"...all the elders of Yisra'el gathered themselves together, and came to Shemu'el to Rama, and said to him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." (1 Samuel 8:5-6)
"And the Lord said to Shemu'el, Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them." (1 Samuel 8:7)
Why did Israel need to be like the other nations? Samuel warned them that the king would just take from them, but they still wanted a king and got Saul who then lost his kingship due to taking from G_d when he took booty from a battle that G_d had allowed Saul to win.
A king in the Torah is code for one of the 10 Sefirot, one of the 10 shells of the spiritual universe. Kingship or Malkut is the lowest level of spiritual attainment, because a king receives his rewards in this world by purely taking.
Per Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan in "The Bahir Illumination," "What are the 10 kings? They are the seven voices and three sayings (Amarim).
"What are the three? (Proverbs 4:7) 'The beginning is Wisdom: Acquire Wisdom, with all your acquisition, acquire Understanding."
(Job 32:8) "The soul of Shadai gives them Understanding."
The Bahir states, "What is the third one? As the old man said to the child, 'What is hidden from you, do not seek, and what is concealed from you, do not probe. Where you have authority, seek to understand, but you have nothing to do with mysteries."
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains the cryptic Bahir. "The Ten are divided into two groups, seven Voices and ten Sayings. The lowest of the Ten Sefirot are usually called Attributes (Midot), while the highest three are called Mentalities (Mochin). An Attribute is something that is externalized, while a Mentality or mental process is completely internal. Similarly, a voice is externalized, while a saying without voice is not.
"The Sefirot are called Kings in many places in Kabbalistic literature, especially in their state in the Universe of Chaos before the rectification. These are alluded to by the Kings of Edom at the end of Genesis 36. They are called kings, since a king only takes from his subjects, and does not contribute to the economy of his kingdom. Similarly, these Sefirot of the Universe of Chaos could only receive, but could not give.
"Of the three Sefirot mentioned here, only Chakhmah-Wisdom and Binah-Understanding are mentioned explicitly. With regard to Keter-Crown, we are merely warned not to speculate into its mysteries."
Keter-Crown is the highest of the 10 Sefirot and a purely giving state, emanating G_d into this world and bringing to this world a godly domain. This Sefirot is amazingly hard to attain by a human being. Wisdom (Chakhmah) is a state which can be more easily attained than Keter-Crown and is the second highest Sefirot. Understanding (Binah) is the third highest Sefirot. All three of these Sefirot are states of giving. The givers are servants of G_d.
Yes, G_d did not want Israel to have kings, because kings dwell in the lowest of the 10 Sefirot, Malkut-Kingship, and are receivers, not givers. Israel was chosen to be servants of G_d, not emperors of this world. Israel was chosen to give to this world. Israel rejected their mission by asking for a king. It was not until Solomon asked for Wisdom as his only request from G_d that G_d was able to have his chosen servants build a Temple for Him. King Solomon had asked G_d to allow him to become a giver of His light by requesting Wisdom. Israel was again ready to give to this worldly domain by bringing G_d into it.
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Saturday, November 19, 2016
The Akedah and Gates of G_d
The Akedah, the story of G_d asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, Yiztach, is quite disturbing for most people and causes much unresolved debate about the meaning that G_d is imparting. After studying "The Bahir Illumination" by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan this week, I had an epiphany as I read the normally glazed over line in Genesis (21:18), "...and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies:..."
While reading the commentary in the Chumash, I was focusing on the angels. I was aware that Gabriel, the strength of G_d, destroyed Sodom and Gemorah. I wasn't aware that Michael, who is like G_d, delivered the message to Sara that she would conceive Yiztach, or that Rafael, who has healed, was the one that healed ailing Abraham and escorted Lot to safety. As I was trying to figure out the angels involved, I happened upon the commentary about Hagar leaving Yishmael alone under a tree to die, so she wouldn't see him die. The commentary stated how selfish that was of a mother to do rather than comforting her dying son. Yishmael was truly alone, because even the angels tried to convince G_d to let Yishmael die for the sins of his descendants, but G_d would not judge Yishmael upon any other deeds but Yishmael's. Apparently, Hagar's selfish influence upon him was countered by Abraham's righteous influence.
Yiztach was a different story. Sarah was a righteous woman, so both of Yiztach's parents were righteous. The Chumash commentary stated that Abraham journeyed up to the top of the mountain that Abraham would later call Adonay yir'e (God will see) and Shem, Noah's son, called Shalem (at peace) and we call Jerushalem (yir'e Shalem---will see peace). Abraham journeyed there to sacrifice Yiztach. Father and son had two different missions for G_d. Yiztach was a man, not a child, with his own relationship with G_d. When he asked his father where the lamb was for the sacrifice, Abraham responded, "My son, G_d will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." Genesis (21:8) Yiztach allowed his father to bind him, though he was probably as strong as his father. Yiztach allowed himself to die in this world to serve G_d as Abraham faithfully obeyed G_d, though Abraham's tears fell upon bond Yiztach's eyes.
