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A photo essay by Tzvi Freeman
| "But why do You hide?" I asked.
"To make room for you," G-d replied.
64 Comments Posted
I want to commend you once again on a most touching masterpiece. You guys did it again.
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After all is said and done, although R' Tzvi DID make the disclaimer that there are no answers, I can't help but notice that the end of the presentation was accompanied by soft serene angelic music, and no longer were there sounds and images of fury, anger and destruction. Don't you think that it gives the feeling that something has been answered here? Is that not counterproductive? Just my musings, no complaints or disappointment G-d forbid.
Masterfully done, I might add. ;)
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Yes, there is a certain degree of solace in G-d's "answer" but I did not get the impression that the questioner is meant to be satisfied by it... indeed, upon watching the film one is left with a sense of dissatisfaction, even anger, at G-d... I think that the author of the film intends it so... I think he feels that G-d, too, wants it so, if it spurs us to act, to fix what He broke...
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Tzvi Freeman and chabad.org you put together a truly amazing piece bringing together the infinite wisdom of G-d and his Torah with the advancements of modern technology.
The lesson you portray here in your most talented and creative style will surely bring tears of inspiration to thousands of your readers and it's in a most befitting time - The Ten Days of Teshuvah!
May G-d grant you all a year of true success in all of your work in spreading the word of G-d to all.
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Why has Chabad become like those other "outreach" orgs? The show is not Torah or Judaism related.
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Actually, the show explores some very deep concepts in Judaism and Chassidut. Are you saying that the idea that G-d allows for chaos and evil in this world to give us an opportunity to do good is not Torah? If so, you have some learning to do!
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IN crises, there is opportunity. What that the Chinese used to describe the two Chinese words the composed of a whole and or complete meaning of the Crises in English. First of such two words are DANGER and 2nd of such two words is OPPORTUNITY.
SO in the Chinese sense, crises always composed of 2 nature, the brighter and darker side of them and it is from the composition of these two words that the Chinese ancesters believe that we should be able to see the virtual two sides of a CRISES, no matter what it had been...
Now, TZVI FREEMAN had brought us up to ANOTHER YET HIGHER LEVEL OF VISION, which is JEWISH in substance and in nature which again distinguish from that of the CHINESE which tells the man on the feet vision, without reall attempting the see it from ABOVE.
TZVI DID. NATURALLY, IT IS INBORN WITH HIM.
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I thought the photo essay was very very good and it gives us all what to think about.... As an editor and director I was critical about detail and thought the photos chosen were superb as well as the sound track in the begining. However the sound track towards the end (the one with the birds chirping) was a little out of context.... maybe a little to relaxing to go with such a powerfull peace....anyway its easy for me to be critical couse I work with media however I would have to admit i was mostly very empressed....
Thanks for the good work and keep it up as usual!
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A deep message masterfully expressed!
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Everytime you go through something in life, be it direct or indirectly you need to active. What I'm trying to express is that we need to do something a good deed to try to help! Lets hope that the natrual disasters happening these past weeks will end with the new year!
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Why does one suppose that G-d is "hiding"? Perhaps it is the other way around.... His people are not seeing Him.
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The tsumani, the hurricane, the earthquakes -- It appears that God isn't fond of the poor and the helpless.
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Reb Freeman: I truly relished your photo essay ...Dark of the Storm. In the portion in which the subject remarks to the storm, "..you lie..." I am reminded of a poem I discovered 30 years ago by Stephen Crane titled "I Saw A Man Pursuing"
I saw a man pursuing the horizon,
'Round and round they sped,
I was disturbed at this
I accosted the man,
"It is futile," I said
"You can never..."
"You lie!!!," he cried
And ran on
Ironic a religious person believing in G-d witnesses nature and looks at the disbeliever as the pursuer of the horizon and vice versa. But to acknowledge, embrace and accept the One Above's dominion everywhere, and as the essay indicates, to become a part of it by doing his work, is to finally apprehend the horizon is within us.
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I admire your work on this, and find it very timely.
I also admire anyone who would be willing and able to publicly "answer" for G-d.
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This may not be an answer for everyone, but it sure helped me. I really got the part about doing the work in the world so we can walk in God's footsteps. What a challenge. I got it! Thanks once more for opening my heart and mind.
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Such a profound, clear answer to the deep and painful questions we have all been asking. Thank you!
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FIRST, I read all the other comments before posting mine. SECOND, I was deeply moved by the video. THIRD, I agree that tragedies such as this allow G_d's children to show their best by giving of themselves and resources to help G_d's children in need.
