Winning

The world is renewed every day.

If you give someone a gift, you put it in his hand and then retract your hand, that retracting of the hand is the satan. If you give a parting friend a big bear hug and a squeeze, then release, that release is the satan.

 The satan is like the limitation of good, the ending, the force of negativity, the resceding or recessive force -- you pick the best word or phrase to mean this.  And just like all forces, you can picture it as a vector. Mathematically, a vector is an arrow that goes in one direction and doesn't stop or turn -- until blocked.

All the forces -- or angels -- or vectors (however you want to call them)  can be tapped into. Like hitching a ride. People who choose to be lazy and/or stupid (going after their desires despite the fact that its not beneficial for the world) are riding on a particular force. These forces/angels/vectors connect to us via emotions and traits. We are like chariot riders holding the reins to the forces like horses to go from place to place.   We should be in control of the emotions/ traits/angels/vectors.  But each group of people have a tendency to not have good control of a certain type of force.

The more "watered down" the person or group  is whether physically/ genetically or mentally, the more there will be forces that they do not have good control over. In Esau's case, its the urge to end things (satan),

This is why the foundation (private parts) of black folks is so  important and so feared and seen as such an enemy -- to these forces! These parts produce people who, theoretically, should be able to control all the forces and not have one  trait or emotion overwhelm him -- i.e. not need a guardian angel or not be compelled to do anything out of great foolish desires.

But we are not supposed to know that for some reason.

So why not destroy that "force of ending"? I once heard a story:

 A man who traveled to a certain land and he saw that everyone was living nicely.  There were many people young and old and no one died before their time. He loved this place and wanted to live amongst the people there.  The elders told him he can, but only he must keep the tradition of being always truthful. He said he would. Time passed. He found a wife, had children, etc.  One day a friend of his wife came to the door to visit the wife.  He didn't want to say that his wife was in the outhouse so he said, "she's not home!"  His desire was so great to "look good" he didn't even want to say "She's busy," lest it implies that she's in the bathroom.  The next thing people started dying (ending) early. The village was upset.  Who had brought the Satan in?  They made inquiries and found out that the newcomer had lied.  They sent him out from their town to restore peace.

Basically, the ending can end when we peel back the lies from the truth. (the secret of the circumcision) peeling back the desires from the truth.

Another story:

Gd decided to create the world and he summoned three ministers, Peace, Kindness, and Truth.  "What do you think of my creating a man?" He asked.
Kindness said, "Oh, yes! Make man. The kindness they will do for one another will be unbelievable!"Peace said, "NO! Don't make man.  They will make war and there will not be peace!"Truth said, "NO! Don't make man.  They will bring falsehood and there will be no truth!"
So, Gd took Truth and casted it down to the ground and made man.

The "keeping it real" that we do, I believe is one of the main pillars that has helped Black folks endure as long as we have.

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But now there is a new problem.  The charming (read: lying) white men who charm the Black women. And the white woman prize that Black men so badly seek.

After growing up with a constant diet of white men heros, the hero's prize being the white woman, white men romance movies, the subject of the romance being white women, movies with white men always in positions of power, always the good guys, always the successful ones, the end prize being always the white woman, etc. And even more so now with Black women used as sidekicks to some of these "meals," it's very hard to appeal to Black women and assure them that Black men are the right choice or even A choice to begin with. And it's very hard to appeal to Black men and assure them that Black women are actual prizes or even A choice to begin with.

The solution is this

First to recognize that there will always be a fuzzy line where interracial marriages happen.  This may be to the disatisfaction of white supremists, but they were the ones who  brought Black folks here to begin with and then they display to them this constant image  of white being the right and don't allow them to promote their own image. What did they expect?

 This may also rub pan-Africans the wrong way, as well.

At any rate, the best solution I can see for that is 

1. Media must go.  It really isn't beneficial for us to continue giving our eyes and ears (and heart) to their media. By now we should know that and have the strength to not watch their shows. Entertainment is distraction from life.  We need it once in a while, but not too much.
2. If we need the distraction at all, it's worth it to create our own. Even if it's mediocre in the beginning.
3. With our own media, we can portray a perception of success. This will strengthen  the bond between Black men and Black women -- depending on the shows that get put out.
4. We do have to create our own industries successfully, create our own food supplies, clothing, etc. And be the success that we need to be.  Its like why exist if we can't be successful?  Why forever struggle?  This may feel Darwin-ian  but it's really about creating our world and living our lives.

