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Good question…here are my thoughts…testing, 1, 2, 3.

I believe God does hear our prayers. Gods word says that If we draw close to him he will draw close to us. I think it is always important to pray for Gods will in our lives not ours. Gods word also tells us to seek first his kingdom and then all other things will be added to us. May the true living God of Abraham continue to bless the wonderful nation of Isreal and all КТО would seek YHWH

I believe he does, because I have seen many answers to many of my prayers. Some answers are long in coming, as in years, some come immediately, but He does answer our prayers. There are some prayers God won’t answer, such as I want to marry so-and-so, КТО is already married — He is more just than that. If we ask according to justice and righteousness, He answers sooner or later.

I do not……I am sorry but I think we are on our own.

Yes G-d Hears Prayer! He answers prayer. I can’t name the times He has interviened in my life to show me the way I need to go. To warn me of danger. to show me the way I must walk before Him.
My God is not homophobic. he cares how you treat people. Do you feed the hungry. In as much as you do it unto the least of these you do it unto * Me*. this is how our Holy Book expresses it. Doing fine works to be seen of the people around me does no good for me. In that case my reward is the good feelings I get from having helped someone. The praise of being noticed. instead of the praise of God. Well, God knows the heart. He is just and loving. He will do what’s right and most merciful. I love my Jesus and His Father to the depth of my being. He has lead me in the paths of righteousness. He will not fail even as my life draws to a close. He is my redeemer, my saviour, my friend. My deliver, My God. he loves you just as much as He loves me. We are blessed.

I remember a time when I was very sick. I’d had diarrhea for several days and was confused. I’d finished my classes at state U. and was walking to the buss stop. as I did so. I saw timy gold letters in my hand that formed a phone #. I called it and got help! God is always mindful of His Kids.

The people of Nineveh prayed that Nineveh might be spared (Jonah 3:5-10). G-d answered this prayer and did not destroy the city of Nineveh as He had threatened.Hagar asked G-d to protect her son Ishmael (Genesis 21:14-19). G-d not only protected Ishmael, G-d blessed him exceedingly.In 1 Kings 21:17-29, especially verses 27-29, Ahab fasts and mourns over Elijah’s prophecy concerning his posterity. G-d responds by not bringing О НАС the calamity in Ahab’s time. G-d does make promises that are applicable to all (saved and unsaved alike) such as Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

I think that, perhaps, for me, as a believer, I am aware when God is listening. How? Because of a certain feeling I have inside of me. It brings tears to my eyes. I get this sometimes when I get outside of myself, i.e. when I pray for others needs. Many times, the subject of the prayer, changes and the prayer becomes more meaningful, more focused. I think at times such as these, I am receiving the interceding of the divine spirit of God. Then, I become the listener.

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Sounds great that he may be listening, but it gnaws at me when I think of the 6 million that perished. Oh, how they must have prayed at the time. Do you think that their prayers were answered? Forget that, did they think their prayers were answered as the gas smothered them in the gas chambers?

Are you sure of you beliefs? How do you know? Did you ever question ЗАЧЕМ things are so bad all over the world? Perhaps you are wrong, and have your head buried in the sand.

The question does not exist for me. I’d rather know if there is a time when he does not hear me. Sometimes I wish He should not witness the war that goes on between my body and soul. I am afraid of Him. And I don’t understand Him. It’s humiliating. I’m a 47yr.old male and not looking for too many answers any more, thank you.

Greetings from Tucson AZ!! I believe that Elohim hears the prayers of those that serve him and are faithful to him, and pays special attention to those that keep his Commandments, and answers their prayers. He also hears the prayers of those that do not know him, but seek him, to worship him. If you want his favor look for him when the days are good, and not in your personal agony, everyone remembers there’s a God when afflicted, but no-one remembers in prosperity. So ЗАЧЕМ should he answer us, when we only remember him in our agony? For sure he is not deaf, no is he blind. He is the Almighty Elohim of Isreal..

