Inner Exile

Gola is part of our history since Adam when we were exiled from the Gan Eden. Yet, Adam learned and adapted himself to the new circumstances. As Jews we have been in the Gola several times and we also adapted to the issues at hand, Yet, this small lecture has to do with internal exile: in other words, how do we feel as Jews in or out of the Gola. It is an internal feeling of being proud to be Jewish. I am afraid that now we have a problem of Jews who misunderstand the message of Tikkun Olam and have distanced themselves qua Jews from both themselves and Israel as a state. Reply

A Starter for me:

I admit:

There is no actual separate person in my body.
The person I have always thought I am is actually a concept.
This concept is based on a narrative I was born into, a story going back in history, a religious story, a cultural story, a family narrative which forks out into a personal narrative of me, and then combines with a personal narrative of my mate, to produce a new branch of family narrative, and on and on.

So, if someone asks me “who are you”? I tell him my name.
Then if he says “tell me more about yourself”, I start repeating my narrative.
But that story, that narrative, is not the actuality of who/what I am, of what I have always been, since before birth…

Just as the word “car” is not an actual car, and the word “house” is not an actual house, my name and narrative is not the actuality of who/what I am.
Neither is a map the actual territory represented.

Learn to see that there is a difference between what IS and what it is called. Reply

When the quality of egoism expressed itself within us we fell from our high degree of spirituality. We lost connection with G_d's world, a world where altruistic qualities reign.

In order to take the exile from us we need to recognize we are dominated by self-love and
yearn to come closer to G-dlines.

With this sublime knowledge of the Tree of Good and Evil and a desire to be rewarded equivalence of G_d's qualities, our minds will gradually shift from perceiving an egoistic world to an altruistic perception.
This shift in mind takes the exile out of us.
Keeping our minds from straying into ego territory is the challenging work ahead. Reply

“You don’t have to live like a refugee.” Maybe you don’t even have to fight to be free. Reply

Actually, I started going to Shul prior to Po-Way Tragedy and the COVID 19 outbreak. I hadn't returned since the nation's shutdown. Since everything is re-opening, we'll see.

Thank you for the reminder about Inner/Outer Exile. It fits with one of the songs from Cabad Radio Music "Mi Mitzrayim" this morning.

Be Blessed, Reply

Presently, I'm studying Rambam--Maimonides--and I learned in one of his Halachahs he writes something like, "If your community is corrupt morally against you, then the thing to do is to set yourself apart; go to a cave or a desert to get away from them and live alone." This is my Exile:
Notwithstanding that the world really has changed much since Rambam's life, spiritually today remains very sinful. I imagine, however, going to synagogue for Shabbat and holidays and there feeling the Divine presence among others is somewhat taking the Exile out of myself. Reply

What happens to the exile after it has been taken out of us? Does it return to G-d who as a single entity lives as if He were exiled all the time? Reply

I'll offer my two cents on this one...
Being within any given environment limits our ability to act within it. Even psychologically, I have a valid excuse, that this and that environment prevents me.

But having a personal hindrance —when, say, the issues that the environment may present are in fact not external, but are instead lacks that I can find within myself—then that changes the picture. It is only I who can extract it — it is my unique role and responsibility to do so.

The exile may sound like a mode in which we live. But even more than that, it is a way of living. It is a mode of thinking. This perspective allows an individual much power over the said "exile".

The term exile in a way means "limitation", and when we realize that we are our greatest limitation, then we simultaneously realize that we have the key to success, to remove this exile from our lives through simple effort. Reply

Even when we eventually pull ourselves out of exile, there’ll always be days when we actually feel we’re back there again. No one can possibly be happy and high on life every second of the day. If that were true then there would be no need for us to call upon
G d. To be completely free of any type of exile is everyone’s dream of that special G d
driven world we all await and pray for to come quickly. But until then the best we can do is stay close to the Torah, our synagogue, celebrate all of G d’s appointed celebrations such as Shabbat and pray religiously. All of these should help to keep us from falling into exile for long periods of time. And of course center ourselves around family and friends that help to uplift us out of exile. Reply

“Ex”-“ile” , very peculiar semiotics.

Ex: out of, free from
- ile: (suffix): tending to or capable of
Segment of a (specified) size in a frequency distribution.

