When we get p.o.ed instead of seeing others in a good light we see the in a bad to justify our p.o.ed ness

*

What Hitler did to His people, the Arab and Terrorsit Muslim leaders are doing to theirs

 

When someone thinks about a demagogue who inspires tens of millions of people with his delusional sick debauched barbaric desires to annihilate others, to lift up his own selfish low self esteem as Hitler the son of low-lifes, but as Amalek is naturally arrogant something he couldn’t handle and hence the typical human reaction to step on another to feel temporarily better about oneself – we must conclude that the end of such a delusional notion that people will allow you to step on them – particularly considering the fire power of Israel and the foolish Arabs who are always defeated in every war through God’s miracles, one realizes that the eternal shame Hitler brought to Germans, the Arabs are and have – particularly after 9/11 revealed, namely that the essence of Germans and Arabs is so debased as to be receptacles for such barbaric evil.

 

 

What the Jewish worldview offers which was completely unheard of before is namely searching for and then living by the truth.

 

Even Empowers such as Nevuchadnetzar, Alexander the Great etc. who were obviously men of incredible wisdom all failed to appreciate the simplest of truths – because it is not in front of your eyes and must be deduced through research – any living thing that will die should not focus his life on the temporary instinctual pleasures rather the eternal ones.

 

This is something the King Solomon also an exceptionally wise man realized as he states in Koheles that after seeking through every delight that the world could offer and realizing that he and the dog both die so what’s the difference?, he concluded “in the end of the day, everyone should take to heart,  all that matters is respecting God and keeping his commandments for there is no other purpose to life on earth.”

*

 

None of us is subservient to history or nature – that we are history and nature.  The Rebbe

*

Bad is actually G-d’s goodness to us for without living part of history in fear, pain and exile, we could never appreciate the subsequent messianic peace, security, light and infinite unity with G-d which will then occur.

*

To be a light or a laser or not shining: this is the question

 

The Rebbe teaches what a laser is, namely, concentrated light

 

Light is warm and bright but its energy dissipates, a laser by contrast is highly concentrated light but its energy is so intense that it can cut through metal.

 

Of course God forbid we could choose not to shine at all.

 

Life gives us these three options, the best option is a laser, namely to think; to do with forethought; to analyze; choose and direct our energies to accomplishing Mitzvos and Torah study and most importantly helping others!

 

Then we can be a light – a light is a human’s – especially a Jew’s natural disposition – we are loving, caring, shine but at the same time not very effective.

 

And sadly we may get depressed or pick up a negative worldview and well then we need to remember that darkness is of no benefit to you, the world and certainly not to your designer, who gives you two options of how to shine, not how to be depressed and to turn off your life giving energy.

*

Life is the challenge between hard work to strive to increase the goodness of the world which = a meaningful life for you

Or accepting the status quo = a meaningless life for you!

*

Without the proper guidance, we become slaves to our own selfish desires. The Rebbe

*

Concentrated slow progress is much much faster then wild bursts of inspired determined goal setting.

*

Like an immune shot, never fear people once you have been burnt for human nature is to never touch a hot stove again so instead of shutting off in a protective cocoon realize that now you are immunized.

*

We doubt Gods effectiveness because we don’t see our prayers answered but considering how many of our prayers are answered we shouldn’t doubt if he can be effective rather if he wants to bfor his reasons.

*

Whenever we go on a spiritual quest we are bound to have the Yetzer Hara the little Devil there to challenge us, to increase our drive, pulling us; so it would be like walking but having a child pulling you back as they don’t want you to go – the only way to walk without impediment is to double your stride.

Government

E Pluribus Unum

Out of Many, One

Chapter 1 What Is The Role Of Government?

 

Wisdom

The role of government is to strike a balance between individual rights versus the greater good of the community

 

Over the centuries, the human race has experimented with many forms of government.

 

Imperialist monarchies and despotism once ruled the world, giving way to such political and economic extremes as fascism and democracy, capitalism and Marxism.

 

The twentieth century has been a particularly turbulent one. After two world wars and the rise – and unexpected fall – of communism, we now have the luxury of hindsight to assess and learn from these various systems.

 

In each case, mankind continues to be plagued by the same basic conflict: individual rights versus the greater good of the community.

 

The role of government is to strike a balance between the two.

 

Wisdom

The Problems with both Totalitarianism and Democracy

 

Human beings are naturally diverse in their beliefs and ambitions.

 

Such differences often produce conflict between individuals and throughout society.

 

Suppressing this diversity would infringe on individual liberties, and is therefore unacceptable, and yet allowing every person unbridled freedom is also unacceptable, for what would prevent one person’s interests from harming another person or society?

 

Most governments have reacted to this paradox by opting for one extreme or the other.

 

Totalitarianism may argue for the good of the whole at the expense of the individual; it maintains that the selfish needs of the individual will ultimately fragment a nation and undermine the common good.

 

Ironically, it is under such regimes that individuals – that is, dictators – assumed unprecedented powers.

 

We need no reminder of the untold misery that this form of government, in most cases, has caused the human race.

 

Democracy, on the hand, nurtures the very individualism that totalitarianism squelches; it declares that all men were created equal and possess the rights to pursue their beliefs without hindrance.

 

Democracy contends that it is better to have motivated free people and risk excessive self-interest than to destroy their drive by suppressing individualism for the common good.

 

 Wisdom

 

Democracy would appear to be a far better form of government that totalitarianism.

 

But democracy contains an inherent flaw, in that its essential motivating factor is self-interest.

 

Over time, the core values of a community begin to crumble under the accumulated weight of millions of individual desires and needs.

 

Ultimately, these conflicting interests can erode a society’s unified drive for meaningful achievement.

 

Several democracies have struggled mightily with this dilemma, perhaps none more that the United States, the largest democracy in the history of the world.

 

Consider the battle in dozens of American cities where individual’s

freedom of expression has come in conflict with community standards of morality.

 

Wisdom

Individuals or movements cannot balance societal versus personal good, due to prejudice and subjectivity, only G-d’s governmental status which is not subject to prejudice nor subjectivity can

 

Since people are bound to have vastly different beliefs, who should define the standards of morality and justice that must rule all the people?

 

At what point does a government intervene to keep an individual from harming himself or others?

 

How do we avoid the abuse of power by governmental leaders themselves?

 

The only government that can successfully balance individual and societal needs is a righteous government built on faith in G-d.

 

The underlying flaw of all governments, whether fascistic or democratic, is that they are based on human rules.

 

Any government built solely on human judgment is bound to be subject to the prejudice, subjectivity, and arbitrariness of individual humans or groups.

 

But G-d, who created all people equal, also gave them a system of absolute morality and justice.

 

Wisdom

 

A society that yearns to be righteous must be built on such ethical values.

 

The very foundation of civilization rests upon the basic principles known as the Seven Noahide Laws given at Sinai:

 

1. Belief in G-d

2. Respect for and Praise of G-d

3. Respect for human life

4. Respect for family sanctity

5. Respect for others rights and property

6. Creation of a judicial system

7. Respect for all animals

 

Without these laws as a bedrock of government, a society will either have despotism, where individual lives are compromised and possibly G-d forbid abused, or anarchy, where every person pursues his or her own needs without regard for the law.

 

So how is it possible to balance individual freedom with the good of society?

 

By looking beyond self-interest and recognizing that we are all part of the same family and community; by recognizing that we are all bound by the same Divine laws and entrusted with the same mission in life – to civilize the world in a meaningful and G-dly way.

