Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Welcome to Political Point Man.
The intended theme of this monthly column is to establish, for those lacking the knowledge, politically or religiously, of what is right and wrong in Washington D.C.
We will keep it to basics. Many of us can use an education of what Torah Jews ought to believe when entering the voting booth. Additionally, we will provide a brief review, for those whose convictions are b’H in order, of what are some of the central beliefs of the American political parties, and whether a Jew may, halachically, support or harbor them. What one thinks about the issues of the day is obviously the choice of the individual and ultimately how we vote is up to our own personal discretion.
Yet, there is a dire need in the Jewish world of print, electronic and social media, and the general popular consensus to teach, and, hopefully, even successfully persuade the klal that voting incorrectly causes a terrible chilul Hashem in our open society, as well as it undermines the fabric of our lives.
Hashem placed us in this country and in this era to serve Him Alone, despite the countless challenges and temptations. Our private views on current social issues are not immune from this requirement at all. We must possess the ability, unless we choose not to think about politics at all, to see through the deceit that envelops our world.
Lies and fabrications abound the world media today and one should actually envy those of us who shun these mediums as a source of any information, since the information along with many of those disseminating it evil, to say the least. They wake up every day and substitute Modeh Ani with a burning desire to further the cause of modern-day radical liberalism, and to undermine all efforts expended on the part of men and women of faith in this once moral society.
Rabbi Avigdor Miller zt’l was a voice of veracity and holy Tzadik hador who taught us that the ills of liberalism are antithetical to the holy Torah and we may have no part of it. With the recent election of President Donald J. Trump, we have enhanced our chances for preparing ourselves properly to greet Moshiach exponentially. When one considers that on paper he had absolutely no chance of ever winning last November, it is clear that this is the Will of Hashem and we need to capitalize on this opportune time to lead lives that will make our ancestors proud.
Ours is a generation that has come along after many other prior periods in the golus that seemingly surpassed the performance of present-day klal yisroel. Yet, as Rabbi Nachman of Breslov zt’l taught us, during the days that precede Moshiach’s arrival, a Jew who says the Sh’ma Yisroel with the proper belief will be a wonder. Those days are practically here and we must understand that our contribution’s to k’vod shomayim are very much appreciated and cherished by our Father Above.
Supporting Democrats, members of our congress that work term after term in office to spread immorality and insanity throughout the nation, during these precarious days, is probably a major Torah offense. I am far from being a rabbi, yet I encourage you all to ask your rabbi, if he is an authentic one, what is the heter for selling out one’s soul in exchange for political favors, be they monetary or otherwise. Rabbi Miller zt’l was not alone in this battle. Many holy Torah personalities forbade voting for immoral candidates too. Let us ask ourselves from now on, “Who would Hashem want me to vote for?” With that approach, the choice is clear. Hatzlacha!
The intended theme of this monthly column is to establish, for those lacking the knowledge, politically or religiously, of what is right and wrong in Washington D.C.
We will keep it to basics. Many of us can use an education of what Torah Jews ought to believe when entering the voting booth. Additionally, we will provide a brief review, for those whose convictions are b’H in order, of what are some of the central beliefs of the American political parties, and whether a Jew may, halachically, support or harbor them. What one thinks about the issues of the day is obviously the choice of the individual and ultimately how we vote is up to our own personal discretion.
Yet, there is a dire need in the Jewish world of print, electronic and social media, and the general popular consensus to teach, and, hopefully, even successfully persuade the klal that voting incorrectly causes a terrible chilul Hashem in our open society, as well as it undermines the fabric of our lives.
Hashem placed us in this country and in this era to serve Him Alone, despite the countless challenges and temptations. Our private views on current social issues are not immune from this requirement at all. We must possess the ability, unless we choose not to think about politics at all, to see through the deceit that envelops our world.
Lies and fabrications abound the world media today and one should actually envy those of us who shun these mediums as a source of any information, since the information along with many of those disseminating it evil, to say the least. They wake up every day and substitute Modeh Ani with a burning desire to further the cause of modern-day radical liberalism, and to undermine all efforts expended on the part of men and women of faith in this once moral society.
Rabbi Avigdor Miller zt’l was a voice of veracity and holy Tzadik hador who taught us that the ills of liberalism are antithetical to the holy Torah and we may have no part of it. With the recent election of President Donald J. Trump, we have enhanced our chances for preparing ourselves properly to greet Moshiach exponentially. When one considers that on paper he had absolutely no chance of ever winning last November, it is clear that this is the Will of Hashem and we need to capitalize on this opportune time to lead lives that will make our ancestors proud.