At the last minute an angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven and said, "Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest G_d, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me."
"And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven a second time, and said, 'By myself have I sworn, says the Lord, because thous hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son: that I will exceedingly bless thee, and I will exceedingly multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." (Genisis 21:15-18)
It was then that Yiztach and Abraham had a united mission for G_d. Father and son journeyed down the mountain united in their service of G_d.
Now why did G_d happen to have me reading the section of Bahir this week about gates? So I would see this line that we all glaze over, "and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies;...." The Bahir section 38 in the Bahir Illumination by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan states, "Rabbi Amorai sat and expounded: What is the meaning of the verse (Psalm 87:2), 'G_d loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"'The gates of Zion' are the openings of the World.
"A gate is nothing other than an opening. We thus say, 'Open for us the gates of mercy.'
"G_d said: I love the 'gates of Zion' when they are open. Why? Because they are on the side of evil. But when Israel does good before G_d and are worthy that good be opened for them, then G_d loves them---'more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"The dwellings of Jacob are all peace, as it is written (Genesis 25:27), 'Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in tents.'"
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains about section 38 in the Bahir, "The main theme here is the fact that G_d has maximum pleasure when evil is transformed into good. Man was given free will so as to overcome evil, this being the purpose of creation. When evil is overcome, this purpose is fulfilled, and this is G_d's 'pleasure.'
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan continues, "In a deeper sense, the more one overcomes evil, the more he makes use of his free will, and in doing so, the more he resembles G_d....In this paragraph, it is evident that the opposite of evil is peace."
So why did G_d give us possession of the gate of our enemies after Abraham and Yiztach faithfully fulfilled G_d's will? They proved themselves righteous and capable of teaching their children righteousness. Abraham and Yiztach were selfless, as opposed to Hagar being selfish, which she would teach her son Yishmael.
What does it mean to possess the gate of our enemies? We can allow our enemies to be evil by being selfish and lacking righteousness and reacting to their evil by opening their gate that we possess. We can also allow our enemies to be peaceful in this world by being selfless and loving them despite their issues and closing the gate of evil of our enemy. We can go one step further and change our enemy to our friend and have no gate of evil to close.
We are vessels of G_d. In order to receive G_d's light, we must give and resemble G_d. We must emanate the light we receive and bring G_d into this domain. It is in our hands and is our heritage to overcome the gates of evil that we possess and bring peace to this world.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
While reading the commentary in the Chumash, I was focusing on the angels. I was aware that Gabriel, the strength of G_d, destroyed Sodom and Gemorah. I wasn't aware that Michael, who is like G_d, delivered the message to Sara that she would conceive Yiztach, or that Rafael, who has healed, was the one that healed ailing Abraham and escorted Lot to safety. As I was trying to figure out the angels involved, I happened upon the commentary about Hagar leaving Yishmael alone under a tree to die, so she wouldn't see him die. The commentary stated how selfish that was of a mother to do rather than comforting her dying son. Yishmael was truly alone, because even the angels tried to convince G_d to let Yishmael die for the sins of his descendants, but G_d would not judge Yishmael upon any other deeds but Yishmael's. Apparently, Hagar's selfish influence upon him was countered by Abraham's righteous influence.
Yiztach was a different story. Sarah was a righteous woman, so both of Yiztach's parents were righteous. The Chumash commentary stated that Abraham journeyed up to the top of the mountain that Abraham would later call Adonay yir'e (God will see) and Shem, Noah's son, called Shalem (at peace) and we call Jerushalem (yir'e Shalem---will see peace). Abraham journeyed there to sacrifice Yiztach. Father and son had two different missions for G_d. Yiztach was a man, not a child, with his own relationship with G_d. When he asked his father where the lamb was for the sacrifice, Abraham responded, "My son, G_d will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." Genesis (21:8) Yiztach allowed his father to bind him, though he was probably as strong as his father. Yiztach allowed himself to die in this world to serve G_d as Abraham faithfully obeyed G_d, though Abraham's tears fell upon bond Yiztach's eyes.
At the last minute an angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven and said, "Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest G_d, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me."
"And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven a second time, and said, 'By myself have I sworn, says the Lord, because thous hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son: that I will exceedingly bless thee, and I will exceedingly multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." (Genisis 21:15-18)
It was then that Yiztach and Abraham had a united mission for G_d. Father and son journeyed down the mountain united in their service of G_d.
Now why did G_d happen to have me reading the section of Bahir this week about gates? So I would see this line that we all glaze over, "and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies;...." The Bahir section 38 in the Bahir Illumination by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan states, "Rabbi Amorai sat and expounded: What is the meaning of the verse (Psalm 87:2), 'G_d loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"'The gates of Zion' are the openings of the World.
"A gate is nothing other than an opening. We thus say, 'Open for us the gates of mercy.'
