HASHKAFA:
The Torah "View" of THINGS
(both Spiritual and Physical)

NOTE: This page is under construction.  As of now -- and until this notice is removed -- the thoughts conveyed here are not to be considered the teachings of a Rabbi.  These are my notes, and as soon as I am finished with this section I will have the contents approved and remove this "note of caution".  For now, consider these the insights of a Torah Observant Yid who desires to pass on what he has learned about G-d, His Torah, and the purpose of all physical creation.  Thanks.  

I.  G-d ("Creator")
    a) HaShem's Thirteen Attributes
    b) The Different Names of HaShem
II.  Creation ("Work of The Creator"/"Proving Ground For The Neshamah")
    a) The Universe
    b) Our Galaxy
    c) Our Solar System
    d) The Earth
    e) Water/Oceans
    f) Land
    g) Eretz Yisroel
    h) Yerushalayim
    i) Har Moriah/The Temple Mount
    j) The Site of The Bais Hamikdash
    k) the Holy of the Holies

G-d
    When we get right down to the truth of the matter, all that exists is G-d (note*).  Period.  Finished.  End of discussion.  The Torah teaches us this because without G-d, without our Creator, nothing else would exist!  If G-d did not will our continued existence, if He did not will that the universe should remain, all of creation would cease to exist at that very moment.  No, it wouldn't take "six days" to deconstruct creation -- all would just cease to be.  With, of course, the exception of G-d.  The Torah teaches us that G-d does not change (Malachi 3:6 For I the LORD change not; and ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. Psalm 89:35 (89:34) My covenant will I not profane, nor alter that which is gone out of My lips.  Isaiah 46:4 Even to old age I am the same, and even to hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear; yea, I will carry, and will deliver.).  He is unaffected by us and either our "greatness" or our "pettiness".  G-d just is.
    One of our greatest sages, Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon (the Rambam), in fact teaches us that all of the anthropomorphisms and references to emotions attributed to G-d in the Jewish Scriptures are there only for our benefit, to make a Being -- G-d -- Who is totally incomprehensible to us, as understandable as possible.  Thus G-d has no arms or legs, no eyes or ears, no nose or fingers, and -- most importantly -- no emotions that are attributable to Him.  The Tanakh (the Jewish Scriptures) teach us that it is up to us to determine out relationship -- our "closeness" -- to out Creator.  Just as a child can never understand the love that a parent feels for him or her, so too can we never understand, or come close to matching the love which G-d has for us.  So, again, it is all up to us.  This concept can be found in the Tanakh (Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.), and from this we learn that it is up to us to make the best of our situation here on Earth, by making connections to G-d through fulfillment of the Positive Commandments, and avoiding breaking connections to Him by not transgressing the Negative Commandments.
    Rav Noach Weinberg, Rosh Yeshiva of Aish HaTorah in Yerushalayim, defines G-d this way: "HaShem is our Creator, our Sustainer, and our Orchestrator."  And it is the last of these three that will occupy our minds, but that will come later. (to be continued and edited....)

note*  This statement must not be misconstrued to mean that "creation" is G-d -- a pantheistic view of existence which Torah does not teach -- but rather that G-d is The Designer, The The Craftsman, and The Over-Seer of creation.  He  had a reason for creating us and putting us here in this planet, and it is our task -- as much as we can -- to determine what G-d's reason was, what our purpose is, and to incorporate that knowledge into our everyday lives.

G-d's "Attributes" -- All Thirteen of Them
    Exodus 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed: 'The LORD, the LORD, God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; 7 keeping mercy unto the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and who cleanses....
    1) The Lord
    2) The Lord
    3) G-d
    4) Merciful
    5) Gracious
    6) Long-Suffering
    7) Abundant in Goodness
    8) Abundant in Truth
    9) Preserver of Mercy for Thousands of Generations
    10) Forgiving Iniquity
    11) Forgiving Transgression
    12) Forgiving Sin
    13) Cleanser

G-d's "Names" and "Designations"
    G-d is called by different Names in the Tanakh, and the Name that is used is based upon the level of relationship He has to His creation at the time.
    1) G-d (Elokim)
    2) Lord (Yud-Kay-Vav-Kay)
    3) (to be continued....)