These are easier said than done.  Right now the lies are spreading like wildfire and there's not many interested in stomping out the fire.  But at least here -- one of many blueprints are out.

Why then?

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.

Introducing: Cyn

What to do With the Kool-Aid

There is a teaching in the talmud:

paraphrasing:

10 measures of drunkeness came into the world.

  Black folks took 9 of them!

Tractate Kiddushin

There are also other 10 measures that came and other people took them.  But I want to focus on this one.  Some Jews are ashamed and apologetic and they'll say, "oh, its a misprint!" lol.

But I think it doesn't have to be taken as a bad thing.  But also it might not all be good things.  But if this is true, then it is worthwhile to get to know this better to get to know the self.

I believe black folks can eat, breath, and sleep a topic and practically become that topic.  Bring excellence to that topic so much so that they pretty much define it and can only compete with themselves on it (if they even feel the need to compete).

Here's some Black folks who got drunk on....

gymnastics...

Simone Biles

Ice skating..

Surya Bonaly

music...

Michael Jackson

mathematics...

Katherine Johnson

alcohol...

whoops!

Well, you get the picture..

So all this to say that we just might need to have our bottles to drink -- that second bottle.  So it may not be enough to tell people "stop drinking the kool aid!"  Rather, it maybe better to take on a safe drink. With that -- the kool  aid need will be taken care of.

Where is Bnei Hham's Torah? Part 2

The Precious Stone:

At the top of the ark was something to bring light into it.  Some say it was a window, some say it was a precious stone.  If it was a window then it would only shine light when it was day.  But since it was very stormy, probably definitely rainy weather, a precious stone may have been in order.

What is so special about a precious stone?  It really enhances the beauty of something.  Crowns in particular are decked out with precious stones.  But it's not coincidental, it's purposeful.

Keter means crown in Hebrew.  According to some, the precious gems on the crowns allows one to actually peer to what's above -- the next level.  Kind of like a crystal ball. Or like the Urim v'Thummim -- the breastplate of the Cohen/High Priest.

The Intercourse:

When Adam mated with Chava/Eve, it's written Adam "knew" Chava/Eve.  In fact, this "knowing" is a way of intimately getting familiar with someone -- or even something thing or a concept.

When it is taught that Hham had "intercourse" in the ark, since intercourse may have been forbidden, it may mean that he either went against the rules (broke a glass ceiling?) or he gained intimate knowledge from staring into the gem that was used for light.

There were others who also "had intercourse" according to the sages.  The dog and the raven.  As a result, the dog was made to be tied and the raven was made to expectorate.  Interestingly, the dog is, in fact, tied.  It is now closer to the human plane than most animals.  In some countries it's known as a "man's best friend." 

As for the raven, interestingly, it can actually use speech much better than the well-known parrot.  Speech is a very human characteristic.  Both the dog and the raven were brought up to a higher level away from their previous animal plane and into the human plane.

Romancing the Stone:

In the ark, Hham may have gazed at the precious stone and from gazing he peered through and gained intimate knowledge.  Knowledge of what?  What is his Torah/instructions?

As a result of this act, he is said to be stricken in the skin.  Black skin has a factor that is almost like the chlorophyll in plants.  Plants use a process called photosynthesis to convert light energy into chemical energy for fuel.  As well, melanin is a process that converts light energy from the sun into chemical energy for fuel.  That's on a physical plane.

On a different plane, let's talk about light.  In every synagogue, there is a light that is forever shining above the ark which contains the Torah.  Let that sink for a minute...  So from within the ark, Hham who was contained within the ark stared up at the light shining constantly from the precious stone and as a result was stricken in the skin.

The Torah can only be written on skin.  Traditionally, it's been written in cow hide.

To be continued...

Gorilla vs Boy vs Stupid

As you all know in the Cinncinatti zoo, a small boy of 4 years old managed to get into the gorilla's sanctuary and fell right near the gorilla.  The zookeepers followed protocol and shot the gorilla.

If it had been a white family -- if the mother of that boy was a white lady, I think that would have been the end of the story.  but since its a Black family, people are seriously upset that the gorilla was killed because of a little Black boy -- as if it was a waste of a death.

Not even giving a second thought to the fact that maybe the gorilla shouldn't be locked up in captivity for their viewing pleasures.

