Dancing Marriage & Ecstasy פרשת ואתחנן תשפ״ב
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Dancing Marriage & Ecstasy
Happiness, meaning and emotionally feeling the joy and pleasure of life, are amongst the highest priorities of most people. The art of life is to successfully discover how to travel the journey of life on the golden road. A life of happiness and fulfillment. The Alter Rebbe in his Lekutei Torah -Voeschanon- explains
how to achieve this.
A building and a home require a foundation upon which to stand, so too do we humans require a healthy foundation upon which to build a happy life.
The human being functions and depends primarily on the brain and on the heart. The brain is the center of intelligence and the seat of the vitality of life. The heart is the pump which circulates the miraculous newly oxygenated blood and the heart is the center of human emotions.
In order to feel happy, we must first find the key to open the emotional chambers of our heart. "Brain Intelligence" without the feelings of the heart is a c cold life. Lifeless. "Emotionally-cold" people are missing out on the fire and warmth of life. This is often reflected in their inability to have true friends and in their cold parenting. At times they can be narcissistic.
The Alter Rebbe explains that every person is a composite of two primary ingredients. 1) Body. 2) Soul. King Solomon compares the soul to a candle. נר ה׳ נשמת אדם. G-d Created the world in a state of thick darkness and it is our job to light up the world with the warm candle-light of our soul.
The reason why G-d Created billions of people and scattered them around the world is because we each have the opportunity to illuminate our environment with our G-d given soul. We must reach every corner of the globe. Together we can transform global darkness into light.
In order for your soul to be on fire, to shine brightly and give you long lasting joy, meaning and happiness we must first nurture our faith in G-d. Like the firewood in the fireplace on a cold winter night, one must feed and nurture the tiny flame until it engulfs the thick logs of wood and they give us light, warmth and pleasure.
The Alter Rebbe explains that many people misuse the word faith. Many mistakenly assume that faith is simply to believe that there is an animating force which creates and gives life to the world. They wrongly think that the human mind can't intellectually understand that there is the existence of a Creator so therefore it requires faith.
However this notion is wrong. Because the human mind can logically see and understand that somebody Created the universe. Just like a person knows and feels that they have a soul and spirit of life in their body despite the fact that they can not physically see the soul.
The word “Faith” can apply only to somthing that the mind can not understand. 1plus 1 equals 2. This is not faith. It’s logic. The Alter Rebbe elaborates and explains that Faith refers to a much higher level of the essence of the Creator. Faith, אמונה, is to believe that despite the fact that G-d chooses to come down and exist within our physical world, nevertheless He is not effected by the world. He is here but nothing has any influence on Him. He is here but He simultaneously transcends all of existence.
G-d is here with us in our physical world but the world has zero impact on Him. Nothing causes a change in His perfect existence. This idea, is impossible to understand, we can not grasp how this works and therefore this high level requires Faith. But the fact that there is a Creator is a logical rational reality.
A key to developing a real feeling and a relationship with G-d is to spend time immersing our mind and heart in the logical reasoning and realization that there must be an eternal "animating force". To focus and contemplate the idea that there is a grand “Master Designer” and Creator, who transcends time and space and continuously gives us life. Focusing on this idea like a maginiying glass under the son, helps our brain and heart catch "fire".
We don't know what G-d is, but we are sure and unequivocally certain of His existence. ידיעת מציאותו ולא מהותו.
In Hebrew this is called Da'as. Knowledge. The point were the mind, logic and tangible feelings, merge and unite in harmony. To truly feel in our heart the above logical conclusion. To see this logic with the "Eye of the Mind", with absolute clarity and intelligent conviction.
When our soul and Divine candle shine brightly with full potency and passion, when it is physically felt in our heart, then automatically we feel happy. We enjoy living a meaningful life and we appreciate every moment of life.
If you want your "firewood" to burn and shine brightly, spend some more time nurturing the flames.
