Shavuot, 2013

Tuesday night starts Shavuot.

I wanted to share this nice teaching from Rav DovBer Pinson: What is True Freedom:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzmQYo80rvc

New Beginnings

Soon it will be Rosh Chodesh, October 16th and 17th.

A time for a New Beginning in so many ways.

The High Holy Days were spent in reflection and asking for forgiveness.

Now it's time to take action and change, to teshuvah.

This from Hineni:


SHABBOS BERESHIS
          This week, we once again commence reading the Torah from the very first portion which is called "Bereshis" - "In the Beginning." Even as the parsha is called "In the Beginning", we are all granted the opportunity for a new beginning. There are many areas in which we may do so. What is important is that we commit to making a fresh start - commit to the study of Torah on an ongoing basis, commit to more careful adherence of mitzvos, commit to deeds of chesed which render us kinder and gentler. That`s what new beginnings are all about.
          This parsha is rich in life-transforming wisdom. We study about G-d`s creation of the world, which reminds us that we are guests on this planet, totally indebted to Him - obligated to give back by making a difference in the world. We study about the sanctity of Shabbos and the blessings that accrue to those who observe it. We study about the creation of man - Adam and Eve, who were invited to join G-d in partnership and failed so tragically. We study about accepting accountability, the first step to tshuva - repentance, and that "fresh start". We study about the relationship between husband and wife ..how G-d intended them to be one - helping one another on the road of life. We study about the evils of temptation represented by the malevolent serpent, and we study about the first catastrophe - fratricide, provoked by resentment and jealousy. In short, we study about life and how we might best avoid the pitfalls of our own frailties and realize our purpose.
          In addition to the names with which we are familiar, each of the Five Books of Moses has also been given names which define them. For example, the Book of Genesis is also called "Sefer Yetzirah" - "The Book of Creation", which means that all the events that are related in the Book of Genesis foreshadow that which will occur throughout our history. Therefore, let us focus for a moment on the story of Cain and Abel, two brothers who literally had the whole world at their disposal - and yet, it was not enough. Cain could not find happiness. The awareness that Abel succeeded where he failed consumed him. His jealousy peaked when G-d accepted Abel`s offering (which reflected Abel`s best effort) and rejected Cain`s, which was not given full-heartedly and was of inferior quality. In vain did G-d challenge him: "Why are you so downcast? You can improve yourself - you too can bring an offering that will be accepted. You need only desire to do so."
          Cain`s blind anger and jealousy did not allow him to recognize his own culpability - instead of searching his soul and banishing rancor from his heart, he indulged his jealousy, and lashed out at his brother and killed him. The story of Cain and Abel teaches us that possessions do not confer lasting happiness. Cain literally had half the world and was still not content. It is important that we not delude ourselves into believing that if we are able to acquire just one more thing, just one more possession, we would find fulfilment. Happiness comes from within, from being content with our lot - as we say at the end of Grace After Meals: "Dorshei HaShem lo yachsuru kol tov" - "Those who seek HaShem will never feel that they are lacking anything in this world" 
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Osher

For Everything There is a Season

The cycle of life and here it is fall time in the upper Midwest. The bright colors of fall on the trees has peaked
and the leaves are falling to the ground. I live by the lake and today is slightly warmer than it has been in the last several days so I have been taking some time to enjoy watching nature prepare for the winter.
Robins are everywhere around, heading south. Squirrels and chipmunks are busy gathering acorns. Geese are gathering in bigger flocks ready any day now to move to warmer water and grasses.

Listen, keep still, and observe.

The robins are singing cheery songs, maybe some kind of road trip song or should I say, air trip song.


You might see wild turkeys gathering together as well.


Winter is coming and it will appear that nature is asleep. But, perhaps only contemplating, resting and reflecting.


Then when the cycle is complete, once again I will sit on the porch and listen intently to nature's music.

A Weird Reality

There are those stories you read or hear about that make you pause and wonder, then you shake your head thinking that stories like that are not real....but are they?

I have such a story to tell and yes, it's weird, unexplainable and true, very true.

Years ago I lived in Oregon and my neighbor was a nice old man whom I grew fond of. Our friendship was that of trust and since I was in the health care field he asked me to tend to a wound that he had on his one leg. He asked me to do sterile changes of his bandages. He was in a wheel chair and was pretty much home bound. We would chat and sometimes chat for a hour at a time or more.
He told me about his wife (who had died several years before) and he would talk to me about his daughter whom he loved very much. He told me about his travels when he was young working for a car dealership and he would go across country for the car dealership.

Then this dear man passed away unexpectedly from a stroke.
I missed talking with him.

A few years later I bought a house in New York after my mother passed away. I bought a car, packed up all my belongings that were to be shipped via van lines and my youngest daughter and I trekked across America heading for our new home.

