I remember a song some time ago about shiny happy people. I noticed that myself, I would not say that I can categorize myself this way today. I know that I have had the option to join this crowd a few times in the past and looking back, I seem to have taken the opposite direction.
Today, I smoke a pipe and occasional cigars and I like to read books and listen to music.
Do I qualify as shiny and happy? Maybe a little gruff and realistic I think.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Stringencies among the Jewish People
http://www.torah.org/learning/jewish-values/law2.html
I thought this was a good excerpt on what it is to be someone who tries to put others to be beyond the letter of the law and be more strict. To me today, this is still reflected in alot of jewish communities where by someone may not like that your family member is say working in a hospital on shabbas or other exaggerated way that the law is applied. True it is good to have a day of rest, but a hospital is not for your own benefit but for the benefit of others who are sick. (yes this was a contention in my family as my mother is a medical technologist and I had another really "stringent" person asking me when my mother would quit working on the weekends and encouraging me to discuss this with my familiy member).
To me today, alot of wickedness is going on in the name of our "religious ways" and this causes much harm among the people of our nation.
I was once attacked by a fellow telling me that he thinks he saw me in the mall over the weekend once. (in the past I may have in fact done this on shabbas. Today I still might but it is not my shabbas priority). I have lived in fear of going to a less than kosher restaurant as someone would remark that I am not adhering to the laws. (I say that you can indeed go to a restaurant- any and order what is meeting our dietary laws as best you can. This means no pork of course, but salads and other vegitarian meals are fine. Even if you had chicken that was not properly slaughtered, I would not be the one to say it will destroy your relationship with G-d or your way of life).
So I thought I would post this article here on this blog. Enjoy the reading and I hope that if you are a person who wants to adhere closely to the True Laws of Moses (as you would desire if you really wanted to live a rich jewish life), you would not be so stringent among all the many who do not even in many cases know the laws and do not adhere to them as specifically as you did.
According to this article, this is a reason that the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE. So think about this next time you are in Jerusalem and you are throwing rocks at the cars that pass by on Shabbat.
I am concerned with the increasingly prevalent stringencies that are existing in our nation and unless you are trying to be a leader among our people who is say a rabbi to dispell our laws and values to our people, you should simply be careful to adhere as best you can to our laws.
To the rabbis I say this: I expect you to do your job to your creator. To uphold the ways of our people and to teach as well. But if you want me to be compliant with your choices, you better respect our laws as well. And on that note I will say that I have been perceived as being stringent in certain settings in the past and I will testify that my own "stringency" was an attempt to secure a kosher environment in light of the lax rules of our rabbinate in some situations. This is a problem for any religious jew (such as being around people who do not dress accordingly in a very intimate personal situation).
I thought this was a good excerpt on what it is to be someone who tries to put others to be beyond the letter of the law and be more strict. To me today, this is still reflected in alot of jewish communities where by someone may not like that your family member is say working in a hospital on shabbas or other exaggerated way that the law is applied. True it is good to have a day of rest, but a hospital is not for your own benefit but for the benefit of others who are sick. (yes this was a contention in my family as my mother is a medical technologist and I had another really "stringent" person asking me when my mother would quit working on the weekends and encouraging me to discuss this with my familiy member).
To me today, alot of wickedness is going on in the name of our "religious ways" and this causes much harm among the people of our nation.
I was once attacked by a fellow telling me that he thinks he saw me in the mall over the weekend once. (in the past I may have in fact done this on shabbas. Today I still might but it is not my shabbas priority). I have lived in fear of going to a less than kosher restaurant as someone would remark that I am not adhering to the laws. (I say that you can indeed go to a restaurant- any and order what is meeting our dietary laws as best you can. This means no pork of course, but salads and other vegitarian meals are fine. Even if you had chicken that was not properly slaughtered, I would not be the one to say it will destroy your relationship with G-d or your way of life).
So I thought I would post this article here on this blog. Enjoy the reading and I hope that if you are a person who wants to adhere closely to the True Laws of Moses (as you would desire if you really wanted to live a rich jewish life), you would not be so stringent among all the many who do not even in many cases know the laws and do not adhere to them as specifically as you did.
According to this article, this is a reason that the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE. So think about this next time you are in Jerusalem and you are throwing rocks at the cars that pass by on Shabbat.
I am concerned with the increasingly prevalent stringencies that are existing in our nation and unless you are trying to be a leader among our people who is say a rabbi to dispell our laws and values to our people, you should simply be careful to adhere as best you can to our laws.