Investigations are being made on the family! All their past wrongs are being put out in the media. SMH.  And if anyone dare call out racism, then the collective will roll their collective eyes as in, "why'd you have to bring that up?"  Burst their bubble of pretend.  They are being racist!

It almost makes me wonder if they are really all that upset that  a gorilla was harmed.  Rather they are sad that their pleasure got taken away from them for the sake of a Black boy.  They would harm another gorilla to capture it and replace Harambe when all this dies down.

Heck! Once upon a time they had Black folks in zoos!

Rest in peace, Harambe.  Sad that you were captured and caged and sad about the whole incident.

Thankfully, the boy is okay.  The family is probably going through rough times right now with lots of emotions flying around.  Send vibes of goodness towards them. If you can write good for them.  Keep that light on.

What if Business was War?

PROLOGUE:

I am excited about the awakening in the Black community collectively.  I too am experiencing an awakening.  However, I do long for the day when the Black community's actions are not viewed immediately as "coonery" or "stupid" until further analysis is done.  I mean, I long for the day when it's assumed wise until proven otherwise.

What If Business was War?

Thanks to people like Boyce Watkins, Andre Hatchett, and legends like Claud Anderson, the buzz for creating Black businesses is being felt and people are moving and shaking things.  Businesses are getting created in an amazing array of industries, apps are getting created, the list goes on and on.  But the question that seems to puzzle everyone is this:  Why aren't Black consumers going to black businesses?

Many of the answers have something about "coonery" on the public's part or "stupidity" on their part, but I would like to analyse it a bit more and from a new angle.

When an entity's will goes against another entity's will, it makes for a clash.  One may try to impose their will on the other one if they are small minded.  This battle of the wills is the stuff that war is made out of.

Group A wants land X.  Group B opposes.  They go to war about it.
Group A wants product X.  Group B opposes.  They go to war about it.
Group A wants X.  Group B opposes.  They go to war about it.

You get the picture.

If not, another good example is sports.  There are two teams.  They both have the will to get a rare resource: the winner status.  They go out screaming or some  kind of battle cry and it's on.  They go to war about it.

Sports is the entertainment for warlike people.

Businesses are not too different.  They introduce item X.  But they don't let you have it unless you yield (money).  The battle cry is the marketing and advertisements.  In the end, they both hope to be the victor and compete for that position.

What's Love Got to Do With It?
Now would someone one who loves another battle it out?  Or would they have the same will -- to make sure item X is available to their loved ones who need it without struggle?  Can you see why a Black person who loves another Black person would maybe not want to engaged in such battles, bargaining, outsmarting, etc.?

Hopefully, we can begin to see the wisdom and love in the Black collective's action. It could be they don't want to engaged in this war against their own.  Whereas with other companies, other groups, they know they are in a battle and there's no love there.  So they do what they can to outsmart the business or they resign themselves to possibly being the defeated one, the outsmarted one.

Once I heard that a Black woman started a detergent line.  But she and her friends were offended that Black consumers felt comfortable enough to ask her what ingredient went in the making of the detergent.  They asked, "would they ask Tide about their ingredient?!"   No.  They wouldn't.  But they may wonder.  However, if they know they'll be lied to, outwitted, or they have no choice in the matter anyway, so they buy without question.  But it doesn't necessarily mean there are no questions!

Best Model for Paradise
To the best of my knowledge, I think the best model is how some native Indians had it.  There was an area where everyone brought their excesses and those in need would rumage through and take what they needed.  But everyone had to be productive and kind enough to share their excesses.

We are nowhere near recreating this self sustaining model (nor even desiring such a model possibly), and so therefore must go out and hunt.  Go out and go to war and bring in resources into the community.  But to chastise people for not hunting the hunter makes no sense.  Let him hunt.  We should all be hunting and bringing home resources until the community is self sustaining.

It's awesome that these warriors are getting created.  They are needed.  And when possible Black consumer should buy from them if/when they can.  But one must use caution to make sure it's truly to our advantage in the short and long run.

Finding My Place

I am happy that I am slowly finding my place in the world -- 

I am finding that there are many individual groups and people all concerned and trying to help the communities in Africa who are interested in Judaism.  Somehow I feel like that is my "work."

I used to do more, but since my own family life fell apart, I kind of slithered into oblivion; shutting down my blog as you probably saw and not being very active in social media.  Not even being very active in real life.