The second day on the road I became sick with a nasty cold. So, we cut our road time short so that I could rest. We got a motel room not far from the highway that we were on.
After a good nap I stepped outside and there was a young man in the next room to my room and he stepped out. He looked familiar. We started to chat a bit and he told me how he traveled across the country. He had a wife and they just had a baby girl. After chatting with him for a bit I noticed a scar on his leg....he had a pair of short on. It was a wound in the same place as my neighbor's. I looked at this young man and wow! He looked like a young George....my neighbor!

I can not explain it. I only know that this guy looked like a young George, my neighbor and he had a scar on his leg in the same place on his leg and he talked about his wife, traveling for work, his wife and his baby girl.

George? Was that you?

Yom Kippur For Me

Yesterday I observed Yom Kippur like many Jews did. Starting at dusk, I fasted and I prayed. This is mandated (by God) and tradition by Jews.

As I prayed yesterday it really hit me. Not only was I concentrating on my own missed marks, my own faults and sins, I saw Israel as a whole and the world as a whole.  I truly realized how significant each persons actions and non actions touch the whole world....as the saying goes, one life can change the whole world.

My mistakes, my missteps, my faults, my sins have an impact on all of humanity. Not only that, on all of creation!  Think about it.

This is true for each one of us.  Teshuvah (repentance) means more than turning around your life, it means
that the world as a collective depends on you! Will you be true to God? Will you be true to yourself?
Will you be true to all of creation?

What you do, your action and your words do make a difference on a grand scale. These things affect your self, your family, those around you, strangers, and even those who live across the world.

Reflection

Jews just welcomed in the New Year, Rosh Hashana and between this time and Yom Kippur, it is a time of inner reflection.

WOW! How the year goes fast! Although, we ought to have inner reflection all the year through!

I am human. I have some things to work on in my self. Every one does. We live and we learn.

A video to watch:

Every One Falls:

http://www.aish.com/h/hh/video/101461854.html?s=fb

Look what Jews in Israel say about this time of year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct7W4OvUakM&feature=player_embedded#!


Shana Tova!  5773

The God Connection

Some of you who read my blog might be Jewish, some of you might be Christian, some of you might be Hindu or maybe even American Indian. Religions and cultures may look at certain things differently, have different kinds of beliefs and rituals...but it all comes down to connection.

Connection to others, connection to nature, connection to God and as some say, The Ultimate Higher Power or Source....and how ever you say it...God, Creator...the One who we believe to be God.

Christian pastors and such will tell you to pray, to talk to God and so it is with Judaism, the Rabbis and the congregation pray. Our desire...all of us...is to connect with God.

Some will go through certain rituals to connect and say certain prayers. These things are good. Yet, when a person is very ill and can barely speak or can not speak at all....is doing rituals or saying certain blessings or certain meditations a must for this person? I do not believe so. Merely the desire for God's help and attention  is what is known by God.

Connecting to God happens in various ways...through various means. Prayer, meditations, song, dance, and walking through the park or sitting in a meadow under a tree with your open heart and mind, a desire to be connected with God.

A person who is in need of God, perhaps a person who has a terrible alcohol problem. These people with such problems need only open their minds and hearts to God and desire to change. That is the first step.

We all can connect with God, no matter who we are or where we came from.  It's actually very simple and taking the time daily will change your life.

Fire Rainbow

An interesting and beautiful sight that is rare, a fire rainbow. One was spotted over Florida.
There is a scientific explanation of this rare event but is there a spiritual message from God?

Hear me out.

I do believe that God communicates with us mere humans via nature. Oh, yes.  Sometimes God will bless us and sometimes He will not. He holds the rain, he releases the rain. So in the Tanakh and the Christian Bible it says so in Deuteronomy. The blesses and curses. We also read in His Word that the plagues via nature in Egypt caused much harm to the Egyptians.  Why should today be any different...God still communicates through nature with us.

Some might say to me, "how can you say such things! God would not bring bad things to good people in the way of a tornado or a hurricane!"  let me say this...God has a message, He warns us over and over again.
Like a parent who tells their child, "no, do not behave like that!" But, after several times of behaving badly, well...a parent might scold a child, punish them in some fashion. Does that mean the parent hates their child? Not at all! The parent teaches the child and so therefore, the child will hopefully grow up to know better and lead a good and moral life!

What is this about the fire rainbow? Well, I have no idea what exactly God might be communicating to us, if at all with this event. But, the first thing that comes to my mind is fire and water.  The clouds are made up of water droplets and acts much like a rainbow and colors appear, that is the "fire".

There are the 4 elements: fire, water, air, and earth.  In the Tanakh/Bible, water and fire are talked about in various places...the heavens and angels.