To the rabbis I say this: I expect you to do your job to your creator. To uphold the ways of our people and to teach as well. But if you want me to be compliant with your choices, you better respect our laws as well. And on that note I will say that I have been perceived as being stringent in certain settings in the past and I will testify that my own "stringency" was an attempt to secure a kosher environment in light of the lax rules of our rabbinate in some situations. This is a problem for any religious jew (such as being around people who do not dress accordingly in a very intimate personal situation).
Saturday, August 27, 2011
College Football on a Saturday
College football, as you quite know is almost always played on saturday.
According to the religious Jewish mind set, no jew can enjoy college football and clearly must not watch television on shabbas, especially a football game.
I took this up for a year and I will report today that it is a false way and totalitarian way of living.
I can not imagine that our Creator made a college scene that is so difficult for the Jewish student to enjoy. Clearly college football is a part of the college experience. Do you really think that our God wants us to never go to a game or watch one on television just because you have some improper idea as to how shabbas is to be observed?
That too it would seem that no jew could ever play football professionally as if he played in college, according to the ultra religious, he would be violating the shabbas and condemning his life to a lesser fate in the world to come. I must say this one gets tricky, but I do not think that our Creator intended football to be only for the non jew. So I guess if I have a son some day who wants to compete on saturday in football, I would allow him to do so.
And maybe thats why professional paid football is on sunday. It wont violate shabbat for the Jew to play and earn a living on that day. Just a thought.
According to the religious Jewish mind set, no jew can enjoy college football and clearly must not watch television on shabbas, especially a football game.
I took this up for a year and I will report today that it is a false way and totalitarian way of living.
I can not imagine that our Creator made a college scene that is so difficult for the Jewish student to enjoy. Clearly college football is a part of the college experience. Do you really think that our God wants us to never go to a game or watch one on television just because you have some improper idea as to how shabbas is to be observed?
That too it would seem that no jew could ever play football professionally as if he played in college, according to the ultra religious, he would be violating the shabbas and condemning his life to a lesser fate in the world to come. I must say this one gets tricky, but I do not think that our Creator intended football to be only for the non jew. So I guess if I have a son some day who wants to compete on saturday in football, I would allow him to do so.
And maybe thats why professional paid football is on sunday. It wont violate shabbat for the Jew to play and earn a living on that day. Just a thought.
Shabbas Activities
Well folks, since March 2011 this year, I have decided to be lenient on Shabbas on things like using the lights and the internet and television and all that such.
For a full year from Mar 2010 to Mar 2011, I looked at becoming ultra orthodox and keeping the ultra orthodox shabbas as they do without making any electrical changes, no internet, no television, no driving (which I mostly still do not do as I stay home mostly all day) and no phone calls.
I must report here that during that year, I became increasingly angry at all of the "reform" jews who I might see after sabbath posting things on the facebook or internet. This bothered me alot as if the ultra orthodox were right and we could not make electrical changes on shabbas, then clearly the reform were blatent shabbas violators. I was upset once when I got an email from a reform jew on shabbas. It bothered me and I cursed per se the very existence of the other person's right and need to do anything on shabbas.
I was markedly unhappy but I still thought that "I was alright".
Suffice to say, its been about half a year since I made the change no longer to watch the shabbas as the ultra orthodox think is the "correct and only way to do so".
I am much happier. I enjoy posting on shabbas like this note and I must say that I do not feel that our Creator is angry with me or going to "send me to hell".
I must say that I disagree with this ultra orthodox mind set and I now completely understand why there was a reform in judaism about 200 years ago. It seems that the ultra orthodox and conservatively orthodox who may have had a big hold on the synagogue and other aspects of jewish life are really a totalitarian system and that is something that can not be obliged.
So sadly the reform does not serve my own needs today. They do not use a separation in synagogue between male and female worshippers and to me that is a problem.
But I am glad that they do exist in a sense as if we were all ultra orthodox, it would not be a fun situation and we would not be living as well as our G-d might have intended for us to live.
For a full year from Mar 2010 to Mar 2011, I looked at becoming ultra orthodox and keeping the ultra orthodox shabbas as they do without making any electrical changes, no internet, no television, no driving (which I mostly still do not do as I stay home mostly all day) and no phone calls.
