Jewish Unicylists Only: Ikvot Meshicha: The Time Immediately Before Moshiach

Off-topic
1

Hey everybody! Now that we’re ALONE, let’s talk about the Messiah!!! You can confirm this by Google, but I’m sure you know the Truth. Rabbi Jacob Immanuel Schochet said the belief in the coming of Moshiach and the Messianic redemption is one of the fundamental principles of the Jewish faith. Every Jew must believe that Moshiach will arise and restore the Kingdom of David to its original state and sovereignty, rebuild the Bet Hamikdash (Holy Temple of Jerusalem), gather the dispersed of Israel, and in his days all the laws of the Torah shall be reinstituted as they had been aforetimes.

Whoever does not believe in him, or whoever does not look forward to (and anticipate) his coming, denies not only [the words of] the other prophets but also [those of] the Torah [the Five Books of Moses] and of Moses our Teacher! For the Torah testifies about him, as it is said: “G‑d, your G‑d, will return your captivity and have compassion on you. He will return and gather you… If your dispersed be in the utmost end of the heavens… G‑d will bring you…” (Deuteronomy 30:3-5) These words, explicitly stated in the Torah, compound all the things spoken by all the prophets.

Some authorities view this principle as an integral part of the first of the Ten Commandments (“I am G‑d, your G‑d, who has taken you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;” Exodus 20:2), which charges us with the belief in G‑d.

Is everyone here down with me and the Rabbi??

Billy

2

I’m down with the Rabbi

3

I’m not jewish, but we have something in common. We’re going to hell!!! That’s where the party is. See you there!

4

yay

Oh well in hell, we like it well,
we think it’s nice, we think it’s swell!
I’ve fucked up so many times,
the more I think, the more I sink…

5

Hey what is MERCYME2??!?!?!?

I agree with el rabbi

6

have you all heard Jew Pac Kosher’s rap, Growin’ Up Jew? checkitout!!

7

Jewish Retreat Center with Maggid Yitzhak Buxbaum, ordained as a maggid

Sufi-Jewfi

An Encounter between Mystic Judaism and Mystic Islam
at Elat Chayyim, the Jewish Retreat Center
in Accord, NY (in the catskill mountains)
July 31 - August 6

Sufism, mystic Islam, has much in common with Hasidic Jewish mysticism. In earlier times, Sufis and Jews occasionally met, and in our time too there have been friendly exchanges in both the U.S. and Israel. Neo-hasidic Maggid (inspirational speaker and storyteller) Yitzhak Buxbaum will join with his good friend, Sufi Sheika (female sheik) Fariha Friedrich, to explore the similarities and differences between these two great spiritual paths.

Sheika Fariha Friedrich is the successor to Turkish Sufi Sheik Muzzafer and Sheik Nur (aka Lex Hixon) as head of the American branch of the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi order. She is the spiritual leader of a Sufi mosque in lower Manhattan and a guide to her dervishes (hasidim). Sheika Fariha also travels widely to minister to Sufi communities throughout the world.

Maggid Yitzhak Buxbaum, ordained as a maggid by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, specializes in mysticism and Hasidic stories. He teaches throughout the U.S. and Canada and in New York City at the 92nd Street Y- MAKOR; and directs a program to train people to become a maggid. Yitzhak is the author of ten books on Jewish spirituality, including Jewish Spiritual Practices, Jewish Tales of Mystic Joy, Jewish Tales of Holy Women, and his new book, The Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov.

Information and Registration
Program Fee: $300. The program fee does not include room & board. Look online for more information. Www.jewishretreatcenter.org has longer retreat descriptions, teacher bios, and registration. Reasonable rates & financial assistance are available: (800) 398-2630 X228 and info@elatchayyim.org.

8

“Be yourself, no matter what they say” --Englishman in NY–by The Police

Habby: Your concern inspired this response:

The Haftarah for Parashat Shelach tells the story of 2 spies sent by Yehoshua to scout the city of Jericho. To make a long story short, pivoting on the term “cherish” (Yehoshua 2:1) is seen as a derivative of the word “pottery” and a second view has it derivative of the word “deaf.” (from Rabbi Eli Mansour)

To be pottery is to have no intrinsic value except for the inside, functioning to contain something. So recognize that performing Mitzvahs may require doing things and going places that one might consider beneath one’s dignity. But this should not disrupt one’s Mitzva activity. A person must focus on the interior, n the sacred task at hand, and not on the external concerns regarding his public image and personal honor.