Obviously one can not say for certain that God is listening, but then again, if you don’t think He is then ЗАЧЕМ are you talking to him in the first place? Religion is all О НАС belief, no matter how you look at it. If you believe, no matter what level, then you believe that God hears you. And if that’s the case, ЗАЧЕМ wouldn’t you bother. It’s like buying a lottery ticket, a dollar and a dream…do most people really think they’ll win? No. But they believe the “might”, and hey, it only takes a dollar and a dream. Well as much as it would be nice to win the lottery, imagine you can get everything and anything you want, including winning the lottery, and all you gotta do is ask…it’s no wonder so many bother during this time of year. It’s a dollar (or two ) and a dream…where winnings can be better than any lottery.

Like in all other God’s commandments…we pray not not for His sake but for ours. I guess the almighty can our prayer, but we can’t. I bother because this is the time to self-reflect and to connect to my grounds…and thus to be again a confident and effective human being.

In Judaism we are actually “commanded” to pray. Given that prayer is viewed as communicating with a being/force/what-have-you that we presumably WANT to be connected to, that’s kind of like being “commanded” to call your lover. It shouldn’t be necessary, but because of all the distractions in life I’m actually glad to be “made” to do so. As they say, prayer is for us, not God.

The more frequently and honestly I pray (everything from “Thanks!” or “Um, God, what exactly do you want me to do today?” to the formal day-long prayer that is Yom Kippur) the more grounded I feel, the better that day goes and the easier it is for me to see how things interrelate in the world. And for some reason, it seems to require actually articulating the words. The less I pray, the harder it becomes to pray and the more distant and blocked I feel.

If we’re dealing with the premise of an infinite being –infinitely powerful, infinitely knowing—ЗАЧЕМ the heck wouldn’t He/She/It be able to “actually” hear our prayers? The real trick is “hearing” God’s side of the conversation. Supposedly if we study Torah, we can feel the connection or “see” answers to our questions. I’m not the greatest at doing that with any consistency, but I also feel that if I’m attentive I can “hear” God through nature or through the people or incidents that appear in my life from moment to moment. Rabbi Steinsaltz often comments that “people don’t really listen”. That’s certainly true of me—someone КТО tends to finish other people’s sentences!

Every year as Yom Kippur comes closer, I feel so compelled to speak to God. I want Him to know how much I want to change my life, to pursue His Ways, which I know are perfect and bring О НАС prosperity spiritually, financially, emotionally, and physically. Pursuing His Ways, I believe is the answer to our needs of this life.
I also choose to speak to Him everyday. He already knows my needs and, yet I speak them and attempt to accept the answer knowing that КТО better can supply for me daily. КТО better knows what will lead me to the most fulfilling life possible.
I love this time of Yom Kippur and Sukkot. To tabernacle with Him-to have Him close. What else could we want?

jaykaye126 needs to repent

I don’t have anything earth shattering to add. G-d is here! He sees, he hears, he reacts all in ways that are beyond or comprehension. We are his children and thus..

I love praying to God all the time .Its when I go to church on Saturday I love praying to him and feel close to him.

Of course G-D listens. Of course He answers. It’s a no-brainer. (And this from a Christian…same G-D, by the way…)

He is all loving and he is right there with you as you go through the war between your body and soul. He isn’t looking for perfection in us, just for us to be human. It is hard being human but for me I’m glad He is there struggling with me, accepting me, helping me, forgiving me, smiling with me, crying with me, laughing with me, being my best friend I can always turn to. I will pray for you.

There has never been a prayer and the desired result.

If G-d dose not listen then to КТОm can we go to?
The question is not does G-d listen,but do we?