 

Chapter 2 Which comes first the individual or society?

 

Wisdom

Balancing individual freedom and the needs of society

 

We are seeing more and more examples of conflict between individual freedom and the needs of society – the question of whether one person should be allowed to help another take his life, for example, or whether the government should alert a community as to the whereabouts of a released prisoner.

 

Such issues are complicated, and must be resolved case by case.

 

Under any circumstance, we must respect the individual’s rights, for the sanctity of the community is built on the sanctity of each individual life; abridging ones person’s rights, therefore, is an attack on the entire community.

 

On the other hand, there are times when one person’s self-interest, though it may fall within the boundaries of the law, threatens the entire community.

 

The resolution of such conflict depends on an objective view built on Divine moral principles.

 

The key lies in recognizing that individuality is not an enemy of community and that community is not an enemy of individuality.

 

Consider the human body, “A world in microcosm.” Every organ, while it participates in any number of shared duties, also has its specific individual function.

 

What would happen if a particular organ abruptly surrendered its individual function and applied itself solely toward the communal good of the body?

 

Ultimately, this would be disastrous for both the organ and the organism, for the body is able to function only by integrating separate components that perform individual tasks.

 

The same could be said for an individual within a society, a minority group within a nation, or one nation within the community of nations.

 

Freedom of expression, for example, is vital for a healthy and vibrant society, motivating individuals to invest and contribute in a manner that will ultimately benefit the entire community.

 

A civilized nation needs to be built on a foundation of morality and ethics that is timeless and unconditional.

 

At the same time, a nation’s survival is dependent on its constant progress and growth.

 

Just as an individual must balance his or her needs with the good of the community, any one nation must balance its needs with the community of nations.

 

Since all nations today are part of the same “global village,” they are all responsible for one another, and the neglect of one nation ultimately affects all the others.

 

Every nation must be helped, and every nation must be ready to help.

 

It is irresponsible to look the other way when a nation is need.

Chapter 3 What Steps Should Government Take To Ensure The Welfare Of Its Citizens?

 

Wisdom

Education

 

The key, therefore to balancing individual and communal needs is education.

 

Wisdom

 

For a government to be truly dedicated to the welfare of its citizens-their physical, emotional, and above all spiritual welfare- it must make education its primary objective without which all other points are moot.

 

Wisdom

 

A government and its leaders not only must teach citizens how to pursue rational solutions to complex problems but must teach them how to live.

 

Wisdom

 

It must educate them that human conduct must follow the Divine laws given to us all by G-d.

 

This is the only guarantee that individual rights will be preserved without compromising the common good.

 

Wisdom

The United States stands for Divine Morality

 

The United States epitomizes these principles.

 

This is a country, after all, whose founders declared it “one nation under G-d.”

 

Sessions of Congress are opened with a religious invocation; the Bible is used to swear in elected officials, and Chaplains are appointed in the armed forces.

 

Even this nation’s currency-the very icon of materialism-declares “In G-d We Trust.”

 

Wisdom

 

The majority of this country’s early settlers were religious refugees who firmly believed in G-d and the Bible, and were determined to protect their right to do so.

 

This was not an abstract belief to a supreme being who dwelt somewhere in heaven; it was a belief that permeated every aspect of their lives; particularly the education of their children.

 

They understood and appreciated this newfound religious freedom.

 

Wisdom

 

These core beliefs are the secret of the nation’s endurance.

 

Having built itself on a firm and permanent foundation, the United States has become the most powerful of nations, in a unique position to positively influence every inhabitant on the face of the earth.

 

Wisdom

 

We are currently witnessing a sad phenomena.

 

The spirit of the Constitution has been misinterpreted, with some parties taking “religious freedom” to mean freedom from religion.

 

Even a nondenominational “moment of silence” in schools has been opposed.

 

When the founding fathers included “freedom of religion” in the Bill of Rights, they were ensuring the freedom of every person to worship G-d according to his or her own conscience; there can be no doubt that the Constitution was meant to preserve freedom, not to wean the nation away from G-d.

 

Wisdom

 

The principles of separation of church and state should not be misconstrued as a denial of G-d and religion.

 

This separation is necessary so that the government cannot impose any one religion on all its citizens, but such vigilance must not be carried out at the expense of belief in G-d, which is shared by all denominations.

 

Wisdom

 

The United States is now faced with countless social disorders, many of which stem from the lack of belief in and responsibility to G-d and a corresponding lapse in respect for the Divine laws of morality.

 

Wisdom

 

Shouldn’t the Constitution be interpreted in a way that addresses this national crises instead of avoiding it?

 

Wisdom

Prevention of delinquency through adherence to G-d

 

The only way to ensure that people adhere to a moral order is to instill in them a permanent sense of values.

 

Punishing a person after he has committed a crime, for instance, is attacking, not the cause of the problem but the symptom.

 

Clearly, a child who is brought up without fear and respect for G-d in his heart will have no fear or respect for any authority – his parents, his teachers, law enforcement officers.

 

He must learn to accept the concept of a Divine moral code that we all must obey.

 

He must realize that the laws of man are rooted in something far more eternal: The Ten Commandments.

 

Practice

 

We must use every opportunity to cultivate this awareness.

 

Practice and Theory

 

The moment of silence at the beginning of each school day is a good example.

 

By no means is this a violation of the separation of church and state, for the child can use the moment however he or she wishes.

 

But by encouraging the moment, we are telling the child that believing in a higher being is fundamental to all education, that knowledge per se is worthless without knowing how to use it for the good of society at large.

 

Wisdom

 

There is another motto on the U.S. Currency besides “In G-d We Trust”; it is E Pluribus Unum or Out-Of-The Multitude-One.

 

We must never allow our government to forget that every community is inherently made up of many individuals, and each individual should be encouraged to participate and contribute his individual strength toward the greater good of the united community.

 

Chapter 4 Where Is Our Government Headed?

 

Wisdom

Maximizing Freedom’s Potential

 

We are now at a point in history where individual rights are largely recognized across the globe, the same globe that until a few centuries ago was ruled exclusively by tyrants and kings.

 

Such individual freedom poses its own dilemmas.

 

Without the proper guidance, we become slaves to our own selfish desires.

 

So the challenge is to harness this freedom, to channel it for good and righteous purposes.

 

Wisdom

 

More than ever before, the civilized world looks up to the United States as a true superpower whose strength is derived from a commitment to a moral code that invites the many to become one, that cherishes and supports the poor and weak as much as the rich and strong.

 

The United States must continue to use its influence to inspire other nations in the areas of education and human rights; if there is one world conscience, America must be the country that voices it.

 

Now is not the time to underestimate that sacred duty.

 

Wisdom

 

The Untied States and all nations must recognize the unprecedented times we are living in.

 

Thanks to technology, the world is more united than ever before.

 

And yet, because this nation and many others have deviated from the Divine laws that brought us to this point, we are experiencing terrible conflict.

 

The leaders of the world must encourage their constituents to live by G-d’s Divine laws, which will enable them to use their personal freedom to usher in a true unity between man and man, community and community, nation and nation.

 

Practice and Theory

 

Leaders of all communities, cities, states, and countries must come out with a call to all their citizens to follow the universal moral code of the Seven Noahide Laws.