Similarly, a person involved in a Mitzvah must very often act “deaf”, ignoring the criticisms and challenges of the naysayers. Proceed with firm conviction and belief in the importance of your mission.

9

I found the LONG version

Weekly Parasha Insights by Rabbi Eli Mansour

Description: Shelach- The Spies

The Lessons of Pottery and Deafness

The Haftarah for Parashat Shelach tells the story of the two spies sent
by Yehoshua to scout the city of Yericho just prior to Benei Yisrael’s
entry into the Land of Canaan. We read that Yehoshua sent these spies
“Cheresh” (Yehoshua 2:1), a term that has been interpreted by the Sages
in two ways. One view explains this word as a derivative of the word
“Cheres,” or pottery, and it thus refers to the fact that the spies
disguised themselves as pottery merchants as a strategy for avoiding
suspicion. According to the second view, “Cheresh” means “deaf.”
Whenever somebody in Yericho would try speaking with the spies, they
would feign deafness and not respond, and in this way they hoped to
escape the suspicion of the residents of Yericho.

The Rabbis commented that these two spies represent the paradigm of
Mitzva observance; a person who wants to succeed in performing a Mitzva
should follow their example by learning and applying the lesson of
pottery, and the lesson of deafness.

Halacha distinguishes between two categories of utensils: metal
utensils, and earthenware utensils. Metal utensils became Tamei
(ritually impure) when a source of impurity (such as a person who is
Tamei) touches their exterior. A utensil made from pottery, by
contrast, becomes Tamei only when a source of Tum’a enters its interior;
if an impure person touches the outside of an earthenware utensil, it
does not become Tamei. The Rabbis explain that as opposed to pottery,
metal has intrinsic value; the material itself is valuable. Therefore,
even the utensil’s exterior is seen as a significant component of the
utensil, and so its contact with Tum’a renders the entire utensil
ritually impure. Pottery, by contrast, is intrinsically worthless; its
value lies only in its shape, in its capacity to serve as a receptacle.
Therefore, it can contract Tum’a only from its interior, the section
which defines its essence.

A person who embarks on the performance of a Mitzva must follow this
model of earthenware: he must afford significance to his interior, and
pay no attention to his exterior. For one to succeed in Mitzva
observance, he cannot be overly concerned about the externals - about
his reputation, how other people perceive him, what other people say
about him. A person involved in a Mitzva will likely be the target of
scorn and derision by those who do not value Mitzva observance.
Furthermore, some Mitzvot require doing things and going places that one
might initially consider beneath his dignity. But none of this should
be allowed to disrupt one’s Mitzva activity. A person must focus on the
interior, on the sacred task at hand, and not on the external concerns
regarding his public image and personal honor.

Similarly, a person involved in a Mitzva must very often act “deaf,”
ignoring the criticisms and challenges of the naysayers. A generation
ago, many Jews strongly opposed the establishment of Yeshivot, arguing
that the children could just attend public schools and then participate
in afternoon Hebrew classes; there was no need, they contended, for a
separate school system. If the founders of the Yeshivot had not been
“deaf,” if they had paid heed to the opposition, the many fine
institutions of Torah education that we have today would never have come
into existence. Of course, it is important to consult and seek the
advice of other people when embarking on an important project. But one
mustn’t be discouraged or misled by those who seek to dissuade him from
performing the Mitzva; to them he must act “deaf,” and proceed with firm
belief and conviction in the importance of his mission.

10

does anyone else think they’d go to hell rather than purgatory, given the option.
I certainly would.

11

Something in all that made me think of the names Dick Cheney, Scooter Libby, Karl Rove, Robert Novak, and Valerie Plame.

But I can’t quite make it gel.

Are any of them Jewish?

12

I didn’t read your thread but judging from some of the words in the title I think you meant to post here:

http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=35

13

Hell, purgatory, afterlife. Not really something to be concerned with. Not essential to any religion recipe.

Doing Mitzvahs today, now that’s another story altogether!

One thing religion goes to show you, you cannot judge a person by their religion.

Bill Moyers listed lots of Baptists on both sides of the aisle last night, from Bill Clinton and Jesse Jackson in the middle to the neo-cons on the far right.

14

After all, GWB claims to be a born-again and prays daily, yet he kills people without thought or remorse, as far as I can tell.

15

http://www.whendoweeat.com/index2.html

When do we eat?

http://www.whendoweeat.com/index2.html

This is the title of a movie, about what starts out as the fastest Passover Seder, and turns into something much more.

