Invited

Tags

blog midrash

I have been invited by someone to write on a group blog. I am going to give it a try. I am flattered.

I am hoping that the group will be able to create some good discussions on similar themes. Well if nobody else does I am going to.

Check it out on Blog Midrash.

Shake ‘n’ Fake

Tags

intention, kavanah, mitzvot, speed praying, wrestling with G-d

You have got to be kidding me? Speed praying? Praying in less than 18 minutes? It is sometimes referred to as “Rocket Minyanim or Matzah Minyanim (davening has to be finished within 18 minutes).

What does this do for you? Is it an expert level of kavanah? How can you possibly do the morning prayers with intention in 18 minutes? Are you really praying or just showing “good face” in the community so nobody thinks poorly of you not showing up to services?

Why does this bother me? I have a very hard time when I am told that I am not Jewish enough because I do not follow the “rules” in some orthodox fashion. Somehow this makes my judgemental side rise up and ask how this qualifies as “Jewish enough?” I did my time this morning. I’m good thanks.

Levels of Jewish participation:

1. Inspired and moved by G-d to perform the mitzvot, pray in community and immerse one’s self with full intention
2. Wrestling with G-d and the mitzvot, pray in the community and immerse one’s self with full intention
3. Inspired and moved by G-d to perform mitzvot
4. Wrestle with G-d and the mitzvot
5. Jew with full intention
6. Pray in the community
7. Do as you please

Doing, praying just to fullfill the obligation is not the intention of G-d’s words. Yes it is better then just doing as you please but it is missing the mark.

How about spending 18 minutes meditating on G-d, people and the mitzvot you are going to do today? Let it move you to change the world. Let it make you connect with all G-d’s people. Do this all together and forget the speed praying.

Phew! I am off my soap box now. What do you think? Help me out here.

Humiliation

Tags

humiliation, public, Talmud

When is it ok to humiliate someone in public? When you feel wronged? When you know they are wrong and you are right? When they have done something that is obviously wrong? When they have humiliated someone else?

When?

Never. It is never acceptable to humiliate someone in public. From the Talmud, our forefathers have said “It is better for a person to cast himself into a fiery furnace than to humiliate somebody else in public.”

Do you think there is a time that it is ok?