L'ag b'omer two years ago will always be a memorable time.  It was the time when everything that was hanging precariously all fell apart.  Social workers, police, all kinds of everything was involved that day. One minute it was a regular day, we had guests coming for Shabbat, we were preparing the house, cleaning, I had just come back from picking up some of the kids from their school and the next minute.....

Next thing I knew the kids and I were on a bus heading for Jerusalem by order of the social welfare department.  It was never the same after that.

One day, I'll be more able to talk about it. But now I am glad to slowly make friends with others who are interested in helping all the various communities in Africa out.  

This is majorly exciting for me!!

The downside is that sometimes they have to go into unchartered territory. Our dear Harry Rosenberg is going to be pitted against Brother Polight, a conscious "brother" in a debate this coming Monday night.

Not sure the purpose of the debate except maybe to bring attention to Harry for the AFr. Amer. community.  And the purpose of that, I think?? is in case there are those who are interested in Judaism but don't know where to go, Harry will be a beacon perhaps.

Anyway, it's all nervewrecking lol.

The All Def Movie Awards!

Making the World go 'Round

The sages teach us that the world stands on three things:

• Gemilut Chasadim/Acts of Kindness
• Torah/Instructions from Above/Within
• Avodah/Godly service 

Gemilut chasadim/Acts of Kindness:  This is the easiest thing to do.  It entails opening one's heart to another and doing for them what we want for ourselves...or not doing to them what we wouldn't want done to ourselves.  It is a very positive energy and makes people smile.

The flipside of that -- the negative energy associated with this is being truthful.  Having wisdom.  Keeping it real.

Both are needed, but there must be that in-between to keep it functioning properly which is conviction, perseverance, determination.  That opens up a conductive path (grace) of self confidence so that things will flow.

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Torah/Instructions:  Everyone has instructions from the Creator.  Some wrote it down into a book and study that book.  Some teach through word of mouth.

But that is one side.  The other side of this is dancing and clapping with joy.

Like a battery.... 

...these two are like negative energy (Torah/Instruction) and positive energy (dancing and clapping) going to each other.  So with the negative (anode) energy being the Torah/Instruction, and the positive (cathode) energy being the dancing and clapping, what is the electrolyte?  It's staying humble.

Staying humble creates something metaphysical... a conduit path that makes the "battery" work.

It's not an easy route to go.  Being humble is frowned upon in arrogant societies and you'd have to have an iron backbone to go this route.

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Avodah/Godly service:  That means doing godly things. Praying.  Actually following the instructions given down from the ancestors, forefathers, parents, or the Creator.  That is the positive side of things.

The "negative" energy to that is having zeal.  Zealots are not looked upon kindly, but this type of enthusiasm is needed to make things move.

And the middle part, or the grace producer, or the electrolyte for this "battery" parts is staying connected to our ancestors, forefathers, parents, the Creator.

So there are basically three batteries that can spin the world and move it.  Pick your place and let's get "moving"!!

Be Kind!!

Proper response to the Beyonce reaction

At the NFL half time, Beyonce came out with a song and video that honors her heritage and turned it into an entertainment piece.  Here it is:



People became so outraged.  It's almost fascinating to see how the veil is kinda slipping off the head and truth is being revealed in such a blatant manner.

Here is  a good response to all the haters...




It's really worth it to understand that what the media gives you is not always the truth...The portray the Black Panthers and Malcolm X as such violent people, but if you actually learn the truth about them, you will see there wasn't much violence going on.  True, one Black Panther member was accused of killing a cop, but he was later acquitted.  Malcolm X was very pro-Black and that was portrayed as a grave danger.

The media has its own agenda...

A Case for Kindness

I know what I want to say... just not sure how to say it right...here goes:

WHY BE KIND?

I would like to offer a logical reason why it's imperative for us to be kind to one another.

Kindness is a very fluid thing that can take on all sorts of shapes, methods, and ways.  I can comfort someone and that's kindness.  Give a needy person some food, give an encouraging word to another, or pay someone's way through college.  All these are acts of kindness.  All these are forms of kindness or forms of charity.  Interestingly, one way that kindness can manifest is via money.  If I don't know what mode of kindness is best to do for someone -- I don't know if they need a kind word, or new shoes, or whatever, then I can just use a common denominator which is money and give them charity money.  With money the person can go and buy most things (therapy session, food, whatever).

