Sunday, May 29, 2016

Seeing G_d

          It would seem that G_d created us to bestow good upon us.  He is our Creator and created us in His image, so we would create.  He gave us what we see, touch, hear, taste, smell, and sense spiritually so that from this we would chose to create good and to lovingly delight G_d. 
SheRahEl means “He who sees G_d,” what Israel means.  He wanted to find vessels, humans, that would use what was given to them to create this good and "see" Him.  Israel was not defined, however.
Per Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan in “The Aryeh Kaplan Reader, The Jew” on p. 160, “If Adam would have been worthy and would not have sinned, then all of his children would have been worthy of the Torah.  If not for Adam’s sin, all mankind would have had the status of ‘Israel’.
            “Because of Adam’s sin, however, the Torah [the instructions for behaving in this world] was restricted to the small portion of mankind who would be worthy of receiving it.  The rest of the human race were given seven commandments, binding on every human being.  They are:
1.     Not to worship idols.
2.     Not to blaspheme G_d.
3.     To establish courts of justice.
4.     Not to murder.
5.     Not to commit adultery or incest.
6.     Not to steal.
7.     Not to eat flesh from a living animal.
“Of these commandments, only the first six were given to Adam himself.  The last commandment would have been redundant for him, since the eating of all animal flesh was forbidden until the generation of Noah.  Thus, the final commandment, forbidding the eating of flesh from a living animal, was given to Noah and his sons.
“These commandments were given in order that man receive an eternal reward for obeying them, and thus we are taught that a non-Jew who obeys these seven laws has a portion in the World to Come.  However, these commandments were also meant to benefit man morally in this world as well.  Thus, the prohibitions against idolatry and blasphemy taught man to worship and respect G_d, this being the foundation of all morality and ethics.  This was further strengthened by the commandments forbidding murder, incest/adultery and robbery, as well as the one requiring the administration of justice.  Finally, the prohibition against eating flesh from a living animal separated man from the savage, teaching him kindness toward his fellow creatures and control of his base appetites.”
As always, after the flood humans started reverting back to paganism.  During the time of Abraham, the world was ripe with G_d being just about anything that one could see and usually touch.   We humans are so drawn to idols which is one small reason why G_d has always concealed Himself in this world and one cannot “See” G_d in the literal sense, we only see His creations and His light---His effects.  No human has seen G_d’s entirety and remained living in this world.
Abraham, the father of many nations, arose to seek only G_d and turned from idols.  Just as Adam had children that did not all “See G_d,” so did Abraham. Isaac “saw” G_d, and begot Jacob and Essau.  Only Jacob, however, turned from idols and “saw” G_d in this generation.  It was also Jacob who finally attained “Israel.”
(Genesis 32:25-29):  Jacob remained alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.  When the man saw that he could not defeat Jacob, he struck him in the hollow of his thigh, and Jacob’s hip was dislocated as he wrestled.  The man then said, “Let me go, for day is breaking.”  Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.  The man asked him, “What is your name?”  and he answered, “Jacob.”  The man then said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob.  From now on it shall be Israel, for you have been great with G_d, and you have prevailed against man.”
It was then that “Israel” was decided.  Jacob had a relationship with the one true G_d and abstained from being part of the pagan practices all around him.  Though being “Israel” is now being part of the Jewish people and studying Torah, it is also “Seeing” G_d.  Through the ages those Jews who do not “See” G_d are weeded out by G_d. 

It is an unusual time, though.  Many feel the strength of Jews that don’t “See” G_d and have taken on the ways of man is needed to defend the “Israelis” that have been great with G_d, and prevailed against man.  This is probably the repeating story line throughout the ages.  It’s best to be a strong Jew and prevail against man and “See” G_d like Jacob did.  G_d, after all, can do anything and defend His people once more.  Also, the requirements for entering the World to Come for a Jew is much more difficult than abiding by the seven Noahide Commandments whether one “Sees” G_d or not.  Blindness to the one bestowing good upon us is no excuse at the gates of the World to Come.


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