Hello and Shalom to everyone… I saw this question and just wanted to comment… I think when you truly love and seek Yahuah or should I say ( HaYah ) exodus 3;14-15 Iam) Isaiah 52:6 ….. with ALL your heart mind and soul.. Deut 6:4-8 HE will listen… and to those КТО are in a truly seeking way HE does provide. I became grated into the olive tree so-to-say. back in Oct 2005. and now are trying to show christians that the man made holidays are satans days to get acknowledged Can any one say this any nicer to get them to understand… this is ЗАЧЕМ Jewish and some christians do not get along …. we need to teach them of the Covenant the Fathers way of HIS Feast days and HIS Sabbaths. … thanks you and Yah bless to all…

ooops sorry I seen above I wrote grated instead of grafted into …. also I know I go by Proverbs 4:2 and Proverbs 28:9.. But its easy to LOVE HIM once you connect with HIM… by HIS MERCY> you have to be truly sorry for all sins which is between you and the Father. HalleluYah. Deni

Absolutely YHWH hears us! Check out Yeshayahu-Isaiah 25:8 – He has concealed death forever, and the Lord God shall wipe the tears off every face, and the shame of His people He shall remove from upon the entire earth, for the Lord has spoken.

Each day, if I am faithful to listen, He speaks to me (bless His holy name! – КТО Am I – that he would listen and speak???). Yet, He Does!!! Sometimes in very small, intimately personal ways – other times for guidance or correction or reassurance – and always in Love!

Recently, I have ceased asking Him to “help me” with my plans, but to reveal to me His plans, that I might “get on board” with Him!

Thank You, my dear Abba/Father, G-d of Avrahim, Yitzach and Ya’acov!!!

I dont have any quotes or anything from anywhere, but i beleive that G-d truly does listen to our prayers. There are so many signs in my own life that hint to it, and if anyone wants to see them in their own lives, all they have to do is pray, and pay attention. If G-d doesn’t listen to out prayers, then КТО causes all those “coincidences”? That in itself sort of proves that there is a G-d out there КТО is listening.

The only way to know this is to pray. But to pray is already to trust that G-d hears.

My relationship with the Lord is one of Master/slave. I walked the path of love for as long as I could. But the СОБЫТИЯ of my life have brought me here. I think О НАС love on occassion, I am working gratitude. I have lost alot, but maybe that is what I deserved. Thanks for the prayer Anna , Patrick.

Re Rabbi Steinsaltz’s comment that sometimes we find out it was much better not to be given the things we asked for. Yes, that may be so on a variety of personal reuqests — but the slaughter of 6 million Jews in the Holocaust in the most barbaric ways while so many of them and Jews around the world prayed and prayed? The death, with pain and suffering no less, of a single child — from cancer, another terrible disease, or a horrid crime — after parents and others praying and pleading for his/her life? Rabbi, Hashem, you say and we believe, hears THOSE prayers. Surely we are “not better off” that He chooses not to answer affirmatively as the ovens cook.

I am so happy I found this today. I am sitting in a hospice bedroom caring for my beloved 56 year old brother, КТО has been afflicted with brain injury and paralysis since the age of 5. As he leaves this life,.I am hurting beyond words as I just lost my only son, 3 years ago in October. How I hope there is G-d and that there is a place in space or time where Josh will be reunited with all loved ones, especially his daddy КТО cherished him. Baruch Hashem, even though as I hurt, I am not sure.

Poteaux I just found this and responded to the question in general. Briefly, I sit in a hospice room caring for my physically and mentally challenged 56 year old brother Joshua. I had lost my only son 3 years ago Oct.1.Parents are gone. I am so filled with the agony of this potential loss, moments, hours or days ahead. Beyond that, I was very moved by your comments, particularly7 the war that goes on between body and soul. I have been cruel to my body and my soul suffers as well. Is there G-d out there please I hope so desperately. I just wish the healing balm of peace was felt after beseeching G-d. It isn’t. I want some knowledge. some feeling NOW while in this pain.

