One rarely finds misogynistic (women hating) music in the world of dance music!
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Nice.... keeping it REAL regarding most of today's popular music!
One rarely finds misogynistic (women hating) music in the world of dance music!
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Looking for meaning in your life? Wanna try some Shabbos?
I'd like to invite you to participate in this amazing project.
If you are Shabbos observant, invite those who aren't.
If you are not Shabbos observant, I personally am inviting you to the Five Towns to spend a full Shabbos the weekend of 10/24.
If you are Shabbos observant, invite those who aren't.
If you are not Shabbos observant, I personally am inviting you to the Five Towns to spend a full Shabbos the weekend of 10/24.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Monday, August 11, 2014
The Intense Journey of a Jew by Choice - Highly Recommended Book
Author Finis Leavell Beauchamp and his wonderful book, The Terrible Beauty of the Evil Man tells about a spiritual odyssey about a man who came to Judaism through a most remarkable serendipitous path.
http://www.sdjewishworld.com/2014/07/29/intense-journey-jew-choice/
http://www.sdjewishworld.com/2014/07/29/intense-journey-jew-choice/
This week's KABBALISTIC parsha (Torah reading) EIKEV - Maximizing The Mitzvah
This week's parsha (Torah reading) elucidated by Rabbi Yitzchak Schwartz ofhttp://www.paradiseprinciple.com/
EIKEV - Maximizing The Mitzvah
'ALL THE MITZVAH'
1. 'All the Mitzvah that I command you today, you should take care to fulfill, in order to live and multiply and come to inherit the land that Hashem swore to [give to] your forefathers.' [Parsha Eikev, chap.8, verse 1]
All of the commentaries jump on the strange wording of this verse. Instead of saying 'All the Mitzvah', it should say either 'every Mitzvah' or 'all the Mitzvahs'. The master commentary, 'Rashi', brings 2 possible answers. The meaning is either to do the entire body of Mitzvahs or else to complete the performance of any and every Mitzvah from it's beginning all the way through to the end, and thereby gain the Blessings of life, reproduction and inheriting the land. Let's study another explanation which points out a way of plugging a mitzvah for all it's worth!
THE 5 SOUL LEVELS OF A MITZVAH
2. Like a person, a Mitzvah is a spiritual being. A Mitzvah has a body and soul. Just like a person takes action with their body, so too the body of a Mitzvah is its actual performance. Just like a person's soul is multi-dimensional [5 levels; Nefesh, Ruach, Neshama, Chayah and Yechidah], the same is true of the soul of a Mitzvah. The performance of the Mitzvah encompasses both the body of the Mitzvah as well as the level of Nefesh. The level of Ruach of the Mitzvah is the knowledge of the Mitzvah...ie...knowing all of the 'Torah' that's taught concerning the Mitzvah. The Neshamah level of the Mitzvah is the 'Kavanah' or intention...ie..the awareness or presence of mind one has when doing the Mitzvah [on the simplest level one is aware that one is in fact involved in doing a Mitzvah]. The reason why this is considered to be such a high level [ie..Neshama], is because it requires one to basically be in a meditative state of focus while involved. The next soul level of a Mitzvah, called Chayah, is achieved by having the intention of doing the Mitzvah for the 'Sake of Heaven'...ie... doing it altruistically in order to magnify Hashem's Prescence. Finally, the highest level of doing a Mitzvah, Yechidah, is the doing of the Mitzvah with maximal heartfelt enthusiasm.
THE COSMIC EFFECTS OF MAXIMIZING THE MITZVAH
3. A Mitzvah, like a human being, has a microcosmic effect; A Mitzvah that's maximally activated by performing it with all 5 levels of soul, will in turn effect every other dimension that's related to it in the spiritual world. Here are a few illustrations of this microcosmic effect:
a. THE MITZVAH'S EFFECT ON MYSELF-----When I open up the 5 levels of a Mitzvah, I in turn open up the 5 levels of myself or my soul. To the extent that I do any particular Mitzvah with knowledge, presence of mind, altruism and enthusiasm, I in turn open up these realms in everything that I do. Also, since each Mitzvah is related to a specific body part and character trait, the specific mitzvah that I do will awaken and heal that particular channel in my body and soul. Now we understand what our verse means when it states that when I do 'all the Mizvah' I merit to LIVE!
b. THE MITZVAH'S EFFECT ON THE WORLD------The world also has the dimensions of body and soul. The more 'soul' I incorporate into my Mitzvahs [and into all actions that I do for that matter], the more influence I have on the entire world. Here too, each Mitzvah corresponds to a particular place on the globe and the type of people living there. Awaken the Mitzvah and awaken that part of the globe!! in addition, according to the amount of soul that I do the Mitzvah with, I will inherit my share of the 'Promised Land', which is also a spiritual being made up of body and soul. This applies literally [ie....my merited portion in the land of Israel], and on a deeper level--I merit my share of the post-life, which is the cosmic realm of the 'Promised Land'. Now we understand what the verse means by promising an inheritance in the land of Israel to the one who fulfills 'all the Mitzvah'.
