I believe that Black folks are inherently good people. But why do they commit such wrongs? You all hear about the black on black crime -- they make sure you don't forget (and don't think about the massive white on white crime, and white on everybody else crime, etc). So what gives? And more importantly, how do we get out of this mess?
Going back to the story of Hham in the ark. There was the ark, there was Hham and in the ark way above at the top was something to bring light. Some say it was a window, others say it was a precious stone.
The top had to constantly give light for the ark.
Fast forward to today. We have Torah, which can only be written on skin. This Torah is kept in a closet called the Ark. And above this ark is a fire which must constantly burn (or in modern times a light that has to be kept going).
Do you detect any similarities?
A deeper meaning can be found in Likutei Moharan. The Torah or the teacher who teaches others is the center. Those who come around to learn is the ark. In the case of a teacher, the ark would be his students. But the students are coming with all their defects, all their misunderstandings, ignorance, and so on - like all the animals in the Noah's ark (bear-anger, fox-slyness, etc). When they come to the teacher, they bring all this to the teacher.
Understandably, if the teacher is not strong, he can easily succumb to all these evil inclinations that the students are bringing to him. He can get as angry as a bear, sly as a fox, mean as a (insert animal with this trait here), as busy as a rabbit (if you know what I mean). All those things rolled into one!! What will keep him strong? The original fire that burned in his heart for G-d, for good in the world, for good for his people, etc. That fire is the equivalent of the constant fire that must always stay lit above the ark.
By the grace of G-d and His many Blessings, Black folks have wowed the world for a long time now. Whether its the amazing pyramids, the teachings that many greek scholars sought to gain in the universities in Timbuktu, the proverbs, the wisdoms, the strength, the beauty, etc. there is always something to behold from Black folks. Something to emulate. Something to seek from them.
Because of this, many come. But as they come so too they bring their ignorance, their misunderstandings, their evil inclinations, their evil ways and thoughts. Unless we are fortified to the hilt and understand that we must stay strong against -- against -- their inclinations, it's not worth the bother. Save it for the extremely wise and extremely strong among us.
May our hearts stay strong with the desire to do good, to be good, and to have a goodly world to live in for us and for our children and our children's children...
post script - there are those who come with an even greater evil, more than all of the evils combined. The great arrogance. No amount of wisdom can overcome arrogance. The only thing that can defeat this is simple humility.
Going back to the story of Hham in the ark. There was the ark, there was Hham and in the ark way above at the top was something to bring light. Some say it was a window, others say it was a precious stone.
The top had to constantly give light for the ark.
Fast forward to today. We have Torah, which can only be written on skin. This Torah is kept in a closet called the Ark. And above this ark is a fire which must constantly burn (or in modern times a light that has to be kept going).
Do you detect any similarities?
A deeper meaning can be found in Likutei Moharan. The Torah or the teacher who teaches others is the center. Those who come around to learn is the ark. In the case of a teacher, the ark would be his students. But the students are coming with all their defects, all their misunderstandings, ignorance, and so on - like all the animals in the Noah's ark (bear-anger, fox-slyness, etc). When they come to the teacher, they bring all this to the teacher.
Understandably, if the teacher is not strong, he can easily succumb to all these evil inclinations that the students are bringing to him. He can get as angry as a bear, sly as a fox, mean as a (insert animal with this trait here), as busy as a rabbit (if you know what I mean). All those things rolled into one!! What will keep him strong? The original fire that burned in his heart for G-d, for good in the world, for good for his people, etc. That fire is the equivalent of the constant fire that must always stay lit above the ark.
Because of this, many come. But as they come so too they bring their ignorance, their misunderstandings, their evil inclinations, their evil ways and thoughts. Unless we are fortified to the hilt and understand that we must stay strong against -- against -- their inclinations, it's not worth the bother. Save it for the extremely wise and extremely strong among us.
May our hearts stay strong with the desire to do good, to be good, and to have a goodly world to live in for us and for our children and our children's children...
post script - there are those who come with an even greater evil, more than all of the evils combined. The great arrogance. No amount of wisdom can overcome arrogance. The only thing that can defeat this is simple humility.
