 | Who would you help? What punishments would you mete out? How would you handle this awesome responsibility?
36 Comments Posted
What about the story with the Alter Rebbe and the Baditchever?
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Nu, Josh, let's have the story!
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Injustice is common, forgiveness is hard. If I had the power I'd make it the other way around. We'd all be much happier and the world would be a more peaceful place.
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Rabbi Moss did a really great job answering this question and I really appreciated what he had to say.
In fact, what he said about God being the creator reminded me that, in the original creation, at the end of each day, "God saw what he did and said it was 'good.' "it reminded me that each day, I want to look in the mirror and say, "it's good," like, I did something that day that was worthwhile, or I did something all day that was worthwhile, that I lived my live like "it was good!" Thank you, Rabbi!
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Good answer & couldn't of or wouldn't of answered any differently
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One hour is enough to explain and do the job.
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"Will I bring more corruption, pain and sorrow into the world, or will I promote peace, happiness and harmony?" - The responsibility terrifies me. How can I be that perfect? How can I be that consistently good? How do I know if what I'm doing is right or worthwhile? If I knew what the consequences of my choices would be, I would be G-d. Just because a decision feels right, that doesn't make it right. Conversely, feeling a decision is wrong doesn't make it wrong. How can I know?
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I really like the response Sara put up. Some people can get very sad and unhappy because they simply do not know why they are in this world and what they are supposed to do about it. That's why I found halachah so incredible. Eureka, I have finally been given a guideline on to resolve all of my confusion of behavior. I have given the opportunity to learn well organized guide containing a detailed explanation of how to put my life into order and know that I am acting, thinking, and speaking in a way that is good not just for me but for the entire world!
Finally everything can be sown into order.
This comment is based on some words of wisdom Torah that I heard from Rabbi Tzvi Freeman...
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I doubt this will be posted, since it not "politically correct" ... But I will try, and let's see if Chabad has the guts to allow this post:
If I Were God...
Here it comes..... If I were God, the first thing I would do is abolish ALL religions!!! That's right, ALL religions!!!
I would have NO rules and/or laws. Period.
More humans have been murdered and more wars fought, in the name of "Religion" or in the name of "God" than for any other reason.
Even within Judaism, Judaism is a divider rather than a unifier.
Non-observant Jews do not like observant Jews. One orthodox group does not like another.
And... if I were G-d, and if I did this, this would be Divine commandment and it would be okay.
Yes, I am an orthodox Jew. Why am I orthodox if I believe what I write? Because I am NOT G-d, and He commanded me to observe His holy rules and commandments. But, IF I WERE GOD, I would abolish all of it.
Nothing has created more hatred among Jews, and among gentiles than religion and arguments over observance.
Sorry, I did say you won't like it. I was honest.
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When the Alter Rebbe was asked a similar question, he responded: I would have done it exactly the way he did.
...and Mr. Guts, I for one appreciate your comment!
Yet, it was said by the Chabad Rebbes, that G-d's decision to create the world was caused by a desire to do so and desires don't neccesarily make sense.
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very good ideas.
i have wondered about this question countless times before, i'm glad someone brought it up
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Again, the author has not answered the original question, which is actually a good question, which can be addressed, in a long, or in a short form. It is addressed by a story of Alter Rebbe and two other talmidei Maggid, one of whom said, that, were he to be G-d, he would be more lenient. The other one said he would be more strict. Alter Rebbe said, "I would be exactly like G-d is".
It's an interesting question, really -- everybody believes he can see something wrong with the world. Well, if you could change something, what would it be? Would the change really make the world a better place (and simpler does not mean better, at least within the frameworks of the world).
None of which the author addresses, of course. It seems that it has become a habit for many people to write their essays in a mini-form of a Chassidic ma'amor: to ask a "passport" question and not really address it for the most of the time, use it as an excuse to talk about something else. When a Rebbe does it, I don't ask questions. When somebody else does it, it leaves a bit of a bad after-taste, to be honest.
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The question is not, what do I think NOW that I would do if I were G-d? There is no way you would know since right know you are NOT G-d.
And if you were G-d, you would surely know, it's part of being G-d!