With that said, I felt that several additional comments need to be made. G_d doesn't cause tragedies. He does NOT desire His children to suffer. In fact, He promises to protect us from such thngs IF we obey all His commandments and repent when we fall short. He also allows such nature tragedies as a way to wake us up to our failures to obey His commandments: to call us to repentance. The Torah IMO is very clear about this. Is this not what Moses said prior to Israel's entrance into the promised land?
IMO, Katrina is a call to the USA to return to Him in all our actions, private and public. It is a another sign of the coming of Messiach.
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Well done! In these very difficult times we live in that is an excellent message. There are so many people hurting and in need for countless reasons. They do need us to be like Him; actively compassionate.
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We seem to be so ignorant of the "cause & effect" law that we all attribute disaster and pain to G-d. We blindly work toward creating drama and when the result strikes us, we are quick to point the finger to G-d Almighty and question his compassion.
Cataclysms happen in the world and when people are not involved/are not on the premises, it is just an act of Nature. It's when human loss is incurred that the blaming starts. Still... why should we blame G-d when people, disregarding the consequences of their own decisions, insist on imposing theirs -- against better judgment -- on all powerful Nature?
My heart is broken at the inimaginable tragedy that has stricken a whole population in Luisiana. This tragedy surpasses understanding in its unnumerable tragical ramifications... Still... why did people continue to built on terrain that was doomed by the forces of Nature? Why the warnings of the 2001 report ignored?
Katrina victims need all our prayers and $ generosity.
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For how long will it be for us to find God, why can't God find us with all his mercy and compassion? Obviously since God created the world mankind has changed it, and according to your philosophy to find God. However if history is any indicator it is an everlasting purpose with no end in sight. As limited, as we are, we stand no chance to ever perceive for this game to end.
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This Presentation really touched my heart, very meaningfull!
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A very touching/moving expirience, very well done, and impressive... Tzvi Freeman, way to go!
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To reach out to the horizon, it is more than just an adventure, even more than an attitude, it is faith - of humanity in syn with universality.
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I believe that what this photo, music and poetry essay does is to make the cells of one's being tremble with the possibility of doing good in the world instead of passively regarding, or suffering from, its sorrows. Mr. Freeman knows that people long to be of God, to join with God, and he knows that most people long to assuage the suffering of the world, and he knows that, paradoxically, in our preoccupation with ourselves, we are the cause of much of this suffering. Every soul, in a lifetime, is transported at least once, probably many times more, to the nightmare realm of a hurricane, be it of nature or of man. I believe Mr. Freeman is challenging us to decide how we shall respond to our neighbor's suffering - with humility and a tender care worthy of God, or with averted eyes - or, worse, judgement. It is a question that resonates throughout every second of one's life.
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Every disaster illuminates who we are; in how we respond to it, and how we prepare for it. Katrina revealed that the technology to track, gauge, and predict its path could not save the affluent from the sin of abandoning the poor, elderly; nor those who knew that New Orleans was a disaster waiting to happen but had other priorities; or the politicians wasted no time in embarrassing and insulting each other. Maybe someday, when we truly love G-d as much as we pretend to, when Katrina II is at our door we will love each other so much not leave anyone behind. Those in positions of power will have planned and protected the powerless. We will love the earth to reverse the trend of pollution based global warming that could be fueling these category 5 hurricanes. Instead of blaming G-d, we will bless Him because everyone is safe and the damage was only to those things that will create jobs repairing or replacing them.
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What an amazing video! Once again, we sit on the brink of another hurricane, Wilma, and are given the gift of this video. It is my hope that we will have our meal in the sukkah because it will not stand with this new hurricane. Many here are still rebuilding from last year. I see the positives and hope for us all with the opportunity to manifest that spark of G-d within. Thank you for this reminder.
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It was beautiful and it made me cry.
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Our knowledge of G-d is so limited as to what He does or does not do. This flash video really gives one something to weigh and consider. Makes me want to do more good deeds for others.
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G-d has no hands but ours.
Therefore he has placed us here as viceroys on earth and ours are the hands which must reach out through the storm to become as G-d in rebirthing the world.
Yes! G-d is in the wind and the fire, the hurricane and the cyclone, in the carnage, the fear, in death and in life... wherein he invites us enter me!
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It is October 27,2005 5:50 pm Central time. I am a 35 years old Christian. This is an absolutley powerful presentation. Prayers of safety to all Jews around the world, and especially in Israel. G-d Bless....