Shawjo2 I am wanting to help any way I can. I am personally on a mental disability but not physically. Unfortunately I can’t take meds. I live alone and my brothers and sister don’t look in on me. Your brother is blessed by you.
The comment of the body and soul are from an essay by rabbi Adin . I believe it is called “Man of War”. Check out the Aleph Society home page and “study with us” . It’s good stuff as is all his work. Yes , there is a G-d. Look , one of my children was mutilated and I had to watch helplessly as the person responsible was protected. I have not been able to protect my kids for years. The imbalance of power and mercy where I live is the reason. I had to ask the lord if he wanted me to kill these people. My family, my community , and my G-d all abandoned me. And still I cannot deny his existance. When I was young, not long after being chosen, the Lord taught me things I cannot even begin to discribe. Most of which I cannot now remember. But I feel if I had not learned those things back then I would not have made it to this point. I can’t ascribe what happened to me as coming from a father, but I can’t deny G-ds existance. I wonder if I am supposed to surrender my will to him again I feel I have come full circle.I will pray for you but I don’t know If G-d will listen to this worthless servent. I will do it today.

GOD is a 3-letter word in English. Most other sentences starting “GOD is….” are statemnts of faith or opinion.

I use the word in prayer in addressing the Unknown, Ineffable yod-hey-vav-hey without any concern, whether, or how, my prayer is “heard.” On High.
What I do know is, prayer is good for me, for my family and for my ОБЩИНЫ (Jewish, American, etc.), focussing my (and our) thoughts and actions on our place in this world and our oppotunities for doing mitzvot.

We are the ipods to Hashem’s radio downloads. Silence between songs causes the listener to check the machine for defects. Silence between the radio host cause the testing between songs. Whether the access point is on or off, our messages always get sent.

Prayer answers a need of man and is a psychological response to that need. God never requested verbal adoration nor homage. God did request certain responses to certain actions. Man’s inhumanity to man is the result of man’s thoughts and actions. God gave man free will and it is up to man to do good or evil. Man determined that God has the desire and the ability to hear. How trivial of man to think that man alone is the most important instrument of God’s creation! Remember the order of creation. Without the sun, the waters, and the air we breathe, man could not exist. God provided them all so that we could exist. The prayers we are asked to recite are not even our own. Prayer, if and when needed, should come from the heart and soul of one’s being and have no relevance to the printed or memorized word. True prayer does not involve biblical quotation or the writings of someone else of another time. If one needs solace, let that come from loved ones and from direct communication. Thanking God gives one a good feeling….even better than thanking other human beings. That’s really what “prayer” should involve.

Hello Brethren, the only Prayer(s) that G-d receive is through His Son Jesus Christ! When next you have chance to visit The Wailing Wall PRAY ONLYIN JESUS CHRIST NAME. More importantly that Temple today is no longer a building I believe according to the Scriptures is a Person!. (OUR LORD & SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST)

Yes, prayers are heard via the Lord Jesus Christ. No one will come to God the Father but through the Lord Jesus Christ!
Yes, God does not dwell in buildings made of stone, but in the hearts of people. However, for the fulfilment of prophesy in the book of revelation, a third temple need to be erected.
Regards,
Carl.

Shawjo2 I don’t know what I can do any more. I don’t know what to say. If you want to talk I’m at poteaux63@hotmail.com. I don’t have 24/7 web access but will be there when I can. G-d help us.

I understand deep grief, it hurts, but remember God is real and his kingdom is beautiful. I love reading the ancient jewish bible because there is so much enriched answers.I encountered grief at an early age and it continued through my journey. Harold Kushner and many other Jewish writers have enriched books to guide you through grief, it does not heal the grief nor take away the pain, only time decreases the pain of deep grief, but the books can touch your spirit in so many ways, there is alot of gray in Jewish books. I found that black and white understanding and writings of some non jewish books never touched me nor did i get enriched true information. I will alway pray for you, just remember God loves you too much and your family, they are all in his beautiful Kingdom filled with too too much love beyond human love, okay.
I also read Rabbi enrich true stories, they are beautiful writers.

If your doing the will of JHWH (Jehovah) what is written in the bible, our beloved God will be hearing you anytime, and everywhere.

