There was a huge song that came out in 2008 called "Forever". Eminem, Kanye West, Drake were featured on #forever which sold millions of units. Drake's says something that gave me insight to why God told Moses he was going to hardened Pharaoh's heart. Drake says in his verse on Forever; "Started off local but thanks to all the haters
I know G4 pilots on a first name basis".
Most of the commentaries around God's statement to Moses in pasha Va'era 7:4 "I will harden Pharaoh's heart," has to do with an idea from the midrash - that Pharaoh was punished because he was unjustly cruel to the Israelites; God's chosen people. Arguably there was no Torah revealed. So, I'm not sure what commandment Pharaoh was breaking by being unjustly cruel to the Israelites?
In my opinion: God hardened Pharaoh's heart to teach us that we should not judge haters. But rather, think about the energy that's influencing them, making them hate?
All the love you receive, all the hating we receive, is from God. How could we know what love is without hate?
Have compassion for your haters because God is using them as a vehicle to push you towards greatness. Success that you would not have pursued on your own. Growth you would not have pursued on your own. All inspired by your haters - Which is the reason why Drake's verse (Started off local but thanks to all the haters
I know G4 pilots on a first name basis) on "forever" should also remind us of the Torah's idea (7:4) - that all hating from haters leads to Greatness for the righteous!
-Shariff Mordechai Hazan for Congress 2016
Monday, May 30, 2016
Friday, May 27, 2016
From a legal perspective
From a legal perspective: did Adam really disobey God In the Garden of Eden? when you think about it: God told Adam not to eat from the tree and technically he didn't, eat from the tree; Adam ate from his wife's hands. from a technical standpoint where did adam sin? Even to the point - when God confronts Adam about eating from the tree, he says; the woman that you gave me brought me, which could be interpreted as him passing blame or it could be stating the obvious- that Adam did not eat from the tree and did not disobey God..What do you think?
Then the next obvious question is: if Adam didn't sin, did Chava sin? In the book of Exodus God tells Moses that Moses will be a God to pharaoh. Which is similar to what the serpent promised Eve. Not that she would be a God over Pharaoh but rather Chava and her husband will become Gods themselves. ....Arguably one could say, that, the serpent gave Eve the ability to understand God's law on a deeper level. Maybe on a simple level - when God tells Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree or they will die, it sounds like the way we read it; if you eat from the tree you will die, as if the tree is poisonous and eating is a grave sin....but maybe, the serpent was teaching eve, it wasn't about the literal sin and death. maybe it was about seeing the reality of good and bad which could lead to death. And maybe not a physical death but a spiritual death.
Like for example, a person falling in love for the first time and not knowing what it is to have your heart broken - but at the same time if you don't have your heart broken it's hard to know what true love is.
So God said "don't eat from the tree, Lest you shall die" and the serpent comes along and says basically that you can only know what life and death is if you eat from the tree. My argument is - What made Eve and Adam unique to the rest of creation, and what makes humans unique to the world, was this ability to question or reinterpret Gods law.
-Shariff Mordechai Hazan for Congress 2016
Then the next obvious question is: if Adam didn't sin, did Chava sin? In the book of Exodus God tells Moses that Moses will be a God to pharaoh. Which is similar to what the serpent promised Eve. Not that she would be a God over Pharaoh but rather Chava and her husband will become Gods themselves. ....Arguably one could say, that, the serpent gave Eve the ability to understand God's law on a deeper level. Maybe on a simple level - when God tells Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree or they will die, it sounds like the way we read it; if you eat from the tree you will die, as if the tree is poisonous and eating is a grave sin....but maybe, the serpent was teaching eve, it wasn't about the literal sin and death. maybe it was about seeing the reality of good and bad which could lead to death. And maybe not a physical death but a spiritual death.
Like for example, a person falling in love for the first time and not knowing what it is to have your heart broken - but at the same time if you don't have your heart broken it's hard to know what true love is.
So God said "don't eat from the tree, Lest you shall die" and the serpent comes along and says basically that you can only know what life and death is if you eat from the tree. My argument is - What made Eve and Adam unique to the rest of creation, and what makes humans unique to the world, was this ability to question or reinterpret Gods law.
-Shariff Mordechai Hazan for Congress 2016
What does God's name mean to you?
The Torah says the "name" of God that was revealed to Avraham, Itzhak and Jacob was different then the name of God revealed to Moshe.
The great commentator Abraham ibn Ezra said the "name" of God that was revealed to the Patriarchs, gave them Divine speech, the ability to rise above the astrological influences, change their destiny and receive God's mercy, protection. Conversely the "divine name" revealed to Moses gave the Israelites the ability to transform physical nature at will (rod into a snake etc).