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I appreciated the story. One of the hardest things for us to accept is that God is with us, even by our side in our suffering (if not carrying us through). The world is not right, and there is much correction needed, not at God's hand, but in repercussion of man's actions and thoughts. If Job had not been strong enough to bare being the scapegoat on that Rosh Hashanah that God needed to take his children across Jordan, when he had to remove his hand from him to hide Yisrael from the accuser, his promised people would never have survived their foolishness! God needs his people to remain strong, especially in the hardest of times, otherwise, who else would be able to withstand the load while things are shifted (like the eagle stirreth her nest), when he can get us onto his path. Adversity must be withstood to cross over! We will not reach the promised land, just the otherside of the adversity, if we continually cower in it's face, turning our backs on it. running in cicles to avoid
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Yet again Tzvi Freeman accomplished something that most of us will never be able to do. In a simple human form he brought the wisdom of the highest of the highest and put it in front of us for all to posess. I really don't know how works of Tzvi Freeman can anger anybody.
I never had a chance to meet the Rebbe, but by reading the works of one of his brightets students I get a glimpse of the grandeur of the man, who left no corner of the earth untouched by his deeds.
Thank you, Tzvi for all you do.
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Rabbi Freeman-
You continue to enlighten me. Your photo essay says it true and to the point. Hope everyone else caught it's message. G-d is truly always there, where else would He be but right next to us waiting to see us in the art of creating and recreating our lives. He likes to see his creation(s) do for Him what He did for us. We are very capable of reaching out to our fellow man/woman/child in an hour of need for each of us has the most powerful tool ever created right inside of us. He gave us the power of the right to choose. He gave us a very beautiful brain to think with, along with a heart to love with, and a soul that leaps for joy when we accomplish what we set out to do. Yes we have a very troubled world. Our job should be to correct our mistakes one step at a time. Wouldn't it be a thing to behold to see all the world's peoples living in total peace--and that really isn't impossible--we have what it takes---have had it all along.
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Tvi: The Birth Pangs of Moshiach! Have you considered this? Yes, the Birth Pangs of Moshiach, i.e., just before birth, there are pangs, time of supreme pain and anguish. However, when the BIRTH is realized, the pangs were insignificant!
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Wow. This really gives one a lot to think about. Whenever I see dark places, either in nature, in my life, or the lives of those I serve, I will understand that it is simply G-D hiding... waiting patiently for me to be what I was created to be... His hands, His heart, His eyes...His help.
Thank You Tzvi.
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Two things happened to devestate New Orleans: A hurricane and a flood.
Only the hurricane was the work of G-d. The flood was the work of humans. The indifference to suffering was a human creation. G-d did not withhold assistance to dying people for 4 days. That was our doing.
May this tragedy teach us to be very careful about the leaders we choose.
"Krov Ata l'fichem, v'rachok mikilyoteichem." . . . "You are close to their mouths, but far from their hearts." -- Jeremiah 12:2
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I appreciate the intentions of this presentation, however, to say that nature just happens in our post KYOTO world is not entirely true - the planet is out of balance and we are all responsible for that. It is quite possible that Katrina might have been alittle gentler without our collective energy boost to her.
Secondly, judging from what I witnessed in the first week or so of the news coverage of the situation in Louisiana in the UK - the message of the presentation is entirely necessary as the qualities of compassion and love seemed to very sadly lacking - the G-D like qualities were exhibited seemed to be more like those attributed to the storm of nature in some ways, quite violent and ignorant of the well-being of others, particularly the authorities. The lack of response to desperate need - for example the hell of the stadium; old people abandoned in their care home etc - shocked me far more than the impact of the storm. G-D certainly was hiding and this saddened me very deeply.
The message of the film is obviously one that is needed - of course we need to learn to be less selfish, more compassionate and so on.
But we also need to see a little further than an emotional and sentimental response. We are ONE WITH G-D; so all 3 Abrahamic faiths tell us. We are all INTERCONNECTED - we should not wait for disaster to "knock" on our own door before we wake up to this collective responsibility and the need to do all that we can to see and experience those deep connections - through love - with our planet earth; and with our fellow creatures and human beings, whatever the faith or race of the other.
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We all know what we'd call a man who purposely stepped into the path of a charging elephant , got trampled, and then cried out to G-d "why did this happen?!" Yet here are many doing just this.