And that's why there can be only one G-d, because there is only one right thing to do for the whole universe at this precise moment.
The whole point is about being conscious of one's responsability. People think they are not powerful enough so their behavior can have any meaning of influence.
To this the author anwers brilliantly. Don't wait to win the lottery to start changing the world!
Now I have a question on the Alter Rebbe's story: did he mean that he would certainly do what G-d does, or that he already understands why G-d runs the world this way?
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Every time I think of G-d, I recite the word, "G-d has created us in His image."
Knowing this fact, I am assured that G-d and I can be one through spirit and truth.
G-d also created us for a reason that is to show the 1/3 of fallen angels His mercy, justice, love, and other attributes through mankind.
I don't think I would like to be a G-d, because I am happy in my own condition. The proverb: the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence is a lesson to be content in one's position.
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I ponder the question from time to time. When I arrive at yet another answer, that is what I pray for for a while.
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This is such a great question. and i have thought about it too after watching Bruce Almighty..especially when he roped in the moon to be romantic and caused a tidal wave in Japan. G-D gave the ten commandments and love thy neighbor as thyself,as a way for us to all get along one individual to another individual. i think it is impossible to do as the world is currently. I can not imagine a world obeying these commandments.What would the world be like? imagine people obeying these rules in a literal manner, like a child? Solutions to problems would be limited. But nothing is impossible and G-D must have thought it was important.
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Should God give me all of His power for one week, I would do nothing with it - absolutely nothing.
I do not posses the knowledge that God possess and I have even less of His wisdom. Therefore, to exercise any more of God's power than He has already given to me, would make me more like the adversary, rather more like God - and only one of each of those is quite enough already.!
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If G-d is above influence, this implies that our prayers might not matter at all. This also goes a long way in explaining why, even when 1,000's, even millions of people are praying, G-d is NOT influenced by their prayers.
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I think Gd is above influence - however, our prayers to Gd indicate a division in thinking, namely that there are two things in creation, that all is not Gd and all within Gd (panentheism). Echad is broken in such divisions of the mind.
To pray TO Gd, as such, denies I think the very spark of Gd within us, the soul which we posses. I do not believe we can pray TO anything, but instead shift within ourselves and realize the divinity that Gd endowed in His creaction. Until such a shift occurs, our prayers to an external Gd are an affirmation of separation from Gd as opposed to a recognition of the true oneness and all ecompassing being of Gd.
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The more I meditated on the question you posed the more upset I became, How can you use this very great and valuable tool to suggest to people that they could even think of doing things better than G-D. It was not for this purpose that you were given this Tool by HIM!!! No If you want to look at the real answer to this evil question just look at what you are doing with the power of communication HE have permitted you!! The only redeeming value of the movie Bruce All no might is that he discovered that he was not HIM abd was happy to be who G D made him!
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You know, as interesting a concept as that is, I've not the foggiest idea of what I would do. I'd like to do what seems to be impossible and get the entire world to live by the spirit of Lev. 19:18.
Today, I had to kill a honey bee. I did not want to do it because they are so valuable and important to everything we eat. But it had been injured and gave all appearances of being in agony. It broke my heart to kill one of His creatures, but it had to be done.
A few years ago I saw a rat on a shopping center sidewalk. People were just standing around staring. It had been poisoned with Coumadin, a blood thinner they give to human beings! It was designed to kill rodents.
I went to my vehicle, grabbed a bag and a piece of cardboard to push the poor thing into it and dispatched it by crushing its head. The others thought I was crazy, after all, it was nothing but a dirty filthy rat! I saw it as one of G-d's creatures that was in very obvious pain...it was bleeding to death internally.
I think we are not only to love each other but all of the Creator's critters. I think I'll leave G-d to being G-d.
I did see Bruce Almighty and it was one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. If you need a really good yuk, rent it; you'll be glad you did. I send my love to all who read this.
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1. Raise all humans who died.
2. Reveal myself to all nations.
3. Heal the mind, spirit and body of all.
4. Institute the Messianic age and give people the ability to live to be at least
1,000 yrs. old.