THE MONEY CONNECTION

Money is a strong manifestation of kindness.  But it's the one who's doing the giving who is being kind.  The giver of the money is the one who will be blessed.  Putting out a product to the world is also a kindness.

So if people don't like you, they will not be kind to you.  Or, even worse, if people don't like you, they may still be kind because they realize that the kindness is for them, but they may not want anything from your hands -- except maybe what they just gave you. 

THE TRAP

I have noticed and have learned from our great shepherds (May their memories be a blessing for us!) that in America especially, people do not want us to be producers.  They want us to be consumers -- to give away our kindness -- our money -- to work and earn kindness/money and give that away.   And give it away to those who don't like us, don't appreciate us, and would not give us an opportunity if we wanted.   But they don't want to receive products from us -- straight from our guts.  Things we create.  Businesses we begin.  They don't want us to give -- to partake in the blessing of kindness. And without kindness we get no money, no wealth blessings.  They would rather colonize a Black nation and suck the wealth out as if they were the givers.  Even many black folks don't want to participate in the kindness exchange with other Black folks.

So how do we make it in a system that is rigged for us to not be providers, producers or givers and to only consume (like saying thank you, oh, thank you forever and feeling indebted always)?

KINDNESS IS THE ANSWER

We have to use our wisdom and understanding to know that we only have ourselves right now.  We need to be kind to each other -- in other words, we need to give money to each other.  There is a campaign out there called Buy Black.  That is an awesome start.  But I want us to understand why we need to buy black and not just do it while the sun is shining.  If we give kindness to each other, that will bring wealth and yes, money as well.

Kindness comes in many forms.  I once saw a post on Facebook about a million dollar sandal.  Million dollar sandal!  It had carvings of animals on the strap, intricate jewelry, etc.  But showcasing the sandal was a Black person.  The only comments that post had was how ashy the feet was, how the toe nail was badly clipped. Nothing about the intricacies of the sandal.  Nothing about anything except criticism of the black guy's foot.   It was a sad sign.  There was zero kindness given, zero grace for that person.  Kindness is looking at someone with a positive eye.  We don't have to overlook a wrong, but be judicious in what we do with it.  Same goes with the "smDh" who has a damned head? And referring to one another as "yo a$$" -- why the backside?  Why the side of judgement? If not out of true love, then out of the wisdom of understanding that without the exchange of kindness we remain far from wealth and yet more blessings that await us.

THE STARVING ARTIST

And then you have the starving artist syndrome.  The one who does want to produce and does! But nothing seems to work.  They are starving and still trying to give of their kindness, sell their creation -- something that they made straight from their heart.  What now?  What is missing?

JUSTICE

The flipside of all this kindness is to keep it real.  To be truthful no matter how much it hurts.  And the truth is that probably nobody deserves an act of kindness.  Everyone has fallen short of being perfect and is probably deserving of punishment -- or at least no kindness.

That is a righteous way of looking at things. It's just.  But do we need justice at this point?  Yes!! We do.  As things stand right now there is no justice.  We see our fellow getting killed daily -- by the police at that!  There is no one to turn to.  No one to call.  What used to be the court is no longer a place of justice.  The media is the new court system.  And the media has never found us innocent -- always guilty.  The actual court system seems more like a farce or a ritual to keep everyone calm. 

But we shouldn't wait for criminals to give us a court system.  We should create a court system with our elders for ourselves and agree to abide by those rules.  We judge ourselves so that we not be judged Above.

With the combination of Truth and Justice, we will feel truly free and confident to move forward.  There should be no more doubt of undeservedness.  No more secret fear that we shouldn't have something or shouldn’t become something.  No question that we ought to move forward.

GRACE

I believe conviction, perseverance and determination is what will give us the grace that's needed for people to be receptive to gifts of kindness.  The giver themselves have to truly believe that what they have to offer is something so valuable that the world may crash if it's not given!  Then they won't be shy or have to worry about self-confidence because it will be a matter of urgency.

A MATTER OF URGENCY

And I want to tell you that what you have to offer is a matter of urgency.  We need black doctors, plumbers, carpenters, computer programmers, import/exporter everything...literally everything to create a functioning Black world.  If you close your eyes and imagine a functioning Black world how big would that world be?  To me it seems very vast and empty --where are the bank owners?  The water purifying companies?  The airlines?  Who is connecting to Afro-Cuba?  Who is connecting to Afro-Brazil?  To Afro-Asians (assuming they have embraced their Africaness) we need more people to populate it and we should give their businesses patronage -We are our economy.  May we be vessels for the Creator to bring goodness for our people.