c. THE MITZVAH'S REPRODUCTIVE EFFECT------- Another aspect of the microcosmic effect of the fully actualized Mitzvah is its reproductive effect; one Mitzvah begets another mitzvah & another & another until one becomes surrounded and encompassed by Mitzvahs. Since the purpose of the Mitzvahs is to Divinize our lives 24\7, the effort that we invest in maximizing one Mitzvah, serves to maximize every moment of our lives!! Now we understand what the verse means by stating that if you perform 'all the Mitzvah', you merit to multiply [ie.. to multiply the richness of living]!
OUR TOOL; MAXIMIZING THE MITZVAH
4.
a. Choose a common Mitzvah that generally comes your way such as Loving your neighbor, prayer, or studying Torah....
b. Perform that Mitzvah with all the soul levels that we've mentioned:
1) Learn all that you can about the Mitzvah and perform it with this wisdom in a fully integrated way.
2) Do the Mitzvah with meditative presence; remove all other thoughts from your mind except what you're doing at the time.
3) Do it for the Sake of Hashem and the Tikun of the world! Based on what we said earlier about the global microcosmic effects of the Mitzvah, focus your intention to effect all corresponding parts of the globe with your particular Mitzvah.
4) Do it with maximum heartfelt enthusiasm. If you have a hard time to open up your heart with enthusiasm, then do the next best thing - FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT!!
EIKEV - Maximizing The Mitzvah
'ALL THE MITZVAH'
1. 'All the Mitzvah that I command you today, you should take care to fulfill, in order to live and multiply and come to inherit the land that Hashem swore to [give to] your forefathers.' [Parsha Eikev, chap.8, verse 1]
All of the commentaries jump on the strange wording of this verse. Instead of saying 'All the Mitzvah', it should say either 'every Mitzvah' or 'all the Mitzvahs'. The master commentary, 'Rashi', brings 2 possible answers. The meaning is either to do the entire body of Mitzvahs or else to complete the performance of any and every Mitzvah from it's beginning all the way through to the end, and thereby gain the Blessings of life, reproduction and inheriting the land. Let's study another explanation which points out a way of plugging a mitzvah for all it's worth!
THE 5 SOUL LEVELS OF A MITZVAH
2. Like a person, a Mitzvah is a spiritual being. A Mitzvah has a body and soul. Just like a person takes action with their body, so too the body of a Mitzvah is its actual performance. Just like a person's soul is multi-dimensional [5 levels; Nefesh, Ruach, Neshama, Chayah and Yechidah], the same is true of the soul of a Mitzvah. The performance of the Mitzvah encompasses both the body of the Mitzvah as well as the level of Nefesh. The level of Ruach of the Mitzvah is the knowledge of the Mitzvah...ie...knowing all of the 'Torah' that's taught concerning the Mitzvah. The Neshamah level of the Mitzvah is the 'Kavanah' or intention...ie..the awareness or presence of mind one has when doing the Mitzvah [on the simplest level one is aware that one is in fact involved in doing a Mitzvah]. The reason why this is considered to be such a high level [ie..Neshama], is because it requires one to basically be in a meditative state of focus while involved. The next soul level of a Mitzvah, called Chayah, is achieved by having the intention of doing the Mitzvah for the 'Sake of Heaven'...ie... doing it altruistically in order to magnify Hashem's Prescence. Finally, the highest level of doing a Mitzvah, Yechidah, is the doing of the Mitzvah with maximal heartfelt enthusiasm.
THE COSMIC EFFECTS OF MAXIMIZING THE MITZVAH
3. A Mitzvah, like a human being, has a microcosmic effect; A Mitzvah that's maximally activated by performing it with all 5 levels of soul, will in turn effect every other dimension that's related to it in the spiritual world. Here are a few illustrations of this microcosmic effect:
a. THE MITZVAH'S EFFECT ON MYSELF-----When I open up the 5 levels of a Mitzvah, I in turn open up the 5 levels of myself or my soul. To the extent that I do any particular Mitzvah with knowledge, presence of mind, altruism and enthusiasm, I in turn open up these realms in everything that I do. Also, since each Mitzvah is related to a specific body part and character trait, the specific mitzvah that I do will awaken and heal that particular channel in my body and soul. Now we understand what our verse means when it states that when I do 'all the Mizvah' I merit to LIVE!