Ours is a generation that has come along after many other prior periods in the golus that seemingly surpassed the performance of present-day klal yisroel. Yet, as Rabbi Nachman of Breslov zt’l taught us, during the days that precede Moshiach’s arrival, a Jew who says the Sh’ma Yisroel with the proper belief will be a wonder. Those days are practically here and we must understand that our contribution’s to k’vod shomayim are very much appreciated and cherished by our Father Above.
Supporting Democrats, members of our congress that work term after term in office to spread immorality and insanity throughout the nation, during these precarious days, is probably a major Torah offense. I am far from being a rabbi, yet I encourage you all to ask your rabbi, if he is an authentic one, what is the heter for selling out one’s soul in exchange for political favors, be they monetary or otherwise. Rabbi Miller zt’l was not alone in this battle. Many holy Torah personalities forbade voting for immoral candidates too. Let us ask ourselves from now on, “Who would Hashem want me to vote for?” With that approach, the choice is clear. Hatzlacha!
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Monday, April 10, 2017
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Friday, March 31, 2017
Time to Say Good Shabbos - Lev Tahor
Nothing heals the soul like the gift of Shabbos. It belongs to every single Jew.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
BS’D
God’s Turned-On People
By
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan zt’l
“Serve the Lord with gladness
Come before His presence with singing.” (Psalms 100:2)
The Jewish community today is faced with a crisis. More and more of our young people are turning away from Judaism. For one reason or another, they are not interested in what we have to offer – the synagogue simply turns them off.
Our established leaders have given this problem top priority, and are studying the question in depth. Many answers have been proposed, but we have met with only small success in isolated instances. Our solutions have proven futile when applied on a larger scale.
We have tried everything to get our young people back to the synagogue – beautiful buildings, top-notch cantors, more English in the service, enriched Hebrew School programs, better youth groups, experimental programs – the works! But in general, all of these have been less than successful. Our recipe seems to be missing some special ingredient. Some special vitamin seems to have been left out. We need something to turn these young people on and we just don’t seem to have it.
What is this missing vitamin? Can we discover it, and duplicate it? Is there somewhere a Jewish community which does not face this crisis? Can we find a community where the youth are involved? Where their dedication to Judaism is as strong as that of their parents?
Interestingly enough, we can indeed find such a community, right here in the United States. There is no question that the most successful Jewish community in America, in terms of the participation of the entire community, including the youth, is the Chassidic community. But it goes even further. Not only do their own youth remain but they are attracting teenagers from the outside. And often, those young people who are attracted to Chassidism are the ones with the least Jewish background.
The story of Chassidism in America is really quite remarkable. The majority of the Chasidic elders came here in the years after World War II, so that the majority of their young people, in their teens and twenties, are a generation born and raised in America. In this way, the generation that came to America in the 1940’s was very much like the generation that came here at the turn of the century, that of our parents and grandparents. But there was one important difference. While our grandparents may have had a strong commitment to Judaism, somewhere along the line they failed to instill this in their children. Even the first generation born in the United States had lost most of the deep religious feeling that their parents had brought from the old country, and by the 1920’s, most of that religious feeling was gone. But the Chasidic groups that came in the 1940’s were able to transmit their values and their commitment to their children. And so we find their children clinging to Judaism as strongly, and even more strongly, than their parents.
Now, our thinking about Chassidim tends to be limited. For many of us, the picture begins and ends with beards, payot, (sidelocks), and long black coats. While this image may be true for many Chassidim, it is only the beginning of the story. In fact, that very image is only a reflection of their great commitment to Judaism. Others consider the Chassidim as overly European, even ghettoized, living in their own sheltered world. It would come as a surprise, then, to learn that there are many Chassidim who are every bit as modern as the rest of us. Many are college graduates, fully aware of the most forward-looking ideas of our times. With them, Judaism is a matter of commitment, not a matter of ignorance. Therefore, it is really not so surprising that some Chassidim have had quite an impact on college campuses. Many young college students today have taken quite an interest in the movement, and are very excited about it, meeting with Chassidic groups and setting up classes in Chassidism right on campus.