While the hurricane itself did cause damage, most was not from the hurricane. The hurricane did not flood New Orleans. Levies, structures that we made, failed, resulting in the flooding. And on a more basic level, we humans decided to establish and grow a city in flood-prone areas without taking due precautions.
Likewise, the poor don't get the shaft because of G-d. The poor get the shaft because American citizens don't make things like education and job training and health care and affordable housing a priority when selecting their representatives. G-d has blessed the world with so much money and resources that no one ever need be hungry in the whole world! G-d has blessed us with the ability to build communities intelligently to minimize damage from hurricanes. It's OUR fault. Not G-d's.
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..."But why do You hide?" I asked.
"To make room for you," G-d replied.
...
to take care of My world and be more like Me"
and what about all the people who died and suffered,
because as much as people may want to be like G-D,
and take care of His world,
they are only 'people',
and cannot possibly deal with protecting G-D's world
anywhere near as well as G-D can.
so,
for the people who 'did' die and 'did' suffer,
what did G-D have in mind for 'them' during His hiding?
G-D wants us to do dood deeds in this world,
and live by His instructions,
imagine if people were to say,
"OK, I'll do the good deeds in the next lifetime,
(or maybe i already did them in an earlier lifetime),
or maybe i'll do them in the Other world"
surely this would not be acceptable to the Heavenly Court
so, why then should be it acceptable for G-D
to cause suffering for the innocent here,
for deeds in a previous lifetime, or rewards saved for another lifetime?
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It was very inspiring and do many more.
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The mayor of New Orleans said to G_d, “Where were You when the hurricane hit my city?”
G_d replied, “And where were you?”
“I was consulting with my rabbis,” the mayor replied.
“So was I,” G_d answered.
The governor of Louisiana said to G_d, “Where were You when the hurricane damaged my state?”
G_d replied, “And where were you?”
“I was hiding,” the governor replied.
“So was I,” G_d answered.
The president of the United States of America said to G_d, “Where were You when that hurricane wrecked a state in my nation?”
G_d replied, “And where were you?”
“I had more important things to take care of,” the president replied.
“So did I,” G_d answered.
The director of FEMA said to G_d, “Where were You when the hurricane made that horrible mess?”
G_d replied, “And where were you?”
“Why me? They ignore all the warnings, act stupidly and then blame me! Why am I always the scapegoat?” the director protested.
“I know the feeling,” G_d answered.
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Very moving and inspirational... Now I'm seeing the destruction of Wilma around me. It was as if the Heavens picked up the trees to "beat" on Hoshana Rabba-- in all of south Florida.
As a friend just said, "Hurricanes have a way of bringing out one's nature. Those who complain, see only how it affects them and complain even more. Those who reach out and help others are there to help." Perhaps when our "surroundings" are stripped away, we get a clearer picture of who we are.
There are many good things happening-- you just don't see them on the news, and for the rest, there is always hope. I gave up asking the whys a long time ago. Action heals.
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I grew up on the Gulf Coast and lived through several hideous hurricanes. I think this media presentation - while beautifully edited - is quite simplistic and tries to make sense out of horrible tragedy. It's easy to stand back and write essays about why things happen when those things have happened to someone else.
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Amazing... Keep up the good work!
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i just want to remind you that the rebbe said many times that things make look hard and dark now but if you have lots of emunah and bitachaon then it can change to good
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I don't think so. Lets get REAL!
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Thought provoking. But. The comments are more so. I can only agree with half of what any commentator wrote. I think there was a law somewhere that said build your house on high ground. But are we not left with an entire other half that is nothing but mystery, and unanswerable questions.
How is death in a hurricane different from death from old age. Is it nature, or a planned event. Or just a mystery that we have no choice but to accept. Life is living with unanswered questions. Unresolved issues.
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Nice comment... And to the one who answered Moshe further back.... Why shouldn't we be expected to 'clean up G-d's MESS'? Don't we continually ask Him to clean OUR MESS up?
Superb presentation....
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A la vue de ces photos on se rend compte que l'homme est infiniment petit face a la nature mais peut devenir infiniment grand par des actes de hessed par exemple / tout ce que j'ai fait je l'ais faist que pour vous.
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Je suppose que vous en faites autant pour tout les juifs de Goush Katif qui sont encore et depuis des mois à 6 ou 7 dans une chambre d'hotel?! Sans ressources etc...
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Speechless! Thank you for putting life into perpspective. May g-d grant you blessings for everything you do for others.
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Very powerful and moving.