If any of you are parents, you know that you don’t always say yes to your children. Imagine if you did! You would not be loving them but destroying their lives. They often don’t understand. They may think we are mean or cruel or ignoring them, or uncaring of their pain when we say no. ЗАЧЕМ do we say “no” sometimes, because we know it will be bad for them. We have a more mature and larger scope of life. How much more does God have this with us? He often says yes. If we kept a prayer journal we would be amazed at how many times he says yes. But when he says no or wait, we lose all hope and doubt his existence. Hebrews 11:6 says “And withouth faith it is impossible to please God. For everyone КТО comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those КТО earnestly seek Him.”

Yes. G-d does listen. He tells us to “Shema”. He will not only do what He wants us to do, He does it better. He listened to Abraham. He listened to David. He listened to Job. It is literally our only means of communication since being sent from the Garden. Of course He listens. And He answers in His good time, and in His right way. It is up to us to listen to His answer and to obey. Or like Abraham, ask again in the most respectful and humble way possible.

i think that our prayers are basically for God to help us understand virtue and knowledge,etc rather than to pray for something individually-we do not need prayers to be answered, we need prayers to be earned by actions,deeds,and clear,good thoughts

Since we know that Hashem is not limited in ANY way, the SUBTEXT to this question would seem to be the real underlying concern, namely: When the Almighty hears my prayer, will he be receptive and agreeable? This is what we often mean when we ask if the Creator hears prayer. The Sages teach us that Prayer is a Mitzva (commandment) AND service of the HEART and that the INTENT of the heart is absolutely critical when performing any Mitzva. Hashem is able to discern what is in our heart even when we are self-deceived. So He can HEAR in our Prayer hidden INTENT that we may not even be aware that we are praying. Because genuine Prayer has as a primary aspect, self-examination, if we are careful to consider what we bring to HaShem in our supplications then we can at least be confident that His response will be in our best interest. Most importantly, if we have in mind BEFORE we approach Him in prayer that His responses are based upon our connection to His Torah and Commandments; His purpose for us in the GENERATION in which we were appointed to live; and finally that He is not bound by time and consequently already has commenced His response to our supplication BEFORE we have even completed it; then we will confidently be able to answer the discussion question, YES! The Master of Creation most certainly hears my prayers!

I am considering whether it is more important that we believe God “hears” our prayers or whether we hear our own prayers.
If God has a place, it is surely not in “Heaven”, but within our own personal souls.
If God is not within us then it is highly unlikely that he is “out there” somewhere.
Human beings might look to themselves first and worry О НАС where God is later.
It is not surprising that Judaism provides a partial answer every Yom Kippur, by requiring us to perform the act of going to our fellow man for forgiveness.
God will forgive us of transgressions committed against him, but in effect creates a higher standard of behavior buy requiring us to actually go to and speak to our fellow humans.
Speaking to our fellow humans.

I am a psychotherpaist in forest Hills NY and listen to people grappling with the challenge of speaking to their fellow human beings…and ultimately to themselves.

A good Shabbes to Rabbi Steinsaltz and to all Jews.
Otto M Berk

ЗАЧЕМ does Jaykaye 126 have to repent? For what?