What is it about these Chassidim that attracts our youth? What is it in their philosophy that turns our young people on? Perhaps they have that missing ingredient, that spiritual vitamin we lack. They certainly have been successful, not only with their own young people, but with ours as well. Perhaps, then, there is something we can learn from them. If they can turn on our younger generation, perhaps we had better look more closely.
Chassidism came into being at a time very much like our own. It was a time when European Judaism was on the decline and many young people were becoming indifferent to Jewish values. Then, suddenly, a new religious leader came on the scene. Israel Baal Shem Tov was a man with a new outlook, a new philosophy, which spread like wildfire throughout most of northeastern Europe. It has been called one of the great religious movements in history. Israel Baal Shem Tov was a radical, denounced by the Orthodox, rejected by the Jewish establishment, nearly put under ban of excommunication. Yet he succeeded where they had failed, and for over 200 years, Chassidism gave new life to Judaism in Europe. For Chassidism is a turned-on Judaism. It has meaning, it is dynamic. It has tremendous strength.
The Baal Shem Tov once summed up his teaching of Chassidism: “I have come to this world to teach people how to love – how to love God, how to love one another, how to love God’s Torah, how to love life itself.” And this is the essence of Chassidism: love.
The Chassidim began with a gigantic love affair, a deep love affair, with God. When a person is deeply in love, he cannot get his mind off the one he loves. He sees his love in everything, and every act is colored by his love. And this is how the Chassid feels about God. God is in everything, every act is influenced by this great love of God, and there is no division between the sacred and the secular.
The Chassid sees God in everything, especially deep in his own soul, for man’s soul is a reflection of God, and so man must worship God in everything he does. The Chassidim teach that God is everywhere, with every individual, whether the scholar in the synagogue, the farmer in the field, or the college student out on a date. And most important, no man is ever separated from God. No matter what he does, there is never a wall between man and his Creator.
When a Chassid prays, he is not just saying words. He is speaking to his beloved, communing with the Infinite, the Ultimate, and every word is full of heart, full of soul. Every word is uttered with burning devotion, every service an act of losing oneself in God.
The Chassidim teach that the human being is a reflection of God, and therefore one cannot love God without loving one’s fellow man. Every person has a spark of holiness in him; every person contains an emanation of God. For the Chassid, there can be no such thing as an evil person; there are only evil deeds. And when a person stops doing evil, the light of God shines through, unblemished. No person is ever rejected by God, no matter what he does. No matter what kind of life he leads, he is always loved by God, and can always return to Him, for God is always ready to receive him. And therefore, the Chassidim teach that it is a virtue, even a duty, to look for good in one’s fellow human beings. Once a desperate father came to the Baal Shem Tov and asked him, “Rabbi, what should I do about my son? He has become a very wicked person.” “Then,” answered the rabbi, “you must love your son all the more.”
But the main thing that gives the Chassidim the ability to transmit their teachings to their children, is their way of looking at Judaism in general. They are really turned on by Judaism. The old order viewed Judaism as an extremely complex system of laws which, if kept, would provide a means of approaching God. The Chassidim, on the other hand, do not look at Judaism as a lesson in self-discipline, but as a lesson in love. For them, the rituals of Judaism are just another way of expressing their love of God, and every observance becomes an act of love.
The Chassidim teach that, beyond the letter of the law, one has to give life to the spirit of the law, to use each law, each custom and ritual, to come closer to God. So for the Chassid, Judaism is not obedience to a set of dry rules. It is an act of love. And the Chassid loves his God so much that he cannot do enough for Him. And where the old rituals are not expressive enough, he seeks new ways to express this love.
The Klausenberger Rebbe zt’l explained the difference in the following way. We have a commandment to fast on Yom Kippur and we have a commandment to dance on Simchat Torah. Some people keep Judaism like fasting on Yom Kippur, an unpleasant duty they feel bound to keep, as an act of self-discipline. This, the Rebbe explained, is not the way of the Chassidim. The Chassid keeps all of Judaism like dancing on
Simchat Torah, out of sheer joy. God gave Judaism to His people to help them lead a happier life, and this is the true way of Judaism, to keep it for the sheer joy of it.
Simchat Torah, out of sheer joy. God gave Judaism to His people to help them lead a happier life, and this is the true way of Judaism, to keep it for the sheer joy of it.
