Get drunk on Purim (Shlomo Carelbach)
Showing posts with label Purim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Purim. Show all posts
Monday, March 9, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Womens work
A Purim Mantra in Haiku, 1996
To discern G-d's voice
Admist throngs of imposters,
This is women's work
(Purim Bursts, 2000 Sarah Idit Schneider)
The Shem Mishmuel teaches (Based on the writings of Chaim Vital) that mans existence in the physical world is expressed via the 3 levels of the soul
Neshama- machshava (thought)
Ruach - Dibbur (speech)
Nefesh- Maaseh (action)
Mordechai, channeled the power of Kedusha and used the three levels of the soul to save the people
Thought- discern the heavenly decree
Speech- pray for salvation
Action- mourning actions
Haman channeling the power of Evil (Amalek) directed the forces of tumah (impurity) against the Jews allowing him to use the three levels of the soul for sinning.
Thought- Plotted against the Jews
Speech- Spoke to convince Achashverosh of plans
Action- Bribery with money plans for gallows
As we see from above in the physical world there was a standoff between the forces of kedusha and the forces of impurity that is until..... Esther took the scene.
Esther had the ability to utilize a higher level of the Jewish soul called chaya. With this she was able to pull reinforcement from the heavenly sphere, Hashems upper realms where forces of darkness and impurity can never reach. It was also the Heavenly power of chaya that Moshe Rabbeinu harnassed to defeat Amalek in the past. In the past using the energy of the lower spheres our enemies (Bilam and Balak) were defeated, but this required something more Because Amalek personifies evil it had to be combatted with the strongest ammunition possible. Moshe stood on the peak and he did not move and he did not make plans. He used this weapon of chaya.
Jews need to know that we have this power from Hashem to draw on that Amalek can never touch. We need to look inside, dig deep, and harness all our energies for Kedusha. With that, like Malkat Esther we will bring the redemption.
Derived from a shiur from Rabbi Hershel Reichman on Amalek, Purim and Chassidut www.Naaleh.com
To discern G-d's voice
Admist throngs of imposters,
This is women's work
(Purim Bursts, 2000 Sarah Idit Schneider)
The Shem Mishmuel teaches (Based on the writings of Chaim Vital) that mans existence in the physical world is expressed via the 3 levels of the soul
Neshama- machshava (thought)
Ruach - Dibbur (speech)
Nefesh- Maaseh (action)
Mordechai, channeled the power of Kedusha and used the three levels of the soul to save the people
Thought- discern the heavenly decree
Speech- pray for salvation
Action- mourning actions
Haman channeling the power of Evil (Amalek) directed the forces of tumah (impurity) against the Jews allowing him to use the three levels of the soul for sinning.
Thought- Plotted against the Jews
Speech- Spoke to convince Achashverosh of plans
Action- Bribery with money plans for gallows
As we see from above in the physical world there was a standoff between the forces of kedusha and the forces of impurity that is until..... Esther took the scene.
Esther had the ability to utilize a higher level of the Jewish soul called chaya. With this she was able to pull reinforcement from the heavenly sphere, Hashems upper realms where forces of darkness and impurity can never reach. It was also the Heavenly power of chaya that Moshe Rabbeinu harnassed to defeat Amalek in the past. In the past using the energy of the lower spheres our enemies (Bilam and Balak) were defeated, but this required something more Because Amalek personifies evil it had to be combatted with the strongest ammunition possible. Moshe stood on the peak and he did not move and he did not make plans. He used this weapon of chaya.
Jews need to know that we have this power from Hashem to draw on that Amalek can never touch. We need to look inside, dig deep, and harness all our energies for Kedusha. With that, like Malkat Esther we will bring the redemption.
Derived from a shiur from Rabbi Hershel Reichman on Amalek, Purim and Chassidut www.Naaleh.com
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Working with our inner "Amalek"
As a follow up on healing techniques I found a section in Sarah Idit Schneider's book Purim Bursts where she states the the war with Amalek is a spiritual practice and offers her technique. She states:
Become mindful of the stream of thoughts that pass through awareness. Identify those that are spiritually corrupt and label their flaw (i.e jealous, vengeful judgmental, etc.) Find the truth that undermines its fallacy and formulate it clearly. For example if you are working on jealousy you could compose a prayer that would go something like this.
Hashem knows my life's mission even better than I. He designed it, He wills it, and He is bound by an irrevocable covenant to assist its fulfillment from cradle to grave. Not a moment passes where he fails to provide the resources required for my next step in personal and spiritual growth. The blessings that I covet in other peoples lives would only be an obstacle to mu soul;s work. This moment is perfect. It has all that I need . I KNOW that this is true.
(Purim Bursts, 2000)
Become mindful of the stream of thoughts that pass through awareness. Identify those that are spiritually corrupt and label their flaw (i.e jealous, vengeful judgmental, etc.) Find the truth that undermines its fallacy and formulate it clearly. For example if you are working on jealousy you could compose a prayer that would go something like this.
