A dilemma from a friend whose husband told her to stay away from Torah/Geulah bloggers..... He says - "It's all nonsense and just gets people all worked up."
A regular Geula blog reader, Devorah-in-Chicago, responds below. (Published with permission)
Dear Friend,
Last night on the way home from driving you back from our visit, I was listening to the radio and they were discussing that possible Super-Nova thing and the resulting two-moon possibility that we also just read on the internet together. It was interesting that we just read it for the first time, and then I hear the regular old news on the radio talk show discussing the same thing.
So then I am starting to think........ I have decided that all these people who criticize the Torah blogs for reporting all kinds of news are just AFRAID of REALITY. If they read the regular news they would learn of the same news. And freak out. Because they have no perspective. No spiritual perspective. The Torah bloggers are just taking the SAME news and giving the spiritual or Jewish world view or prophetic interpretation to it. I am tried of hearing Jews criticizing other Jews for bringing forth what is going on in the world....i think they want to run away from reality and stick their heads in the sand. I, for one, do not have time to scan the world news to learn what is going on outside of my own little world and my own challenges in life.... It is easier for me to read the Torah bloggers, and get the news first hand if I haven't already heard it briefly on the radio (no time for TV), and hear what the rabbanim or Jewish leaders have to say about it and interpret by what the Torah and prophets of old say about it. THAT's the way I'd rather hear of these strange and crazy things that are going on in the world. If I heard all of this without the Torah perspective, I think my heart would fail.
Many of the Torah/geulah bloggers ARE rabbis, others who are not rabbis are IN TUNE with what is going on and are out there finding the messages and those that have spiritual interpretations and giving that over to us. Thank Hashem that we have the internet....He designed it that in the last days, we would all learn of what Hashem is doing in our little global village, ALL at the SAME time. Moshiach coming and all that is before, during and after that - happens to the entire world, not just Israel, or Jews here or over there. Everyone is affected. Jew and gentile alike. It is all fascinating to me and I have learned SO MUCH from all the bloggers and the Torah institutions that have a presence on the web. My growth has intensified and my prayers are different because of my learning from the internet.
Yes, there is more than one way to look at any of this. It is even up to us.....the unity and teshuvah of Am Israel can determine the speed of things happening and IF the Redemption happens soon or later. "Bring Moshiach NOW? or Bring Moshiach LATER or Bring Moshiach in another 20 years!" It depends on US.......AM ISRAEL! Our collective Jewish reaction determines much in the world. More and more I am reading this and hearing it over and over again in all the on-line shiurim that I listen to! And Jewish blogs that I read.
That is my answer to your husband (and many others) who do not want to hear the news and tell you to stay away and don't listen. Hashem is trying to wake us up and get us to do teshuvah and make Him first in our lives. Being educated is our responsibility. Learning is our responsibility. Stay close to Hashem and learn in whatever ways that you can. Self-learning (books), going to shiurim in your community, or learn from others who are thousands of miles away by sitting in your home. 24/6 Don't listen to anyone who tells you to stay away and put your head in the sand. Stay educated and exposed to what is going on, learn Torah, learn to put it all in perspective, learn to talk - really talk - to Hashem (hitbodedut), as well as listen to Hashem (that still small quiet Voice of Hashem) and stay focused. And above all.....keep yourself in the safest place in the world.......In the Palm of Hashem's Hand!!!
I have read on a few sites about how one should listen to that "small still silent voice of Hashem" and was wondering if anyone could properly elaborate on what that means exactly?
ReplyDeleteIs it refering to intuition or about some other quality?
Now more than at any other time in history, Jews must not keep their heads in the sand. We have to stand together. The Torah bloggers spend alot of time and energy keeping their blogs up as the world moves at a frenetic pace. They understand what is at stake. The goal is bringing Moshiach, our faith and actions must focus in that direction. Hashem will bless all of our efforts. Keep up this vital and imporant work. Your readers are 100% behind you.
ReplyDeleteAmen. What a wonderful response. It is very much needed especially in this time in this generation. Thank you. Please continue to keep up your excellent work. I love this blog! I truly believe that when there are unfortunately those who say not to read the blogs etc...that it is a test in this generation and we must pass this test.
ReplyDeleteJesterhead: I'm waiting for someone with more insight to answer your question.
ReplyDeleteThe bottom line here seems to be that instead of looking to man to tell us how it is or is going to be, we need to shut our ears, shut our eyes, close our mouths and maybe even tape our fingers now and again and just listen to that quiet, still voice within. To stop relying on what's out there, in the news, in the field, in the words of bloggers and to start developing some kind of spiritual channel to begin receiving guidance and wisdom. This is not something that is done overnight, but is developed. You rely on your senses but in a connected way via the soul. The soul being our guide, antenna and our compass.
ReplyDeleteNobody knows more than you will ever know. It's just a matter of revealing your inner voice.
Jesterhead, I want to address your question about a "still small voice of Hashem", but I am finding it very hard to put into words. It is maybe different for everyone, but for me it is that developed opening that you work on while praying to Hashem. Learning to praise Hashem, and thanking Him for your problems and truly meaning that, and asking Him questions about His answers. Being open to His answers. And hearing them. Prayer isn't just requests and crying out. It's learning to hear the answers. It's not like you always get a straight answer either. The answers are yes, no, wait, jump, go..... You can pray about something for a long time and never get an answer, then all of a sudden, one day, He answers you. I recently had to make a decision about something before Feb. 10, and when I was carefully outlining every step that I was thinking of taking, I was asking for guidance in my thinking to clarify if I should take this step or not. Then, finally, I am being very quiet and the answer came into my thought process (best way to describe this) and Hashem answered me by changing my initial question. It all fit and became clear. I was asking a question that I was insisting on, the route I was determined was going to be the way I thought I should handle this problem. If I just shut up and stop being so demanding and insisting that I always know what is best for me......I get Hashem's answer. This time, I see it all fit together nicely, I'm excited. To get there, to get to this point.....it's very individual with each person. You have to develop your relationship with Hashem. Your hitbodedut. It takes time and total honesty. You learn to pray differently when you want answers that your very life depends on. Talking and spilling your gut out is easy, listening and being sensitive to hear the answers is hard......you sort of feel Hashem's spirit - ruach - in your time with Him, take over.
