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Book Title Be Within Stay Above
Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson
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In the Work of Our Hands

People imagine that since G‑d is not physical, therefore He must be in heaven. But the heavens—and all things spiritual—are just as much creations as the earth. Less dissonant, more harmonious, more lucid—but finite realms nonetheless.

G‑d is not found due to the capacity of a place, but by His desire to be there. And what He desires most is to be found in the work of our hands, fixing up His world.

In the heavens is G‑d’s light. In the work of our hands dwells G‑d Himself, the source of all light.

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Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. To order Rabbi Freeman’s book, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.

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Latest Comments:
Posted: Feb 6, 2011
To Smadar in Ont./Canada
We cannot judge the world, we can only judge the actions in this world by the Word of G-d.

G-d gave us Torah so that we would know what to do and what not to do according to his instructions. He clearly said that the Torah was not that far in Heaven that you could not reach it. Therefore, He gave us this knowledge so that we could judge and chose from good and bad. If then, by studying Torah and teaching it to those who had not the chance for whatever reason in their lives, we would be accomplishing G-d's desires in saving the world from destruction. Because that is what evil is going to bring the world to, if we don't even try to get involved in His plan for salvation.

Our Heavenly Father is a loving One. And we are His children.
Posted By Margaret, Mesa, Arizona, USA

Posted: Feb 2, 2011
I seem to understand this but maybe in another way
Rabbi, this is very seriously challenging to accept. I do think I understand it because you have generously recommended a couple of books to read and I have been on this trail for a while.

I understand that you are speaking of Malkhut. How in the end it is the behavior of man that brings G-d down from heaven, heaven being a realm of the mind. This is where all the conceptual archetypes dwell because they represent the universal forces that shape the physical world.

But as you said, it is in the work of our hands that G-d dwells himself. Am I right that you are speaking of our ability to create. Because G-d is the Creative Principle. He that deliberates and sets into motion something from nothing.

That is how I understand this. When we are being creative not chaotic (meaning we move around in circles like automatons, reacting being mindless), we in fact embody the creative nature of G-d and in so doing become the dwelling place of G-d?
Posted By cecilia beltran, new york

Posted: Feb 2, 2011
In The Work Of Our Hands
I need His Grace to do His work in this world. Because without His Grace, it is impossible.
Let us pray for His Grace, for this is a very difficult task do accomplish in a world where the enemy wants to rule and bring down G-d's children.
Rabbi Freeman your message to Steve, strenghtens me in the sufferings I am going through with certain relations. I am deeply rooted in your believes... I am grateful.
Posted By Anonymous, Mesa, AZ

Posted: Feb 2, 2011
In the Work of Our Hands
How do we know that G-d desires us to fix His world. Isn't that Ego's desire? After all before we can fix the world we must judge what it is that needs to be fixed. Who are we to judge what is right and what is wrong in G-d's world?
Posted By Smadar, Thornhill, ON/Canada

Posted: Feb 2, 2011
G-d's work through our Hands
It is wondrous to know that since G-d directs we can be certain that our work is through his eyes and what he wants done and his light. G-d does direct the whole thing that is being done-even when you take a break from work-G-d said to-so there!!!
Posted By Miss Judith L Witten, Brockton, Ma/USA

Posted: Feb 2, 2011
beautiful
thank you for again sharing such a lesson as this. you bless us so much through each and every act of this kindness in doing so.

G-d bless you abundantly for your service
Posted By Michelle

Posted: Feb 2, 2011
In the Work of Our Hands
God's light is HIS HOLY SPIRIT which HE sends upon us, when we pray, and request this.
This is possible only after purification of our bodies. Unfortunately, many professing to heed the Word of GOD, do not follow HIS LAWS. By this I refer to GOD's LAWS & not crazy man made ones which are senseless!
Posted By Stella H Howell, Wokingham, United Kingdom

Posted: Feb 2, 2011
Immense
Immense description!
Posted By Syed

Posted: June 30, 2008
In the Work of Our Hands
I must accept, then, that 2,000 years of martyrdom clearly trumps my premise of G-d as a "physical" -- though indefinably physical -- essence. l continue, however, to struggle with the notion that G-d cannot be any partiuclar thing -- physical, spiritual, essential or otherwise. It seems to fly in the face of our understanding of G-d as infinite. How can G-d be infinite, yet specifically not physical. There simply must be, among all the components, some component of The Almighty that constitutes physicality, whatever that definition might be. Otherwise, Hashem is limited ... which, of course, He cannot be. This is obviously far too perplexing for my small brain to absord. I apologize for not grasping this concept far better than I apparently should. I thank you, though, for your generous sharing of time.
Posted By Steve Parker, Marietta, GA

Posted: June 27, 2008
For Steve again
When thinking about matters where paradox abounds, human reason is no longer sufficient. We must rely on tradition and prophecy. The Jewish People as a whole has accepted that G_d does not take on a physical form. We have allowed ourselves to be martyred en masse rather than accept such a belief. Two thousand years of persecution have passed and we have been impervious as diamonds to the notion. We are not going to entertain such an idea now.
Posted By Tzvi Freeman, Thornhill, Ontario



 


Where the Essence Dwells
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Purpose of a Leaf
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Make Your Own Sanctuary

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