Sounds rather like yet another dance step.

They put the Exile in
He took the Exile out
Reclaim your Exy Exness
As you shake it all about
Do some hocus pocus
And let the outies out
That’s what it’s all about Reply

Put the cause and effect scares and wrinkles of yesterday's struggles get behind us.. Reply

yes, in exile long before It happened, so, why capitalize 'It'?
could It be that HaShem G-d makes Doubly-sure of His Wisdom even as Knowing the intended Outcome? Reply

Rabbi Freeman,

Exile in, exile out. Wax on wax off. Where is the temple that G-d now dwells in? HaShem dwells in us. I had to think about this devotion. What does it mean? When the Isralites were in exile, they were enslaved, followed the rules, and were cared for as Pharaoh dictated. They should be content but they weren't and cried out to G-d for deliverance. Moses was sent to sent them free and to connect them to G-d. It did not happen because their mind was still enslaved to a position of exile and so was their behavior. Joshua and Caleb. They are the only ones of the older generation who saw the promise fulfilled. Why? They fought the challenges that sought to keep them enslaved. World. They got it wrong. They regrouped.They got it right. They did not settle! HaShem helped them to overcome every challenge. HaShem Promises, Vision, Mind, eyes, behavior, and spirit; they pleased G-d. Exile in Exile out. Wax on Wax off.

Thank you. I needed that. Reply

Inner Exile by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman Every year just before Pesach Grandma would make a great pot roast. From five pounds of meat she would cut off about one third, put it in the fridge and cook two thirds with onions potatoes carrots etc. and waft a great smell throughout the house.

One day her great grandchild wanted to make her pot roast for Pesach. After turning over the house (again!) she found that Pesach pot and began to think. Will great grandma remember how she did it. Recipe in hand she drove to Grandma's humble abode. That smell hit her in her mind's eye and she began to chat with her 90 year old mother of Bubbie.

...But how...looking at the half torn paper... did you do it?
she explained every detail of how to whip up that amazing Pesach pot roast
and her great granddaughter came home and began. But why had her great
grandmother cut off about a third of the brisket? And then began...called her
Great Bubbie.I don't know" said Bubbie. Ah! she called HER mother...because
that was the size of her pot. Reply

Inner Exile In order to get rid of the inner Exile we most first need to get rid of the veil which is covering our eyes and understand that the same Exile which had set us appart can bring us back together by paying attention to each other, by listening, by understanding, but most of all by accepting each other and realize that "The Exile"had changed our names and appearances but not our Beautiful Jewish Souls! Reply

Far Away There have been may times in my life that I have felt far away. I am still close to HaShem in my prayers and daily walk. But even in the mist there lies a distance. Each day I draw closer to G-d the distance sometime is removed and sometime remains. But one day I will be complete and the exile will be gone forever. Reply

True! Very so true!
Thank you for sharing that. Reply

Secular vs Spiritual A renewed mindset of knowing (Da'at) who I am, will allow me to escape the traps (lusts) that the world has in place. I will not deceive myself over and over again. We are free of it! Thanks for the reminder. Reply

makes no sense Although I understand your logic in wanting such a statement to be true, if it were true than there would not be a need for Israel (Torah) to exist at all. All should have just learned to live in Egypt according to the Pharaoh and his laws.

Have you given up faith in Israel existence? Neutrality?

If the Soul was given by G-d himself (Life), than the opposite is true. He will handle ourselves in exile...one way or the other. It's easier to live Life with your statement, but what are you giving up? The right to exist at all. Why?

Israel is now leader of the "Free World" (which G-d gave)....and not by chance.

Surrender yourself to Egypt is what I read when I read your statement...."just let go" Reply

Everything is Inside you All the Torah speaks about is your inner states - How to change your inner characteristics, qualities and attributes to resemble G_d's. Now those qualities are totally opposite and out of sync with His. We are not tuned in to His wave - this disconnects us from Him and puts us in the inner exile.

We need to correct our inner intentions from self love to love of others and the Creator. Then we build the inner temple in which we all dwell as one soul system with the G_d's love/Force among us. We need only shift our mindset with the help of the 'Light that Reforms' us, to escape our separation from G_d's place. Reply