 

By demonstrating responsible and virtuous behavior, by showing themselves to be selfless and genuine, and above all, by accepting the higher authority of G-d in their lives, our leaders can set an example that will help foster love and care between all citizens.

 

Wisdom

 

The time has truly come when all nations “shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.”

 

The government of every nation must now prepare to do everything possible to finally bring peace to the entire world.

Leadership

The Art of Selflessness

 

Chapter 1 Do we really need leaders?

 

Wisdom

Who is a true leader?

 

At some point in our lives, we have all had a relationship with someone – a parent, a teacher, or an employer perhaps – who greatly changed the way we looked at life and the world.

 

Someone who had high standards and truly stood for something.

 

Someone who inspired and motivated us.

 

Someone who taught us to set goals and instilled the confidence and spirit to achieve them.

 

Such a person is a true leader.

 

Wisdom

Contemporary Leaders

 

After witnessing so much deceit and such frequent abuse of power, many people have ceased trusting their leaders.

 

Still, no matter how cynical we may grow, we resign ourselves to the fact that we need someone to keep our various houses in order.

 

Since we are so preoccupied with our own lives, we are willing to elect or appoint officials to manage the affairs of the land.

 

Wisdom

 

Do we really need leaders in the first place?

 

Yes we need leaders. On our own we may lack the vision, direction and strength to reach our goals.

 

We all begin our lives in need of guidance – even the most precocious child could not possibly be expected to make certain crucial decisions.

 

Once we become adults, with the capacity to reason for ourselves, most of us are so overwhelmed with the pressures of daily survival that we rarely find the time and energy to focus on life’s larger issues.

 

And when we do, our emotions and inherent subjectivity limit our vision and constrict our movement. As the sages write “one who is bound can not undue the knots that tie his hands.”

 

A leader provides a new perspective inspiring us to expand our narrow field of vision.

 

When we are preoccupied with our self interests – be they petty or great – a leader sends out a wake-up call, alerting us to seek the true priorities in life.

 

Wisdom

Urgency in Leaders

 

A sense of urgency is jut as important in a leader as a sense of vision.

 

Wisdom

To fulfill the vision of life itself

 

 

Leadership today is sorely lacking the quality of urgency.

 

Many of our leaders are effective managers, and some are even inspirational; we have CEOs who can direct thousands of employees toward a single objective, and politicians whose rhetoric inspires millions of citizens to support them.

 

What these leaders don’t provide is simple, – and essential: A vision of life itself.

 

Genuine leadership must give people a long term vision that imbues their lives with meaning.

 

It must point them in a new direction and show them how their every action is an indispensible part of a purposeful whole.

 

It is not enough for our leaders to teach us to be productive or efficient, they need to inspire us to change or improve the world in a productive, meaningful way.

 

And this creates a compelling sense of urgency: to fulfill the vision of life itself.

 

Chapter 2 What makes a True Leader?

 

Wisdom

Discerning True Leaders

 

With so many people purporting to be leaders these days, how do we recognize a true leader?

 

To answer that question, we must step back and ask: What is it that the leader is really trying to accomplish?

 

A true leader wants nothing more than give people pride, to make people stand on their own, as leaders in their own right.

 

Instead of trying to blind us with his or her brilliance, a true leader reflects our own light back to us, so that we may see ourselves anew.

 

Wisdom

 

Moses was the quintessential leader.

We read in Exodus that he was a shepherd – a rather modest beginning for the man who would speak to G-d.

 

He kept watch as thousands of sheep wandered the fields.

 

Moses noticed that one sheep was missing and went off to look for it, finding it at a distant brook.

 

He waited until the sheep had finished drinking then he lifted it onto his shoulders and carried it back to the flock.

 

When G-d saw this, he realized that Moses was a man of reason, empathy, and selfless devotion, a man truly worth to lead his people.

 

After all, no one was watching Moses; he could easily have thought to himself, Why be concerned with one sheep when there are thousands?

 

Wisdom

 

In our secular society, we tend to think of a leader as a person who is well connected, who is powerful or charismatic or wealthy.

 

We judge our leaders by what they have.

 

But a true leader should be judged by what he has not – ego, arrogance, and self interest.

 

A true leader see his work as selfless service towards a higher purpose.

 

As the sages say “Leadership is not power and dominion, it is servitude.”

 

This does not mean that a leader is weak; he derives his great strength from his dedication to a purpose that is greater than himself.

 

Wisdom

Every Generation’s Mosses’ Leadership

 

Each generation has its Moses, a leader who inspires absolute trust, who is totally dedicated to fulfilling his unique role.

 

He understands and appreciates each person’s role in perfecting this world, and guides him or her accordingly.

 

He rises above any individual perspective to take a global view, seeing how each person and issue fits into the entire scheme of the contemporary world.

 

Wisdom

 

A true leader shakes people from their reverie and tells them: No you don’t need to live a life of desperation and confusion. Yes you do have the ability to find meaning in your life, and the unique skills to fulfill that meaning.

 

You are an important link in a chain of generations past; you have a legacy worth preserving and future worth fighting for.

 

Wisdom

 

A true leader shows us that our world is indeed heading somewhere and that we can control its movement.

 

That we need not be at the mercy of personal prejudices or the prevailing political wind.

 

That none of us is subservient to history or nature – that we are history and nature.

 

That we can rid the world of war and hate and ignorance, and obliterate the borders separating race from race, rich from poor.

 

Wisdom

Merging Democracy and True Leadership

 

Centuries ago, kings and queens ruled the world, but we are today far removed from the very concept of absolute leadership.

 

Indeed leadership would seem to contradict our democratic tradition, which has taught us not to subordinate our lives to others. But we cannot afford to be so literal-minded. If the ideals of democracy were followed to the extreme, if the public demanded a referendum for even the smallest piece of legislature, society could not function.

 

So our current political makeup is a pragmatic and acceptable compromise allowing individuals a role in choosing their leaders while holding the leaders responsible to society.

 

Sill, many people have lost faith in contemporary leaders. The solution is not to resign yourself to this sad state of affairs, but to search for and demand a leader of sterling character. The ultimate goal should be to have all the benefits of democracy and the benefits of a visionary leader.

 

Wisdom

Distinguishing between leadership and demagoguery

 

It is important, especially today, to distinguish between leadership and demagoguery.

 

A demagogue may inspire people but his motives are impure and expectation unrealistic.

 

It is wise to be a bit skeptical when assessing a leader: Is he truly devoted to his mission or just seeking glory?

 

Is he truly interested in the welfare of others or simply building a flock for his own aggrandizement?

 

A true leader does not seek followers; he wants to teach others how to be leaders.

 

He does not want control; only the truth.

 

He does not impose his leadership on others, nor does he take away anyone’s autonomy.

 

He inspires by love, not coercion.

 

When it comes time to take credit, he makes himself invisible; but he is the first to arrive at the time of need.

 

He will never shrink away in fear.

 

He is so passionate about your welfare that when you consult with him for guidance it is like coming face to face with yourself for the first time.

 

Wisdom

Walking the talk

 

A true leader must be a living example of his teachings.

 

When we see that a leader’s personal life embodies his philosophy, we too are inspired to learn and practice that philosophy.

 

Conversely, if we see that a leader does not live by his own words, we cannot trust him.

 

Wisdom

Practical Leadership

 

It is useless for a leader to be a visionary in the abstract, he must be a successful communicator whose vision can be translated into specific, applicable principles – not knowledge for the sake of knowledge but knowledge that can help improve the world.