Depending what Kabbalistic source you read, such as the Zohar and the Tanya, these elements can have different meanings.  In the Tanya, fire means anger and pride and water means persecution.

I believe that God is trying to communicate with us. This rare display was over Florida. Florida is a big issue politically right now in America and many Jews live in Florida.
I believe that God is communicating a message to the people in Florida and to Americans, but I am not sure what...yet.

Could it be that fire and water have a meaning for Florida? America?  Also, look at how the weather has been so very unusual this summer for 2/3 of the country. Hot and humid! Even in places that do not usually have this extreme heat and humidity.

The way we talk and think, God knows....


Heating up, hot, muggy, thick air.

On the political scene, it is heating up, elections are soon, and economically we are in trouble, this country is in big trouble. God knows what man does.

Things are getting hot and troubled (fire).
Things are stifling, oppressed/persecution. Obama and his regime want to bring down America and have been doing a good job of it. Obama and his campaign had issues with Florida recently about voter registration. He also is suing to restrict military votes.

Yes, things are heating up and getting nasty.  That is oppression, water.

What is God saying, if anything? I don't know.

Fire Rainbow over Florida: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/08/02/amazing-photo-fire-rainbow-over-florida/?intcmp=features

9th of Av

This coming Saturday night to Sunday night I will be observing 9th of Av in which I reflect and observe certain restrictions, a type of mourning, for remembering certain terrible events that have happened on the 9th of Av for the Jewish people. Two Temples were destroyed n those days of long ago.
I also am remembering at this time he murders of Jews committed at the Olympics in 1972 by Palestinians.

UH OH, Another?

I created another blog. Yes, this is true!

This blog I write about my personal journey that took me out of Christianity.

http://steptotruth.blogspot.com/

Radical Moves

Sometimes things get so intense that one has to do what they have to do. Things can get a bit crazy and overwhelming. Then, at least for me, that means a bit of a change and that's where I am at for now.
Physically and emotionally. Ah, yes, these times are a changing and we keep growing and moving to other things. 

Death, a Story

Short, but to the point message from a man who tried to commit suicide and experienced "the other side".


Love is what it's all about.

from Coast to Coast AM web site:

DEATH: A STORY:

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/videos/?uri=channels/455279/1672490


My thoughts on the here after:

I read many books on the matter of death and dying. I have read about and also watched many Youtube videos on near death experiences.  I also took care of many dying people when I was in the medical field and held the hand of several as they passed away.

Can you be certain without a doubt that YOU will die and there is nothing else?

If man is a conscious being, is it fair to say that our conscious energy will remain as such....energy?
All life form at some point dies and the molecules breakdown, nevertheless, these atoms are energy.
But what about our consciousness? Is it limited to brain matter and nothing more?

This is why I love Kabbalah...the old traditional Kabbalah that is not of the new age sort.
Kabbalah is for anyone and it is not a religion, although it does have moral concepts.  It is a science of sorts as well as explaining phenomena.  Kabbalah has been around for a very long time...some say several thousand years and some say even from the time of the Hebrews at Mt. Sinai.

The hardest thing for many people about God is the issue of injustice and/or pain.
Many Jews left God because of the Holocaust. They asked as many do ask, "if there is a God, how could He allow such pain and injustice?"
Several religions try to answer this question. Buddhism explains that this is the way of Karma.  Judaism and Kabbalah also have a similar view.
Most would say that we just don't know all the answers and truly we do not know all the answers.
Cruel as things happen to some people, we must realize that we are here on earth, a realm of flesh and blood and material things. We also must realize that we have a choice, a free will to a certain extent.

Let me ask you...have you ever had an experience or experiences that seem way too coincidental?
I have. I have had many of these type of things.  For instance, I ran out of gas once and I had my oldest daughter with me who was 2 yrs old at the time. We were stranded and I didn't have any money. Just when I had gotten out of my stalled car and wondered what the heck I was going to do, a man came along and asked if I needed help. He went to a gas station for me, got a gallon of gas for me and never wanted me to pay him. The man had a Salvation Army uniform on. This was one of many types of incidents that happened to me. Right time, right place? Or a guiding hand to help from beyond....

There are some commonalities in the NDE (near death experiences) that I have noticed when watching video accounts. People who pass away briefly enter into a bright light, see loved ones who have passed before them, and a great feeling of love. It doesn't matter if the person is Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or even atheist....people who have had the NDE have come back to tell about their experiences and it changed their lives. No longer did they fear death.

I have also seen NDE videos where some people were great sinners and completely selfish and lived horrible lives who came back to tell about darkness, fear, demons, and crying out to be saved from the wretched darkness and alone-ness. These people came back and changed their attitudes, beliefs, and lifestyle.

I recall a man who told about how he was involved with drugs and didn't care much about spiritual matters. He overdosed and came back to tell about his NDE. He told about these horrible feelings as he was in complete darkness separated from God. He changed his tune and became a Rabbi!