b. THE MITZVAH'S EFFECT ON THE WORLD------The world also has the dimensions of body and soul. The more 'soul' I incorporate into my Mitzvahs [and into all actions that I do for that matter], the more influence I have on the entire world. Here too, each Mitzvah corresponds to a particular place on the globe and the type of people living there. Awaken the Mitzvah and awaken that part of the globe!! in addition, according to the amount of soul that I do the Mitzvah with, I will inherit my share of the 'Promised Land', which is also a spiritual being made up of body and soul. This applies literally [ie....my merited portion in the land of Israel], and on a deeper level--I merit my share of the post-life, which is the cosmic realm of the 'Promised Land'. Now we understand what the verse means by promising an inheritance in the land of Israel to the one who fulfills 'all the Mitzvah'.
c. THE MITZVAH'S REPRODUCTIVE EFFECT------- Another aspect of the microcosmic effect of the fully actualized Mitzvah is its reproductive effect; one Mitzvah begets another mitzvah & another & another until one becomes surrounded and encompassed by Mitzvahs. Since the purpose of the Mitzvahs is to Divinize our lives 24\7, the effort that we invest in maximizing one Mitzvah, serves to maximize every moment of our lives!! Now we understand what the verse means by stating that if you perform 'all the Mitzvah', you merit to multiply [ie.. to multiply the richness of living]!
OUR TOOL; MAXIMIZING THE MITZVAH
4.
a. Choose a common Mitzvah that generally comes your way such as Loving your neighbor, prayer, or studying Torah....
b. Perform that Mitzvah with all the soul levels that we've mentioned:
1) Learn all that you can about the Mitzvah and perform it with this wisdom in a fully integrated way.
2) Do the Mitzvah with meditative presence; remove all other thoughts from your mind except what you're doing at the time.
3) Do it for the Sake of Hashem and the Tikun of the world! Based on what we said earlier about the global microcosmic effects of the Mitzvah, focus your intention to effect all corresponding parts of the globe with your particular Mitzvah.
4) Do it with maximum heartfelt enthusiasm. If you have a hard time to open up your heart with enthusiasm, then do the next best thing - FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT!!
My lovely daughter commented to me over dinner that I have never mentioned puppies on my blog.
She is correct. While i love puppies, I have neglected to bring them the attention they deserve. So here you go.... my favorite canine that doesn't live with me....
https://www.facebook.com/MarnieTheDog
Biography
The first 9+ years of Marnie the Dog's life are a mystery. Her name probably wasn't Marnie. Smelly and matted, she was found by Connecticut Animal Control as a stray dog in the streets of Bridgeport, CT in August of 2012. She went unclaimed, and the shelter that took her in named her "Stinky," and she stayed there for 4 months. Marnie was adopted on December 20, 2012, found via a petfinder.com post with no information about her other than a photo, and she took a MetroNorth train with her new bff Shirley down to NYC where she now resides, and is the #1 Shih Tzu Rescue dog on instagram!
Stop using Garnier makeup products!
The world trembles before savages. Would the owners of Garnier stand by while jihadists rained rockets on their homes, schools, or cities?
The idea that Jews are somehow not allowed to defend themselves is part of an Islamic Jew-hating narrative. Can no one stand up?
Lily-livered cowards.
They were afraid of a boycott? Well, now they have certainly made sure that there will be one. Anyone who will not defend a nation’s right to exist and defend its people does not deserve to succeed.
The savages welcomed the apology. Of course. Submission.
- See more at: http://pamelageller.com/2014/08/garnier-submits-savages-apologizes-idf-photo-garnierusa-boycottgarnier-garniersupportsjihad.html/Sunday, August 10, 2014
Dancing to Earth Wind & Fire at Universal Studios, CA
Looks like my son is having a pretty good time
his last week of his teen tour of the West
Coast!
his last week of his teen tour of the West
Coast!
OXYMORONS!
Vegetarians for Meat?
Amish for Nascar Racing?
Christians for Buddha?
Muslims for Krishna?
Jews for Jesus?
What would you do if others deceptively tried to convert you?
Check out the interview featuring MOI, Malcolm Hoenlein, Ira Michaelson and Moshe Verschleisser
Support Jews For Judaism East and the Brooklyn Jewish Experience in the fight against the deceptive missionary menace!
http://vimeo.com/102548758
Vegetarians for Meat?
Amish for Nascar Racing?
Christians for Buddha?
Muslims for Krishna?
Jews for Jesus?
What would you do if others deceptively tried to convert you?
Check out the interview featuring MOI, Malcolm Hoenlein, Ira Michaelson and Moshe Verschleisser
Support Jews For Judaism East and the Brooklyn Jewish Experience in the fight against the deceptive missionary menace!
http://vimeo.com/102548758
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