I must report here that during that year, I became increasingly angry at all of the "reform" jews who I might see after sabbath posting things on the facebook or internet. This bothered me alot as if the ultra orthodox were right and we could not make electrical changes on shabbas, then clearly the reform were blatent shabbas violators. I was upset once when I got an email from a reform jew on shabbas. It bothered me and I cursed per se the very existence of the other person's right and need to do anything on shabbas.
I was markedly unhappy but I still thought that "I was alright".
Suffice to say, its been about half a year since I made the change no longer to watch the shabbas as the ultra orthodox think is the "correct and only way to do so".
I am much happier. I enjoy posting on shabbas like this note and I must say that I do not feel that our Creator is angry with me or going to "send me to hell".
I must say that I disagree with this ultra orthodox mind set and I now completely understand why there was a reform in judaism about 200 years ago. It seems that the ultra orthodox and conservatively orthodox who may have had a big hold on the synagogue and other aspects of jewish life are really a totalitarian system and that is something that can not be obliged.
So sadly the reform does not serve my own needs today. They do not use a separation in synagogue between male and female worshippers and to me that is a problem.
But I am glad that they do exist in a sense as if we were all ultra orthodox, it would not be a fun situation and we would not be living as well as our G-d might have intended for us to live.
Monday, August 15, 2011
A complement received
I shared one of my blogs with a fellow at a Cigar Shop recently. The persons comment? Everything is spelled Right. ! I was smiling. I of course like to make sure that I correct many of my spelling errors. Though I am not a hound for spell check, when it comes down to business, I regard the written word as a pure substance that must be written neatly and with precision.
So, I will take that complement.
As for those who are many who leave typos in their written work, I say this: You can't get your money right. That is a disaster at a certain level. It is one thing to have a very occasional unchecked typo and of course, I am not going to go to a level of dismay if you do not say put in an apostrophe, but to spell consistently words without checking your spelling indicates to me that you just don't love your God and you don't love your fellow man. This is a sickness and those of you who do this habitually, I know who you are and I will indeed treat you differently in my mind and soul and being.
So guess what folks, use that spell check and don't be afraid to watch what you type and use backspace either if you need recorrect your filthy errors.
This has been a public service message.
So, I will take that complement.
As for those who are many who leave typos in their written work, I say this: You can't get your money right. That is a disaster at a certain level. It is one thing to have a very occasional unchecked typo and of course, I am not going to go to a level of dismay if you do not say put in an apostrophe, but to spell consistently words without checking your spelling indicates to me that you just don't love your God and you don't love your fellow man. This is a sickness and those of you who do this habitually, I know who you are and I will indeed treat you differently in my mind and soul and being.
So guess what folks, use that spell check and don't be afraid to watch what you type and use backspace either if you need recorrect your filthy errors.
This has been a public service message.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Stand and Be Proud
I was just watching tonight as a player from the Green Bay Packers caught a touch down pass that bounced off the intented reciver into his arms. I watched as he walked off the field and smiled and was happy. I thought to myself, in the past years, I have been "taught" by my own religious compatriots that physical acheivement is not a true mitzvah and not a true accomplishment. I had to think about this situation a little bit.
This poor player took his time to work out and rehearse his game for this moment in the sun. Truly he is not studying a religious work as our people of the "highest" places in our faith feel is the true accomplishment.
There is a player named Alan Veingrad who played once for the Green Bay packers and later for the Dallas Cowboys. He is jewish and has in fact become a Ba'al Teshuvah and come to a torah life that involves daily prayer and donning tefillin. He describes this transformation as his super great accomplishment. Truly this is a truth and a major accomplishment.
But he also is proud of his past in the football league, though sadly I do profess that he seems to think from what I have seen that it was an option for a non religious jew at the time.
I disagree.
This is how I see it.
To compete in a physical acheivement is a human experience. This is what constitutes humanity.
So if you have children who want to do something other than pursue the "religious" life that you think they really are meant to lead, let them follow their dreams and pursue the athletic experiences that they seek.
This player who was proud today for catching that ball should very much BE PROUD. He participated in an act of humanity. This is a feat and an accomplishment and dare I suggest that our G-d and creator allows for and likely offered our people the past time of football for human beings to compete as human beings.
We can not all go for a true religious life at least as the other people define that to be from day one to day last of our lives as they want us to pursue.
In fact, quite possibly and quite definately I say, these people who do have an athletic life are indeed also serving their G-d as well.