I have heard and read articles about science/doctors trying to explain away NDE' and saying that the brain will behave in certain ways before death. But, that doesn't explain accounts of people on an operating table able to see things that they wouldn't necessarily see standing in the room, never mind lying on a table knocked out!


If I had the thought and attitude that there is no God and that when we die, we die...then why live? Why be nice to people? Why try to accomplish anything? Why bother with it all? I probably would find myself moping around and being bitter. But, thankfully, I have chosen to belief in something greater than myself and to believe that I will exist after my body dies.  I am aging...everyone does...and when that time comes...I plan on having a great time on the other side.

Devorah's Soul Garden Shop

Check out my little online shop: Devorah's Soul Garden Shop


http://astore.amazon.com/devorah5464_plan-20

Shavuot

Shavuot starts May 26, 2012 at sundown and continues to May 28th.

Shavuot is truly an awesome time.

At Mt. Sinai, the Israelites received the Torah.  It is an observance where many study in the Shuls all night long, reading the Torah. It is tradition to eat a bunch of goodies like cheese cake at this time.

Sounds good to me!

Crash course on Shavuot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyEifiwKBcY&feature=youtu.be


Live Stream service, Friday, May 25, 2012 at 1:30 P.M. eastern time:

http://www.ourjewishcommunity.org/OJC_LiveStreaming.htm

Happy Mother's Day

Loving Yourself

For some, the hardest thing to do is to love your self. It can be a daily battle for some.

Rabbi Lazer Brody: video: Loving Yourself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9_8jIbi6xU&feature=related


You are unique and Hashem loves you!

Tending the Garden, Your Soul

Have you ever gardened? It takes a lot of work, persistence to maintain a garden that is beautiful.
How much more that we ought to tend to our souls! Even soul tending is hard work for it is easy to be careless and off the mark. But, once one eliminates the weeds, it is easier to maintain and grow a health garden...your soul. I have said a long time ago, "you become what you surround yourself with". Isn't it true that if we fill our minds with garbage, that is what we speak, feel, and believe? Rotten, filthy gardens need to be cleaned up and redeemed. If one surrounds themselves with the Torah (the Bible), then we learn and we cultivate a beautiful soul. 

Prayer

Prayer is an individual thing some say. Well, yes it is. Sometimes it's a collective thing as in a minyon (10 who pray together) and daven, to pray.

In Judaism, there is no mediator to pray to, only to pray to One and that is God, the Creator.
We don't pray to saints or some messiah, we pray only to God, the One God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel).

Reciting blessings and supplications are done in the Synogogue, Shul, or Temple or in the home or anywhere and at any time.
Depending which affiliation, Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, etc., prayer and blessings may have suggested times of the day, especially for the Sabbath (Shabbat) and Holy Days and different Jewish observances.

Personal prayer is well, personal. Between you and God, perhaps family and friends included.

Prayer can be something that is already written and then recited out loud or silently. Or prayer can be spontaneous and also a crying out to God.

When one prays, whether a recited prayer or "free lance" prayer, it ought to be from the heart, with sincere intention.

Prayers can also be used as a type of meditation. One example would be if a person is yearning with all hos soul to be close to God. One might recite a Psalm from the Tanach (Bible). Or perhaps for a special supplication.  Also, included in this could be special Names of God that is recited and meditated on.

There have been Jewish Sages that are so engrossed with prayer that they have wonderful vision type experiences. A true connection to God in a phenomenal way.

Prayer connects, prayer heals, prayer directs and sometimes prayer seems like it's never answered.  But don't be dismayed. Prayer is answered whether it is immediate or in the future, God hears our prayers if we have a sincere heart.

Fasting is another aspect of prayer. Fasting for answered prayer over concern, something important. Fasting is mentioned in the Tanach.

Many lives have been saved and changed because of prayer.  However, not all prayer is answered in how we want it to be. Sometimes we don't know why God doesn't answer  the prayers for a loved one who is dying.
Some may become very discouraged because of this and no, we just don't know why all can not be healed and saved. For some, it is their time, and that's the best answer most can offer.

Daily prayer is something that can be cultivated. Set a time for daily prayer. Pray for others, pray for your county, pray for leaders...the list is endless. Talk to God and yes, He will listen.

Counting the Omer

Making a special fun calender for kids is a great way for them to count the Omer.

http://www.jewfaq.org/holidayb.htm

Get the Leaven Out!

Whether you are Jewish or if you are a Christian, preparing for holidays is exhausting! Shopping, cleaning, preparing meals, and so forth. Pesach is no different. It can be overwhelming. But, at the same time, I love  this Holiday. Family, friends, and the story of the Exodus....freedom!

May you and yours have a truly wonderful Pesach!