To the point: Moses was able to split the Red Sea and bring plagues to Egypt using the "Divine name" given to the Israelites. The Patriarchs couldn't conceive of such a power over the laws of nature.
The different names of God represent different levels of God's power that we all have access to according to the Sages.
One could argue.. that just by being a good person, an individual can rise above the daily negativity they encounter; like the Patriarchs did. From that same premise, one could argue that studying Torah awakens a person's inner power. Not just to overcome challenges but the ability to transform challenges into miracles, obstacles into opportunities... the ability to transform nature; like Moses did.
Learning Torah represents a greater revealment of God's power vs just knowing God exist and being a good person...
In the same way, knowing God exists and being a good person is one level of life- A level of life that's positive, one that can achieve God's mercy. At the same time our sages say - there's a much greater, more fulfilling level of life. The power to transform every obstacle into pleasure (Manna).
The sages say learning Torah awakens the inner greatness/power that every human being is born with.
You're already great! according to the Sages - the Torah gives us tools (laws) to reveal our greatness in this lifetime.
-Shariff Mordechai Hazan for Congress 2016
The great commentator Abraham ibn Ezra said the "name" of God that was revealed to the Patriarchs, gave them Divine speech, the ability to rise above the astrological influences, change their destiny and receive God's mercy, protection. Conversely the "divine name" revealed to Moses gave the Israelites the ability to transform physical nature at will (rod into a snake etc).
To the point: Moses was able to split the Red Sea and bring plagues to Egypt using the "Divine name" given to the Israelites. The Patriarchs couldn't conceive of such a power over the laws of nature.
The different names of God represent different levels of God's power that we all have access to according to the Sages.
One could argue.. that just by being a good person, an individual can rise above the daily negativity they encounter; like the Patriarchs did. From that same premise, one could argue that studying Torah awakens a person's inner power. Not just to overcome challenges but the ability to transform challenges into miracles, obstacles into opportunities... the ability to transform nature; like Moses did.
Learning Torah represents a greater revealment of God's power vs just knowing God exist and being a good person...
In the same way, knowing God exists and being a good person is one level of life- A level of life that's positive, one that can achieve God's mercy. At the same time our sages say - there's a much greater, more fulfilling level of life. The power to transform every obstacle into pleasure (Manna).
The sages say learning Torah awakens the inner greatness/power that every human being is born with.
You're already great! according to the Sages - the Torah gives us tools (laws) to reveal our greatness in this lifetime.
-Shariff Mordechai Hazan for Congress 2016
Interesting ideas
It's an interesting idea: when you think about Adam and Eve eating from the tree. God forbade them to, and immediately they hid from God.
To an extent, it shows, that Adam and his wife, were both inherently righteous - because Adam and Eve knew they made a mistake and we're ashamed. So many people make mistakes and disobey God never to think about the consequences. We learn from Adam and Eve - knowing that you made a mistake is the 1st step in correcting the mistake..
On another note:
I wonder if Miriam following Moses down the river looking out for his well-being, could be compared to the Israelites going through the Red Sea and God's Schechinah being there to protect them?
To an extent, it shows, that Adam and his wife, were both inherently righteous - because Adam and Eve knew they made a mistake and we're ashamed. So many people make mistakes and disobey God never to think about the consequences. We learn from Adam and Eve - knowing that you made a mistake is the 1st step in correcting the mistake..
On another note:
I wonder if Miriam following Moses down the river looking out for his well-being, could be compared to the Israelites going through the Red Sea and God's Schechinah being there to protect them?
Not looking back anymore
2 a degree you could say the Israelites Exodus from Egypt largely had to do with a conscious and subconscious belief - that their historic lineage did not originate in Egypt. Although, the Israelites were living there, they knew to a degree it was not their home. It was a place where the Israelites were considered strangers living amongst the Egyptians.
As the pressures of living in Egypt increased in the midst of tremendous tyranny and oppression. It made perfect sense that a Redeemer would come leading the Israelites into a new place, a new way of thinking.
Similarly every human being on planet Earth did not originate on planet Earth. According to Kabbalah, the human soul existed in the heavens before it enters the mother's womb. So in the same way as the Israelites, we should have no issues leaving our personal Egypt behind. Meaning.. moving forward in life, taking Our Lives in a New Direction. Leaving the past to enter a new future, a new beginning. According to kaballah, we originate in heaven and eventually we will return to God in the heavens.
So we should have no fear leaving the past behind because it's not Who We Are; it's an experience leading us to the next. Just like the Israelites mentally leaving Egypt going to somewhere greater, leaving the past behind. God gave us the holiday of pesach as a spiritual technology over 3000 years ago. Giving us the tools to Elevate our consciousness, moving ourselves, our community and all of humanity into a new era of thinking.
