Forum Replies Created

  • rabbigutmacher 2 years ago

    My personal experience of the terrible current events: whenever things like these happen, my mind and heart keep bringing me directly back to these passages that are constantly repeated by our Neviim and sages:

    My Prophet Isaiah had said:

    [Chapt 1: 16] Wash, cleanse yourselves, remove the evil of your deeds from before My eyes, cease to do evil.
    [17] Learn to do good, seek justice, strengthen the robbed, perform justice for the orphan, plead the case of the widow.

    Also my prophet Jeremiah said:

    [Chapt 7: 3] So said the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel; Improve your ways and your deeds, I will allow you to dwell in this place.
    [4] Do not rely on false words, saying: The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord are they.
    [5] For if you improve your ways and your deeds, if you perform judgment between one man and his fellowman.
    [6] [If] you do not oppress a stranger, an orphan, or a widow, and you do not shed innocent blood in this place, and you do not follow other gods for your detriment.

    Also
    Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Shimon (ben Gamliel) were taken out to be executed. Rabbi Shimon said to Rabbi Yishmael: “Master, my heart is broken, for I do not know for what offense I am being executed.” Rabbi Yishmael said to Rabbi Shimon: “Did it ever happen that someone came to you with a case to be adjudicated, or with a question, and you had them wait until you finished your drink, or until you tied your shoe, or put on your cloak? And the Torah says, ‘[If you abuse the widow or orphan] if you abuse them at all, if they scream to Me I will surely hear their cry. And my anger shall be inflamed and I will kill you with a sword — and your wives will become widowed and your children orphaned!'” (Exodus 22:21-23) He said to him, “Master you have comforted me.” (Michilta Mishpatim Neziken section 18).

    The events have brought more orphans, and more widows. Do we pray and care for them on regular bases? Am I involved in my community with caring for them?
    It is as if God is waiting to see if we get the message again and again, not through prophecies but through the events.
    We need to penetrate our heart deeper and focus more on our prayers to achieve more consciousness for these suffering individuals. I would suggest two things:
    1 . When you pray to God imagine the Jewish people and yourself as an orphan or a widow, Hashem is our Father, Mother, Spouse. All the fears, the anxiety, the stress, the sadness and suffering will not exist if we truly felt Hashem as our Parent or Spouse. Express to God that this is how you and Israel feel towards Him and that we need Nechama, we need Him, we want Him, we desire Him, because we feel so alone and abandoned without Him being revealed in our lives.
    2. I would use the prayer of Sim Shalom from Shmoneh Esre. How can you comfort an orphan or a widow!? It seems impossible, it appears like Shalom is not achievable in the heart of these individuals. Therefore we ask for Shalom, something that we can’t bring in our own, only Hashem can bring that type of healing and sense of being Shalem in a world that appears fractured. Only with Hashem’s presence revealed can we be beShalom, and experience that sense of wholeness and love, when Israel is back with Him in His Home, the Bais Hamikdash, when the souls will be back from Techiyas Hamessim, and come home to the spouses and children. We ask Hashem that this sense of Divine peace should enter the heart of our suffering brothers and sisters , no other doctor or therapist can provide that, indeed we are alone orphaned and widowed without Hashem’s Shleymut, without Hashem in Yeru-Shalem. May it be very soon in our days. Amen !
    Rabbi G

Viewing 1 post (of 1 total)