 

Wisdom

Leadership and Humility

 

So a leader must be many thing – selfless, devoted, visionary, courageous and above all humble.

 

When G-d chose Moses to lead His people out of bondage in Egypt Moses replied “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?”

 

Indeed “Moses was humbler than any man on the face of the Earth.”

 

Wisdom

Recognize Good Leadership

 

We must recognize the characteristics of a leader – not only so we can weed out the demagogues, but so we can freely embrace a true leader when he emerges.

 

When people sincerely believe in a leader, they can rise above their petty self-concerns. They become eager to accept his direction and input, and are inspired to accomplish far more than they could have on their own.

 

Wisdom

 

By recognizing the characteristics of a true leader, we set a standard for our leaders and more importantly for ourselves.

 

Setting your sights on the summit even when you have yet to arrive, this is the surest way of completing the journey.

 

Chapter3 How can Each of Us Become A True Leader?

Practice and Theory

You Can Be A Leader

 

It is true that not everyone can be a leader like Moses; But every person, no matter how uneducated or poor has something to teach the wisest and richest among us.

 

No one is incapable of being a leader in some way, and no one is exempt from the responsibility.

 

You may think that you were not a “born leader.” But why, then, were you created? Each of us has been given unique strengths and abilities, we have the choice to use them selfishly or to share them with others.

Practice and Theory

 

Every generation places particular demands on its leaders, and the leadership of every generation is linked to its predecessors.

Practice and Theory

 

We have just as much to learn from Moses as from the leaders of the twentieth century; although the future may be vast we can see a great distance when we stand on the shoulders of giants.

Practice and Theory

 

Our current generation is so hungry for meaning and direction, for spiritual nourishment, that each one of us must serve as a leader.

Practice and Theory

 

Whatever you have learned, whatever you have been touched by, you must share it with others.

Practice and Theory

 

You can not waste time wondering if you are truly equipped to help your fellow man. When someone is drowning you don’t take a life course – you jump into the water and save a life!

Practice and Theory

 

So examine the areas of your life where people look at you as a leader – whether in your family, in your class, at work or with your peers.

 

Ask yourself: Am I doing everything I can to influence them positively?

Am I using all my G-d given abilities to inspire them intellectually, emotionally and spiritually?

Am I helping them live up to their true potential so they can become leaders in their own right?

Practice and Theory

 

One leader creates another and another ad infinitum, just as one candle’s flame lights another and another until the once impenetrable darkness has turned to brilliant light.

Women and men

Uniting Forces

 

Chapter 1 Are Women and Men Equal?

The Genders

Wisdom

 

Will the struggle ever end or are men and women destined for perpetual conflict?

 

What are the roots of this strife?

 

And most important what are the unique roles of a man and woman?

 

These questions are compelling, for how we define ourselves as men or women greatly determines who we are and how we live our lives.

 

Wisdom

 

How we identify with our gender lies at the very core of a person’s essence.

 

Wisdom

 

Contemporary society is just beginning to delve into the true distinctions between men and women.

 

Besides the obvious physiological difference, there is also differences in the way men and women think, speak and behave.

 

Some of this is due to social conditioning but some can also be traced to the inherent characteristics of each gender.

 

Wisdom

 

Great is the challenge today for men and women to be internally honest about their relationship with their particular gender.

 

Wisdom

 

Increasingly, the boundary has been obfuscated. Ostensibly men and women are the same: But are they?

 

There is a mass identity crises abrew: Each gender in an earnest attempt for equality, has sacrificed its own uniqueness.

 

In school, at work, and in the community, men and women have become nearly fully integrated; as a result, questions abound about their similarities and differences.

 

Trying to conform to society and especially the work marketplace, men and women often behave in ways that suppress their natures.

 

In order to protect themselves, they may be overly aggressive; in order to please everyone, they may be unduly passive.

 

Our perceptions of gender roles has been shaped and distorted by many years of social programming, manipulation, and abuse.

 

Many men used their strength to dominate women and abuse their positions of authority.

 

And women, eager to make their own mark on society, have grown increasingly frustrated.

 

In a backlash effort, some women have become equally aggressive in asserting themselves.

 

Wisdom

How and why G-d created man and woman

 

 

How can we untangle this mess and reveal the true man and true woman that lie beneath the distortion?

 

First we need to explore how and why G-d created man and woman.

 

The question many people ask is this: did G-d create man and woman as equals? This is the equivalent of asking whether an engineer built two parts of a machine equally – the parts may be utterly different from one another, but without either one, the machine would either cease to function or malfunction.

 

As our sages state “G-d did not create anything in vain.”

 

Wisdom

 

We must recognize that man and woman were created by design as two equal beings, yet each with a distinct role to play toward one unified goal.

 

Wisdom

 

In order to understand the essential nature of man and woman, we must put aside limited human subjectivity and peer through G-d’s eyes.

 

All human beings, men and women, were created for the same purpose – to fuse body and soul in order to make themselves and their world a better and holier place.

 

In their service of G-d there is absolutely no distinction between a man and a woman; the difference lies only in the manner in which their service manifests itself.

 

Wisdom

 

Men and women have been given different tools with which to fulfill their common goal.

 

Indeed, their physiological, emotional, and psychological differences are a result of their divergent spiritual mandates as instructed by G-d.

 

Wisdom

 

Were each of us designed to fulfill exactly the same role in life, there would be no need for so may forms of expression.

 

Wisdom

 

G-d created the human race as one entity and then divided them into two – “a single individual with two faces.”

 

Just as each person is composed of two elements, the body and soul which we must learn to fully integrate, man and woman are the two elements of humankind.

 

Wisdom

 

The unity between man and woman is most profoundly experienced in the framework of marriage, through which both a man and a woman, each in his or her own way, can achieve the fullest potential for growth by learning to transcend their own individuality.

 

Man and woman are drawn to each other because they each yearn to connect with their other half, the partner with whom they were originally joined before they were divided into two.

 

Paradoxically, through the merging of one’s self with another, a person has the capacity to reach his or her most personal essence, his or her real individuality.

 

Chapter 2 What are The Energies Of Man and Woman?

 

Wisdom

Partners not Competitors

 

In order to appreciate the harmony between men and women, we must appreciate their sameness in serving G-d.

 

When men and women humbly recognize and join in their shared purpose, with an understanding that through their sameness, self-actualization of the highest form will follow, they can develop mutual respect for one another – as true equals.

 

When they serve only their own needs, there is room for discord between them.

 

Wisdom

 

Man and woman represent two forms of Divine energy, they are the male and female elements of a single soul.

 

Indeed every aspect of the entire universe is distinguished by these two dimensions.

 

Wisdom

 

G-d is neither masculine nor feminine, but has two forms of emanation: the masculine form, which is more assertive, and the feminine form which is more subtle.

 

For a human being to lead a total life, he or she must have both forms of energy: the power of expression and the power of deliberation; the power of strength and the power of subtlety; the power of giving and the power of receiving.

 

And ideally, these energies are merged seamlessly.

 

Wisdom

 

Man and women encompass both dimensions. In general though – and in their most spiritual undiluted form, undistorted by societal and cultural pressures – man and women primarily embody one of these two energies.

 

Men are physically stronger. By nature, a man is often more assertive and externally orientated.

 

In dramatic contrast, a woman often embodies the ideal of inner dignity.