Hashem knows my life's mission even better than I. He designed it, He wills it, and He is bound by an irrevocable covenant to assist its fulfillment from cradle to grave. Not a moment passes where he fails to provide the resources required for my next step in personal and spiritual growth. The blessings that I covet in other peoples lives would only be an obstacle to mu soul;s work. This moment is perfect. It has all that I need . I KNOW that this is true.
KNOW she states that you are drawing down a beam of light that is dissolving evil at its root. By exposing the lie at its core, the ground crumbles beneath it, for the bedrock of existence is truth. Purim is a time of grace when forces align to facilitate this work.
(Purim Bursts, 2000)
Monday, March 2, 2009
Purim and Tikkun (Healing)
In a shiur on Purim, Rabbi Green of Birkat HaTorah discusses the connection between feeling Hashem's unconditional love and Purim. In the story of Purim, because of Haman's decree it was the most dangerous time for Jews. Thank G-d we had the merit of our righteous tzaddikim Mordechai and Esther to guide us, because it does not seem that we merited our survival without them.
We see again and again how much Hashem loves us unconditionally and allows us to continue on to serve him despite the fact that we blatantly ignore his laws and disregard his providence. In his shiur, Rabbi Green illuminates the fact that the relationship is 2 sided - just as Hashem loves us unconditionally we need to reciprocate, and forgive Hashem for times where we felt deeply wronged because we could not see the whole picture. If we don't, the repercussions are much more devastating than the temporary wounds.... causing a permanent severance in our relationship and connection with Hashem.
Where to start the repair? First recognizing this wounded place inside of us...second undoing old negative beliefs.. and finally letting go and forgiving Hasem. We spoke in a previous post that Emunah is connected with simcha. How are we ever supposed to have simcha and emunah if somewhere deep down we are harboring anger at Hashem?
I have witnessed that many Jews are angry at Hashem and have some subconscious erroneous belief that Hashem does not fully love them and the Jewish people.
Where does this come from? Perhaps this is a remnant of our dark history that became part of our collective unconscious (Purim, Inquisition, Holocaust). The specific root is not so important. What is important is that some part of the Jewish Neshama inside all of us needs to be healed. Otherwise this negative dark hole of pain mixed with lack of emunah from our collective past will attract similar negative beliefs from our personal traumas. Any feelings of anger, terror, betrayal we felt in our lives can easily be filed with the same heading: "Hashem does not really love us (me and the Jewish people)". This causes us to disconnect ourselves from Hashem even further and the cycle continues.
How to break the cycle? This takes continual inner work. Awareness being the first step. We should be strengthened by knowing that this is the work of all of Am Yisrael and that we are not doing it alone. The rewards are so great, for when we forgive and let Hashem back in we can have more love for ourselves, G-d and the Jewish people. This is a crucial part of bringing Moschiach consciousness, which is the consciousness of Purim. May we merit to do this work easily.
*Check out healing links for guides to inner work
We see again and again how much Hashem loves us unconditionally and allows us to continue on to serve him despite the fact that we blatantly ignore his laws and disregard his providence. In his shiur, Rabbi Green illuminates the fact that the relationship is 2 sided - just as Hashem loves us unconditionally we need to reciprocate, and forgive Hashem for times where we felt deeply wronged because we could not see the whole picture. If we don't, the repercussions are much more devastating than the temporary wounds.... causing a permanent severance in our relationship and connection with Hashem.
Where to start the repair? First recognizing this wounded place inside of us...second undoing old negative beliefs.. and finally letting go and forgiving Hasem. We spoke in a previous post that Emunah is connected with simcha. How are we ever supposed to have simcha and emunah if somewhere deep down we are harboring anger at Hashem?
I have witnessed that many Jews are angry at Hashem and have some subconscious erroneous belief that Hashem does not fully love them and the Jewish people.
Where does this come from? Perhaps this is a remnant of our dark history that became part of our collective unconscious (Purim, Inquisition, Holocaust). The specific root is not so important. What is important is that some part of the Jewish Neshama inside all of us needs to be healed. Otherwise this negative dark hole of pain mixed with lack of emunah from our collective past will attract similar negative beliefs from our personal traumas. Any feelings of anger, terror, betrayal we felt in our lives can easily be filed with the same heading: "Hashem does not really love us (me and the Jewish people)". This causes us to disconnect ourselves from Hashem even further and the cycle continues.
How to break the cycle? This takes continual inner work. Awareness being the first step. We should be strengthened by knowing that this is the work of all of Am Yisrael and that we are not doing it alone. The rewards are so great, for when we forgive and let Hashem back in we can have more love for ourselves, G-d and the Jewish people. This is a crucial part of bringing Moschiach consciousness, which is the consciousness of Purim. May we merit to do this work easily.
*Check out healing links for guides to inner work
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Evil and illusion insights into Purim
In Sarah Idit Schneiders profound book Purim Bursts she states:
Amalek(the national identity oh Haman) embodies the deepest and irredeemable root of evil in the universe.
Meditate on this truth and its profound implications for Am Yisrael now and in the future
Amalek(the national identity oh Haman) embodies the deepest and irredeemable root of evil in the universe.
