Rabbi's Blog - Chabad of Malibu

A Closer Look at 'Will'

Friday, October 26, 2012 - 4:15 AM

When we touch the deep-seeded power of "will," the rest of our being responds in an instant.

The teachings of Chasidism map the distinctions of the living spirit within us, and all this we call “soul.”

The deep complexities of ancient Kabbalah explain the ideas that I can barely explore in this brief commentary.

The living soul which lives in us humans can be broken down in the following three stages or categories, (1) The Will; (2) The Intelligence, and (3) The Emotions. There are three modes of expression: Thoughts, Speech, and Action.

When we delve deeper we observe that there is a clear hierarchy in the strengths of our soul. For example, the way you feel about something today will likely change over the course of your future experiences.

In a healthy person, the "emotions" of the soul are governed by the higher order, i.e., the intelligence. Thus, by simply becoming more informed, and thus more wise, a person will respond -- intellectually and emotionally -- in a different way than before. But if emotions trump intelligence, the response can be impulsive and even regrettable.

Our feelings play a very important role in “who we are." But our essence is not defined by our emotions and our essence does not change.

Beyond our emotions, and even more powerful than our intelligence, is the most powerful force within us --the Will. When a person's will is inspired, to what can it be compared?

They tell a story of a young farmer who was asked to help clean a chicken, which was filled with filth, thick mud and a whole lot of dust and dirt that ended up in the poor bird's feathers so that it could hardly walk. The young farmer tied the chicken, removed the thick mud and proceeded to comb -- laboring to remove the dust between the feathers. Soon his father, the experienced farmer noticed the way in which his son was cleaning the chicken. The father untied the chicken, and upon being released, the chicken jolted and shook back and forth, and within seconds most of the dirt was out of her feathers, allowing the chicken to run freely once again.

When our “will” is awakened, it is similar to the chicken's jolt. When we touch the deep-seeded power of “will,” the rest of our being responds in an instant. Thus, perhaps the most important question becomes, what is the essence of our will and how do we get in touch with it?

I'll have more about this next time.

Shabbat Shalom!

Breaking the Language Barrier

Friday, October 19, 2012 - 3:12 AM

This message of the Baal Shem Tov is echoed in the spiritual teachings of so many cultures and religions.

As I move through life it becomes more and more clear to me that there are certain concepts used by like-minded and like-hearted people that truly transcend the words that describe them. For example “karma,” the concept of “cause and effect" in the eastern philosophy is a concept that is embraced, to a degree, in Chasidic philosophy as well.

The Baal Shem Tov, who was deeply influenced by the Jewish mystical writings of the Kabbalah, made thousands of years of Jewish spiritual teachings accessible to us. He reflected on the power of cause and effect as the "chosen" system of our Creation. As such, cause and effect influences the affairs of the universe and makes us aware that there are definite repercussions for our actions.

In Chasidism we are taught that the words that describe something are considered "clothing." That is to say the meaning of a communication is the essence and is held to be higher than language. So then, the meaning is likened to the “body” and the words used to convey the meaning are the body’s “clothing.”

The Baal Shem Tov gives us a wonderful metaphor for “karma” in the following parable. There was once a King who was accustomed to going among the poor in order to become wise in their ways. One poor man in particular would always say to the King, “what ever a person does, whether it be good or bad, he does it only for himself.” This angered the King, because he felt this man did not show proper gratitude for all he had been given. The King devised a plan to teach him a lesson. The King instructed his servant to deliver a chicken to this poor fellow. However, the chicken was to be injected with poison before delivery, just enough to make him sick, unless of course he ate the whole chicken at once and then he might die. Upon receiving the chicken the peasant thanked the King’s servant and repeated, “what ever a person does, whether it be good or bad, he does it only for himself,” and then went off to preserve the chicken so it would last until it was time to be eaten.

Time went on and the King passed through the village returning from a hunting trip. Tired and hungry the King and his trusted servant stopped at the poor man’s house and asked him prepare him a meal. The man decided that the chicken the King had bestowed upon him would be a proper meal for the King. It was customary to have the King’s servant test the food for poison. When it was discovered that the chicken was tainted the servant wanted to kill the peasant, but the King held up his hand and responded, “No, it is this man who is the righteous one. The lesson I have learned from him could have cost me my life. His words, ‘what ever a person does, whether it be good or bad, he does it only for himself’ truly have merit.”