 

Wisdom

 

Society at times mistakes such subtlety and calls it weakness; in truth it is more formidable than the most aggressive physical force. True human dignity does not holler; it speaks in a strong steady voice; it resonates from within.

 

The nature of a woman is subtle not weak.

 

And the nature of a man is assertive not brutish.

 

Wisdom

 

Feminine energy is who you are and masculine energy is what you do.

 

Wisdom

 

For man and woman to be complete then they must each posses both energies.

 

 

Ones noblest values or ideas become meaningless unless they are actualized.

 

So too action without the dictate of an inner voice of truth is also meaningless.

 

Wisdom

 

In general, the mans primary role is to utilize his assertive masculine energy to refine the material world, while the woman’s primary role is to utilize her subtle feminine energy to reveal the innate G-dliness in all that exists.

 

Wisdom

 

The man “goes out” in search of G-dliness, the woman absorbs G-dliness.

 

The man provides the seed to create life, the woman bears life.

 

The man teaches his children how to live, the woman is life.

 

The man gives love, the woman is love.

 

Wisdom

 

This is not to say that only man can refine the outside world or that only woman can reveal innate goodness.

 

Indeed, experience has proved that in “conquering” and creating change in the world, the feminine approach can often be more effective than the masculine approach, which often hinges on confrontation.

 

So the man must access his sensitivity and subtlety, while a woman must access her assertion when necessary.

 

Wisdom

 

The answer is not for men and women to try to be alike – nor, for that matter, for men to be like other men and women to be like other women.

 

All men and women must be themselves, realizing that G-d has given to each of us unique abilities with which to pursue our goals, and that our primary responsibility is to take full advantage of these abilities.

 

Wisdom

 

G-d asks of man to understand himself in the context of his maleness, which incorporates his “feminine self” and asks of a woman to understand herself in context of her femininity, which incorporates her “male self.”

 

And above all we are ultimately each responsible as a freestanding human being to G-d and society.

 

Wisdom

 

In order to unite forces in a wholesome and constructive fashion, men and women must first learn to appreciate their true selves and their true differences.

 

Wisdom

 

This includes a certain modesty and mutual respect in their manner of dress, conduct and communication, as well as recognizing that a physical union between man and woman is possible only within the Divine union of marriage.

 

It is no coincidence that a good marriage also requires both the feminine and masculine dimensions, so that a couple cooperates to build a strong union while having the introspective faith to face life’s inevitable vicissitudes.

Chapter 3 What Are The Forces Dividing Men And Women Today?

 

Wisdom

Uniting Male and Feminine Energies

 

It is a great challenge to achieve the proper blend of masculine and feminine energy.

 

Wisdom

When Style Supersedes Substance

We live in a time where the material world supersedes the world of the sublime in many people’s eyes.

 

When ego and power prevail, style takes precedence over substance, form over spirit; the true and healthy balance between man and woman becomes distorted.

 

Wisdom

 

Their distinct energies, rather than being integrated toward a unified goal, become amplified and serve only to separate them.

 

Wisdom

 

When we place more emphasis on the material than the spiritual, the masculine and feminine energies begin to diverge, and the male assertive energy is inclined to dominate.

 

When we value external power and control over hearth and family, when we value aggressive business tactics over sensitivity and wisdom, we are placing a higher premium on a man, or rather, on the parts of the man that find this form of expression natural and comfortable.

 

We thus create an environment where masculine energy dominates and is valued most.

 

Inevitably, both man and woman suffer from this distortion of priorities, but it is women who feel its brunt, for a woman’s primary strength lies in the sublime and the sensitive.

 

Wisdom

Feminism

 

Some dismiss or underestimate these strengths misinterpreting them as vulnerability, this distortion and men’s subsequent abuse of the distortion is the most compelling reason for today’s feminism. And indeed it is warranted.

 

Though feminism rightfully calls for the stop of male domination, and for equal rights for women, it is vital to get to the root of this distortion – that our focus in life as man or woman must not be to satisfy our own ego or needs but to serve G-d.

 

 

Wisdom

 

True women’s liberation does not mean seeking equality within a masculine world, it means liberating the Divine feminine aspects of a woman’s personality and using them for the benefit of all humankind.

 

Wisdom

 

Women need to clamor for their rights because the world insists on it for its cosmic well being.

 

Many women just as many men have succumbed to the growth of materialistic values at the expense of spiritual ones.

 

The women’s movement has accomplished much tangible good, yet it has stunted its own potential by failing to address the root problem.

 

The feminist fight for equality and validation on masculine terms ultimately fuels the power struggle between men and women.

 

Instead of using their distinctive traits toward a united goal, they often simple fight for domination, fostering deep resentment.

 

Practice and Theory

 

The only response to such a standoff is to reintroduce spiritual values into our lives – to reintroduce humility, to learn to recognize and appreciate the innate personalities of men and women, to see them as complementary halves of the same whole, serving one G-d.

 

Practice

 

This is not to say that we should abolish careers and forfeit the opportunities presented by contemporary life; rather we must refocus our priorities.

 

Instead of seeing the workplace as the core of your existence, instead of seeing money as the richest reward, you must see who you really are: a man or woman created equally by G-d to use your particular strengths to improve the world.

 

For some, this might mean considering a career that enables them to enhance their family life rather than compromise it.

 

For others, it might mean taking time from work to pursue their own spiritual growth, community work, or humanitarian efforts.

 

Some people may find themselves happier and more fulfilled dedicating themselves to educating their children at home, a trend that is intensifying of late.

 

As we become more spiritually orientated our appreciation for the responsibilities of building a home life will continue to grow.

 

After all, building a home, – transforming this material world into a G-dly home – is the purpose for which we were created.

 

But whether you pursue a career outside the home, make your home your career or fuse the two, it is vital to reassess your priorities in life, and concentrate on your role as man or a woman under G-d.

 

Women, because they are more sensitive to spiritual energy, must spearhead this new awareness.

 

This would be the ultimate feminist revolution – to topple the walls that separate spirit from matter, to lead a rebellion to a state in which there is true harmony between the masculine and feminine energies.

 

Practice and Theory

 

For this to work, men and women must realize their respective equal roles and strive to complement each other in their shared struggle to improve life.

 

In order to correct the abuse of male dominance, men must concentrate on using their dominant qualities for the good.

 

They must use their strength to preserve and protect the feminine character, helping women realize their true potential in exposing G-dliness, which the world so desperately needs today.

 

We must use “the battle of the sexes” as a catalyst to reach back into our true selves.

 

We must undo the distortion that has blurred the male and female roles as two unique Divine energies and come to understand how every man and woman must fulfill himself and herself.

 

We must always remember that they are two halves of the same soul, and they complement each other.

 

Practice and Theory

 

Ask yourself this question: Are you being true to your nature or are you contradicting it in order to succeed in the material world?

 

Practice and Theory

 

Learn about what it means to be a man or a woman, about masculine and feminine energies.

 

Practice and Theory

 

Learn to live up to your potential, to balance these energies, to lead a productive and meaningful life – a G-dly life.

 

Practice and Theory

 

Learn to respect your male or female counterpart.

 

Wisdom

 

After so many years of male dominance, we are standing at the threshold of a true feminine era.

 

We are witnessing a return to higher values, we have recognized that materialism cannot make us happy, that an exclusively materialistic life and meaningful life are in contradistinction to one another.

 

We have seen a resurgence of feminine energy, of the power of the serene.