"G_d said: I love the 'gates of Zion' when they are open. Why? Because they are on the side of evil. But when Israel does good before G_d and are worthy that good be opened for them, then G_d loves them---'more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"The dwellings of Jacob are all peace, as it is written (Genesis 25:27), 'Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in tents.'"
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains about section 38 in the Bahir, "The main theme here is the fact that G_d has maximum pleasure when evil is transformed into good. Man was given free will so as to overcome evil, this being the purpose of creation. When evil is overcome, this purpose is fulfilled, and this is G_d's 'pleasure.'
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan continues, "In a deeper sense, the more one overcomes evil, the more he makes use of his free will, and in doing so, the more he resembles G_d....In this paragraph, it is evident that the opposite of evil is peace."
So why did G_d give us possession of the gate of our enemies after Abraham and Yiztach faithfully fulfilled G_d's will? They proved themselves righteous and capable of teaching their children righteousness. Abraham and Yiztach were selfless, as opposed to Hagar being selfish, which she would teach her son Yishmael.
What does it mean to possess the gate of our enemies? We can allow our enemies to be evil by being selfish and lacking righteousness and reacting to their evil by opening their gate that we possess. We can also allow our enemies to be peaceful in this world by being selfless and loving them despite their issues and closing the gate of evil of our enemy. We can go one step further and change our enemy to our friend and have no gate of evil to close.
We are vessels of G_d. In order to receive G_d's light, we must give and resemble G_d. We must emanate the light we receive and bring G_d into this domain. It is in our hands and is our heritage to overcome the gates of evil that we possess and bring peace to this world.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
The Akedah and Gates of G_d
The Akedah, the story of G_d asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, Yiztach, is quite disturbing for most people and causes much unresolved debate about the meaning that G_d is imparting. After studying "The Bahir Illumination" by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan this week, I had an epiphany as I read the normally glazed over line in Genesis (21:18), "...and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies:..."
While reading the commentary in the Chumash, I was focusing on the angels. I was aware that Gabriel, the strength of G_d, destroyed Sodom and Gemorah. I wasn't aware that Michael, who is like G_d, delivered the message to Sara that she would conceive Yiztach, or that Rafael, who has healed, was the one that healed ailing Abraham and escorted Lot to safety. As I was trying to figure out the angels involved, I happened upon the commentary about Hagar leaving Yishmael alone under a tree to die, so she wouldn't see him die. The commentary stated how selfish that was of a mother to do rather than comforting her dying son. Yishmael was truly alone, because even the angels tried to convince G_d to let Yishmael die for the sins of his descendants, but G_d would not judge Yishmael upon any other deeds but Yishmael's. Apparently, Hagar's selfish influence upon him was countered by Abraham's righteous influence.
Yiztach was a different story. Sarah was a righteous woman, so both of Yiztach's parents were righteous. The Chumash commentary stated that Abraham journeyed up to the top of the mountain that Abraham would later call Adonay yir'e (God will see) and Shem, Noah's son, called Shalem (at peace) and we call Jerushalem (yir'e Shalem---will see peace). Abraham journeyed there to sacrifice Yiztach. Father and son had two different missions for G_d. Yiztach was a man, not a child, with his own relationship with G_d. When he asked his father where the lamb was for the sacrifice, Abraham responded, "My son, G_d will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." Genesis (21:8) Yiztach allowed his father to bind him, though he was probably as strong as his father. Yiztach allowed himself to die in this world to serve G_d as Abraham faithfully obeyed G_d, though Abraham's tears fell upon bond Yiztach's eyes.
At the last minute an angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven and said, "Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest G_d, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me."
"And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven a second time, and said, 'By myself have I sworn, says the Lord, because thous hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son: that I will exceedingly bless thee, and I will exceedingly multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." (Genisis 21:15-18)
It was then that Yiztach and Abraham had a united mission for G_d. Father and son journeyed down the mountain united in their service of G_d.
Now why did G_d happen to have me reading the section of Bahir this week about gates? So I would see this line that we all glaze over, "and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies;...." The Bahir section 38 in the Bahir Illumination by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan states, "Rabbi Amorai sat and expounded: What is the meaning of the verse (Psalm 87:2), 'G_d loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"'The gates of Zion' are the openings of the World.
"A gate is nothing other than an opening. We thus say, 'Open for us the gates of mercy.'
"G_d said: I love the 'gates of Zion' when they are open. Why? Because they are on the side of evil. But when Israel does good before G_d and are worthy that good be opened for them, then G_d loves them---'more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"The dwellings of Jacob are all peace, as it is written (Genesis 25:27), 'Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in tents.'"
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains about section 38 in the Bahir, "The main theme here is the fact that G_d has maximum pleasure when evil is transformed into good. Man was given free will so as to overcome evil, this being the purpose of creation. When evil is overcome, this purpose is fulfilled, and this is G_d's 'pleasure.'
