How can we heal the world? By being one.
What does it mean to be one?
If, wherever you go, you carry there every other Jew in your heart, then all of us are one.
And when we are one, all the peoples of the world can live in harmony as one.
And then the world is healed. For we are the heart of the world.
Agreed You are absolutely right. Speaking as a Gentile who has never understood the nastiness against Jews we must carry each other in our hearts. Which is a big pill to swallow when I have to do it for everyone, including hate-filled anti-Jewish/Christian creeps. It will work though. Just hope I am alive when it does. Reply
All humanity is the heart of the world. Reply
Healing the World
There is a major barrier to Judaism's message of the oneness of humanity reaching "The Nations" is that "The Nations" know virtually nothing about what Judaism means. The those giving religious instruction to the masses of Moslems and Christians have absolutely no incentive to include real Judaism in their curricula .
On the contrary they have every incentive to regard Judaism as a threat and so propagate crude anti-Semitic ideas using selective passages from the Gospels and
Koran. We are forbidden to actively seek converts ,rightly I believe , for the same reasons that we resent the activities of missionaries. Leading by example helps very little since only anti-social behaviour of individual Jews is widely disseminated
So even if every Jews was a paragon of virtue it would do little if anything to spread our message to humanity.
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Where does the killing come in? Is it "harmony" only after those who don't agree with us are eliminated? Or must they be included in the universal embrace? Whatever the answer is, we are surely not there yet. Reply
Encouraging Encouraging words from someone of Blessed Memory! The War in Gaza wears on me, all the innocents that die because of some hate-filled zealots. Thousands of rockets, the money from which could have built schools, hospitals, food for the hungry. Men with guns, it's nothing new, but the innocent suffer. So, to know that the old Rabbi saw a healing is encouraging! Reply
there is what God wants for us, and then unfortunately what we do.....
This is an AA quote:
As we go thru this life we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate... To forgive is Divine, and that is what we are challenged to do. We are asked to pray for our brothers/enemies that they receive everything we would want for ourselves and everything they need. Often being a emotionally challenged baby in the past i would add "and deserve" thereby judging them as wrong and proclaiming myself as right. That never really worked, so after much suffering I deleted my self will, and the prayer removed the poison from "my heart" and my emotions changed.
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A day trip As the thought machine drives the vehicle within the heavens, one begins to understand the time travel of night and of the day. The place where sleep stays still and the day that drives the machine to behold His Creation. We say the Creator is the driver and we are His passengers. Enjoy the ride. Reply
heal the world WOW !!! Reply
oneness and jews ? rabbi ben avrohom -- unbelievable, isn't it? but so true, unfortunately. been going on since the beginning of time, though; guess that means we really are no different than everyone else - we're judgmental (at least that's what i find), with our own in-fighting and fanatics; arrogance, etc. there's no way an ultra orthodox would mix with reformed!!!! (that's what i've seen). humble, kind, loving rabbis i was lucky to be raised with are a thing of the past. i haven't gotten a straight answer in 20 years - no time, plus am one of the 'little people' - so...the only thing i can do is love G-d, pray, try to help people and be part of this wonderful world - privately, anonymously, thankfully. thankful my parents were who they were (jewish, hardworking, honorable - just plain wonderful!) and hopefully do the best i can. Reply
Healing the World The idea that I can help heal by carrying every Jewish person with me is mind blowing. I have to readjust my thinking to incorporate every Jew into me. An awesome concept and a wonderful thought to be included in my heart and head. I hope I can share that idea with my fellow Jewish friends and non Jews alike. I strongly believe that it can be done, but it will take time. We all have to start with Shabbat. After all we have had this appointment with Hashem all of our lives since we all were at Mt. Sinai. Reply
Gentiles carry you, too When we Gentiles see the Jewish people at one with each other, it attracts us to you. When you fight among yourselves, you don't just hurt each other—we are injured as well. More and more Gentiles are carrying the Jewish people in our hearts and feel we are a part of you. When you hurt, we hurt. Your unity, we are told, will help bring the Moshiach quickly. Nothing is more important to the nations of the world than the unity of the Jewish people, which will bring the Redemption we all long for. Reply
Heart of the World
When we connect we are healing one another. In other words, Connecting to others "Help" you heal.
Thank You
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The Mission
It is so empowering, but greater yet is the love of G-d,and it is the most painful of all pains,and the greatest of all pleasures.
If i am not for me, then Who can be for me? And if i am only for me, What am i?
And if not now,When?*
Like it or not , this my greatest source of pain, and my greatest source of pleasure as well. Go Figure.
If we do not do it , who will (bring Perfection)?
Who else (could) ?
Would?
Should?
*Hillel haBabli
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How will it be beautiful if he will take the heart of only jewish.
This is a completly narrow attitude.
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few
The ideal of oneness is a fantastic goal. It is attainable by very few. When we are fortunate enough to come across such tzaddiks, we should offer them accolades which of course they eschew.
The only times we Jews are close to unity is when we are under military attack. Tisha B'Av is not nearly enough to gather us all in. Most Jew do not observe Tisha B'Av or know what it is. I am not judging whether this is good or bad. The ideal you state is a wonderful one.
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oneness and jews? Rabbi - if you only knew.....i've seen what you expressed with my own eyes. it's not easy being idealistic! maybe it's extremism? heartbreaking. you are in louisville now, hope you found a middle ground there? thank you so much for your insight. the truth hurts Reply
We Can Heal the World
Dear Rabbi Freeman,
This is a beautiful thought, but, for what I see around me I doubt it very much. My constant prayer is for that purpose. I have met some Jewish people who don't even want to hear about G-d. In my desire to return to my roots, my encounter has been very negative. But, only at Chabad.org have I had the pleasure and the hope for my return. I have felt the prayers and supplication in my behalf. That is a gift. I am grateful. I have been isolated because I do not want to go back to what I used to believe, because Hashem revealed to me His Ways and that path is what I chose to walk. I do not care if I am alone. He, blessed be He, have a purpose in my life and I intent to wait with all my heart and soul by trusting in Him. I also see the Redemption of Yisrael, soon, when the truth of Hashem will be reavealed to the world. Then, His judgement will come to the world. I truly believe this in my heart. Blessings to you and yours. Thank you for your prayers and dedication.
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Inclusive
Yes, A Jew is a Jew. And there are those who still practice " it is my way or the highway". You would think our oneness an easy statement to conceptualize.
However it is important to also recognize that before Mesiach can come, all peoples / humans must have love in their heart and be as one with each other?Jews should lead the way via Torah and set example, being inclusive not exclusive.
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oneness and jews ? I was a rabbi at a temple in Florida with a very small Jewish community for 10 years. I won't name it for the community's sake. We had a member through his will left us 20 million dollars with only one stipulation. We had to merge. This would mean Jews of all denominations would have to worship in one building. This dear soul knew of the riff that exist amongst these groups gave us one year to agree on the building of the new temple and the arrangement of services. At the end if we couldn't agree the money was no longer available and be returned to his family. The denominations could not agree and now they are all closed. The Tikkun Olam which you speak is not possible with these stiff necked fools. Moshe said it before they cross the Jordan, they had already fallen away. Judaism is the 21st century is dead until we can all love one another, and if we are the heart of the world someone better call a ambulance. Reply
Heal The World With Love When those who feel the Creator in their hearts gather together to form the image of all Israel connected in their hearts, they create a powerful prayer that draws the Light into our world.
This Light of Love then flows over all the nations of the world. All the chaos, hatred and differences will evapourate when this mission is accomplished.
Let us pursue this method of connection that was left to us by the Kabbalists who prepared the way for us.