Dear Rabbi,

We watched you on tv last night and thought it was terrific! (The Akiedah) I have a question about what you were speaking about. If Abraham was Hashem's first general and the first person to acknowledge Hashem (so to speak) then how did Noah know to build the ark and communicate w Hashem? Your words resonated and I love what you said about the Yiddisha mama - Sara - not having the test on Isaac... Thank you!!! L.

 

Dear L,

Noah was a prophet and there were many individuals who were righteous before Avraham, but Avrohom was the first to publicize Hashem's name who challenged the politically correct philosophy of his times, paganism and idolatry who made Hashem's reality relevant and known to all. That's why he was the first Jew vs. Noah who basically kept to himself influencing only his own family.

Thanks again,
Rabbi Ben Tzion Krasnianski

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Dear Rabbi,

First I want to thank you for the lessons on Tanya, I listen to them frequently and I read the book as well. I have a question about Chapter Two that I cannot take out of my head. I will be most grateful if you can help me with an answer.

A good portion of Chapter Two is dedicated to explaining “ how can it be that we are different souls since we all come from the same source”. I believe I understand the analogy with the organs and limbs of the human being. However, what I do not understand is why at the inception of man, some of us are like a “ toenail” while others are “like the brain”. I understand that we were all part of the first human being. Is it correct to conclude that not all souls have been created equal, although they are parts Adam? I say this because a toenail plays a different role than the brain, even if we argue that they are both important.

I will be most grateful if I can hear from you.
Hag Sameah!,
G

Dear G,

Thank you for your kind words. According to Chassidic thinking every organ is not only unique but in a certain sense it's also a head for e.g. all the organs need the legs in order to walk. When the brain wants to go the library only the legs could get it there. The reason why every organ also acts as a head is because essentially all of the organs are part of one single indivisible whole which is greater then the sum total of its parts. So it's not about the brain or the heart or the liver it's about this one entity which is why there's such harmony in the body.

Therefore what matters most is that each organ be who they are express their uniqueness and do it wholeheartedly. As Rabbi Zushe of Anipoler once said after 120 years when I go to heaven I'm not afraid that they'll ask me why I wasn't like Moses because I'm not Moses what I'm afraid of is that they'll ask me why I wasn't like Zushe could have been and should have been! As long as we are being 100% even if it's a toenail it's better then a head who's only being 99%! Which explains why Moshe was jealous and felt humbled by each and every Jew even and especially before the simple Jew who served G-d so sincerely!

I would recommed you watch the Kabbalah show: Why Moshe is jealous of you

Thanks again,
Rabbi Ben Tzion Krasnianski

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Because when a person has an Aliyah all the 5 aspects of the soul nefesh ruach neshama chaya yechida also have an Aliyah and the Mitele Rebbe was embarassed (that's what it says) On Simchas Torah he would go up with the Aliyah when all the children were called up.

But way wasn't he embarrassed (or perhaps he was, but nevertheless did go) on this specific Aliyah (Simchas Torah with the children)?

Because everyone gets an Aliyah on Simchas Torah even the children so he included himself with the children as part of klal yisroel not as an individual so he was ok

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I got your website info and I just watched one of the videos on Kabbalah and the soul... I really enjoyed it and your examples... it made the concepts easier to understand. I may come to your Tuesday night classes. If the Rebbetzin is organzing any women events, how would I find out about that?

Regarding Women events, please call the office (212) 717-4613 Ext. 7

A few questions about the video: I don't understand how "higher consciousness, " "meditation", and "everything else" other than Torah and Mitzvot is not a connection with G-d, but just this "abyss" of meaninglessness. What are those experiences then? How can they be nothing? As a Ba'alat Teshuva, I had a connection with G-d, even before I learned Torah and Mitzvot, and which I think, guided me to this lifestyle. How is that possible then? Was that G-d's mercy? What about non-Jews connection with G-d? As we all are creations of G-d, par tof Divine speech, vehicles for G-d through us, and within G-d, don't we all have an inherent conenction, not just through Torah, but by our existence? What about the G-d within us, animating us? Is that not a connection? And wouldn't the same go for non-Jews as well? How do you explain good deeds done without knowledge of the Torah?

I hope these questions make sense.
Thank you in advance for your time and response.
Sincerely,
GC

Dear GC,
Regarding your many insightful questions in brief Chassidus explains that there are three levels of G-dliness 1) He fills all of the worlds and that we could feel and experience just like we experience our soul. 2) G-d transcends all of the worlds where he transcends our whole frame of reference of words, ideas and concepts just like our subconscious completely transcends our conscious self awareness and yet it is the source of all consciousness. 3) G-d's essence which is completely undefined and where all of creation simply dissolves and it's as if it doesn't exist and all that exists is G-d alone exclusively.

I recently read in a New York Times Sunday magazine story how scientist have come to the conclusion that the entire known universe is a mere 6% of the universe and that the remaining 94% not only don't we know anything about it but we can't know we don't even have the tools to possibly know. It's like the blind person who was born blind who can't even conceive of sight simple because he doesn't have it in him.

Consequently we don't have the tools through which to connect with the essence of G-d. The only way is through Torah and Mitzvoth.

What makes us Jewish, however, is that we have a Jewish soul that's born with an inherent faith almost like a sixth sense that knows G-d with every fiber of our being and every bone in our body. A Jew is born connected.

Ultimately for a non Jew to truly connect to the essence of G-d they must fulfill their Seven Noahide Laws and they must fulfill it, as Maimonides states, because G-d gave these Laws to Moses. There must be a Jewish connection.

I would recommend that you listen to the lessons in Tanya the first part chapter 2 which addresses some of these points.

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I have enjoyed your website, but do have some questions. I am a gentile and have searched for G-d and His truth for 40 years. I understand the laws of Noah and keep them. My question is, after this physical life, in the world to come, what happens to gentiles who keep the laws of Noah? Will they be resurrected and what will be there role in the world to come. Also, after this life what happens to those gentiles who do not keep the laws or know and worship G-d? I know that Christians teach those who don’t know G-d will be tormented in hell for eternity, so I would like to know what you believe and teach in this area.

I would appreciate an answer to these questions, and also if you can recommend any books or tapes that would help me deal with my questions.
Thanks,

Thank you for your feedback. According to Jewish belief every human being is created in the image of G-d and has the potential to become like Noah who was not Jewish but who was G-d's best friend, who courageously lived a moral, ethical and spiritually meaningful existence paving the way for stable world. According to Jewish teaching one who follows the Noahide Laws will have a share in the world to come and will even merit the Resurrection! This is the universal way to plug in to eternity.

If someone however violates the seven Noahide Laws then his existence is truly arbitrary in the ultimate sense and from G-d's absolute point of view a truly meaningless existence.

Please try the wesite:Noahide.org and you could search the web for many fine websites regarding Noahides and the seven Noahide Laws.

May G-d grant you success in your life's journey.

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