This message of the Baal Shem Tov is echoed in the spiritual teachings of so many cultures and religions. Some people may call it “karma,” while others simply say, “You’ll get what’s coming to you.“ It is easy to see how the different ways of communicating the same things are like clothing. Just like our own garments, the clothing of speech may be unique to the person, but language does not define the person. When we move beyond the barrier of language, we can see that the meaning of so many diverse approaches, many a time, are of the same essence, simply dressed in different clothing.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rising Above our Differences

Friday, October 12, 2012 - 11:04 AM

Rising Above our Differences

Friday, October 12, 2012 - 3:22 AM

I had never seen a double rainbow before Thursdays afternoon rainstorm. I thought to myself what could the lesson be, why a double rainbow and at this moment in time?

As I was driving home Thursday afternoon, I was thinking about what I would write in this column. Suddenly I looked up to the sky and was surprised by the site of a double rainbow.

As followers of the teachings of the Baal Shemtov, my family and I embrace the fundamental concept that there are no "coincidences" in life. Everything we see and hear has a lesson for us if we choose to receive it.

I had never seen a double rainbow before. I thought to myself what could the lesson be, why a double rainbow at this moment in time? On the radio I was listening to the vice Presidential candidates in the midst of their debate, and suddenly it struck me.

Our great country was founded based on the concept of a rainbow. A multi-colored spectrum banded together by one unifying light. As a Jewish person I have extraordinary appreciation for the creation of this country, a country whose foundation is built on human liberty and tolerance.

The United States of America is a place where people of all faiths, colors and creed can find security among their fellow freedom loving countrymen. We are "One nation under G-d," banded together regardless of our differences. Our country is really an example of the rainbow.

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As the economy cries out for bright ideas and old fashioned wisdom to provide more jobs, as our world faces the real threat of nuclear weapons in the hands of those who openly state their evil intentions to wreak havoc in the lives of innocent people, as our communities become more divided in their ideologies or political preferences, we are called upon, to accept that we are one people with many differences, just like a rainbow with many colors.

The rainbow reminds us that these differences can also be our strength, because when we allow the One light that unites to shine through our differences, we get to experience the beauty like the beauty of a rainbow.

As the elections draw near many differences of opinion are being presented. One thing is for sure, when we open ourselves to others' opinions and ideas, different from our own, we open up to a brighter future. Notwithstanding who takes the reins of our country, if we truly desire to move forward and commit ourselves to the change that our times require, we would be wise to reach beyond our differences so we can be, as our country has always been like the shining light of the rainbow.

Shabbat Shalom!

The GMO Factor

Friday, October 5, 2012 - 4:12 AM

Knowledge is power. Consumers become more powerful and in control of what they and their families eat by knowing when food is genetically engineered.

Once upon a time every Jewish community in the old country had a jester a so-called a badchan.

In looking up the translation for badchan I found the following on Wikipedia: “The badchen was considered a standard part of the wedding party, as de rigueur as the officiating rabbi. The badchen has to be able both to provide the energy for a party and also to make the transition to a more serious tone immediately before the ceremony. To this end his comedy was not of a slapstick variety but rather verbal with many intricate Talmudic references and in-jokes.”

The story goes, Phodlig the Badchan asked the grand Rebbe and master, Rabbi Dovber of Chabad, “What is the difference between you and me? That which I know, the Rebbe knows! And that which the Rebbe does not know, neither do I!”

Without missing a beat, Phodlig continued, “Ahhh… of course there remains a great difference! It is that which the Rebbe knows, which I do not! And this explains the great difference that lies between the Rebbe and me!”

As we move closer to the upcoming general election, contemplating which presidential candidate to vote for seems to be taking up most of the "noise.” However, there are many other critical issues on the California ballot of great concern to us as a community that will affect all of society. It behooves us all to be properly informed and otherwise be “in the know,” luckily for this we need not be a Rebbe!

For example, Proposition 37 would require retailers and manufacturers of processed foods to label both fresh produce and manufactured, packaged foods that contain ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs are “plants and potentially animals” whose DNA has been manipulated in a laboratory involving the insertion or deletion of genes.

This measure addresses our right to know, not whether food produced from GMO should be banned, whether such food is safe, nor whether genetically modified crops are the right solution to address the world's food needs. This proposition simply makes it the manufactures’ responsibility to inform us, the consumer, whether the bright red exemplary looking tomato is natural, or whether some scientist played around with its genome pattern to give the tomato just the right genes to score a perfect 10.

Personally, and I speak for my wife too, we like to be “in the know!” Especially as parents of children who have severe food allergies and educators of a preschool where we are duty-bound to be extra careful in these matters, we believe in our “right to know.” Knowledge is power. Consumers become more powerful and in control of what they and their families eat by knowing when food is genetically engineered.

If you would like to be better informed on Prop 37 here are links for more information from both sides of the issue. A good place to begin is here:

In support of Prop 37

Against Prop 37

Do you have a different opinion? Please post here, or email me at [email protected]

Shabbat Shalom!