Living Souls

Easy to see the fault in others. Of course the nevi'im ( prophets) wanted - like Moshe Rabbeinu- an ideal society. Yet, Hashem knows that we are not perfect, and many times we miss it- not sin. The notion that Yacob is alive in us is a perfect concept because we are striving to follow his teaching to the best we can. Judaism is . indeed, unique, and the truths we hold are actually dismissed by others under the rubric of antisemitism that will never disappear. So, hold yourself proud... and continue leaning Torah itself to grasp exactly what this ancestor taught and continues to teach us, Reply

Amein. Reply

Suggest that this be re-framed into a more Universal message. Not wanting to detract from a Jewish message, but the Truth is not exclusively Jewish..This is a Jewish expression of Truth.. Reply

The spark of G_dliness, that divine quality of love of others, is found dormant within our hearts.
Now, 2020 G_d delivers the signal to reawaken this spark in us. We see how the Covid19 crisis keeps separating us until we show responsibility towards others.
The intensity of the force of receiving for myself and rejection of others is destroying our world. We instinctively aim to choose between what is 'sweet' over 'bitter' for me. I instinctively choose what I feel as pleasure.
Jacob represents the choice for Truth. The Truth is what is good for all. This is the choice made by that divine spark that must be awakened now. The signal is clear. If we don't pay attention, we will receive a louder signal. Reply

G-d sees only good in them?

How do you explain the Prophets, books in which G-d expresses profound concerns in the many circumstances in which our people exhibited plenty of bad?

Do you really think G-d does not see bad in us today? Reply

To Anonymous from Montreal David says in Psalm 15 that one who will sojourn to the Divine tent and dwell in G-d's holy mount is one who despises a base person in his eyes. Rashi comments that one who is base with his wickedness is despised in the eyes of the righteous, e.g., Hezekiah, who dragged his father's remains in disgrace.

Simply said: we are called to make judgment of wickedness. Reply

To Anonymous from Montreal In tractate Makkot 24a, we learn that David came and reduced them to eleven principles (from Psalm 15). One of these principles is that a person who shall dwell in G-d's holy mountain is one in whose eyes a vile person is despised. Our sages illustrate the meaning of this principle by citing Hezekiah, "the king (of Judah) who dragged his father's bones on a rope truckle-bed."

Now, that's serious judging! And it warns us clearly and powerfully not to transgress and NOT to walk in the shoes of the transgressor; rather, it goes further, instructing us to despise the transgressor's acts.

By the way, do you read the midrash you cite as justifying worshiping avodah zarah? Reply

To I Don't Agree! There is a midrash about Rav Ashi and wicked king Menasha that is relevant for those who choose to judge. "Menashe appeared to Rav Ashi in his dream. Rav Ashi said to him, 'Why did you commit idolatry?' He said, 'If you had been in that generation, you would have grabbed onto my coattails and run after me.'" Menashe was perhaps the most reviled Jewish king in the Tanach.

Rav Ashi was one of the greatest Amoraim; he was the long-time head of the Sura academy and was one of the two principal editors of the Gemara once spoke disparagingly of the wicked king Menasha in a public lecture. That night, Menasha appeared to him in a dream and remonstrated him for criticizing him when he didn’t even know Torah ideas that were basic in Menasha’s times. Rav Ashi is told flatly and firmly that, had he been in different circumstances, he would have succumbed to Menashe's charisma and joined in, enthusiastically, in idolatry.

Simply said: Do not judge another until you walked in his shoes. Reply

Great! This is great! Thanks for posting it! Reply

The Promuse of Abraham Our ancestors died many many years ago but their promises made to them live onward forever. It was in Abraham that the promise was given that is he could number the stars it could find our the number of descendants he would have.We know today there are thousands of both Galaxies and trillions of stars and no one person can count the number of them all. G-D in HIS great wisdom know Abraham could not ever number all the stars so the question to Abraham was meant to show him that the number of the stars showed him that his decent ants would never have a full count but they would be forever numerous without a number that could ever be numbered
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Living On So people think that life is only what you make of it. From the time you are born, etc. We are made truly from our parents that have come before us. We are not our own, but the total make-up of all. Yaakov lives in us all! Reply

I Don't Agree! We have a vast tradition of prophets who do not at all see good in those "children of Jacob" who are wayward and transgress G-d's ways. Rather they speak on behalf of G-d that they are anything but good. Indeed, some among them are "the dead who will not live." Isaiah 26:14

These prophets speak on behalf of G-d, I will repeat. So, it is hardly so in our tradition that the fault lies with those who observe as opposed to those with whom the fault lies.

This is NOT to say that all the children of Jacob should not be loved and their return to G-d sought, nor is it to say that G-d or we should lose either the hope or desire for all to return. But Jacob is not dead because many of his descendants have strayed, nor are those who observe it honestly at fault for doing so.

This is, in my view, the better way of saying the truth: The tradition of Jacob lives. The people of Jacob lives. Hope for all the children of Jacob lives. So, Jacob indeed lives. Reply

Sages Traditional Judaism views latter generations to be spiritually inferior and lower than former generations. This belief, called Yeridat ha-dorot ("Descent of the generations"), that said; so is their lessons that they give as teachers. The is also a tradition that the Moshiah will come when there are no Jews left.

The Torah clearly says that when one dies, he is dead, not a ghost or other kind of spirit just dust and under no circumstance consult the dead or spirits, angels, etc.,,! As one of the Lubavitch rabbis said "we need to live in our times" and thus we are a product of the leadership of our times who are spiritually inferior and lower than former generations .

Time for some leadership that is not dead! Reply

Living Jews Thank you so very much for these kind and encouraging words. I am so grateful and fortunate to be a Jew. The Torah teaches us that man was created in God's image. Again and again in the Bible (See Psalms 78:38, Exodus 33:19m Deuteronomy 8:18) God is depicted as being "full of compassion, forgiving of iniquity and a God who does not destroy." The Torah states (Esodus 15:2): This is my God, and I will glorify Him. Abba Shaul (Shabbat 133b) commented on this verse: "Emulate him. Just as God is compassionate and merciful, so too, you should be compassionate and merciful." Taken from the book I just finished reading The Chesed Boomerag by Jack Doueck. A must read for everyone. How acts of kindness enrich our lives Reply

So for example I can be a Jewish Man who rapes my child and that is ok just because I was born a Jew? Then I guess G d won't punish me because I am Jewish? Reply

Jacob really never died ! But Abraham and Izaak did. Because their heritage had ended. Reply

Living Jews This is one of the most wonderful point of our faith. We all are told and know ourselves we fall short of G-d's glory. But HaShem works such a great salvation and redemption that we can say this amazing truth: G-d sees only good in us. Of course when I identify with you I consider the circumcision of the heart and the fulfillment on that day ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying let us go with you for we hear G-d is with you.
Blessed are the living Jews through all the ages. Amen. Reply