One might reasonably suppose that since oxen and pits are facts of life, the Torah must implement laws to govern their many possible interactions. In fact, the situation is just the reverse . . .
I was having a discussion on a forum with a Jewish person (I'm a Christian) about the law. He challenged me. I typed into Google "Torah law simplified." This was the first one I picked.
I don't know how 'simplified' Reality and it's Shadow is but I absolutely loved this article! You know what else I was surprised by? That Jewish people are suppose to evangelize! Do you know that never in my life once have I seen a Jewish synagogue!
What you've said about life I experience all the time. The lonely existence of reading between the lines. Here it's part of what you call Torah. Let me ask you this. How does a Jew find his way?
In the above article you never talked about the enemy. He's at work on this level all the time. How do Jewish people take authority over him?
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I find this author to be the most genuinely appealing and authentic. Fantastic article, bring on some more.
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Indeed, it is so easy to view the world intuitively as the Torah being given so as to give the world meaning rather then the other way around.
That would mean that creation preceded Torah, and that Torah was only an afterthought, and worse only incidental to the world.
Then we waste too much time looking for the 'meaning of life' in things rather than in trying to grasp that 'things' are here so that Torah can be realized through them.
Might I add, Mr. Brawer, that your article also gives illumination to the difficult subject of 'creation ex nihilo': A creation made from nothing does have no inherent meaning; it having meaning only in how Torah can be manifested through it. The truth of this is empirical; that the history of mankind has shown us how we continually fail in searching for meaning in 'things' themselves: Towers of Babel, as it were, with no real substance to support them for long.
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"....you never talked about the enemy. He's at work on this level all the time. How do Jewish people take authority over him..."
I assume you are referring to The Devill, and so-called "evil" forces?
I have these discussions regularly with my cube-dwelling xtian neighbor.
He is obsessed with his own sin, the temptation he receives and the temptation he fights with. And the guilt. For him, there is NO solution other than JC. But of course the guilt remains until death. And being as there is no Torah in his life, there are few mechanisms for release from his burden.
Anyhoo ... yes it is a good fight, but there is NO 'him" (no redfaced guy with horns and a poker) .... it is just you!
(This is all in my humble, uneducated opinion. The article above was VERY GOOD. I am definitely "the little student").
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It appears from reading the Torah that God created everything, from nothing. I am here because of Him. He desires a relationship with me. The Torah teaches me His rules and directs me in the way of His boundaries for my relationship with Him. The question I ask: Do I seek and depend on Him on His terms or on my terms?
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Wonderful essay! (The philosophy of Plato goes along with this as well.) Also, for any who have explored the Torah Code, it does, indeed, seem to show, even at the simplist level of equidistant skips, a Divine Design. Thank you, Yaakov, for your thoughts and perspective.
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Miki, Kabbalah is the mystical tradition of Judaism. It deals with spiritual forces and other planes of existence to include the Shedim, the demons--if that is what you are asking about. Many of my fellow Jews are not very knowledgable of Kabbalah. Certain areas of its study and practice are forbidden. But as to having authority over the Shedim, it is G-d who has all authority. Therefore, any negative force can be dispelled from one's life through prayer, asking G-d's help. Meditating on a scripture is also helpful. For example, a Segulah (help, remedy) for Divine Direction might be Proverbs 19:21. Then say this prayer: "May it be Your Will, HaShem my G-d, that you place Your guidance and direction in my heart and mind by the power of this pasuk (verse). Amen."
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