Painful Reevaluations
It has been raining here in Israel. A lot. I don't know if it's above or below average, and I'm sure it's not enough to completely alleviate the effects of five years of drought, but it's a phenomenal improvement over the past several years.
And when it started, I was upset. Here I had just written a 'fire and brimstone' post attributing the drought to Divine anger, and, in defiance of not only my post but the long-term forecasts of the Water Authority here, it looks like we have a respite.
I have had to admit to myself that I had become just like some of the people I complain about, who try to force every situation into their view of the Jewish version of Armageddon, gleefully anticipating the deaths of tens of thousands or millions (in the case of one person I know, possibly billions) of people in order to bring the Geula.
Between that and several other recent traumatic events in my life, I had been thinking of giving up this blog. However, I think it more important for me to continue...with some changes.
I have been forcibly reminded of a quote from Rav Yaakov Love of Passiac, NJ (which I heard indirectly from my good friend Alan Schleider): I am not God's CPA. We know the general guidelines that Hashem gives us for reward and punishment, but we are not the ones to determine how those guidelines are applied. We certainly don't have the ability to see all the ramifications of all of the actions of all the people in the world and how they impact on what will happen to one person, one group, or one nation. That's all up to Hashem, and while we can speculate and try to see how He is applying the guidelines in this world, it is absolute chutzpa to thing that we know.
The facts that I stated in that previous post are still the same. Drought DOES come to Israel because of the sins of the Jews, and there is much seriously wrong with our behaviour as "frum" Jews. But how this is applied to the real world, whether the drought was because of that or something else, and why we now have a respite, are much harder to pinpoint. I will still speculate about these things, but I will attempt to be far less pompous and certain about it, and I will certainly try to stop gloating. It hurts me when anyone suffers, even if they deserve it. I would much rather that everyone do T'shuva and we can end all of the punishments now.
I will attempt to return to my main focus, as I said in my very first post:
Because there is one thing of which I am still certain: If EVERY Jew can return to the ways of Hashem as He wishes, if we keep ALL the Mitzvot in joy and gladness, most especially the Mitzvot Bein Adam L'Chavero, if we return to being a true Or La'Goyim, a Light unto the Nations, then the Geula will come. No ifs, ands, or buts. במהרה בימינו
And when it started, I was upset. Here I had just written a 'fire and brimstone' post attributing the drought to Divine anger, and, in defiance of not only my post but the long-term forecasts of the Water Authority here, it looks like we have a respite.
I have had to admit to myself that I had become just like some of the people I complain about, who try to force every situation into their view of the Jewish version of Armageddon, gleefully anticipating the deaths of tens of thousands or millions (in the case of one person I know, possibly billions) of people in order to bring the Geula.
Between that and several other recent traumatic events in my life, I had been thinking of giving up this blog. However, I think it more important for me to continue...with some changes.
I have been forcibly reminded of a quote from Rav Yaakov Love of Passiac, NJ (which I heard indirectly from my good friend Alan Schleider): I am not God's CPA. We know the general guidelines that Hashem gives us for reward and punishment, but we are not the ones to determine how those guidelines are applied. We certainly don't have the ability to see all the ramifications of all of the actions of all the people in the world and how they impact on what will happen to one person, one group, or one nation. That's all up to Hashem, and while we can speculate and try to see how He is applying the guidelines in this world, it is absolute chutzpa to thing that we know.
The facts that I stated in that previous post are still the same. Drought DOES come to Israel because of the sins of the Jews, and there is much seriously wrong with our behaviour as "frum" Jews. But how this is applied to the real world, whether the drought was because of that or something else, and why we now have a respite, are much harder to pinpoint. I will still speculate about these things, but I will attempt to be far less pompous and certain about it, and I will certainly try to stop gloating. It hurts me when anyone suffers, even if they deserve it. I would much rather that everyone do T'shuva and we can end all of the punishments now.
I will attempt to return to my main focus, as I said in my very first post:
Most of what I speak about is towards that one goal: we need to get back on track. Stop blaming the goyim and the chilonim, stop blaming outside influences. Concentrate on ourselves and what we need to fix.
Because there is one thing of which I am still certain: If EVERY Jew can return to the ways of Hashem as He wishes, if we keep ALL the Mitzvot in joy and gladness, most especially the Mitzvot Bein Adam L'Chavero, if we return to being a true Or La'Goyim, a Light unto the Nations, then the Geula will come. No ifs, ands, or buts. במהרה בימינו
posted by meturgeman | 2:25 AM