Be kind.

Introducing Aaron Samuels Jew of Color Poet

The Blatantly Bad Jew

I know Hashem runs the world.  I trust His Torah and try to live by it as best I can.  Its makes things easier to live in an Jewish neighborhood amongst other Jews.

Yet...

I know that there are righteous non-Jews out there.  Will there ever be a community of righteous Jews and righteous non-Jews as opposed to all non-Jews lumped together (with the righteous ones having to fend for themselves among the haters) or all Jews lumped together (with the simple ones having to fend for themselves among the cold hearted, cunning ones)?

I wonder if that is what Matisyahu, the singer, went through.  Am I having an identity crisis?

I guess the big question would be, why should I -if I'm trying to be a good Jew- lump myself together with both good and blatantly bad Jews? Is there any good in the blatantly bad Jew?

By blatantly bad Jew i mean someone who is mean and hurtful without remorse.  Someone who will steal like any other robber, except with excuses as to why they should take whatever they are stealing. Someone who studies the Torah because they know there is wisdom to gain from it, but their heart is in the wrong place.

(How different are they from the secular Israeli Jew? I think the secular Jew does what he does because his taivah/desires push him in that direction.  A blatantly bad Jew knows he ought to behave a certain way and so puts up a front, but deep down he does just what his taivah wants him to do. He's a hypocrite!)

Car Hijack, Baby Intact

A frightening incident happened in Israel where a woman's car was hijacked by three Arab men.  Her baby was still in the vehicle when they drove off.

Here is the story Hijacked

Excerpt..

The carjacked vehicle

Shai police spokesman

When the wife of a resident of Dolev, north of Jerusalem, called frantically to report Arabs had carjacked their car with their one-year-old daughter inside, the Jewish father quickly picked up a knife and drove to the abduction spot, saving his baby.

"I was driving home toward Dolev with the small daughter in the back seat,” the mother recalled Tuesday, in an interview withYediot Aharonot.

“Suddenly, a car began tailgating me, so I accelerated. Then heard something hit the car from the back so I went out to see what happened. There were three Palestinians in the car. One of them got out and asked if something had happened. Before I could answer, he was already inside my car. The two cars drove off, speeding away. I was helpless. The cellphone was inside the car. I ran to the middle of the road, screaming that my girl had been abducted. An Arab man let me call my husband.”

(hi five = Arutz Sheva)

Thank G-d the baby was okay.  But notice the help between Arab and Jew.  Its a mindset that is good and there is a mindset that is very evil. That is what we must fight.

There was a previous incident a few weeks ago, where an Arab couple was mistaken for Jews and attacked by Arabs. sigh.  Thank G-d, they spoke Arabic which signaled that they were not Jewish and the attackers backed off. But it should be appreciated that the couple reported those hordes of attackers.

Here's that story.  Mistaken Identity

Excerpt

.

.A Muslim family from east Jerusalem was attacked two weeks ago by three Arab youths near the road of Sur Baher. Only after the group learnt that the family was in fact Palestinian did they leave them alone

(hat tip = ynet)

Mitzvah Process

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov describes the mitzvah process like this...

When someone feels the desire to do a mitzvah, they get joy in their hearts.  This joy rumbling inside them is the equivalent of Malchut going up to the Legs (Netzach, Hod, and Yesod).  When it reaches there, then the person is going. Moving. Marching towards the mitzvah. Either he's going to the store and buying materials for it, or preparing somehow. But he's moving. The Legs bring about an arousal from around.

Now everyone is looking at his quick actions, his purposeful movements.  They want to also do this mitzvah. They too become agitate and aroused. Now everyone is moving.

Now comes the mitzvah. Usually before a mitzvah, there is a blessing to be said. Saying this blessing is equivalent to bringing the Legs up to the Arms (Chessed, Gevurah, and Tiferet). Now blessings are flying around. We are sending blessings out, blessings are coming our way. Its great to do mitzvot. 

One blessing that usually comes from this is intellect (Chochmah, Bina, and Daat).  This brings us wisdom, understanding and knowledge.   If we are smart (lol) then we will pray for faith/Keter. This would be the crown to seal it all. 

