I keep on reconnecting with people from different times in my life, and the amazing thing is that we are really all the same. We all have our struggles, our goals, our dreams, our challenges, and wherever we are it is our whole world. In Jewish living, learning is part of our day, and every week we learn the same thing every year, but each year we learn deeper. When we are a child it is just a story, but as we grow, we delve into the deeper meaning.
We are starting all over again with the story of creation, and I am in awe with how it correlates to our troubled times. I recently was asked about Jewish history, and Israel, and the following article is the source, this is our truth, even in modern times, there is a connection to our ancestors, to live a full, healthy, life of purpose, kindness, and shining our light bright, and one day in our homeland, http://unitedwithisrael.org/the-first-rashi/.
One of the lessons of the week:
“And Cain got up and killed his brother” (Gen. 4:8). It’s interesting
that the Torah never tells us what was behind the first murder in
history. The midrash, however, gives us three insights into what they
were fighting over. One of the three opinions is that they were
fighting over who would own the Temple Mount, which was symbolic of
who would have the power to direct and influence world history.
Throughout time, Jerusalem has been a point of contention between all
major religions. How much blood has been spilled by various religions,
all fighting for dominance over Jerusalem? It could be that the Rabbis
were warning us that religion can be used as a tool for power and
control, serving its leaders and ultimately leading to war and
bloodshed, or it can be used as a means through which to improve
peoples’ lives. One of the differences between a truly spiritual
person and an impostor is how he views the mitzvot: are they there to
benefit him or are they a means through which he can refine himself
ethically and morally. This is why the Jewish nation has always
striven to be a nation that others will want to emulate; we should
always view the mitzvot, not as ritual, but as a means of refining
ourselves and, by extension, those around us will strive to live up to
our standards. To be a light to the nations.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Jawary
Afshine Emrani
I don’t care if you are #Christian, #Jew or #Muslim– if your #religion tells you to stab a pedestrian and plant a seed of hatred in an innocent child’s heart, you are #satanic, not of God.
Spreading the Truth,
Shabbat Shalom,
Coach Yulia