Torah & Judaism For Today's World
AWAY FROM DARKNESS TO THE LIGHT
There is no way of escaping last week’s horrors in Mumbai, India. Ten individuals wrought massive destruction in a city of 18,000,000. Major Hotels and restaurants were attacked and close to 180 people were murdered with many more injured. How a small force could disrupt such a populous city is a question for another day. One of the planned targets was the local Chabad house. The Chabad House was the address for all things Jewish. The Chabad House served the local ancient Jewish community as well as visiting Israelis and other Jewish travelers. Terrorists took over the Chabad House as well, brutalized those inside and murdered six precious souls who take their place with all the others slaughtered for no other reason than their being Jews.
Selecting the Chabad House was deliberate and brings out something profound These Six persons found inside , held hostage, most likely tortured before perishing posed absolutely no threat to the terrorists. Or did they pose the most direct challenge to their murders’ perverted worldview. Evil cannot abide goodness. Those whose lives are lived in a denial of humanity and decency cannot tolerate those who have not only preserve the “Image of G-D” in they were created but nurtured it and saw it blossom with each passing day. Light is the mortal enemy of darkness. This is . . WHY . ..
Maybe there is an insight that can offer some guidance and solace. Yaakov Avinu A’H left his parents home, spent 14 years in the Yeshiva of Shem and Eiver before going to Haran. 28:11-15 and particularly 28:12 Yaakov sees the well known image of a ladder rooted on Earth and reaches to the Heavens, with angels ascending and descending.
Yaakov was spending the first night in his then 77 years outside the holy atmosphere he had known his whole life. The Ohr HaChaim ZT’L ZY’A emphasizes that this was not just a dream but G-D’s communication to Yaakov.
What message did G-D wish to convey? A variety of sources interpret the vision as applying to G-D’s relationship with His creation to Jewry’s survival through a series of exiles even with the last one being of indefinite length (see Klai Yakar 28:28, Pirkei D’Rebbe Elizer chap. 35). While there is an array of interpretation their collective approaches the commentary of the Karliner Rebbe, The Beit Aaron ZT’L,ZY’A offers that essentially Yaakov was shown how the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, the letters of the Torah integrates with the physical world, recognize the connection between Heaven and Earth through Torah and Mitzvoth. Indeed the Zohar I:149a Sitrei Torah points out that Sulam, Ladder has the Gematria equal to Sinai (130).
Imagine Yaakov was taught a profound a lesson, the aspects of existence the spiritual and physical are not in contradiction but are designed as a whole with the Torah as the means of turning puzzle pieces in to a single picture.
A world view that emphasizes the knowledge that life should reflect the harmony intended by the Creator cannot be tolerated by those who worship dissonance and violence. Following in the footsteps of Yaakov is the only way to defeat those who follow the path of violence.
Selecting the Chabad House was deliberate and brings out something profound These Six persons found inside , held hostage, most likely tortured before perishing posed absolutely no threat to the terrorists. Or did they pose the most direct challenge to their murders’ perverted worldview. Evil cannot abide goodness. Those whose lives are lived in a denial of humanity and decency cannot tolerate those who have not only preserve the “Image of G-D” in they were created but nurtured it and saw it blossom with each passing day. Light is the mortal enemy of darkness. This is . . WHY . ..
Maybe there is an insight that can offer some guidance and solace. Yaakov Avinu A’H left his parents home, spent 14 years in the Yeshiva of Shem and Eiver before going to Haran. 28:11-15 and particularly 28:12 Yaakov sees the well known image of a ladder rooted on Earth and reaches to the Heavens, with angels ascending and descending.
Yaakov was spending the first night in his then 77 years outside the holy atmosphere he had known his whole life. The Ohr HaChaim ZT’L ZY’A emphasizes that this was not just a dream but G-D’s communication to Yaakov.
What message did G-D wish to convey? A variety of sources interpret the vision as applying to G-D’s relationship with His creation to Jewry’s survival through a series of exiles even with the last one being of indefinite length (see Klai Yakar 28:28, Pirkei D’Rebbe Elizer chap. 35). While there is an array of interpretation their collective approaches the commentary of the Karliner Rebbe, The Beit Aaron ZT’L,ZY’A offers that essentially Yaakov was shown how the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, the letters of the Torah integrates with the physical world, recognize the connection between Heaven and Earth through Torah and Mitzvoth. Indeed the Zohar I:149a Sitrei Torah points out that Sulam, Ladder has the Gematria equal to Sinai (130).
Imagine Yaakov was taught a profound a lesson, the aspects of existence the spiritual and physical are not in contradiction but are designed as a whole with the Torah as the means of turning puzzle pieces in to a single picture.
A world view that emphasizes the knowledge that life should reflect the harmony intended by the Creator cannot be tolerated by those who worship dissonance and violence. Following in the footsteps of Yaakov is the only way to defeat those who follow the path of violence.
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