Paradise Parenting & Love פרשת בלק תשפ״ב
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Paradise Parenting & Love
The art of business and finance is to invest and make a profit. There is no point of investing money if at the end you only recoup the same exact amount as you invested without a profit.
At birth G-d chooses a particular soul from Paradise and places it into the body of the newborn baby. Then, after 120 years, the soul returns to heaven and paradise. The obvious question is: what is the point? the soul ends up where it started, so where is the benefit and profit?
Why would a loving G-d, invest and force the soul to leave the pleasure of Paradise and come down to our physical world, only for the soul to eventually return to the same paradise? what was gained?
In Lekutei Torah - Balak- the Alter Rebbe asks this question and says that there are many answers but the “true answer” תירוץ האמיתי is, that because of the journey, the soul rises to a new and higher level and becomes a Baal Teshuva. The soul achieves the high level of one who repents, yearns and returns to G-d. The soul elevates itself even higher then the righteous.
The word Teshuva means to Return. The soul is sent down to earth, far away from a revealed connection with her Heavenly Father. During it’s journey of life in a physical body, the soul can reach three basic levels of Teshuva and reconnecting to G-d. 1) By resisting sin. 2) By doing good deeds. 3) By reaching a qualitatively higher and deeper love and connection in her relationship with the essence of G-d.
The 3rd level is more then just good behavior. It is a new and higher level of deeper connection to the essence of G-d. The pain and yearning which the soul feels because of being distanced from her Heavenly Father, causes the soul to become humble and stop thinking about it’s own self. Being far away, the yearning, longing and pining, refine the soul and it stops focusing on it’s own needs and it’s own existence and own self.
In the language of Chassidus this is called Bitul. ביטול. A sense of total submission, dedication and focus on Hashem. The soul becomes immersed and focused on connecting to her Heavenly Father, not on her self. The soul, the princess, craves and yearns to connect to the essence of her father the King, without focusing on the benefits.
In the language of Chassidus this is called Bitul. ביטול. A sense of total submission, dedication and focus on Hashem. The soul becomes immersed and focused on connecting to her Heavenly Father, not on her self. The soul, the princess, craves and yearns to connect to the essence of her father the King, without focusing on the benefits.
The relationship of the soul is one of a princes and her father the King. The relationship of Father and Child become much higher and deeper. More mature and not based on rewards. The soul connects to the essence of her Father. Not just a shallow connection which is focused on “making me feel good”. The essence of the soul bonds and connects with the essence of her Heavenly Father. A hug of genuine true love. Soul to soul. Essence to essence.
This, explains the Alter Rebbe, is the profit which can be achieved only by sending the soul down from paradise into the physical body. Because it returns as a Baal Teshuva who reaches a much sweeter, deeper and higher level of connection. It’s not about an external level of G-d’s name. Rather a connection to ,אנוכי. עצמות. The pure essence of G-d.
This gives us motivation and inspiration:
Your challenges and struggles to maintain a loving relationship with our Father in Heaven are not in vain. Every moment of yearning and pain, refines and elevates the soul. You connect deeper and higher.
If you know anyone who is going thru hard times, especially in relationships, don’t use negative ideas or justifications. Focus on the positive. With unconditional love and encouragement. Share with them how even G-d goes thru the journey of exile. Inspire them by sharing that they have the ability to focus on the positive and to transform pain into pleasure. Darkness into light. Elevating the soul to new heights.
If you know any children who are alienated, inspire them. Share with them how pain can be used to reach an even higher and more meaningful level of a lasting loving relationship. Transforming the painful past into a bright happy future.
Pain is energy and fuel. It can help a person to rise higher!
3 messages based on the teachings of the Rebbe:
1) The 17th of Tamuz is a fasting day. It commemorates the sad day when our enemies broke thru the protecting walls of our beloved holy city of Jerusalem. When the date coincides with Shabbos, the fasting is postponed to Sunday. This gives us encouragement to know and to taste how when Moshiach will imminently arrive, the sad fasting days will be transformed into Festive Holidays of joy and happiness.
Because, when a true loving parent punishes their child, it’s not out of anger. It is from extra deep love. It is a cleansing process to help clean the child from the dirt. Although the child may feel discomfort, the reality is, it’s an expression of unconditional love. When we look deeper we discover that our loving Heavenly Father loves every Jew unconditionally. Celebrate your unique gift. You are loved and special.
2) Before G-d created the world He was the only one in existence. יחיד. G-d was perfect. But He chose to not be alone and to share His goodness, so He created the world and He created you. Now, G-d wants unity and oneness אחד. With you and with all of existence. This is why the holy prayer of Shma Yisroel concludes the first line with word Echod. אחד not יחיד. Because Yochid means exclusively one. Echod emphasizes unity and oneness. All of existence should unite in peace and proclaim the Oneness of G-d.
G-d wants absolute unity, peace and love. No fragmentation or separations or conflict. We must reveal the true unity and the true love within ourselves and within the entire world. The reason why now there is so much conflict, especially family conflict, is because the negative spiritual forces are trying to delay the coming of Moshiach. We must do everything in order to reconcile and make peace. Moshing Is On His Way!
3) The mission statement of our generation is that there are three loves. 1) Love of G-d. 2) Love of Torah. 3) Love of the Jewish people.
We must educate every child and adult to love every Jew unconditionally. One can not love G-d unless they love every Jew. These three loves are interconnected. All three are one unit. This unity and love has the power to cure all the darkness and all the pain in the world. These three loves inspire us to love every Jew and to help every Jew, with all our heart, regardless of their past. Open your heart. Love every Jew and Heaven will bless you with love, joy and happiness.
Believe in your self, in your abilities and talents, because G-d invested them in you with unlimited love and potential!
Believe in your self, in your abilities and talents, because G-d invested them in you with unlimited love and potential!
Lchayim
Velvl
Rabbi Velvl Butman
Executive Director
Chabad Lubavitch of Westchester County
Sharing the joy and meaning of Judaism unconditionally!
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