Letting go, is "letting the real you manifest in real time!"
As the pressures of living in Egypt increased in the midst of tremendous tyranny and oppression. It made perfect sense that a Redeemer would come leading the Israelites into a new place, a new way of thinking.
Similarly every human being on planet Earth did not originate on planet Earth. According to Kabbalah, the human soul existed in the heavens before it enters the mother's womb. So in the same way as the Israelites, we should have no issues leaving our personal Egypt behind. Meaning.. moving forward in life, taking Our Lives in a New Direction. Leaving the past to enter a new future, a new beginning. According to kaballah, we originate in heaven and eventually we will return to God in the heavens.
So we should have no fear leaving the past behind because it's not Who We Are; it's an experience leading us to the next. Just like the Israelites mentally leaving Egypt going to somewhere greater, leaving the past behind. God gave us the holiday of pesach as a spiritual technology over 3000 years ago. Giving us the tools to Elevate our consciousness, moving ourselves, our community and all of humanity into a new era of thinking.
Letting go, is "letting the real you manifest in real time!"
Wherever I May stand.
So the Torah says in parsha Shemot one day Moses was walking minding his business. Suddenly from a distance Moshe saw a burning bush. As he approaches the bush, Moses hears a voice, the voice of God, telling him not to come any further because where he stands is Holy.
It's an interesting idea from the standpoint that mental slavery is the belief system that God, happiness & joy are somewhere outside of us. Moses's purpose in life was to free the whole world from mental slavery. It's almost like God is telling Moses that even though he sees Divinity in the burning bush, where he stands is just as holy.
The Material World uses the idea of "the grass being greener on the other side". There's so many ideas in our society convincing us how to connect and how to reach God but in this scenario, the Torah is showing us- that once we acknowledge God's existence Everywhere We Stand Life is Holy.
It's an interesting idea from the standpoint that mental slavery is the belief system that God, happiness & joy are somewhere outside of us. Moses's purpose in life was to free the whole world from mental slavery. It's almost like God is telling Moses that even though he sees Divinity in the burning bush, where he stands is just as holy.
The Material World uses the idea of "the grass being greener on the other side". There's so many ideas in our society convincing us how to connect and how to reach God but in this scenario, the Torah is showing us- that once we acknowledge God's existence Everywhere We Stand Life is Holy.
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
light of the Torah?
A lot of people say the 1st commandment God ever gave to mankind was- God telling Adam to not eat from The Forbidden Tree (Genesis 2:17).
But I disagree, the Torah says clearly that man was created from the dirt of Earth( Genesis 2:7). Which means mankind is made of the same molecules that the Earth was created with. In the beginning When God created the heavens and the Earth ( Genesis 1:1).
So, my question is.. before God created Adam from the Earth, did mankind still exist in creation but in a potential state? If so.. I'm saying that mankind received its 1st commandment in its potential state - when God says; "let there be light! (Genesis 1:3)
It's an interesting idea: when you think about the idea of the Torah teaching all of humanity how to be a light to itself and to others (Isaiah 42:6).
Maybe Adam not eating from the tree (Genesis 2:17) had more to do with him being a light, by (restricting) not eating it, following God's way of life, vs something wrong with the tree itself.
Is Torah teaching us how to be a light to the rest of humanity?
But I disagree, the Torah says clearly that man was created from the dirt of Earth( Genesis 2:7). Which means mankind is made of the same molecules that the Earth was created with. In the beginning When God created the heavens and the Earth ( Genesis 1:1).
So, my question is.. before God created Adam from the Earth, did mankind still exist in creation but in a potential state? If so.. I'm saying that mankind received its 1st commandment in its potential state - when God says; "let there be light! (Genesis 1:3)
It's an interesting idea: when you think about the idea of the Torah teaching all of humanity how to be a light to itself and to others (Isaiah 42:6).
Maybe Adam not eating from the tree (Genesis 2:17) had more to do with him being a light, by (restricting) not eating it, following God's way of life, vs something wrong with the tree itself.
Is Torah teaching us how to be a light to the rest of humanity?
Thursday, January 7, 2016
say something about me and see what happens!
If you truly love God, you truly love yourself.
What does that mean?
God creates everything.. meaning all of your actions, good or bad were created by God.
What's the significance of this point?
The point is: a person should never be ashamed or proud of themselves?
Why not?
Because the mistakes we've made are mistake that God manifested and the same goes for our successes.
God creates a person's life!
God created the experiences people have throughout their lives!
God controls, what information a person receives throughout their lives and how they're going to react!
So...
if, a person wants to talk about your life for the purpose of embarrassing you or shaming you.
if you love God, you should agree with them at least their perspective - because everything is created by God (even their Limited perception). Tell the one's using evil speech, to say it louder, get a bullhorn, create a commercial. Let them tell the whole world; for you have nothing to be ashamed of!!!