So for the Chassidim, Judaism is not a somber religion. It is a happy religion, serving God with gladness. It is what gives life meaning, making the soul rejoice, and bringing happiness to the heart. Sadness is a great sin, while happiness and joy are considered service to God. Worship is not a cold, formal affair, but an expression of this joy, with singing and dancing, motion and life. In the darkest days of Jewish history, Chassidism brought a new hope, a new happiness to millions of people. It brought Judaism to life again, making it meaningful to the masses. The radiance that illuminated two centuries of Jewry may yet have another great purpose to serve.
I was once at a conference where it was discussed what kind of Judaism we will have in America 100 years from now. Some people said that the trend would be toward Reform. Others said that it would be toward the middle, conservative movements. The pessimists said that there would be no problem, given the current rise in intermarriage, for in 100 years, there would be no Judaism at all in America. But one person suggested that 100 years from now, Chassidic Judaism would dominate the American Jewish scene.
I would agree. The Chassidic spirit, the Chassidic philosophy, is certainly the up-and coming thing. Perhaps this is our answer, the missing ingredient which will provide our coming generation with a new kind of Judaism, a turned-on Judaism. Maybe it is time that we took ourselves more seriously, and blew new life into our synagogues. Maybe we have to get involved in this love affair of the Chassidim, this love affair with God.
“God’s Turned-on People” is an essay from the book “Facets & Faces” by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan zt’l that was reprinted for online distribution with express permission from Moznaim Publishing Corporation.
The book “Facets and Faces” and other Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan books are available at:
Moznaim Publishing Corporation
4304 12th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11219
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Thursday, February 9, 2017
FAMOUS PEOPLE WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER
One out of every 100 Americans are Bipolar. That's over 3 million people.
Mufasa's Ghost
This scene evoked a great deal of emotion from me since the morning after I watched it my father passed away and the poignant message of the fictional cartoon paternal lion hit home. I felt as if my dad was telling me the same exact thing that day.
The message was that to recognize the greatness of God we must first learn to appreciate who we are and what wonderful qualities God bequeathed to us; we, the children of God. Having a loving father in life is a healthy way to learn how to develop a genuine connection to Hashem, the Creator of the Universe. If you did not have a father in your life, look forward to being the best father you can be to your own and adopted children. Living is Giving. A parent gives the most.
Music Soothes the Soul
Music Can Be Positively Used as Therapy or in Self-Help
Music can be a deeply emotional experience. Daniel Västfjäll, researcher at the Department of Psychology, Göteborg University, Sweden, notes that, “Music can arouse deep emotions in the listener.” The National Institute of Mental Health observes that many musicians and other creative artists have suffered from the “mood swings” associated with bipolar disorder (NIMH. 2002). There may be higher incidence of mania and depression among musicians, and some studies link those predisposed with bipolar disorder to a higher level of creativity (Jamison. K.R. 2014).
When one connects with a piece of music, the emotional experience resembles a flow of electricity moving from the singer, to the CD or radio, and then to the individual. With this in mind, music therapy uses the various types of music to manage and positively influence people's emotional, physical, and cognitive needs. It is a "planned, goal-directed process" (Peters. 2000), and many researchers have been studying music therapy as a treatment approach for mental illness, including its positive use in treating bipolar disorder and substance abuse in both young people and in adults (Bednarz & Nikkel, 1992).
Music can positively affect people's mental health. It can bring about calm and peaceful feelings, and provides a healthy diversion from the harshness of life. Bednarz & Nikkel (1992) studied the effect of music therapy on mental illness by looking at five interventions: music discussion, music instruction, group participatory music, music listening, and expressive music interventions. The researchers found improvement in the quality of life among the clients exposed to music therapy.
Researchers have also found that music can affect mood. Choi, Soo Lee, & Lim (2008), for example, in a small study of 26 patients with mental illness (including mood disorders), non-randomly assigned patients to a music intervention group or a routine care group. They found that after 15 weekly sessions, those in the music intervention group showed signs of significant improvement with their depression, anxiety, and relationships when compared to the control group.
Music therapist Jacqueline Schmidt Peters, MMT, BC (2000), makes reference to the usefulness of integrating music of varying types in the therapeutic process, and this intervention can be effective on patients with bipolar disorder. The process is simple and goes as follows: after initial assessment and evaluation of a patient, the psychotherapist works with a music therapist to design an intervention with a specific music and rhythmic experience to affect the patient's mood.
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