–I am a jewish person and the way I see this is a bit different.. First of, we ask a higher self with questions silent in the mind=we are being folllowed 24 hours a day by the sprit connection. In french they say the esprit or the E-SPIRT. This is just another name for a connection to our angel that passes through a system called the Matrix in order so the opposition to man does not interfere with our communication with the Angel in which we are all puppets without anystrings attached…….I beleive that god put a fragmentation in our hearts that help us with logical ration for a better understanding…..Thus we add to it the 10 basic rules of life and if we listen to the answers we get from the higher source=to the Angel our lives should be easy yet do not forget the misleading desires of man… Then and thus once we get the answer from the higher up next is to choose what we shall choose, the logic of our angel or the choice of the ombre or soul of man… When the question is deep enough that our Angel КТО is directed under g-d can not decide he will ask his father hashem what should be done… But that is a rarety cause the Angels run under strict rules and the material life is easy to figure out.. If your desires take you away from the rational of life then the desires of the material world would interfere thus we must again follow the logic or logistics of the lord….We are fleshy i robots meaning we are made of flesh with the capacity to make our own decision reguardless of our choice the angels response is the best way to go…Thus under this rule the good lord cut the strings and lets us make our own choices….As I understood Adam was first and he broke the 10 commandments and from that moment on the lord new we needed a few thousand years to figure it out…..He hears everthing that need be heard…. I have many different thoughts. First is ЗАЧЕМ can we not eat pork…..Thus the lord did not want the pig to be extict as he was the way man would remember that we are pigs with great immoral desires…..Now for the Seafood=We must not break a rule of the lord for a greater desire of man s illogical thought so lobbsters reflect the pinching fingers that we put our paws and eyes where they should not be…The lord has not let a messiah come untill the КТОle world was covered with man and thus that is not enough… When there is a man of every colour and cread in each of the big cities of the world he now awaits to see how all the brothers and sisters react under different nationalitiess and religions…I call this national soup, it is now the time the lord watches with big eyes and never interferes to change mans mind….It is Heaven and hell is on earth as Adam and eve broke primary law, so did all man, and it must be man and man alone to correct this, thus our way back into the body of the Angel is of the good thoughts of our choic. Thus should the lord show his face we will act only of being scared… Well my friend it is time to do good and what we were here to do, this world was created for the Angels and the string are cut, as g-d says go, we see the son of light=satan has corrupted everything and searches for the weak so to keep this world for hell…do not forget if hell runs this world without the capabilities of asking the higher up angel this earth and universe will colapse on the clap or the hands of the lord thus croked mans story will neve return to where they came their angel in heaven thus crooked man dies forever along with his story of life is burried for eturnity… How was this universe created, Well As I have read this planet was made for the son of g-d the Angel of light…Well he will die with the planet and those with crooked desires all the rest will go up to heave.. Then again Earth may end up being cleaned up as the Story of atlantis will bury the wicked thus when they are gone this planet will be paradise as like we will eat with the bears and play ball with the lions…..Thought О НАС Moses….There is no way the horses chaased down the tribes of moses as you have witnessed in the john wayne or Clint eastwood cowboy movies the anckle on the horses are weak and there is no water so they could have never chased moses… the spliting of the Sea is not exactly true it was a way to convince the people not to quit walking until they arrived at there destination…Spit this C, draw a line through this letter north south=the sign of the penny..Thus if you drew a line East west it would look like the sign of the Euro……Noahs ark is impossible as the wood in this districk was limmited and somtwood drinks water thus it would have been a sumerine, we know that s not true……I am 47 years old and have been working many years on this… How did this universe come to be… I have an answer that when designed the core or the universes that created this universe is the maggen david……Now talking О НАС the Maggen david..Design the maggen david look at it carefully there are 6 hour glasses for thee 6000 years G-d gave us to prove our ritchiousness….Now take the maggen david look on the east side there is an X oran hour glass, draw a line seperating it, then do the same on the right side, thus you have 2 hour glasses or it looks like an X=roman numerals for 10, so add them=20…then north and south of the maggen david you have a v or ^ sorry another v upside down, together on the clock it is a 6 time 2=12 thus this equasion =2012 thus time is up and the good lord set it up that way.. There is more but I hope i explained myself well.. Waiting for your replay.

Raphael Ben Lazur Lypeh….Lazur=Eysight-Lypeh to strive for your best….Together on T>V Lazur Lypeh is lazur eyes Lypeh = hard head and to leap up….

Congratulations, you have just deconstructed logic, reason, language, not to mention the supernatural as revealed in God’s inspired Word, and it would appear a КТОle lot of truth is dismissed in your expose. God is not an angel according to His Holy Scriptures. “Let God be true and every man a liar…”

Congratulations, you have just deconstructed logic, reason, language, not to mention the supernatural as revealed in God’s inspired Word, and it would appear a КТОle lot of truth is dismissed in your expose. God is not an angel according to His Holy Scriptures. “Let God be true and every man a liar…”

I am not jewish but a protestant christian. and black. I also met some black jews
I just want God to stop all the fighting and discrimination in the owrld.
We are all God’s children and he created all of us equal. How doe sit feel to discriminate other when we ourselves are discriminated upon. It is like reversed discrimination.. God stop and end this madness please.

