Mourning in
Torah and Judaism is basically an expression of yearning and desire. The
item/person was once connected to me but now is not. The memories of the
experience of being close to that thing/person evokes an inner yearning and
desire to reconnect. This is the mourning that we experience. We don't cry over
the total loss, rather we cry over the temporary loss and yearning to
reconnect. This is the purpose and perspective of proper mourning, which
results in a positive and concrete consolation. "Whoever mourns over
Jerusalem will merit seeing it rebuilt" (Taanit, 30).
However there are people and distractions which prevent us from connecting to
the "mourning mode", thus obstructing our yearning and desire to
reconnect.
There are people called "Chakhmey HaTeva" - scholars of nature - who
promote their distorted and atheistic view that everything is run only by the
laws of nature (i.e. determinism), God forbid, and that there is no room for
belief in Hashem and that He runs the world according to His Divine Will alone.
The influence and effects of these scholars is so severe that they manage to
convince mankind and society as a whole to follow their ideals.
This is mainly reflected in the pursuit of earning a living, where
deterministic ideology guides a person to thinking that he must exert physical
effort in order to survive in this world. That "my strength and the power
of my hand has made for me all of this wealth" (Devarim, 8).
Although it is true that the Torah advocates the need to earn a living, but
only as a vessel to receive Hashem's blessing. It is Hashem who sustains and
not the vessel made.
The result of this perspective is that people simply get convinced and carried
away that one must spend one's days and years running after money to survive.
As a result, the belief that Hashem's Will guides the world is drowned out.
People then simply don't have the desire and yearning to reconnect to Hashem.
Mourning is then difficult and out of place, since people never experienced a
closeness to Hashem and His Will in the first place.
However, countering this atheistic ideology are the Three Festivals. Every
year, we celebrate the supernatural miracles of the Festivals which serve as a
boost and recharge to reconnect to this attitude that Hashem alone runs the
world. The laws of nature are just a facade and test to cover this up.
Yet, the "Chakhmey HaTeva" - the scholars of nature - make a lot of
noise to promote their ideology, so that they manage to block out the Divine
message of the Festivals too. This is hinted to in King David's words (Psalms
74:4): Your enemies have shouted from within Your Mo'adekha-Festivals,
making their signs (of determinism) to be the (real) signs".
The one act - a difficult one - which can silence and mitigate their noise is
the mitzvah/devotion of giving charity. This involves giving away one's
hard-earned money away to someone who did not work for it. By transforming
one's own cruelty into good will by giving charity, this causes a domino effect
Above that Hashem also transforms His concealed Will into an open and revealed
Will. As a result of this, people are exposed to Hashem's Divine Will and yearn
to reconnect to it. Mourning is then in place and thus a positive tool to
coming closer to Hashem.
These concepts are hinted to in the final verse of Isaiah's opening
prophecy (Isaiah 1:27): "Tzion will be redeemed with justice,
and those who return to her with charity". In other words, to
"redeem" Tzion/Jerusalem/the Holy Temple from the concealment of
atheism and determinism, which then uncovers the true reality that Hashem's
Divine Will is running the world, and that it His "justice" system
which makes thing move - all this is "returned" to it's rightful
place through the act of "charity".
May we merit to break our cruel tendencies and give charity, thus activating
the revelation of Hashem's Will, which in turn activates our yearning and
desire to reconnect (i.e. through mourning), which ultimately shall lead to the
total consolation of the Jewish nation, Jerusalem/Tzion and the Holy Temple,
Amen.
(The concepts here are taken from Rebbe Nachman of Breslov's Likutey
Moharan part 2, lesson 4. For audio classes on this lesson please follow: Likutey
Moharan part 2 Lesson 4)
* * *
A little about
myself:
Over the past
25 years I have invested myself to learning, following and raising a family in
line with the life-saving teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov.
For anyone who
has already tasted and studied from the teachings of Rebbe Nachman, they can
see that they are essential for even the most basic survival in today's world
of non-stop change and confusion. To those who are not aware of this, it would
be worthwhile discovering his powerful teachings, even at a beginners level. To
discover Rebbe Nachman's teachings at a practical and basic level, please see
the book: CROSSING
THE NARROW BRIDGE.
Seeing and
feeling how much his teachings have helped me personally survive and make it
this far in life, I have tried to spread these teachings at least in the way
and format that they have helped me too. You can hear samples of Rebbe
Nachman's teachings that I have given over (audio and downloadable) at: https://soundcloud.com/breslov-therapy
I presently
live in Jerusalem with my family of 10.
What I have to
offer:
As a token of
appreciation for those who can help me in my situation (helping to support the
needy in Israel is considered a Mitzvah!) I am happily willing to have a phone
study program in the teachings of Rebbe Nachman based on the following set-up:
1. For support of 180$ - 4 30 minute study sessions together.
2. For support of 270$ - 8 30 minute study sessions together.
3. If you are not ready to make such a commitment and want to try it out
first, you can make a one-time support donation of 72$.
The conditions
of these study sessions:
1. Both Individually and as a study group they are designated for men only.
2. For women - for reasons of modesty - only as a study group consisting of
3 women or more,
3. At present, they are designated only for residents of North America and
Israel.
How to go about
with this?
1. It must be made clear that this support can and should be made using
charity/tzedakah/ma'aser money. We are both doing here a mitzvah - me teaching
and spreading the Torah of Rebbe Nachman, and you supporting the needy in Eretz
Yisrael.
2. Simply send your support following this PAYPAL
LINK. If you would prefer to
make a bank transfer, please use this IBAN number: IL400521840000000655848.
3. Email me back the time and date that you would like to learn together by
phone. I will get back to you and confirm that the time and date are alright.
4. Don't forget to send me your phone number too.
5. Also let me know what it is exactly you would like to learn about.
If you have any
questions or comments, please don't hesitate to get back to me.
Thank you,
Shalom, and may we all experience the light and joy of Mashiach's speedily
arrival in our lifetime, Amen.
Meir Elkabas