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan continues, "In a deeper sense, the more one overcomes evil, the more he makes use of his free will, and in doing so, the more he resembles G_d....In this paragraph, it is evident that the opposite of evil is peace."
So why did G_d give us possession of the gate of our enemies after Abraham and Yiztach faithfully fulfilled G_d's will? They proved themselves righteous and capable of teaching their children righteousness. Abraham and Yiztach were selfless, as opposed to Hagar being selfish, which she would teach her son Yishmael.
What does it mean to possess the gate of our enemies? We can allow our enemies to be evil by being selfish and lacking righteousness and reacting to their evil by opening their gate that we possess. We can also allow our enemies to be peaceful in this world by being selfless and loving them despite their issues and closing the gate of evil of our enemy. We can go one step further and change our enemy to our friend and have no gate of evil to close.
We are vessels of G_d. In order to receive G_d's light, we must give and resemble G_d. We must emanate the light we receive and bring G_d into this domain. It is in our hands and is our heritage to overcome the gates of evil that we possess and bring peace to this world.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
While reading the commentary in the Chumash, I was focusing on the angels. I was aware that Gabriel, the strength of G_d, destroyed Sodom and Gemorah. I wasn't aware that Michael, who is like G_d, delivered the message to Sara that she would conceive Yiztach, or that Rafael, who has healed, was the one that healed ailing Abraham and escorted Lot to safety. As I was trying to figure out the angels involved, I happened upon the commentary about Hagar leaving Yishmael alone under a tree to die, so she wouldn't see him die. The commentary stated how selfish that was of a mother to do rather than comforting her dying son. Yishmael was truly alone, because even the angels tried to convince G_d to let Yishmael die for the sins of his descendants, but G_d would not judge Yishmael upon any other deeds but Yishmael's. Apparently, Hagar's selfish influence upon him was countered by Abraham's righteous influence.
Yiztach was a different story. Sarah was a righteous woman, so both of Yiztach's parents were righteous. The Chumash commentary stated that Abraham journeyed up to the top of the mountain that Abraham would later call Adonay yir'e (God will see) and Shem, Noah's son, called Shalem (at peace) and we call Jerushalem (yir'e Shalem---will see peace). Abraham journeyed there to sacrifice Yiztach. Father and son had two different missions for G_d. Yiztach was a man, not a child, with his own relationship with G_d. When he asked his father where the lamb was for the sacrifice, Abraham responded, "My son, G_d will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." Genesis (21:8) Yiztach allowed his father to bind him, though he was probably as strong as his father. Yiztach allowed himself to die in this world to serve G_d as Abraham faithfully obeyed G_d, though Abraham's tears fell upon bond Yiztach's eyes.
At the last minute an angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven and said, "Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest G_d, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me."
"And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven a second time, and said, 'By myself have I sworn, says the Lord, because thous hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son: that I will exceedingly bless thee, and I will exceedingly multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." (Genisis 21:15-18)
It was then that Yiztach and Abraham had a united mission for G_d. Father and son journeyed down the mountain united in their service of G_d.
Now why did G_d happen to have me reading the section of Bahir this week about gates? So I would see this line that we all glaze over, "and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies;...." The Bahir section 38 in the Bahir Illumination by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan states, "Rabbi Amorai sat and expounded: What is the meaning of the verse (Psalm 87:2), 'G_d loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"'The gates of Zion' are the openings of the World.
"A gate is nothing other than an opening. We thus say, 'Open for us the gates of mercy.'
"G_d said: I love the 'gates of Zion' when they are open. Why? Because they are on the side of evil. But when Israel does good before G_d and are worthy that good be opened for them, then G_d loves them---'more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"The dwellings of Jacob are all peace, as it is written (Genesis 25:27), 'Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in tents.'"
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains about section 38 in the Bahir, "The main theme here is the fact that G_d has maximum pleasure when evil is transformed into good. Man was given free will so as to overcome evil, this being the purpose of creation. When evil is overcome, this purpose is fulfilled, and this is G_d's 'pleasure.'
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan continues, "In a deeper sense, the more one overcomes evil, the more he makes use of his free will, and in doing so, the more he resembles G_d....In this paragraph, it is evident that the opposite of evil is peace."
So why did G_d give us possession of the gate of our enemies after Abraham and Yiztach faithfully fulfilled G_d's will? They proved themselves righteous and capable of teaching their children righteousness. Abraham and Yiztach were selfless, as opposed to Hagar being selfish, which she would teach her son Yishmael.
What does it mean to possess the gate of our enemies? We can allow our enemies to be evil by being selfish and lacking righteousness and reacting to their evil by opening their gate that we possess. We can also allow our enemies to be peaceful in this world by being selfless and loving them despite their issues and closing the gate of evil of our enemy. We can go one step further and change our enemy to our friend and have no gate of evil to close.