Dear shawjo2, I am so sorry to hear of your profound grief and loss. I too have lost loved ones and I know that Hashem guards and keeps safe all his children. Have faith and know that we are all reunited after we pass. Have faith in Hashem our father and trust in all his ways for they are good and righteous. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz’s book “the thirteen petaled rose” is very comforting at a difficult time. I wish you peace, love and healing at this most difficult time. Susan

I can feel ur yearning for peace and the desire to make a connection with the lord. I often walk for exercise at a nearby park. That early in the morning I am usually by myself. I use this time to talk to my G_d. Some of prayers I ask “my god my god, walk with me. let me feel the warmth of ur presence and your peace and joy that I am yours forever. And for those КТО hate me, let them know and feel your love and that same joy that I have.

I pray that u find ur connection with our father god and know that no matter what others do or say he is there for you. Kappy

Watching a moth in my livingroom made me think О НАС Jacobs ladder.
The moth would climb higher and higher to reach the light and upon arrival would fly around desperately to access it. After expending all it’s strengh it would fall down to the floor.
After a rest it would try again and again. Sometimes it would get as far as the couch and rest. Then it would continue only to get there again exhaust itself and fall.
I thought, when will Jacob realize he can’t access the light? His purpose is not there, it is here with us.
I think this is a type of communion with G-d, this quiet observation. Thanks for listening.
Ecclesiasticus: Wisdom hidden away and treasure undisplayed,
what use is either of these?
Better someone КТО hides his folly than one КТО hides wisdom.

Certainly G-d hears every prayer. The very hairs of our head are numbered, he knows when we sit and when we stand, he knit us in our mother’s womb; how could he not hear us when we pray?

As for answering our prayers, that’s another question. He sees so much further than we do and from a much broader perspective so the answer we get will reflect His greater insight into the true nature of our prayer. I think this is where trust in our Father come in. Even if we don’t get what was requested, we should still have enough trust and love to thank Him for all that we do have.

Don’t People Cope Daily By Speaking Challenges To Their Fellow Human Beings
By D.K. Milgrim-Heath©2010
Don’t people cope daily by speaking challenges to their fellow human being?
Isn’t this what all of us being religious or not are really seeing?
Does God really answer our daily wanting in prayer?
More than once we wonder what everyone else will think-
The ultimate is our private thoughts of this missing link.
Every man being of every worldly race and creed-
Wants God’s answers to their prayers they need.
God’s given answers do teach us all major lessons for learning-
Do we improve ourselves or are bad things returning?
Are not miracles teaching tools whenever they happen to be?
At least they are for many people and also for me.
Think of parts of the bible being those beautiful lessons of old-
As people prayed and listen for that they needed to be told.
Even now in modern times there’s are lessons still being sought-
Patience, empathy and kindness are lessons of thought.
Ever meet a Godly person by that way in everyone’s eyes?
They’re that way due to wisdom that makes them kindly and wise.
So realize your prayer challenges is just a step towards being-
The type of person (if God answers them) he wants us to be seeing.
God answers our prayers in His time not ours so do understand-
Scriptures tell us that as one’s years pass by as the grains of sand.
Being a believer of Him so almighty and strong-
Then we know challenges are met all along.

how can i know God Answer my prayer?

First of all, in the great majority of cases G-d responds to our prayers through the CIRCUMSTANCES of our personal lives according to the TYPE of prayer that we have uttered. For example, in some prayers, we seek primarily knowledge while in others we need G-d to intervene to bring О НАС a change in our social or material life situation. The key is in figuring out WHAT in a given situation is a sign or manifestation of His involvement with the understanding that He will NOT act in a way that violates His fundamental principles. So if we understand these principles and commandments it will be easier to perceive or know his answer to our own personal prayer.

