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A Ger In Search of Torah HaEmes
(A Convert to Torah Observant Judaism Searching for the True Torah)
A Ger's Commentary on "Kol HaTorah Kulah"
"The Gallus Effect"
INTRODUCTION
[This is a work in progress.
This work represents where this author is holding in his learning of HaShem's
Torah, and the thoughts contained herein should not be considered representative
of of the outlook of Torah Observant Jews [though this author believes that they
should be!]
HaShem’s Torah,
His “Instruction Manual” to lead us on “the path” of the most successful life
humanly possible, is best learned, understood and implemented when Klal
Yisroel is living in The Land, with a Temple, a Kohain Gadol, a
Prophet, a Sanhedrin, and with a “king of flesh and blood” (Mashiach)
sitting on his earthly throne. However, resulting from our sins, we were forced
out of The Land, and we lost the Sanhedrin – the body tasked with keeping the
Torah as single, cohesive unit. Unfortunately, the demise of the Sanhedrin has
left us – over this nearly two thousand year exile – with a seeming multitude of
opinions, commentaries, and [sad to say] Torahs. [See Sefer HaChinuch to
Devarim 17]
As Jews living
in the Gallus, we all desire the Geulah, the Redemption, but we
also know that T’shuvah must come before the Geulah can begin.
But haven’t we been doing t’shuvah all along? Three times a day, on top
of Selichos and the Yomim Na’aroim, we have the opportunity – the
duty – to do t’shuvah. Yet the Gallus continues. Perhaps, just perhaps
the t’shuvah we have done has not been the T’shuvah Shalaymah that
is necessary before the commencement of the Redemption.
T’shuvah
Shalaymah – complete
repentance – just might include the examination of certain beliefs and
traditions that may not be authentic Torah M’Sinai. T’shuvah Shalaymah
has to encompass return to HaShem as He is – rather than as we may have
redefined Him, and return to His Torah as He gave it to us – rather than the
extra-Torah we may have incorporated during this Gallus.
When we say
Viduy [integral to T’shuvah Shalaymah], are we saying Viduy
Shalaymah, or is the Viduy we say – perhaps – Viduy L’Vatallah?
[“...Rather we and our forefathers have sinned....”]
The following is
a list of areas that this author believes may be circumspect, areas where
turning away from tainted beliefs and traditions may be standing in the way of
our long-awaited Geulah:
1) Can there
ever be a change to any of the Taryag Mitzvos? [Specifically the
Or HaChayim on Bamidbar 3:45 suggests that the firstborn will participate
in the avodah in the Third Temple.]
2) The
popularization of Kabbalah, and the incorporation of Kabbalistic
ideas into everyday Jewish life. [Contrary to the teachings of the Rambam, the
Ramban, and the Rema – all of whom warn against learning the esoteric side of
Torah.]
#)
Isn’t HaShem’s Torah supposed to clarify our thoughts about HaShem, His Will,
Olam Hazeh, etc., rather than muddy the waters, and/or cloud the issues?
3) Nishmas
Chelek Elokah M’Ma’al – the belief that the neshamah is not a
creation, but rather is literally a “piece” of HaShem.
4) Gilgul
HaNefesh – the belief that a “soul” may reincarnate into another body, a
body other that that which it occupied originally.
5) The belief
that all creation literally “emanated” from HaShem [in stark contrast to
the doctrine of Creatio Ex Nihilo].
6) The Torah
concept of the Mesorah, coupled with the concept of Emunas
Chachamim. [If we accept every teaching of every Sage are we not
culpable of “blind faith” as there are teachings, concepts, and traditions of
one Sage that definitely contradict other Sages’ teachings, concepts, and
traditions?]
#)
Isn’t HaShem’s Torah supposed to keep us separate from the nations, rather that
separate from from each other?
#)
“One man, with one Heart” & “One Heart, and one way”
#)
Isn’t a teacher of Torah is supposed to consider his students’ levels of
learning, and explain his teachings in a way that they will be clear to the
students, rather than assume that all who hear his words or read his writings
will grasp his intended meaning?
#)
Isn’t someone who writes about Torah need to consider the lowest common
denominators when codifying their teachings, as something written can/will
outlast the author, and might be misunderstood by a reader one hundred and
eighty years hence?
#)
While it is virtually impossible to anticipate all of the types of mishugas
that human-beings could possibly come up with in their attempts to deny the
existence of HaShem, or to bend to the Will of His Torah, it is not possible to
review the mistakes of the past, and to do our best not to repeat those
mistakes, or to lend credence to those erroneous beliefs and/or practices?
7)
Mashiach Mishugas – What we say is what people hear. What people hear
is what is incorporated into their belief systems. What is in one’s belief
system is what one will say when he is explaining a concept to a third person.
“We all know that HaShem does the miracles, we just say the Mashiach
because....” Because that is how we talk! We must be clear Who the Painter is,
who the paintbrush is, and what painting we are looking forward to viewing.
[Compared to virtually all of the rest of mankind the king of flesh and blood
who most of us long for, the Mashiach, will be like a mountain compared
to an imperfection of a shochet’s knife; however, when comparing this king of
flesh and blood to HaShem – there can be no comparison. And for Torah Observant
Jews, the purveyors of HaShem’s Torah, to blur the distinctions between or
Heavenly King, and the king of flesh and blood who will be His toll to bring
about the Geulah, is to this Jew by Choice incomprehensible.]
8) Kiruv:
But what exactly are we bringing the wayward Yid back to? The basics
should be emphasized so as to create a proper foundation upon which to built his
future Talmud Torah and Avodas HaShem;
1)
The Shema [Said twice daily, and fully understood]
2)
Ashrei [Said thrice daily, and fully understood]
3)
The First two Commandments from Sinai
4)
The Six Constant Mitzvos
5)
The Thirteen Principles of Steadfast Faithfulness
6)
Sefer HaMada [the Book of Knowledge]
& the Mitzvos associated therewith
9) Teachers:
Keep Your Answers Real [as opposed to your “best guess”]
*)
Separating Emes from Sheker
*)
“Train your tongue to say, ‘I don’t know...’” (B’rachos 4a)
10) A “Renewed”
Sanhedrin: The Key to ‘Getting Back to the Basics’ [And getting away from
the na’arishkeit!]
*)
Devarim 17:8
*)
Sefer HaChinuch #496
11) One
Heart, One Way: As it was at Sinai, as it will be in Yemos HaMashiach (?)
*)
Or HaChayim: Parashas Shemos
*)
12 Paths/70 Facets w/”Everyone has different finger prints”
*)
Part of T’shuvah Shalaymah?
12)
Mashiach, The Rebbe, Emunas Chachamim: Are we confusing the
“messenger” who Hw Who sent the Message?
13) Miracles:
They originate with HaShem and are conducted by Him THROUGH His
messengers
*)
Miracles: as a test
14) Moshe &
Mashiach: WHO or ‘who’ took us out of Egypt? WHO or ‘who’ will
ingather us from this Edomite Gallus?
15) The
Selichos that address Melachim, and ask them to take our prayers to
HaShem – this practice seems to contradict the Principle that out prayers may
only be addressed to HaShem.
Regarding the
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