Keter is like a helmut.  On the one side, we have emunah/faith.  This faith seals in our knowledge and keeps us secure in what we know.  If we dare to venture too far -with unanswerable questions-  we are brought back to base with faith.

But the other side of Keter is the outside part of that crown.  That is called Malchut.  Yes, its Malchut of the next bunch of sephirot.  And the beat goes on.

Bad Penny George Zimmerman in the News ....Again

He just keeps coming up. Its like ground hog day all over again...

well... not quite. This time he went after a pregnant blondie. An "all American girl"!!  Nope, the cops were not going to let him get away with that one. Thank goodness, Samantha Scheibe, justice may be served for you -and maybe you'll cause all the justice to vomit out for all the others as well.

It could be that since this was his third time negatively involved with crime and gun, that the slumbering police department finally woke up and realized what they are unleashing each and everytime.  Or could it be that he messed with the "wrong person"?

The Haitian Revolution from a Kabbalistic Perspective

Firstly, i'm not a kabbalist. This musing is all just skimming the surface.

About a month ago, I came out into my front yard and happened upon a hummingbird nest.  The brightly blue colored papa and greyish colored mama hummingbirds were there and they were tending to their baby hummingbird.  Crouching nearby was a cat!

As soon as the cat got too close for comfort, the papa hummingbird sprung into action! He flew right in front of the cat's face.  Then quickly dodged the swiping paw. Again, went the papa, right into the cat's face and out again. Each time the papa retreated, he went farther and farther from the nest -bringing the cat with him.  After a while, I realized he was luring the cat away from the nest.  What strategy!!

Eventually, the cat lost interest in trying to get the bright blue bird and went away. whew.

But that got me thinking, every creature that Hashem created has its power and its way of defending itself.  If they "work it" well enough, they can fight even the most formidable of enemies no matter the size.

Some time later, I was thinking about tribal people, these earthy people who live off the land. Africans from their villages, Native American Indians and their old way of life.  I wondered if they really had any defense against the onslaught of European invaders who took their land, their lives, their everything.

These people seemed as if they were untouched by the whole Adam and Eve story. They were naked and just fine.  Just fine until they were informed that they were naked. Its as if they were very natural, very normal, very heart oriented.  I remember reading an article by Phylis Chesler, where she tries to understand how is it that "third world people" whom she thought were so sweet and innocent, could crumbled to such violence and cruelty as she has seen in the middle east.  Personally, i think its just called "keeping things real."  When they are well, things are well. When they are angry, they smash. But when the enemy is as slithering and as sneaky as a snake, there's no time to smash and fight and thrash. By the time they realize what's up, the battle is already halfway finished.

So how could they have fought this enemy?

This makes me think of the Haitian revolution.  These captured Africans who were led to the "new land" the Island of Hispaniola made a secret ceremony in which every abled bodied man ready and willing to fight, had to drink the blood of a pig as a seal that they would do whatever they could to succeed in this legendary fight. And so they did.  And they won their independence!

From a Torah perspective this is a very interesting ritual.

In the Jewish world, thankfully, we have the Torah. Specific instructions and guidance. Eat kosher, it says.  Stay away from promiscuous women, it warns.  Beware of Amalek, it admonishes.  No one else was told to beware of Amalek.  Also, we have the teaching that Esav (Amalek's grandpa) was a wicked person, so we know to be weary.  But what of tribal people with no warning?

In the case of the Haitians, again I don't know what prompted them to do this ritual - it certainly wasn't a normal ritual done before a fight.  But it could, form a Torah perspective, be seen as taking the sword of Esav to strike.

Esav is called the Hunter, He is the fighter.  He is the man with the sword who exacts punishment.  Esav is also likened to a pig. Why? Because at a first glance, the pig looks kosher.  It has the split hooves.  But only after killing it and seeing its belly will one realize that it doesn't chew the kud.  Sneaky!!  Esav also pretends to be so pristine and clean and so good.  He seems to have all the right motives.  He seems to look like an angel.  But he has wickedness in his heart!  Essentially, what the Haitians did was to take the sword from Esav and gave their enemy a good beating. What would have been the Native American Indian's way of "taking the sword from Esav"?

Everything has a Beat

This is just like a kabbalistic teaching! Wisdom from Africa.

Thank you for your Patience

Friends, Readers,

To all those who have ordered books and magazines, I thank you for your patience. Things are taking a tad bit longer than I had hoped, but its acoming.


Baruch Hashem!