Striving for Solace

B"H

Todah for the class. However, I can not really understand the notion of competition. When we compete even for goodness, like I watched your visit to IDF soldiers fighting, you ordered pizza so many, and told the pizza place to call their competitor pizza place to help them, and you created rivalry for good reason. However, in my small mind, even for a good cause, to increase light in this world, once the notion of rivalry comes, the seed of negativity gets inplanted. Though the physical result might be increased by the competition, my mind set is not 100% clean. Or if I act to compete with evilness in the world, I naturally hate the evil entity. Once, my high school physics teacher said, he tried to exceed over a female teacher with hate. But he said it is not good at all to do anything with hate. I think it is very true, and if it is for truly good cause, I prefer not competing, but rather fusing of two or more Nefesh HaElokis. Reply

Thanks Thank you for the time you use in studies and sharing. Listnening is better than eating, when the words are true and said with love, compassion and belief, and this meal is so rich that I will need to eat it more than once. Like G-d lets the sun and the rain shine/ fall no matter if we deserve it or not: I feel undeservingly thankfull that G-d lets me recieve from chabad, I really really need others who believes in Him, to keep on going my self. Still like a baby training to learn how to walk. Thank you! Reply

Striving for Solace Rabbi Kaplan, It has always been one of my ways to visit those who grieve but what I do, if I am close enough to the person, is to visit daily if possible or weekly. I engage them in conversation and sometimes, just to listen. It is important to involve myself with them to fill their void at least temporarily rather than address their loss all the time. People do experience loss forever as you said but few people have that compassion to continue the process with the grieving for an extended period of time. No one can tell you when you should stop grieving nor should anyone say such a thing. Just be there for others and if possible, be with them when they need you

Thank you, Rabbi, for such an important message so eloquently orated. Reply

Striving for Solace G-d has shown me the difference between being a bad guest to His world and being a good guest to His world. i had to learn the hard way but we have come to a understanding that it is much easier to do things His way. i listen to His teachings through wise Rabbis such as Rabbi Mendel Kaplan for example. The more i do study the more my life seems to get better for everyone. i had to learn to sit still first and that was an experience between Creator and creation. i will learn my place the right way this time, maybe not instant but with vigilance, thank you. Reply