ReplyDeleteAsk Hashem to help you trust Him, to put yourself in His Hands, tell him that you don't know how to solve your problems. Make Him a full partner in all that you do, He has no limits and ALL solutions. Take your time in prayer. I follow the amidah for structure......and take at least an hour to get through it, because I add my own words. I 'mull' over solutions and try to be very open and His answer 'comes' into my thoughts. This is VERY HARD to describe. I have never studied meditation much, just read Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, and others alittle bit. Develop your relationship with Hashem. The best book I have read lately that has totally changed my relationship with Hashem is by Rabbi Shalom Arush, a Sephardi Breslev rabbi.....called, In Forest Fields. translated into English by R.Lazer Brody. This book took my prayer life into a new dimension. And you have to be quiet because Hashem doesn't always hit you over the head with a loud, obvious answer. All I can say is............Learn to Listen.
There are other ways you can hear Hashem's "voice".
ReplyDeleteSuch as....you can overhear someone's conversation, and they are saying the exact thing you need to know..... you can stumble accidentally on a book or a website with the answer to a question you had forgotten about.... you can meet someone who just happens to be the person you need to meet right now, the one with the solution to a problem.
You can switch on the radio and it will be playing a song with a message that seems to be answering your current problem. That could also be a message for you.
Those are some of the ways Hashem sends answers to questions we have, it is just a matter of tuning in and realizing that these things are not a coincidence, these are messages for you.
And also... anytime you "accidentally" overhear someone else's conversation, there is probably a reason why you had to hear it. Everything happens for a reason.
You answered very well, Devorah. "Peace, quiet, Joy," Jews are a community and we depend on each other. Each of us is gifted with something the others can benefit from. It's not right to tell people basically to cut themselves off from everybody else and simply go live inside their own head.
ReplyDeleteThat's not to say that we have to be open to everyone. Everything has to be tested. To throw it all out because we are too lazy to exert the effort to do the testing is self-defeating. This life is hard and woe to the person who takes the easy way!
Devorah....I like what you said. I agree that these are also ways Hashem speaks to us. There are NO coincidences. Everything happens for a reason.
ReplyDeletethanks again for posting my letter, I hope anyone who reads it and the comments from everyone gains by this discussion.
kol tuv, Devorah-in Chicago!
There are very good shiurim at LearnTorah.com, both audio and video that address current events, all in a Torah perspective. If I could, I would just sit in this virtual beis midrash and learn all day.
ReplyDeleteI write about them too in my blog.
Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, of hineni.org, is also a great resource for correlating current events with the weekly Torah portion.
I am enmeshed with the goyim in my workplace. They foist their opinions and (unsolicited but tolerated perspectives) on me. Particularly a Xtian. I am telling him, big changes are happening, the order of the world will be put right soon-it is upside down right now, souls are waking up and attaining higher levels, people are achieving a higher awareness. He says things will always be the same, life will go on the same, no moshiach will come that will cause kings to be ASTONISHED AT WHO MOSHIACH IS as the Tanach says they will be, no temple to be built. Why do they refer to themselves as believers? They don't believe in anything. They are the most COMPLETELY ASLEEP SPIRITUALLY of ANY religion. I see it. And I trust Hashem. My soul has chosen to be born in these tumultuous times. It is very brave. Braver than my body can stand. My body wants comfort. My soul wants adventure. I want to see the Beis HaMikdash rebuilt. I will work for free. I will liquidate my bank account for it.
ReplyDelete"Outpouring of the Soul" by Rebbe Nachman , translated by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan is also good.
ReplyDeleteIf you trust Hashem Sara Jane then you know it was He who created your soul that placed you in this generation, at this time.
ReplyDeleteDevorah (& others), thanks for making it a bit clearer for me.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of my own Hitbodedut, I find that when I am completely honest with Hashem and lay all my cards on the table so to speak, that at least most of the time I am able to uncover the true nature or true motivations behind what I am after / asking, be it requests, answers to my questions, etc.
Other times, when it comes to Hashem speaking to me, it appears to come in the form of certain themes regularly popping up now and again though there are times when I am unable to make out if Hashem is speaking to me through such means or not.
I am wondering if what I described above is more or less what that Still Small Silent Voice of Hashem is?
Btw, I have read In Forest Fields by Rabbi Shalom Arush. If I recall correctly, what I found interesting is the part where one doing regular Hitbodedut should try to structure it word for word (my Hitbodedut tends to be more spontaneous).
Yet while I might have the wrong end of the stick, am I to understand that one’s Hitbodedut is less valid if its unstructured or if you add on or take away words from your regular structured Hitbodedut, due to perceiving the need to make one’s prayer relevant to your current circumstances?
To JesterHead: I like that you say sometimes there are certain themes that keep popping up. I would think that maybe Hashem is trying to tell you something through them. There are no coincidences after all. And as you go through your day, those signs may be coming through, again that you should be paying attention to. "Pray without ceasing" is when you are always directing your thoughts to Him and He will be 'talking' back to you all day long if you are open enough to receive. As far as structuring your dialogue with Hashem word for word...then how is it dialogue? That sounds extremely structured. I don't remember that part in the book by Arush? I would have to read that again, but I agree, I would want more free-flowing.
ReplyDelete- Devorah in Chicago