347. We Are One

Tzvi& the Rebbe:
The professor nodded enthusiastically. He hadn’t realized it before, but yes, this is all that a computer is: A synthesis of media and processing devices.
"Now look at your...self....a brain....in one world. Your heart...in another....your hands...in something [else]. Three diverse machines.
"So you put on tefillin....you connect your head, your heart and your hand with these leather cables -- all to work as one with one intent....when you go out to meet the world, all your actions find harmony in a single coordinated purpose."

Tefillin link you to yourself but also to Gd. Your actions harmonize with Gd's will. You link with all the others who lay tefillin. Your mitzvah blesses and strengthens all Jews and all people everywhere by increasing the human/GD network.

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About black Jews. Most black Jews that I know are lovingly accepted in synagogues around the world and speak with pleasure of that fact.

Howver, there are black people who have created for themselves, on their own, a "Jewishness" that comes neither from Jewish ancestors nor from being converted by an Orthodox rabbi, which are the only ways anyone, including myself, can be a Jew.

So, are you a Jew from orthodox Jewish ancestors on your mother's side? Or, are you a Jew from yourself, or your mother, or your mother's mother, having been converted by an Orthodox Jewish rabbi? If you are, then you are indeed a Jew and I cannot understand anyone doubting you.

And if you are not Jewish by either of these ways, then you belong to another group, and we wish you well, but you have not joined the the Jewish tribe. If you want to be part of the Jewish tribe, convert. The Ethiopian Jews converted via an orthodox rabbi. It's good enough for them & it's good enough for you.

It is very interesting to read the respected Rabbi say that the Jewish people are one, which is a truism. However, I cannot reconcile this with the way black Jews like myself are continually relegated by the larger jewish population. Jewish is eternal!
The other day, a white Jew was shocked, and couldn't believe I am Jewish, or worse still, that there are black ethnic Jews. This to me, is the height of ignorance. How can we break this ignorance and segregation?
Thanks Rabbi.

in what way does it affect a jewish soldier in Israel, if a jew wears a tefillin in america.

this is a wonderful reminder that wherever we are we all look to the ONE G-d for our ways and responsibilities, and equally our judgements and understandings and that we are ONE in Him through observant Torah recognising that we are all striving for perfection through forgiveness and i humbly feel understanding that we are ONE in spirit and soul combined. it is therefore not loyalty to any one Country but loyality first to G-d and to the Home that G-d designated as Holy and recognised as a common place/piece of land... we share... and call equally 'home'

blessings and peace be yours

too bad the honor of tefillin is only reserved for women. i would place them daily even if doing so did not help Israeli soldiers

Some have tried to ask Samuel Ramirez for clarity. These attempts have been unclear.
I, too, will try to ask. Perhaps I may be clear. Please forgive this & all other unclear attempts. I ask because I really need to know.
1st, Rabbi Freedman said:
The Jewish people are one. A Jew putting on tefilllin in America affects the safety of a Jewish soldier in Israel.

Samuel Ramirez responded thus:
I believe we are Americans first and formost. You cannot be an American and commit an act against your country. This is dangerous self serving ideology. The lessons of the past are clear to me; you cannot serve two masters.

I do not understand this response. How does it relate to what the rabbi said? Where does the rabbi advocate “an act against our country”? Where does he advocate “serv[ing] two masters”? I ask Samuel Ramirez to clarify how his words relate to those of the rabbi—or to say how the rabbi evoked such a response.

I think more is being read into the comment I made than what I said.. The Rabbi said "we are one" which to means just that. I did not say anything abiut being disloyal. That is your interptretation ascending from your thoughts, not mind. I believe in the seperation of church and state; do you?
Brandon Phillips has an idea of what could occur, but I don't agree with evrything he has.said. I also served in the military and I do not consider that duty above my belife in G-d. This is a discussion and nothing more.
I do not pretened to know what I don't know but I certainly seek to learn...isn't that a meaning of the Torah? One must speak to be heard and understood as well as corrected if it requires correction. I enjoy debate as long as it is kept in a frame of exchange for the purpose of learning. I would not state my name publicly in a hostile environment or a forum with no history of civil debate. Let the Rabbi decide who has sinned in thought and action.
Thanks to all.

You have still not explained why you think the rabbi said to "place it second to your loyalty".

What did the rabbi say that makes you think he recommends being less than loyal to the USA? I don't see anything that suggests any such thing.

Please quote what he said that bothers you, and please explain how that quote suggests anything less than true loyalty to our country, the USA. I am dying of suspense. I really want to know where you get the idea that the rabbi suggested anything lack of loyalty to the USA.

I think that his meaning was totally and clearly different from that, and if you tell us why you think his words mean what you keep saying, then we can discuss whether his words really do mean that.

OK?

And maybe the rabbi will also tell us whether the words you quote do or do not mean what you think (and it is not clear what you think, except that you believe in loyalty to the USA, which I think we Americans can agree on, Gd bless her!)

Thanks.

I agree I am a student of Chabad. However, I do know that people can be one in religious practice but not be first a citizen in the country where you live and enjoy its harvest. And place it second to your loyalty is incompatible to my thinking. If you can explain the error of my thinking process, please do. We can all learn through discussion and become better...