Friday, May 27, 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

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