Chabad philosophy, beginning with the Alter Rebbe's holy book of Tanya and all Chabad teachings, are the perfect tools to ignite your passion, your enthusiasm and your emotional quality of life. To harmonize your body and soul into one majestic symphony.
This gives us motivation and inspiration:
You have the keys to a happy life in your hands. All you need to do is simply light up a match, ignite the fire, nurture the mind and heart. You will enjoy the pleasure of your own light, warmth and your internal "firewood flames".
The Rebbe encourages each of us to be a leader and share this inner beauty with every Jew and with all of humanity. The Divine “happiness-recipe” for Jews, is Torah and Mitzvahs. The Divine “happiness-recipe” for non jews are the Seven Noahide laws, given by Moses from G-d at Mount Sinai. We must help each other, we must share, respect and inspire every person around the globe, regardless of race color or creed to light their own personal candle.
We must never give up on any child or adult.
Often this doesn't cost a penny. All we need to do is to selflessly share our knowledge and give from our time, heart and love to help our brothers and sisters around the world.
Together we can penetrate and light up the thick darkness of the world. Each person in their own corner of the works. Your shining candle hastens the coming of Moshiach. We can rid the world of all it's suffering and darkness, conflict and pain. You can be a leader and a partner in transforming the world into G-d's Royal Garden, a world of stunning inner beauty, warmth, peace and eternal happiness.
Be a leader. Take action. Light your candle today!
3 messages based on the teachings of the Rebbe:
1) The 15th of Av is one of the most happy days in the Jewish calendar. In the times of the Holy Temple, on this day there was singing and dancing in the streets of Jerusalem. Jewish marriages were made on this joyous day and celebrated. Each person happily found their match. Their Bashert. For a Jew, true joy and ecstasy is possible only when Jews marry Jews.
We must do everything in our power and utilize every appropriate technique, to help ensure and inspire every Jewish man and Jewish woman, to find a Jewish spouse and marry. To establish happy Jewish homes.
Especially in our generation, we owe it to every Jew of history, especially to the holy souls of the six million Jews. In their honor and legacy we must rebuild happy Jewish homes and establish large Jewish families. Every Jewish child is a precious gift and an unlimited treasure who will strengthen the golden chain of Jewish continuity.
2) The Hebrew word for love is Ahavoh. The Alter Rebbe explains that the root and origin of the word Ahavoh is Ovoh. אבה. Which means "to want". True love of G-d and true love of a fellow Jew is to "want to connect". The letter Hey symbolizes the breath of the heart. We must develop a genuine love and feel it in our heart. The Zohar says that the Jew and Torah and G-d are three who are interconnected as one.
It is insufficient to just do a favor for a fellow Jew. We must develope a sense of pleasure, enthusiasm and passion when helping a fellow Jew. We must personify the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, to sincerely love every Jew with a tangible feeling of love in our heart. There is nothing greater then truly loving a fellow Jew.
The Rebbe founded Camp Gan Israel, the world's largest network of Jewish camps. “Gan” means a garden. It is named in honor of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov. A garden of true love for every Jewish child.
3) Life can seem like a paradox. In order to truly be happy, we must give from ourself to others. We must give from our heart and our time. Give from our wisdom and our soul. Give from our money and help with financial assistance. When you give to others, you feel joy and meaning.
The most important part of life is action. Doing the good deed. All the holy ideas and teachings are in order to inspire us to bring peace and kindness into the world. Fill your life with deeds of goodness and kindness and you will feel good about yourself.
Make a habit of filing your day with opportunities and moments of helping others, of making others happy. You will see that by helping others, you will boost your own happiness in amazing ways. Remember the golden rule: Help your fellow Jews and it will help you be happy. You will have a love for life and a genuine feeling of gratitude and joy.
Lchayim
Velvl
Rabbi Velvl Butman
Executive Director
Chabad Lubavitch of Westchester County
Sharing the joy and meaning of Judaism unconditionally!
Email: ChabadOfWestchester@gmail.com
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