5. Heal the Earth and raise favorite pets that died.
6. Reveal the purpose /expectation of Human life and all creation here and beyond.
7. Rest and celebrate on Shabbat with everyone.
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What a fabulous wake up call! I feel God's sparks, sometimes they are brighter, sometimes more dimly lit, but they are always there. Regardless, my challenge is always to remember that it is because God has willed me just the way I am, with choices and opportunitites every moment, every breath, to live, and learn from my living with vibrancy, grow with vibrancy and always say, Thank God.
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I see G-d as the action of the creating universal one and whole being and producing all and therefore G-d is not separate from all as all is the same action. So as to what would I do if I was G-d for a day? I am G-d, now, being myself.
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Dear Rabbi Moss,
Thank you for this wise, inspirational commentary. If we would only realize the power we have for goodness to prevail, the path to Tikkun Olam would be so much more complete by now.
This is one email that is going to be extensively forwarded.
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Wonderful article and answer!!!
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I have always been thankful to G-d that I'm not Him. If I was G-d there are a lot of people I would have wiped out of existence. I don't know how G-d tolerates some people.
As I get older I realise that G-d is wise and knows what He is doing, and after all, if I zap people out then I would have to zap myself out too.
I have gone through the whole, my G-d why do you let people get away with the things they do and they prosper along happily. But that isn't the question or answer, I've learnt in my later years that G-d is a just G-d and He judges us all equally. No one has taught me more about G-d’s love than the Jewish people.
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I would explain the world that wars are useless, it shows only that people haven't understood the holy words given from G-d. The next step is to explain how to fight the inner war in everybody's body. If everyone understands that than we start creating paradise all over the world. Easy, isn't it?
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I have heard people say, "I don't believe in G-d, where was G-d while the Holocaust was happening?" I've heard of people, who's relative, or they themselves, were struck with cancer, or had a debilitating heart attack, or had a child born with severe mental or physical disabilities blame G-d. . During WWII, people made choices, they made choices to help the Jews, or to be bystanders. They made choices to help or not.. At the risk of sounding sacrilegious, the G-d I believe in is the G-d George Burns portrayed in "Oh, G-d." when John Denver's character asked him, why do you allow disease, starvation, etc. George said, I don't allow it, YOU don't stop it.He gave us the ability to cure disease, to put an end to starvation, the help each other. .
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Wow , what an amazing article!!!!! Even after my 20 years learning lubavitch yeshivas, i dont think i would have EVER come up with such a brilliant answer.
thank you for writing it
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Everything I have read to answer this one question has been so fascinating, it shows everyone is different in their thinking and shows a good argument to WHY there is only one G-d.
Beverly I am just like you, I so hate killing bees, I have loved them since a small child, I used to put my hand out for them to walk on and then I would put them back on the flowers, one thing missing today is bees, the only reason I would kill one is if I saw it being attacked by ants, the thought of it dying a slow death by bites is horrible. Once I moved to a new area with only a few houses but it was being built up quick. The poor field mice had no where to go but people's houses, I put poison down not knowing what it really was and one night I heard a horrible squeaking noise only to find this tiny tiny field mouse bleeding internally. I cried out to my daughter who came running in and together we took it out to the field where we just had to put an end to its life.
Too sad to live with.
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I loved your inspirational answer to this question, and I believe that you are exactly right. I thank you so much for your insight into the soul and relating this illusive truth to all of us. Freedom of choice and will is accessible but so often unattainable for those who have undergone abuse from childhood. That was me but the me now believes that I can be new and successful and useful, but I had to learn this from Rabbis, I was unable to think of this on my own.
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I would bring the complete redemption RIGHT NOW!!!!
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I am grateful for the spark given me called "the soul". I feel best when I act from there. It is an honor to give love and support to others.
On the other hand, I have often said to others, "I am so glad I am not in charge because I would make a mess of things." Only G_d knows all.
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God created the whole universe, Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array, in 6 days. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
On the seventh day he had ceased from all his work leaving everything in the hands of humans and look what kind of chaos they have managed to create and make.
If I could be God for one week I would continue his creation, on the seventh day, restoring everything to its prime value making all things good and forever.
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