"Evil is here defined as the illusion of separation and independance from G-d. The illusion is significant since nothing can actually be separate from G-d for G-d is one. To the extent that something presents the appearance of self containment, self soverignty and multiplicity, to that extent it partakes of the quality of evil. Conversely to the extent that it communicates through itself the truth of G-ds oneness, compassion, and generosity, to that extent it partakes of the quality of holiness" (Purim Bursts, 2000)
Saturday, February 21, 2009
משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה
Adar is a month that is always associated for me with navigating through some nebulous spiritual darkness. Therefore I was always confused with how "marbin bsimcha" the increasing joy assigned by our Rabbis to this month fit into my schema. The preparations for the other Chaggim are always with pure joy but there is always a little trepidation for Adar. Memories of sirens through my window from Mercaz Ha Rav last year, and images of bombings in the past... It isn't until the seudah on Purim that I feel that the merky trekking of the month has brought me to the top of the peak where I can clearly see above it all... I can then soar with hashem's oneness and see with some more perspective how my personal journey fit into the tikkun of Am Yisrael.
This year I reread the Netivot Shalom's opening chapter on Purim which says that the "Simcha" of this month is one that flows from Emunah (faith in G-d) that all Hashem does is for the good. He says the greatness of the virtue of simcha is that a Jew is שמח בחלקו (happy with what he has). In addition he believes that all that Hashem does is truly for the good. He says that the work of the month of Adar is to plant in ones heart trust in Hashem. He emphasizes that even in a situation like Purim where the destruction of the Jews was signed and sealed, the power of trust in Hashem can turn the whole decree upside down. He reminds us that every Jew can use this Koach (strength) of bitachon (personal trust in G-d) like Mordechai to sweeten even the darkest of decrees for himself and the Jewish people.
Now I get it a little more... The simcha that we hope to increase in the month is the simcha of true Emunah. This idea brings clarification to some of the darker experiences. We have to know that the tests of Emunah that are present during this month are made more intense so that by passing through them successfully, we will be brought to a place where we have No Doubts that Hashem rules the world for our benefit. We need to believe in ourselves, in our role of the Redemption of the Jewish people. We are Hashems trusted servants for this work. It is so much larger than just our personal work.
We have to know the hidden light available in Purim for this task is so large. Hashem wants our vessels to be clear so that the wine of enlightenment of the Purim seudah flows in easily and through it we get drunk in ectasy with Hashem's love. With any spiritual stains on our glass ( fear, anger, rage, disbelief) or anything else that you can think of that creates a barrier between us and G-d, the ability to "drink in hashems light and love" will be slightly clouded.
THIS is why Hashem makes this month more challenging- it is the sweetest opportunity to have complete Emunah, and thus true simcha. As long as we go into this month knowing this we will have all the power to draw from when times feel a little confused. We need to believe in ourselves, in our role of the Redemption of the Jewish people. We can tell the Yetzer/Amalek/ challenge whatever you want to call it "I know what is going on and my Jewish neshama as part of the redemption of Am yisrael will always survive". May our emunah merit to bring the redemption speedily in our days.
This year I reread the Netivot Shalom's opening chapter on Purim which says that the "Simcha" of this month is one that flows from Emunah (faith in G-d) that all Hashem does is for the good. He says the greatness of the virtue of simcha is that a Jew is שמח בחלקו (happy with what he has). In addition he believes that all that Hashem does is truly for the good. He says that the work of the month of Adar is to plant in ones heart trust in Hashem. He emphasizes that even in a situation like Purim where the destruction of the Jews was signed and sealed, the power of trust in Hashem can turn the whole decree upside down. He reminds us that every Jew can use this Koach (strength) of bitachon (personal trust in G-d) like Mordechai to sweeten even the darkest of decrees for himself and the Jewish people.
Now I get it a little more... The simcha that we hope to increase in the month is the simcha of true Emunah. This idea brings clarification to some of the darker experiences. We have to know that the tests of Emunah that are present during this month are made more intense so that by passing through them successfully, we will be brought to a place where we have No Doubts that Hashem rules the world for our benefit. We need to believe in ourselves, in our role of the Redemption of the Jewish people. We are Hashems trusted servants for this work. It is so much larger than just our personal work.
We have to know the hidden light available in Purim for this task is so large. Hashem wants our vessels to be clear so that the wine of enlightenment of the Purim seudah flows in easily and through it we get drunk in ectasy with Hashem's love. With any spiritual stains on our glass ( fear, anger, rage, disbelief) or anything else that you can think of that creates a barrier between us and G-d, the ability to "drink in hashems light and love" will be slightly clouded.
THIS is why Hashem makes this month more challenging- it is the sweetest opportunity to have complete Emunah, and thus true simcha. As long as we go into this month knowing this we will have all the power to draw from when times feel a little confused. We need to believe in ourselves, in our role of the Redemption of the Jewish people. We can tell the Yetzer/Amalek/ challenge whatever you want to call it "I know what is going on and my Jewish neshama as part of the redemption of Am yisrael will always survive". May our emunah merit to bring the redemption speedily in our days.
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