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hello im from vienná i like very much this book
its so very beautiful yes i think its very goood
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Rabbi,
First, I'd like to compliment you on the visual essay. It was beautifully done. But I respectfully disagree with your conclusion.
I think of the aftermath of the judgment G-d brought on Sodom.
Or the aftermath when the waters settled after the judgment, that G-d brought on the world in Noah's day.
Or Sennacherib, king of Assyria, when he woke to find 185,000 of his died solders who thought to mock the Almighty. (2 Kgs 19:35)
Or the aftermath of New Orleans, before they prepared for their annul Gay and Lesbian convention, and Mardi Gras.
I don't believe the Almighty is 'hiding' at all. I believe HE is showing Himself, very clearly.
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I grew up in Houston but now I am away at college. When my father told me they were housing two Jewish families from New Orleans I was proud of my family. One family is still staying part time at our house. As my father said, "This is the least I can do, there is so much more to be done".
To say it was punishment from G-d on New Orleans is a very short-sighted view of Him.
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Thank you. I am a Christian. What you have said here is wonderful. A lesson for us all.
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Where are we?
Let us WAKE UP!!!
Why to we need to wait for disaster to finally acknowlege G-d? -Not only that, THEN we get angry at him, and ask "why?" and "where where were you?".
Let's do our job and praise him, serve him in the manner he has perscribed, ask of him etc.
THERE IS NO ANSWER that we can give, nor do I believe anyone is trying to answer for G-d -for "my thoughts are different from yours", say G-d.
But let look at the possitives of all the questions, commplaints, demands, anger... These things just go to show that we ALL do believe!!! for how can one channel his anger to something that doesn't exist?
When was last time someone got angry, to the point of denial and then written books, essays, articals etc... trying to prove that the tooth fairy, little geine's, or even superman doesn't exist???
The answer, you got it! never b/c you can't get angry at something that doesn't exist!!!
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Thank You. EVERYTHING has a purpose and YES G-D is in EVERYTHING and EVERYWHERE. Though we cant actually be like G-D, we can try to emulate HIM.
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With all my due respect, I would like to state my views. If I misunderstood the message, I apologize in advance.
I do not want to menospretiate the message in the presentation, but in some way I perceived it as simplistic and incomplete.
Everything has a cause, and usually WE are that cause, including hurricanes, suffering and death.
It's about assuming responsibility. God created a perfect Universe with perfect laws. If something went wrong in our lives or our planet, we must understand that some law was bended or ignored, and it has consequences ( NOT PUNISHMENT !!! ).
In the case of the presentation, the consequence was a Hurricane, but the cause were us. In one way or other, we created the devastation, the flooding, the desolation.
We must assume responsibility, and the best we can do is ask to God why, and we must be ready to listen, because the answer is right there, waiting for us. We must be ready to understand, so we can avoid disasters to happen again and again. The problem is that we do not listen, we are arrogants and egocentrics, and that's why we are century after century plunged in wars, hunger, diseases and poverty. And I will repeat myself a thousand times: We must assume responsibility, we are the architects, designers and engineers of our present, past and future. Everything that happens to us was created by us, EVERYTHING !!!.
On the other hand, if our lives are filled with joy and blessings, it is because we understood and follow them ( Universe Rules )
To just sit down and say "It's God's will" will never make us better. I know in fact that there is a God inside of me, and something he never stops telling me is: "Don't be a follower, go and find the answers, you are meant to understand everything that happens inside and out". Make the questions, with the purpose of spiritual growth, and you will get the answers... WE ARE MEANT TO UNDERSTAND, not just to accept.
Love, Peace and Sharing is the answer... truth will follow.
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What a wonderful presentation of such a complex subject. The message was delivered magnificently. Thank you.
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This is really nice and inspiring. You should publicize it.
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Iyov (Job) as an Ish tam that means he was perfect, he was complete, and we know that G-d never said Iyuv deserves punishment all we know is the Satan came over to G-d and said look how good Iyuv's life is he has children and money if you take all that away, G-d, then Iyuv will know longer believe in you.
So G-d let the satan take away all of Iyuv's money, children and even his health.
G-d did not do this for a reason he did it as a test to see how would Iyov react! Will Iyov ask why or will he ask what should I do now. What action does G-d want me to take!
We also know that Avraham was sent ten test, Avraham did nothing wrong but G-d sent hardships to see how would avraham react! Avraham never said why he said what!
We as people have cannot even fathom the complex workings of G-d but we can try to learn lessons from daily occurances and say what should I do because I just stubbed my toe or gave my boss the wrong file
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