinai from the beginning of the month of Elul until the 10th of Tishrei. These second tablets represent teshuvah, in the sense that our lives may be broken to a greater or lesser degree by our sinful nature (yetzer hara). If we do not make an attempt to mend the soul, then our connection to H’Shem will continue to suffer. As is written, “your sins have separated between you and G-d” (Isaiah 59:2).

When Moshe ascended to Mount Sinai for forty days, in order to receive the second set of commandments, he entered into yisuv hadaat, a settled state of mind, where He could be receptive to H’Shem’s communication with him. This interior calmness, knowing that we can retreat there in all circumstances, once, we have fostered an awareness of that place of solitude within, and hined our ability to retreat there, in order to reside in our inner sanctum, is all the more necessary. Than in times past, today, when so much adversity, and so many challenges are faced by us, as the Geulah (Redemption) draws near.

The Bnei Issacher explains, that these days of divine favor, are additionally designated as such, because of the creation the world, that began on Elul 25th, although it’s inception in the will of the Creator, occurred sometime earlier in the month of Elul. (Contrary to the basic assumption that the world was created, beginning on Tishrei 1, the first day of creation was on Elul 25th. Mankind was created on the sixth day of creation, corresponding to Tishrei 1).

We should anticipate a renewal of the soul, as we draw closer to the days on the Hebrew calendar, when everything was originally tohu vavohu (formless and void). So, to, may our souls return to a state of pristine renewal, as if we are beginning again in our devotion to H’Shem. Even if we have not yet done a complete teshuvah by the end of the month, may it be merited to us anyway.* Amen.

*based on Bnei Yissacher: Elul 4

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