We are vessels of G_d. In order to receive G_d's light, we must give and resemble G_d. We must emanate the light we receive and bring G_d into this domain. It is in our hands and is our heritage to overcome the gates of evil that we possess and bring peace to this world.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
The Akedah and Gates of G_d
The Akedah, the story of G_d asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, Yiztach, is quite disturbing for most people and causes much unresolved debate about the meaning that G_d is imparting. After studying "The Bahir Illumination" by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan this week, I had an epiphany as I read the normally glazed over line in Genesis (21:18), "...and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies:..."
While reading the commentary in the Chumash, I was focusing on the angels. I was aware that Gabriel, the strength of G_d, destroyed Sodom and Gemorah. I wasn't aware that Michael, who is like G_d, delivered the message to Sara that she would conceive Yiztach, or that Rafael, who has healed, was the one that healed ailing Abraham and escorted Lot to safety. As I was trying to figure out the angels involved, I happened upon the commentary about Hagar leaving Yishmael alone under a tree to die, so she wouldn't see him die. The commentary stated how selfish that was of a mother to do rather than comforting her dying son. Yishmael was truly alone, because even the angels tried to convince G_d to let Yishmael die for the sins of his descendants, but G_d would not judge Yishmael upon any other deeds but Yishmael's. Apparently, Hagar's selfish influence upon him was countered by Abraham's righteous influence.
Yiztach was a different story. Sarah was a righteous woman, so both of Yiztach's parents were righteous. The Chumash commentary stated that Abraham journeyed up to the top of the mountain that Abraham would later call Adonay yir'e (God will see) and Shem, Noah's son, called Shalem (at peace) and we call Jerushalem (yir'e Shalem---will see peace). Abraham journeyed there to sacrifice Yiztach. Father and son had two different missions for G_d. Yiztach was a man, not a child, with his own relationship with G_d. When he asked his father where the lamb was for the sacrifice, Abraham responded, "My son, G_d will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." Genesis (21:8) Yiztach allowed his father to bind him, though he was probably as strong as his father. Yiztach allowed himself to die in this world to serve G_d as Abraham faithfully obeyed G_d, though Abraham's tears fell upon bond Yiztach's eyes.
At the last minute an angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven and said, "Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest G_d, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me."
"And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven a second time, and said, 'By myself have I sworn, says the Lord, because thous hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son: that I will exceedingly bless thee, and I will exceedingly multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." (Genisis 21:15-18)
It was then that Yiztach and Abraham had a united mission for G_d. Father and son journeyed down the mountain united in their service of G_d.
Now why did G_d happen to have me reading the section of Bahir this week about gates? So I would see this line that we all glaze over, "and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies;...." The Bahir section 38 in the Bahir Illumination by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan states, "Rabbi Amorai sat and expounded: What is the meaning of the verse (Psalm 87:2), 'G_d loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"'The gates of Zion' are the openings of the World.
"A gate is nothing other than an opening. We thus say, 'Open for us the gates of mercy.'
"G_d said: I love the 'gates of Zion' when they are open. Why? Because they are on the side of evil. But when Israel does good before G_d and are worthy that good be opened for them, then G_d loves them---'more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"The dwellings of Jacob are all peace, as it is written (Genesis 25:27), 'Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in tents.'"
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains about section 38 in the Bahir, "The main theme here is the fact that G_d has maximum pleasure when evil is transformed into good. Man was given free will so as to overcome evil, this being the purpose of creation. When evil is overcome, this purpose is fulfilled, and this is G_d's 'pleasure.'
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan continues, "In a deeper sense, the more one overcomes evil, the more he makes use of his free will, and in doing so, the more he resembles G_d....In this paragraph, it is evident that the opposite of evil is peace."
So why did G_d give us possession of the gate of our enemies after Abraham and Yiztach faithfully fulfilled G_d's will? They proved themselves righteous and capable of teaching their children righteousness. Abraham and Yiztach were selfless, as opposed to Hagar being selfish, which she would teach her son Yishmael.
What does it mean to possess the gate of our enemies? We can allow our enemies to be evil by being selfish and lacking righteousness and reacting to their evil by opening their gate that we possess. We can also allow our enemies to be peaceful in this world by being selfless and loving them despite their issues and closing the gate of evil of our enemy. We can go one step further and change our enemy to our friend and have no gate of evil to close.
We are vessels of G_d. In order to receive G_d's light, we must give and resemble G_d. We must emanate the light we receive and bring G_d into this domain. It is in our hands and is our heritage to overcome the gates of evil that we possess and bring peace to this world.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
While reading the commentary in the Chumash, I was focusing on the angels. I was aware that Gabriel, the strength of G_d, destroyed Sodom and Gemorah. I wasn't aware that Michael, who is like G_d, delivered the message to Sara that she would conceive Yiztach, or that Rafael, who has healed, was the one that healed ailing Abraham and escorted Lot to safety. As I was trying to figure out the angels involved, I happened upon the commentary about Hagar leaving Yishmael alone under a tree to die, so she wouldn't see him die. The commentary stated how selfish that was of a mother to do rather than comforting her dying son. Yishmael was truly alone, because even the angels tried to convince G_d to let Yishmael die for the sins of his descendants, but G_d would not judge Yishmael upon any other deeds but Yishmael's. Apparently, Hagar's selfish influence upon him was countered by Abraham's righteous influence.
