basic judaism

You’ve screwed up and you see know why anybody can truly forgive you but most likely you’re creator has opened the door.  Just the feeling of sorrow may let G-D wipe away the tear.  Here are just a few that have probably made more serious screw ups and been forgiven.

(1) President’s/Leaders who have made decisions that resulted in the deaths of more innocent people then lives saved.

(2)  Leaders in business/governmental departments  who’s blatant acts of selfishness has lead to the loss of income or purpose of those they were put in charge of.

(3) Those that built the golden calf or sat staring at this idol after just receiving literally the word of G-D.

The truth is if your alive and in relatively good health therefore you have an opportunity to wipe the board  clean in G-D’s eye’s with doing your best to making amends with those that you hurt and walking on a different path.  Yet knowing that your forgiven from the gravest consequence can help lead you to true redemption.  Remember it’s not late and you are on the path of total forgiveness.

As faith communities continue to struggle against the secular world there is a tendency for them to try to become more inclusive without really being inclusive. For they might open up doors for individuals to participate in services that have felt left behind but do they then close the doors of those that are holding them.  Faith communities must be inclusive to those who have felt that they were in the back of the bus without having  those that are driving get off. For example Shul’s/Synagogues should open up new doors for women and young adults to participate in spiritual life while making ways for those more observant to feel comfortable attending as well (Mechitza area).  Inclusive should be for all those who seek a closer relationship to G-D whichever steps they are willing to take as long as they will not be stepping on others.  Or if you open the door on one side make sure the window is open on the other side.

No sound was created without this musician. A matter the concept of even hearing such sounds wouldn’t be possible without this performance!  Every sound comes from G-D and our ability to think about them as well.  There is no musician who has created a guitar rift without the brain and fingers of the Creator.  So when you’re screaming for your favorite band to begin just remember who’s standing all around and not getting enough credit for the true talent.

G-D commands the Jewish people to take care of your land for 6 years but leave it alone for the 7th so those that don’t have can pick from it.  This might lead to a farmer taking a break a bit earlier knowing what he sowed he can’t personally reap, yet his soul led him/her down the right path. Yesterday a young lady asked me to buy her food as she was in dire straight and realizing that those monies in my pocket would be sacrificed to help another I didn’t hesitate to help.  Even if we aren’t a farmer we can continue to sacrifice to help others and fulfill G-D’s words in our world today, bringing us closer to a faith that isn’t just in a building but part of who we are.

I have always found it difficult to wear my faith  on my sleeve let alone my head for when I make a mistake or be “myself” which will put my faith in judgement by others and more importantly the faith of my fellow believers.  That is why I’m impressed with my Catholic friends who boldly wear ashes on their head for Ash Wednesday and especially for a commentator on Fox News that wore it in front of millions.  It helped chip at the wall for me to be a bit more open with my faith in the public eye, knowing that I try even though I’m not the perfect symbol of such faith.  It’s fine because they’ll always be those that judge but only one true judge.

My faith has as much to do with action(s) as it does with words.  For even the words we say in prayer must be said with emotion rather then just reading from the good book. We must follow any words with action to make this world a bit better for those words to truly meet G-D.  We had the work of offering up a sacrificial lamb during the time we left Egypt and continue to battle day by day for the peace and security of Israel and the world. The faith I follow is not a passive faith it is one where we partner with G-D to make this world a bit better for all its inhabitants nail by nail. It is the Jewish faith of action and emotional words.

What is “Your Place” this might be more of a theological question then you might assume?  For it is commanded in the Bible/Torah that no man may leave his place on the seventh day then how will we know if we’ve fulfilled that obligation if we don’t no what our place is? Some may assume that it is our dwelling place for the Israeli ties couldn’t perform their work of picking up Manna on that day but is that enough of an explanation in today’s times? I believe “your place” consists of the following elements (below) what do you believe and do you stay there enough?

(1) A place where you find out who you really are as well as  helps you discover why your here yesterday, today and G-D willing tomorrow.

(2) Love, hope and happiness must be found in this place.

(3) This place where your  loved ones can find you whom you don’t spend enough time with during the other 6 days.

(4) A place where  G-D finds you searching and his breath rests on your soul.