 

Wisdom

 

It is time now for the woman to rise to her true prominence.

 

When the subtle power of the feminine energy is allowed to nourish the overt power of the masculine energy.

 

We have already proved that we can use our strength to slay the demons around us, let us now learn to nurture the G-dliness within.

 

Science and Technology

Discovering the Divine within Nature

Chapter 1 Technology: Vice or Virtue?

 

Wisdom

 

We live in a highly scientific world. Virtually every moment of our day – whether we are at home, at work, or in transit – is affected by modern technology.

 

The computer age and the information revolution have given all of us enormous power and the ability to reach virtually anyone at any time. Yes, technology allows us to live more comfortably and work more efficiently, but can we understand how it makes our lives more meaningful?

On its own, science is neutral; it attempts to give us an objective view of our physical universe and its natural forces, but it does not draw a conclusion as to how we should use these forces. It does not deal with good and evil or with questions of morality. At its best, science acknowledges its own boundaries, recognizing that it is neither the basis nor the code for moral doctrine.

Technology, as with all forces in our lives, can be used either constructively or destructively. Developments such as television, computers, and lasers, and discoveries in nuclear energy, medicine, and biology — these are all instances of G-dly forces that are manifested in nature. Man has been charged with tapping those resources to refine and civilize the world, to transform our material surroundings into a proper home for spirituality and G-dliness.

Remember, G-d did not create bread; He created the sun and land and water and seeds of grain. We must plant the seeds, harvest the wheat, grind it into flour, mix it with water and bake it. Only then do we have bread to eat.

 

Couldn’t G-d have just as easily given whole bread, already made? Of course, but we are partners in the universe; our lives are an expression of free will, not a predetermined script. It is up to each of us to either use the earth to make bread or let it lie fallow.

 

It is the same with all of technology. G-d has created powerful forces throughout nature for use to utilize. We can choose to acknowledge the “hand inside the glove,” understanding where the power truly comes from, and use these forces as tools to lead a more meaningful life. Or we can choose to be distracted by the glove, to see technology only as a means unto itself, using it for indulgent, selfish, perhaps even destructive purposes.

Chapter 2 Why is it important to understand technology?

Wisdom

As Maimonides wrote “By contemplating G-d’s grand creations, one comes to recognize G-d’s great wisdom, which evokes deep love for G-d and a desire to bond with Him.”

 

Much of the technology discovered in this century, particularly in the area relating to the subatomic structure of matter, has given us a comprehension of the dynamic unity that bonds the entire universe and man.

Wisdom

Even for a person who doesn’t understand how a microchip or an electromagnet works, the resulting technology is an obvious testament to an unprecedented level of unity in our universe.

 

Modern communications allow us to connect instantaneously with practically anyone around the world.

 

Modern transportation enables us to reach places in just a few hours that only a hundred years ago might have been months away.

Wisdom

Computers allows us to process billions of pieces of information in a few seconds, performing tasks that used to be utterly impossible.

Yes, all of this technology saves enormous amounts of time and energy and creates countless new business opportunities. But such advantages should only be considered by-products of technology. Whose true purpose is to unite the world and make it a more fertile ground for a unified spiritual life.

 

This is the answer to understanding the technological revolution and where it is taking us.

 

Wisdom

The sweeping technological changes that have taken place during the past several generations are in keeping with the prediction some two thousand years ago in the Zohar, a classical text of mysticism, stating that in the year 1840, there would be an outburst of “lower wisdom,” or advancements in the physical universe, and an increase in “sublime wisdom,” or spirituality, would begin to usher true unity into the world, leading toward the final redemption.

The increase in both types of wisdom — wisdom of the mind and wisdom of the soul — has surely come to pass; where we have fallen short is in integrating these spheres of knowledge. Only by balancing the scientific with the spiritual can we transform the dream of an ideal future into a functional blueprint for society, for true communication can begin only when human minds and souls interact. With communica­tion comes understanding; with understanding comes com­passion; and with compassion comes a natural movement toward universalism.

So the current technological revolution is in fact the hand of G-d at work; it is meant to help us make G-d a reality in our lives. And as time goes on, science will show itself more and more to parallel the truths of G-d, thereby revealing the intrinsic unity in the entire universe.

Practice and Theory

The Divine purpose of the present information revolution, for instance, which gives an individual unprecedented power and opportunity, is to allow us to share knowledge — spiritual knowledge with each other, empowering and unifying individuals everywhere. We need to utilize today’s interactive technology not just for business or leisure but to interlink as people — to create a welcome environment for the interaction of our souls, our hearts, our visions.

Practice and Theory

 

Understanding science and technology as Divine tools for our personal and spiritual growth is also crucial for our well-being.

 

History has taught us that it is not enough for a society to be scientifically or intellectually sophisticated; “wisdom,” “knowledge,” and “enlightenment” can all too easily be perverted by the equally human qualities of arrogance and brutality.

 

Only when infused with an external standard of goodness, with the standard of a virtuous life as dictated by G-d, can wisdom truly achieve a higher plane.

Practice and Theory

 

We are experiencing an explosion of technology that places undreamt-of power in human hands.

 

Biotechnology for example, has given us access to the levers of creation – the ability to develop powerful new medical treatments for instance.

Or conversely the power to hurt or destroy.

 

In this century alone, we have seen stark testimony to the destructive capabilities of various technologies.

 

But even when technology is not used destructively, it is often simply wasted or left wanting.

 

Every day, our load of manual labor is lightened.

We have more effective machines to do the work that used to take up so much of our time.

Do we take advantage of these hours by spending more time with our children and with those in need?

Do we volunteer to teach a class or help out a neighbor?

Or do we simply reach for the next new button that will make our lives that much more convenient and comfortable?

Practice and Theory

We all feel the need to better our lives, but we must balance the wonders of technology by responding to the spiritual demands of our soul’s potential.

 

These demands are beginning to resonate throughout our society.

 

Parents, for instance, are pleased that their children are learning computer skills at school, but wary that such occupational training is not complemented by more human, more compassionate training.

 

Practice and Theory

 

It is well and good to learn to program a computer, but unless a student also acquires a sense of discipline and integrity, he or she might use that skill to wreak havoc.

The best students – and the best teachers – recognize that there is much to be learned by inspecting the failure of cultures before ours.

In doing so it becomes painfully clear that no amount of wisdom or technology can overcome a value system that does not do enough to discourage selfishness and evil.

With all our human capacity for technological advancement, we must never forget our higher objective. We must strive to enhance our scientific search for truth by constantly expanding our spiritual quest for the Divine.

Chapter 3 Can we Reconcile Science and Religion?

Wisdom

Our spiritual search, though, is sometimes impeded by various barriers.

The scientific revolution, for instance, caused some people to abandon their faith in G-d, rejecting their beliefs in face of newfound scientific “truths.”

Others clung stubbornly to their convictions, refusing to recognize the discovery of science.

This battle peaked in the ninetieth century, when science resented itself as an almighty new “religion.”

Despite a certain degree of enlightenment and various attempts to reconcile, for some people there still exists today a rift between science and religion, as though some parts of life are controlled by G-d and others by the laws of science and nature.

 

This compartmentalized attitude however is wrong; Since G-d created the universe and the natural laws that govern it, there can be no schism between the Creator and His creation.

The natural laws of the universe can hardly contradict the blueprint from which they were made!

So science is ultimately the human study of G-d’s mind, the search to understand the laws that G-d installed to run the physical universe.