Yiztach was a different story. Sarah was a righteous woman, so both of Yiztach's parents were righteous. The Chumash commentary stated that Abraham journeyed up to the top of the mountain that Abraham would later call Adonay yir'e (God will see) and Shem, Noah's son, called Shalem (at peace) and we call Jerushalem (yir'e Shalem---will see peace). Abraham journeyed there to sacrifice Yiztach. Father and son had two different missions for G_d. Yiztach was a man, not a child, with his own relationship with G_d. When he asked his father where the lamb was for the sacrifice, Abraham responded, "My son, G_d will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." Genesis (21:8) Yiztach allowed his father to bind him, though he was probably as strong as his father. Yiztach allowed himself to die in this world to serve G_d as Abraham faithfully obeyed G_d, though Abraham's tears fell upon bond Yiztach's eyes.
At the last minute an angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven and said, "Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest G_d, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me."
"And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven a second time, and said, 'By myself have I sworn, says the Lord, because thous hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son: that I will exceedingly bless thee, and I will exceedingly multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." (Genisis 21:15-18)
It was then that Yiztach and Abraham had a united mission for G_d. Father and son journeyed down the mountain united in their service of G_d.
Now why did G_d happen to have me reading the section of Bahir this week about gates? So I would see this line that we all glaze over, "and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies;...." The Bahir section 38 in the Bahir Illumination by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan states, "Rabbi Amorai sat and expounded: What is the meaning of the verse (Psalm 87:2), 'G_d loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"'The gates of Zion' are the openings of the World.
"A gate is nothing other than an opening. We thus say, 'Open for us the gates of mercy.'
"G_d said: I love the 'gates of Zion' when they are open. Why? Because they are on the side of evil. But when Israel does good before G_d and are worthy that good be opened for them, then G_d loves them---'more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"The dwellings of Jacob are all peace, as it is written (Genesis 25:27), 'Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in tents.'"
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains about section 38 in the Bahir, "The main theme here is the fact that G_d has maximum pleasure when evil is transformed into good. Man was given free will so as to overcome evil, this being the purpose of creation. When evil is overcome, this purpose is fulfilled, and this is G_d's 'pleasure.'
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan continues, "In a deeper sense, the more one overcomes evil, the more he makes use of his free will, and in doing so, the more he resembles G_d....In this paragraph, it is evident that the opposite of evil is peace."
So why did G_d give us possession of the gate of our enemies after Abraham and Yiztach faithfully fulfilled G_d's will? They proved themselves righteous and capable of teaching their children righteousness. Abraham and Yiztach were selfless, as opposed to Hagar being selfish, which she would teach her son Yishmael.
What does it mean to possess the gate of our enemies? We can allow our enemies to be evil by being selfish and lacking righteousness and reacting to their evil by opening their gate that we possess. We can also allow our enemies to be peaceful in this world by being selfless and loving them despite their issues and closing the gate of evil of our enemy. We can go one step further and change our enemy to our friend and have no gate of evil to close.
We are vessels of G_d. In order to receive G_d's light, we must give and resemble G_d. We must emanate the light we receive and bring G_d into this domain. It is in our hands and is our heritage to overcome the gates of evil that we possess and bring peace to this world.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Inspired by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Today I continued reading Rabbi Jonathan Sacks new book, "Not In G_d's Name---Confronting Religious Violence." It is an illuminating perspective about what makes people altruistically evil and violent. Being someone who has fought unwarranted abuse with love on many levels, I could relate to this daunting issue of illogical attacks on peaceful people. I once had a therapist at UC Berkeley once say to me, "Why do you keep going back to those people [my siblings] with love?" Rabbi Sacks finally explained why I do that.
He starts by saying that dualism is the seed to altruistic evil. Dualism leads people to believe that there are good people and bad people. Really we are all capable of good and bad. Some of us were lucky to be nurtured to choose to behave better, but in our hearts we all have darkness and light. No one people is all darkness and all light, not Jews, not Hindus, not Muslims, not Christians, not Buddhists, not any one people. There is no dualism. We are all loved by the one true G_d of Abraham as we are with all our goodness and all our evil. He knows our thoughts and loves us as we are.
Rabbi Sacks discusses how not Jesus, but Paul started a rivalry between the Jews and the Christians. Both Jesus and Paul were Jewish, Paul just had a different agenda which rewrote the history of Jews in a lesser role. He wrote, "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's [Hagar] son [Ishmael] will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's [Sarah] son [Isaac]." He further implied that Sarah represented Christianity and Hagar represented Judaism which is just a marketing fabrication for Christianity that has lasted to this day.