The mistakes.. they're trying to Shame you with, are not your mistakes -they are God's mistakes. You're only a participant in the mistakes you've made in life - God gives us the ability to repent, grow and move forward. Receiving judgment/evil speech from others is apart of the growing process; embraces it!
The concept of success is purely God's manifestation. We're only participants in the success and should be thankful, to participate in something great. Even if the world tries to convince us we're the next Michael Jordan - everything's from God!
Even, if it looks like we created a disaster or created something miraculously successful - it's from God.
No one can harm you with evil speech; if you love God, there's nothing for you to be ashamed of. God created your story, God created your life, God gave you a path to redemption. No one can take or stop whats Destin for you, only you can. People who unfriend you because of gossip were never your friends to begin with. Same goes for love relationships affected by evil speech; it was never going to happen anyways - or it was destined to happen NO matter what anyone says.
Arguably, one could say.. God gave Adam the evil inclinations to eat from the tree. In the same way, God gave Yoseph the ability to speak the right words to Pharaoh. Adam's challenge, was to do repentance and Yosef's challenge, was to give all praise to God.
I can speak for myself and say I love God so much I fear no words from anybody - nor do I seek words of approval from anybody (but my future wife).
Because seeking approval or fearing opinion - is not, believing in God. It's believing in myself,my EGO and there's no happiness in believing in my EGO.
So - say whatever you need to say, tryin to embarrass me!!!
it doesn't matter!!!
I'm still going to be there!!!
With my family, one day!!
I'm going to continue on, week after week, year after year, decade after decade... way after the evil speech sayers move on to somewhere else. This is the beginning of my life; it's only up from here!
Let me repeat myself: I have no issue with evil speech or gossip about me,my story, my political views or who I aspire to be -- anything anyone says about me is between them and God --- I love myself, because I love God and what God has given me ---there's no shame in my game because more happiness is what I seek to gain. I'm just being me, with absolutely no fear, as you can see!
What does that mean?
God creates everything.. meaning all of your actions, good or bad were created by God.
What's the significance of this point?
The point is: a person should never be ashamed or proud of themselves?
Why not?
Because the mistakes we've made are mistake that God manifested and the same goes for our successes.
God creates a person's life!
God created the experiences people have throughout their lives!
God controls, what information a person receives throughout their lives and how they're going to react!
So...
if, a person wants to talk about your life for the purpose of embarrassing you or shaming you.
if you love God, you should agree with them at least their perspective - because everything is created by God (even their Limited perception). Tell the one's using evil speech, to say it louder, get a bullhorn, create a commercial. Let them tell the whole world; for you have nothing to be ashamed of!!!
The mistakes.. they're trying to Shame you with, are not your mistakes -they are God's mistakes. You're only a participant in the mistakes you've made in life - God gives us the ability to repent, grow and move forward. Receiving judgment/evil speech from others is apart of the growing process; embraces it!
The concept of success is purely God's manifestation. We're only participants in the success and should be thankful, to participate in something great. Even if the world tries to convince us we're the next Michael Jordan - everything's from God!
Even, if it looks like we created a disaster or created something miraculously successful - it's from God.
No one can harm you with evil speech; if you love God, there's nothing for you to be ashamed of. God created your story, God created your life, God gave you a path to redemption. No one can take or stop whats Destin for you, only you can. People who unfriend you because of gossip were never your friends to begin with. Same goes for love relationships affected by evil speech; it was never going to happen anyways - or it was destined to happen NO matter what anyone says.
Arguably, one could say.. God gave Adam the evil inclinations to eat from the tree. In the same way, God gave Yoseph the ability to speak the right words to Pharaoh. Adam's challenge, was to do repentance and Yosef's challenge, was to give all praise to God.
I can speak for myself and say I love God so much I fear no words from anybody - nor do I seek words of approval from anybody (but my future wife).
Because seeking approval or fearing opinion - is not, believing in God. It's believing in myself,my EGO and there's no happiness in believing in my EGO.
So - say whatever you need to say, tryin to embarrass me!!!
it doesn't matter!!!
I'm still going to be there!!!
With my family, one day!!
I'm going to continue on, week after week, year after year, decade after decade... way after the evil speech sayers move on to somewhere else. This is the beginning of my life; it's only up from here!
Let me repeat myself: I have no issue with evil speech or gossip about me,my story, my political views or who I aspire to be -- anything anyone says about me is between them and God --- I love myself, because I love God and what God has given me ---there's no shame in my game because more happiness is what I seek to gain. I'm just being me, with absolutely no fear, as you can see!
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