On DVD. I recommend it.

And isn’t it nice on this thread we don’t have to put up with the trash they have to put up with when they try to get a Unicyle for Christ thread going?

16

Cool class on the founder of Hasidism

A Conference Call Class on the Baal Shem Tov with Yitzhak Buxbaum

Starting on the Baal Shem Tov’s birthday, hai Elul, which is celebrated around the world and this year falls on Monday September 11th, I will be offering a course called The Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov, based on my latest book of that name. (See the course description below.) The course will be offered on Monday evening at 7 pm, EST. There will be 6 sessions of an hour and a half each. The dates are September 11, 19, 25, October (skip Yom Kippur Oct. 2nd), 9, 16, 23. (Note: Sept. 19th is a Tuesday class) The fee will be $90; payment can be made by PayPal through my website www.jewishspirit.com or by sending a check to Yitzhak Buxbaum at 189 Atlantic Ave. #2D, Brooklyn, NY 11201. There will only be a limited number of spaces available, so register early. Call Yitzhak at 718 858-4058 for further
information.

Course description
Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov (1700 - 1760), the founder of Hasidism, was a mystic and miracle-worker, a lover of God, people, and the whole creation. He revived Judaism by putting love and joy at the center of religious life and championed the pious common folk against an aloof rabbinic establishment. One of the
greatest Jewish teachers of all time, the Besht as he is often called, is the inspiration for much of what is alive today in Judaism. Many of us have been touched or moved by the spiritual waves he set in motion-- through hasidic songs and stories, for example. But how much do we know of his personality and life–
its stages, turning points, heights and depths? What do we know of his teachings and their relevance to our spirituality? We will learn about the Besht through the legends about his life and his core teachings.

Maggid Yitzhak Buxbaum has s’micha as a maggid (inspirational speaker, storyteller) from Rabbis Shlomo Carlebach and Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. He is the author of ten books on Jewish spirituality, including Jewish Spiritual Practices, An Open Heart: The Mystic Path of Loving People, Storytelling and Spirituality in Judaism, Jewish Tales of Mystic Joy, and Jewish Tales of Holy Women. He directs a program to train and ordain people as maggidim.

17

August Bebel: Antisemitism is the socialism of fools

Weekly Parasha Insights by Rabbi Eli Mansour

Avraham= Abraham

Description: Parashat Lech Lecha- Developing Our Emuna

The Rambam, in the beginning of Hilchot Avodat Kochavim, describes the process by which Avraham Avinu arrived at the belief in monotheism. The entire world at the time worshipped idols. He had no mentor and no books from whom and from which to learn the principles of monotheism. As the Rambam writes, Avraham’s parents and community all worshipped idols, and Avraham himself worshipped idols with them as a child. But his mind began pondering how it is possible for such a perfectly designed world to run independently, without a creator. The natural world is so intricate and complex and yet runs so flawlessly that it must have a creator, a being that controls it. He continued exploring and thinking until by the age of forty he had perfected his philosophy to the point where he could embark on a campaign to disseminate these beliefs. He won over scores of people with his arguments, and, indeed, pagan belief ultimately vanished.

Unfortunately, we generally feel overly confident in our belief in God and do not spend the time or make an effort to continue developing our Emuna (faith) as Avraham did. Our belief thus remains at kindergarten level, rather than being sharpened and honed as we grow and mature.

It is worthwhile from time to time to follow the lead of Avraham Avinu, and contemplate the wonders of the natural world to reinforce our conviction that these systems could not possibly have emerged through coincidence, as non-believers claim, through some random series of explosions, that they could have come into existence only through the power of God.

Scientists tell us that the human body contains on the average 75 trillion blood cells. The cells work as a transport system, bringing oxygen and vital nutrients to the various organs of the body, and, along the way, collecting bodily waste and carbon dioxide which must be expelled. Amazingly, each of the 75 trillion blood cells knows exactly what to deliver to where, and when to pick up the various waste products. No delivery system in the world - not UPS or Federal Express - could possibly run such a giant, complex operation so flawlessly. Could such a system have come into being by coincidence?

The human liver produces one thousand enzymes, all of which are vital for human life. Enormous factories are built to produce a single product, and yet the liver, which weighs but three pounds, is capable of producing one thousand enzymes. Scientists have estimated that the probability of these enzymes being produced by mere chance and coincidence is 10 to the 442,000th power!