So stand tall and be proud. If you are good at sports and especially if you are Jewish, make a go of it if you think it is meant to be. You might be proud of your result and you really will be an inspiration. And like myself, you might not start reading your Tanakh until you are in your 30's. That may not be a crime and it certainly is not, but if you don't discover your faith until later, be proud too. And if you know your faith from day early in your life, you are still way ahead of the game.
This poor player took his time to work out and rehearse his game for this moment in the sun. Truly he is not studying a religious work as our people of the "highest" places in our faith feel is the true accomplishment.
There is a player named Alan Veingrad who played once for the Green Bay packers and later for the Dallas Cowboys. He is jewish and has in fact become a Ba'al Teshuvah and come to a torah life that involves daily prayer and donning tefillin. He describes this transformation as his super great accomplishment. Truly this is a truth and a major accomplishment.
But he also is proud of his past in the football league, though sadly I do profess that he seems to think from what I have seen that it was an option for a non religious jew at the time.
I disagree.
This is how I see it.
To compete in a physical acheivement is a human experience. This is what constitutes humanity.
So if you have children who want to do something other than pursue the "religious" life that you think they really are meant to lead, let them follow their dreams and pursue the athletic experiences that they seek.
This player who was proud today for catching that ball should very much BE PROUD. He participated in an act of humanity. This is a feat and an accomplishment and dare I suggest that our G-d and creator allows for and likely offered our people the past time of football for human beings to compete as human beings.
We can not all go for a true religious life at least as the other people define that to be from day one to day last of our lives as they want us to pursue.
In fact, quite possibly and quite definately I say, these people who do have an athletic life are indeed also serving their G-d as well.
So stand tall and be proud. If you are good at sports and especially if you are Jewish, make a go of it if you think it is meant to be. You might be proud of your result and you really will be an inspiration. And like myself, you might not start reading your Tanakh until you are in your 30's. That may not be a crime and it certainly is not, but if you don't discover your faith until later, be proud too. And if you know your faith from day early in your life, you are still way ahead of the game.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Isaiah 9 and Isaiah 53
I am going to sometime look into the prophesies that the christians think ascribe to themselves the idea that Jesus is our saviour and 'messiah'. This is clearly not so and I have investigated tonight 2 arguments for Jesus based on these 2 chapters of the book of Isaiah.
In Isaiah 9, it is discussed that a son will come and be named "The mighty G-d is planning grace, the Eternal Father a peaceable ruler."
This is not a physical son that this verse refers to.
The son in this verse is the idea of "Godliness". This is a son that will exist in the future as our people are brought to being Godly and Torah orientated.
In Isaiah 53, they talk about a son again. This is the quintessential arguement for the Christians about jesus. This verse talks about a suffering servant.
This servant is not a son. For a while, I was always told that this son refers to Israel. This is partially true.
To me, I think that this refers to a son figuratively which is the preisthood.
In Isaiah 9, it is discussed that a son will come and be named "The mighty G-d is planning grace, the Eternal Father a peaceable ruler."
This is not a physical son that this verse refers to.
The son in this verse is the idea of "Godliness". This is a son that will exist in the future as our people are brought to being Godly and Torah orientated.
In Isaiah 53, they talk about a son again. This is the quintessential arguement for the Christians about jesus. This verse talks about a suffering servant.
This servant is not a son. For a while, I was always told that this son refers to Israel. This is partially true.
To me, I think that this refers to a son figuratively which is the preisthood.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Turning back from idolatry
Isaiah 42:17 deals with those who put their faith in images.
Isaiah 42:17
They shall be turned back, greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say unto molten images: 'Ye are our gods.'
The ChaBaD today is reported to encourage their children to look at a photograph of their rebbe before the even say the Shema at night before they go to bed?
I am not a yeshiva educated man, but I can see that this practice is basically idolatry.
The ChaBaD members have photographs of their esteemed rabbi on their walls in their doorways and all throughout their lives.
I can not see how this is not Idolatry.
Isaiah 42:17
They shall be turned back, greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say unto molten images: 'Ye are our gods.'
The ChaBaD today is reported to encourage their children to look at a photograph of their rebbe before the even say the Shema at night before they go to bed?
I am not a yeshiva educated man, but I can see that this practice is basically idolatry.
The ChaBaD members have photographs of their esteemed rabbi on their walls in their doorways and all throughout their lives.
I can not see how this is not Idolatry.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
ChaBaD and the Empire Strikes Back
I bought a Tie Fighter replica tonight on ebay.
I wanted to be a part of the "empire". Thus, I have now something in common with the ChaBaD. Thanks!
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