Interesting enough Rabbi Sacks explains that after Sarah died, Isaac did not want Abraham to be alone when Rebekah was found and brought back for Isaac. So Isaac went to Beer Lahai Roi as Abraham started the search for Isaac's wife. Who was in Beer Lahai Roi? Hagar and Ishmael lived there. Hagar, per Rabbi Sacks is Keturah, Abraham's wife after Sarah died. Isaac brought her back for his father, so he would also have a wife. That is why at Abraham's death both Issac and Ishmael stood together at their father's burial.
G_d always loved Hagar and Ishmael, as did Abraham. G_d always loved Sarah and Isaac as well. Yes, Sarah had Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away, but after her natural death a reconciliation happened and there was peace and love. G_d loves us in His own way in His own time. It is for us to keep the gates of love open and always try to forgive others, especially when we see that even in our own hearts we can find darkness, just as in Sarah's heart she had a moment of darkness, because she bore jealousy toward Hagar and wanted to be like her and bear a child.
Again with Jacob and Esau we have a similar rivalry. Jacob wants to be the first born and grabs his brother's heel, then steals his brother's blessing. Jacob wants to be like his brother Esau and receives the blessing, "May G_d give you of the dew of the heavens, and the richness of the earth, and abundant grain and wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Rule over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you."(Gen. 27:28-29) This blessing was meant for Esau though. Esau was the man of this world and Jacob was the man of G_d.
Jacob did get his blessing that Isaac intended for him, "May G_d Almighty bless you, make you fruitful and increase your numbers so that you become a community of peoples. May he give you and your descendants the blessing of Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as a foreigner, the land G_d gave to Abraham." (Gen. 28:3-4) So Jacob did not need to steal his brother's blessing which was not appropriate for Jacob. Jacob was the one to carry on the spiritual covenant and was freely given the spiritual blessing.
When Jacob returned to meet Esau after 22 years, he wrestled an angel and wouldn't let him go until the angel gave him a blessing, "No longer will it be said that your name is Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with G_d and men and have prevailed." (Gen. 32:24) This meant that Jacob was ready to not struggle to be Esau anymore. He was ready to struggle being Israel, himself.
Upon greeting his brother Esau, he gave his brother his riches of the earth that he'd gathered and had every member of his family, including himself bow down to Esau as a way of returning the blessing that he'd stolen from Esau, so many years before. Israel did not need these blessings. G_d blessed him with his own blessings, because G_d blesses us according to our lot.
It is said that a happy person is at peace with their lot in life. That person is happy with their role in this world that G_d bestowed upon them with love. That is how we have world peace. We recognize that we each have both bad and good in each of us. We recognize that the stories of rivaling siblings in the Bible were stories of young people striving to be like their sibling and finally realizing to be happy, they must be happy with the life that G_d wanted them to have. Then their was peace and love and reconciliation.
One day my peace and love will be accepted by my siblings. Now at least I know that they must be happy with their lot in life in order to accept my alms. All that I can control is that I am happy with my lot in this world and that G_d loves me for whom I am with all my bad and good wrapped up inside of me.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
He starts by saying that dualism is the seed to altruistic evil. Dualism leads people to believe that there are good people and bad people. Really we are all capable of good and bad. Some of us were lucky to be nurtured to choose to behave better, but in our hearts we all have darkness and light. No one people is all darkness and all light, not Jews, not Hindus, not Muslims, not Christians, not Buddhists, not any one people. There is no dualism. We are all loved by the one true G_d of Abraham as we are with all our goodness and all our evil. He knows our thoughts and loves us as we are.
Rabbi Sacks discusses how not Jesus, but Paul started a rivalry between the Jews and the Christians. Both Jesus and Paul were Jewish, Paul just had a different agenda which rewrote the history of Jews in a lesser role. He wrote, "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's [Hagar] son [Ishmael] will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's [Sarah] son [Isaac]." He further implied that Sarah represented Christianity and Hagar represented Judaism which is just a marketing fabrication for Christianity that has lasted to this day.
Interesting enough Rabbi Sacks explains that after Sarah died, Isaac did not want Abraham to be alone when Rebekah was found and brought back for Isaac. So Isaac went to Beer Lahai Roi as Abraham started the search for Isaac's wife. Who was in Beer Lahai Roi? Hagar and Ishmael lived there. Hagar, per Rabbi Sacks is Keturah, Abraham's wife after Sarah died. Isaac brought her back for his father, so he would also have a wife. That is why at Abraham's death both Issac and Ishmael stood together at their father's burial.
G_d always loved Hagar and Ishmael, as did Abraham. G_d always loved Sarah and Isaac as well. Yes, Sarah had Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away, but after her natural death a reconciliation happened and there was peace and love. G_d loves us in His own way in His own time. It is for us to keep the gates of love open and always try to forgive others, especially when we see that even in our own hearts we can find darkness, just as in Sarah's heart she had a moment of darkness, because she bore jealousy toward Hagar and wanted to be like her and bear a child.