Wisdom

Science today is learning to recognize its true place. Whereas scientific conclusions were in the past considered natural “laws” with all the rigid implications of that word, modern science no longer holds such a dogmatic view.

 

Contemporary scientists now accept the fundamental indeterminism of nature; Heisenberg’s “uncertainty principle” for instance – the unpredictability of both the position and velocity of subatomic particles – is understood as being intrinsic to the entire universe.

This uncertainty does not point to a limitation in our ability to measure, but to an inherent characteristic of nature; the modern scientist, that is, no longer expects to find absolute truth in science.

Wisdom

The wisdom and will of G-d, on the other hand, is absolute and specific, teaching how man should take act to the fullest advantage of himself and the community at large.

Unlike science, G-d’s wisdom is absolute truth, it is not limited by cause and effect.

Wisdom

There are two approaches then in the search for truth: the human search via science and the search via G-d.

 

There is no question that the universe is guided by a certain logic. At the outset man begins searching for the truth from the “outside in” as it were, trying to understand various phenomena and then piece them together like a jigsaw puzzle to come up with a complete picture.

 

Scientists and philosophers peer through the outer layers of the universe to discover the forces lying within.

What we are all actually searching for, whether or not we acknowledge it, is G-d, the hand inside the glove.

But if we choose instead to search for the truth from the “inside out” looking directly through the eyes of the creator and abiding by His laws, we begin to gain a more complete understanding of how the world operates and why.

Wisdom

One can say that secular or scientific wisdom deals with what the universe is, while spiritual wisdom deals with why it is and what it means to ones’ life.

 

Wisdom

True science and true religion, therefore, are two sides of the same coin. The emphasis is on “true” – not a science that denies G-d or a religion that sees science as its enemy.

Both of these attitudes stem from the same flaw: belief that G-d who created the natural universe and its laws cannot coexist with His creation!

 

Wisdom

Any scientific theory that seems to contradict His laws will ultimately be scientifically proven to be unverifiable even by the most diligent scientific exploration.

Wisdom

Because the world has been so categorically affected by science in recent centuries, today’s scientists and scholars have a great responsibility.

They must teach not only the laws of science but its role – what science is and what it is not.

So the true challenge of science today is not to refute G-d, but to discover how it reflects and illuminates parts of G-d’s mind that have yet to be uncovered.

Only then will science fully become part of the search for truth.

As scholars in the Middle Ages often counseled “Love Plate, love Aristotle, but love truth more than all.”

Chapter 4 What can technology teach us about ourselves?

Wisdom

Everything a person sees or hears is meant to teach us a lesson about life. When we look at technology merely as a source of personal comfort or advancement, we are seeing only the end product. When we look at technology as an expression of G-dliness, though, we are better prepared to understand life itself.

From atomic energy, for instance, we realize the power of every individual being.

We no know that even the smallest bit of matter can release a massive amount of energy. So to does every person’s very core contain enormous power.

How is it released?

By getting to a person very core and shaking him from his contend state.

It is the human equivalent of nuclear fission or fusion – a person inner strengths are released when he is acted upon by the proper combination of force and direction, when we help him live according to the laws of G-d and encourage him to help others do the same.

This creates a chain reaction. Just as the splitting of the first atom triggers other atoms to split, every possible human thrust and every virtuous act creates an energy that can only intensify.

On the other hand, the energy released through negative behavior can be controlled just as an atomic chain reaction can be controlled.

Wisdom

Atomic energy also shows us how the macrocosm of the entire universe is reflected in each of us.

In an atom (according to the planetary model) the various particles orbit around the nucleus, while in the human being, the various material aspects also orbit around a nucleus: our soul.

Wisdom

Finally, we see that an atom ultimately releases far more energy than the amount of energy required to split it.

Not so many years ago, the prospect of producing atomic energy must have seemed painfully complex and expensive, perhaps even futile.

And yet it turned out be highly productive.

We may feel similar reservations on a personal level – wouldn’t it be much simpler to wander though life without imposing on ourselves the demands and responsibilities of a spiritual life?

Perhaps, but then we would waste our own most precious natural resource, leaving our inner potential untapped.

Wisdom

Our sages have described each person as an entire world and the world as a personality in macrocosm.

Indeed the new developments in science show that the world is a dynamic of inseparable interacting components and that the human observer is an integral part of this system.

The universe can no longer be perceived as a series of independent building blocks, for we have discovered that all matter – and therefore all people – is inextricably linked.

Wisdom

One of the most important reverberations of the new physics is that the long accepted idea of scientific objectivity can no longer be upheld.

We now understand that the scientist becomes involved in the world that he observes. He influences the properties of the objects he observes.

His perception of nature, therefore are intimately connected with his own mind, his own idea, and his own value system – all of which are sure to inform the scientific “results” he reaches so any scientist must exercise moral as well as intellectual judgment in his research.

 

Wisdom

There is much to learn from the technological revolution, as long as we understand its role in our lives and see it as a final step in our dramatic search for unity throughout the universe. After all, developments in science and technology have taught us to be more sensitive to the intangible and the sublime: the forces behind computers, telephones, television, and so on are all invisible, and yet we fully recognize their power and reach. Similarly, we must come to accept that the driving force behind the entire universe is intangible and sublime, and we must come to experience the transcendent and G-dly in every single thing — beginning, of course with ourselves.

 

Our Generation

Understanding the Time in Which We Live

 

Chapter 1 How Can We Make Sense Of This Difficult Time?

 

Wisdom

 

To understand ourselves and find meaning in our lives, we must first understand the unique times in which we live.

 

This can be more difficult than it sounds.

 

Because we are so immersed in our everyday lives, we find it hard to step back and cast a clear eye on our chaotic surroundings.

 

On one hand, we are experiencing breathtaking technological advances.

 

Hardly a day goes by when we don’t hear about a new development in medicine or communications or industry.

 

Global affairs are fast changing, too – consider the bloodless fall of communism, which until just a few years ago was considered a great threat to mankind’s well being.

 

Because of these breakthroughs, the world is ever more united.

 

But on the personal level, there is unprecedented disunity.

 

Our value system lies shattered; each day another taboo is broken.

 

We are in the midst of a crises, desperately seeking happiness and fulfillment.

 

It is a sad paradox: The more technological wizardry and material comforts we pile up, the more steeply our values seem to decline.

 

Our spiritual standard of living is being sacrificed in favor of our material standard of living.

 

The breakdown of the nuclear healthy family structure is no longer a new problem – it has extended into a second and third generation – but we are just now feeling its full, brutal force.

 

Unfortunately evidence is all around us: physical, psychological, and emotional abuse of every sort.

 

There is a psychological crises at hand – a spiritual crises.

 

Many are so resigned to this fact that they don’t dare hope that things can get better.

 

How can we possibly make sense of this strange difficult time?

 

By understanding the spiritual forces behind human progress.

 

Chapter 2 Why Is This Generation Different From All Others?

 

 

Practice and Theory

Why This Generation is Unique

 

History is a process, with each generation growing out of the ones that preceded it.

 

Hundreds of years ago, before mass communication and world travel, people were hardly aware of anyone outside their own village.

 

Monarchs ruled with an absolute authority.

 

In the Middle / Dark Ages, people’s lives were controlled by institutionalized religions and an inflexible society that imposed a profound values system, though often at the expense of individual freedoms.