Scientific study has revealed DNA, a substance within every cell that contains a blueprint of the given body. It has been determined that one trillion bytes of memory would be required to store on a computer the amount of information contained in a strand of DNA. Could this “data storage system” in the human body have come into existence without a God that created it?

The human eye has 137 million nerve endings. Whenever it sees anything, all these nerve endings send messages to the brain, which processes the information and then sends it back to the eye so that the person can see. It processes 137 million messages - in but an instant. It has been discovered that the brain can process one billion impulses in a second. No computer on earth could possibly process so much information so quickly.

Of course, we have not even scratched the surface; the opportunities for discovering God’s greatness through scientific study are endless. The verse states in Tehillim (104:24), “How great are Your works, O God! You have made them all with wisdom; the earth is filled with Your acquisitions.” According to the simple reading of the verse, “the earth is filled with Your acquisitions” means that everything on earth belongs to the Almighty. We might also suggest, however, reading this clause to mean, “the earth is filled with ways of acquiring You.” Everything in the natural world - from the human body to the solar system, and everything in between - provides us with an opportunity to reaffirm and reinforce our belief in a Creator. As Rabbi Akiva once told his students, just as a garment testifies to the existence of a tailor, so does the earth testify to the existence of a Creator.

Let us continue the legacy of Avraham Avinu, and continue to develop and reinforce our Emuna so that we, like him, will be able to disseminate this belief throughout the world. We will then merit seeing the fulfillment of Yeshayahu’s prophecy (11:9), “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea.”

Audio Length: 1:02:02 Minutes

Click to Listen to it now: http://www.DailyHalacha.com/PlayParasha.asp?ID=123

Click to Download as Mp3: http://www.DailyHalacha.com/ParashaClips/Save.asp?t=m&ID=123 Size: 14.2 MB

Click to Download as Wma: http://www.DailyHalacha.com/ParashaClips/Save.asp?t=w&ID=123 Size: 9.1 MB

To be removed from our members list please click here. Thank you.

18
19

One of the most touching expressions in the Jewish lexicon is tsa’ar ba-alei chayim, literally, “pain of living things.” In the Jewish view, animals are just as much creatures of God as is humankind; and humankind has the responsibility, not only of respecting their needs and their feelings, but also of treating them with compassion. Animals suffer tsa’ar, pain, sorrow, and Jews are therefore prohibited from inflicting pain upon them. The familiar Yiddish word, tsores, is simply the Hebrew word tsarah, trouble, misfortune, in its plural form, tsarot.

The Torah shows exquisite sensitivity to the feelings of animals—sensitivity rare in the ancient world. On the Sabbath, domestic animals as well as human beings must rest (Exodus 20:10; Deuteronomy 5:14). Deuteronomy 25:4 prohibits the muzzling of an ox while it is threshing (it may want to eat). An animal may not be slaughtered on the same day as its young (Leviticus 22:28). Before the days of tractor, farmers were forbidden to plow with an ox and an ass yoked together (the ox, being larger, might cause pain to its smaller partner). Deuteronomy 22 spells out additional injunctions for Jews living an agrarian life: If you see an ox or an ass collapsed on the road under its burden, you must help it get on its feet; if you find a stray sheep or ox, you must return it to its owner or, if the owner is unknown, you must care for it until the owner claims it.

The Rabbis of the Talmud and of later generations went even further: Jews were enjoined never to sit down to eat before their animals had been fed; they were prohibited from buying an animal unless they could afford to feed it; and hunting for sheer sport is brutally cruel and hence forbidden to Jews. Slaughtering animals for food must be done as quickly and as painlessly as possible to avoid unnecessary or prolonged torment for the animal. In Modern Hebrew, tsa’ar ba-alei chayim is refers to the mitzvah of the “prevention of cruelty to animals.”

Adapted from Edith Samuel, Your Jewish Lexicon (New York: UAHC Press, 1982), 40-41. (Now back in print and available solely through through Amazon.com)

Take your study of 10 Minutes of Torah to the next level by signing up for Eilu V’Eilu. Each month, two scholars will debate an issue and answer questions raised by you, the learner. Additional textual information will be available through the Eilu V’Eilu webpage.

For more information and to sign up, go to the Eilu V’Eilu webpage.

10 Minutes of Torah is produced by the Union for Reform Judaism -
Department of Lifelong Jewish Learning. Visit our Web site for more information.
Copyright © Union for Reform Judaism 2007

20

Too bad they don’t treat non-virgins quite as well. Deuteronomy: 22:21.