Again with Jacob and Esau we have a similar rivalry. Jacob wants to be the first born and grabs his brother's heel, then steals his brother's blessing. Jacob wants to be like his brother Esau and receives the blessing, "May G_d give you of the dew of the heavens, and the richness of the earth, and abundant grain and wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Rule over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you."(Gen. 27:28-29) This blessing was meant for Esau though. Esau was the man of this world and Jacob was the man of G_d.
Jacob did get his blessing that Isaac intended for him, "May G_d Almighty bless you, make you fruitful and increase your numbers so that you become a community of peoples. May he give you and your descendants the blessing of Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as a foreigner, the land G_d gave to Abraham." (Gen. 28:3-4) So Jacob did not need to steal his brother's blessing which was not appropriate for Jacob. Jacob was the one to carry on the spiritual covenant and was freely given the spiritual blessing.
When Jacob returned to meet Esau after 22 years, he wrestled an angel and wouldn't let him go until the angel gave him a blessing, "No longer will it be said that your name is Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with G_d and men and have prevailed." (Gen. 32:24) This meant that Jacob was ready to not struggle to be Esau anymore. He was ready to struggle being Israel, himself.
Upon greeting his brother Esau, he gave his brother his riches of the earth that he'd gathered and had every member of his family, including himself bow down to Esau as a way of returning the blessing that he'd stolen from Esau, so many years before. Israel did not need these blessings. G_d blessed him with his own blessings, because G_d blesses us according to our lot.
It is said that a happy person is at peace with their lot in life. That person is happy with their role in this world that G_d bestowed upon them with love. That is how we have world peace. We recognize that we each have both bad and good in each of us. We recognize that the stories of rivaling siblings in the Bible were stories of young people striving to be like their sibling and finally realizing to be happy, they must be happy with the life that G_d wanted them to have. Then their was peace and love and reconciliation.
One day my peace and love will be accepted by my siblings. Now at least I know that they must be happy with their lot in life in order to accept my alms. All that I can control is that I am happy with my lot in this world and that G_d loves me for whom I am with all my bad and good wrapped up inside of me.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Salary Negotiation
My financial life as a teacher has been a pain to witness for some time, but this week after being told that I would only be given 3 years of experience for teaching and being placed at C4 on the salary scale---$45,526---I put my negotiating foot down hard. I explained that was a big problem, like me selling my house and quitting teaching problem. Then I asked to speak to the pencil pusher's boss. She was busy, so I drove to my high school and spoke to my principal, who got me to a C6.
The pencil pusher was not pleased with my principal apparently and asked me for work verification. I forwarded his e-mail to my principal noting, "Are they asking me for more paperwork that they're going to reject, since they rejected so many of my years of experience?"
Late Thursday night the pencil pusher's boss contacted me with thorough reasoning about why she needed my work verification. I gave her my work verification which was going to the California Department of Education for my engineering credential that never happened in 2010 and noted why I had it on hand. I asked her to let me know soon where she was placing me, so I could get my real estate agent back online, if necessary.
She e-mailed me back immediately and put me at C9 on the salary schedule! I got an amazing raise!!! I don't have to struggle financially anymore!
She e-mailed me back immediately and put me at C9 on the salary schedule! I got an amazing raise!!! I don't have to struggle financially anymore!
My students are also wonderful and angels to manage, my principal is supportive, my high school is an amazingly well-funded and forward-thinking campus, and my district is finally paying me what I am worth! I feel so blessed!!! I even talked to my mom in the world to come and said, "I made it, Mom! I finally made it!"
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Kayaking Trip to Emerald Bay
It was a Friday, and I got all my chores done. The only thing left was driving up to Tahoe and finding a place to launch my kayak as close enough to Emerald Bay as possible. I ended up finding a public launch next to Camp Richardson, but it cost $8. Since I got there late, they only charged me $4! Happily I launched my kayak on her maiden voyage on Lake Tahoe!
As I paddled through the marina the water changed from tan to Tahoe blue, especially as I paddled across from Baldwin Beach where I'll launch for free next time!
I only had 2.5 hours to paddle to Emerald Bay from Camp Richardson, so I divvied up 1 hour and 15 minutes each way and managed to get to Lower Eagle Point Campground within Emerald Bay. At the narrow opening of the bay many large boats slowing to 5 mph can swamp you with their enormous wakes, so you have to be very careful at this opening and position your kayak perpendicular to the large wakes.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
I only had 2.5 hours to paddle to Emerald Bay from Camp Richardson, so I divvied up 1 hour and 15 minutes each way and managed to get to Lower Eagle Point Campground within Emerald Bay. At the narrow opening of the bay many large boats slowing to 5 mph can swamp you with their enormous wakes, so you have to be very careful at this opening and position your kayak perpendicular to the large wakes.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
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