 

During the so called Enlightenment of the early eighteenth century, a new breed of free thinking began to flourish, and democratic ideas began to sweep Europe.

 

Napoleon, following the French Revolution of 1789, espoused the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity, promising emancipation to the oppressed.

 

But this newfound freedom exacted a severe spiritual toll, leading to a state of permissiveness, moral anarchy, and G-dlesness.

 

All too often, freedom translated into lack of boundaries; set free from the bonds of authority, man often gravitated to his most base desires, abandoning many of the healthy traditions of a G-d fearing society.

 

The Enlightenment, coupled with scientific revolutions, and a new liberalism, divided people into two groups: those who embraced science so absolutely that they rejected G-d in favor of autistic dogma leading to a wholly materialistic lifestyle and those who rejected science and reason in favor of religious dogma leading to a wholly religious lifestyle.

 

Both groups essentially sought to answer the same question: What is the meaning of our existence and of truth?

 

This conflict would rage until science – and technology its afterbirth – would render established religion practically irrelevant for many people.

 

In the mid twentieth century this tide began to turn.

 

People began to realize that the technological, political and cultural advancements of the previous two centuries were hardly a solution to the human condition and search for truth and meaning of life.

 

The upheaval in the wake of two world wars led many to query whether the path that mankind had chosen would lead to happiness.

 

Materialism, which had seemed to be the means to a fulfilling existence, suddenly began to look very very empty.

 

As the century wore on, our soundings began to look less and less familiar.

 

Whereas in previous generations people’s lives followed clearly mapped out patterns, nothing seemed certain anymore.

 

Every area of modern life – economics, politics, science, medicine, – seemed to be in a state of flux.

 

Since the information explosion, there has been even more change, resulting in a constant revision of past attitudes.

 

The only thing that hasn’t changed throughout these centuries is mankind itself and our search for meaning purpose and truth.

 

But as the twentieth century draws to a close, we have learned (this was written then) that we can no longer look for solutions from without – that we must begin to look within ourselves.

 

Even though we have never been so materially prosperous, we feel a deep unease.

 

Where are we headed?

What are we to teach our children?

What has become of the world we thought we knew?

 

Do not feel alone if you ponder such questions, for tens of millions of people are feeling the same way!

 

Why do we feel so restless?

 

Because it has become more and more apparent that no amount of materiel comfort can truly satisfy us, that no amount of reason can truly answer our questions about the meaning of life, that the greatest technological wizardry cannot comfort our souls.

 

This realization has created an intense void in men and women around the world.

 

Whenever there is an imbalance between conflicting forces in our lives, a deep inner tension emerges.

 

After experiencing major changes in our external world and being faced with the challenges and catastrophes of our century, a new demand for balance beckons.

 

The shifting reality in which we are living, upsets our existing frame of reference, creating unease and restlessness.

 

We now live in a place that is split between materialism and spirituality.

 

Most of us live in one world or the other, and are unable, or afraid, to straddle the chasm that divides them.

 

If you live primarily in the material world, you might consider the spiritual world too demanding or rigid.

 

 

If you live primarily in the spiritual world, you might consider the material world too self-serving or rootless.

 

Both attitudes are the result of the same philosophical flaw: that G-d and the universe cannot coexist.

 

This flaw was the undoing of the two extremes of belief in previous centuries – atheistic materialism and dogmatic religion.

 

We now have the luxury of hindsight to appreciate the shortcoming of such a compartmentalization.

 

The challenge we face today is to truly unite the forces of matter and spirit.

 

This means acknowledging the dichotomy between body and soul within ourselves; and creating a harmony between our materiel and spiritual drives.

 

Our unique generation offers a unique challenge: to find a language that can reach deeper into the soul, an unconventional language to deal with an unconventional problem, to apply eternal spiritual truths to contemporary life.

Chapter 3 Where is our generation headed?

 

Wisdom

 

Where our Generation is Heading

 

As we approach the end of this millennium, we are all well aware of the sweeping changes that have taken place in the world during the last several generations.

 

The very landscape of our world has been radically altered, and we can anticipate even more revolutionary changes in the coming years.

 

After mankind’s long search for unity and meaning, the world is ready for deep and meaningful change.

 

Clearly, a revolt is under way. Never before has there been such public discussion of unhappiness, such an obsession with therapy and self-help, such a deep hunger for anything or anyone who can sooth our weary souls.

 

Throughout America and the world, people are genuinely searching for spiritual meaning.

 

When we don’t find relevance in what we are being taught, we look elsewhere.

 

The rebellions and transitions of the last decades testify to the disillusionment in old value systems.

 

There is no doubt that much of what we learn today is spiritually irrelevant.

 

We have been trained for materiel success – by our schools, by television and by our peers.

 

It is only natural that materialism has become the magnetic north of our moral compass.

 

But this is not the workings of some evil demonic force; it is simply a state of default.

 

Darkness is often not an enemy, but simply the absence of light.

 

So the solution to today’s spiritual crises lies not in slaying some dragon on the outside, but in battling the personal conflict within.

 

This requires a grassroots awakening. We each need to make a new commitment to kindness.

 

To spread a massage of love and cooperation, of moral and spiritual values.

 

A message that this world is changing and we are poised at departing the age of materialism and entering the state of unlimited wisdom coming from G-d Himself in the messianic soon-to-be era.

 

This wisdom will unite mankind rather than materialism which divides it.

 

And with today’s technology we can reach and unite with people everywhere.

 

Imagine if all seven billion people on this planet chose to be unselfish for one given moment, everyone united in the pursuit of true and meaningful knowledge.

 

Just think what we could accomplish!

 

This then is the current challenge; Though it may seem insurmountable, but remember this process began long ago and its energy accumulates from generation to generation!

 

History is one generation standing on the shoulders of the previous one, like single bricks that together form a might fortress.

 

We may think of ourselves as a meager generation, but when we stand on the shoulders of our predecessors, we have the potential to become the mightiest of structures.

 

The birth of the modern era has brought about a triumph of freedom over authoritativeness.

 

We have learned that freedom presents various challenges, but we have also been taught that G-d would not place an obstacle in our path unless he provided us with the abilities to overcome the obstacle.

 

Past generations have abused their freedom. Taking advantage of it mainly for personal and selfish gain.

 

It is the challenge of this generation to redefine the meaning of freedom, to bring about a liberation of the soul, to embrace a life that answers the soul’s deepest yearnings and realizes its Divine purpose of dedicating our lives selflessly toward charitable, familial and societal needs.

 

We have been challenged to introduce to the world a freedom that does not challenge the sovereignty of G-d’s authority, but which is its ultimate compliment.

 

Our sages tell us that there will come a day when our earthly reality will be a flawless mirror of its Divine source, G-d’s architectural blueprint namely the Biblical and Jewish Mystical wisdom.

 

We are now on the threshold of that day.

 

There has never been a better time to reach people, for their hearts and souls are thirsting for nourishment, understanding, love and guidance.

 

Instead of using modern technology simply for personal and business means, we must learn to use it to spread inspiration and goodness.

 

None of us are excluded from the monumental responsibility of learning and teaching what G-d wants of us, and our generation.

 

It is up to each of us to open our eyes, our minds, and hearts to this new awareness.

 

Every era has its calling.

 

Every generation has its mission.

 

We must recognize that we live in a special time and that we have been groomed for this moment; You must ask yourself “Am I fulfilling my calling.”