Secondly, all prayers require us to be directly involved in some way. After we have prayed to G-d, we cannot simply sit there waiting for something to happen BECAUSE, as I have said, His response is going to be worked out through the circumstance(s) О НАС which we have prayed.
This does NOT mean to take matters into our own hands, but it does mean that we are going to ACT in the situation in the same way that HE does by attempting to patiently apply HIS basic principles and commandments as they are called for in whatever we are facing. I must stress again that we must be careful to perform ONLY the commandments that are definitely REQUIRED of us; this is ЗАЧЕМ continuous study of his Torah (His word) is so important.

After you have done everything that I have explained above, something quite miraculous will eventually happen: You will KNOW that He has answered your prayer because of HOW the circumstance changes AND because of the profound change in your awareness О НАС the situation. For example, you will find yourself saying things like “that could not possibly have happened by accident”; “for some reason I feel at peace О НАС it now;”things sort of just worked out for me to…..”;”I was so worried О НАС that but now I’m settled О НАС what must be done”; “for some reason I’m not conflicted О НАС that anymore”; “I never expected things to work out like that because I did not even get the chance to…”, etc. Generally, there is experienced a rather profound awareness and knowledge О НАС whatever you prayed О НАС that seems to bring INNER PEACE–even when the answer does not represent your greatest desire–especially when the answer is NOT what you hoped for AND YET YOU STILL HAVE PEACE!

One major challenge you will face is coping with the fact that G-d is NOT bound by time, so the spiritual “lag time” between when you FIRST uttered your prayer and the time when you finally felt within yourself that He has resolved the situation or has answered my prayer can seem like a long time. So don’t give up or doubt the Creator’s ability to handle your personal problems. The other major challenge is coping with G-d’s answer regardless of whether you find it desirable or undesirable.

PEACE AND A BLESSING TO YOU! AND MAY THE CREATOR FULFILL YOUR PRAYER REQUEST!

Nanaj90, God’s answer to your yearning came 2,000 years ago in a bed of hey. The means by which to achieve it came at Pentecost. The way I see it is that God wants us to be co-redeemers of this mess.

As parents we nourish and care for our children in their youth … but we guide them during this period to the day they mature and become masters of their own lives.

I truly believe God treats us in the same way. He yearns for the day that He sees us stand against the evils of this world and become doers of righteousness in His name. We already know that God loves and cares for us … now we must show that WE love and care for one another.

I must love and care for my neighbor; not because my neighbor loves me or hates me … BUT in spite of his feelings for me. When the other 5,999,999,999 others do this we will have won the race. God has bet His LIFE on us wining. Don’t give up!

His kind of love to you and your loved ones, henry

I am having a big problem with the concept of prayer. I don’t presume to know what G-d wants. However, in the Torah, the only prescription for communicating with the Almighty is through sacrifice. Prayer is a construct that arose immediately prior to and after the destruction of the second temple. I know that the rabbinate says that we cannot sacrifice without a temple – even though our ancestors prior to the temple and the mishkan did – and the Rambam decries sacrifice as a sop that Hashem allowed to provide substance to this new religion for the former slaves. However, since much of our prayers were written by men post temple period, with as much connection to G-d as I have, what makes their prayer formulas valid and shouldn’t we follow Torah commands in this?

On the contrary, there is NO place in the Torah that we can turn and not find the concept of prayer, in its most basic sense, as the intentional
act–related to and yet DISTINCT from sacrifices–of TALKING directly to the Almighty! It is most profound, for example, that in the two major instances in the wilderness when the Nation faced annihilation as a result of Heavenly Judgement from Hashem, that the Almighty would accept NOTHING ELSE EXCEPT PRAYER, THE PRAYER THAT HE TAUGHT HIS SERVANT MOSHE TO PRAY for National disasters of this type: The 13 ATTRIBUTES OF MERCY! The two instances are of course well known, the lashon hara of the Spies and the golden calf event. Hashem would NOT accept sacrifices as the mode of atonement in EITHER ONE these instances even though the Nation was facing possible destruction.

It is also very important to make the distinction between INDIVIDUAL prayer and COMMUNAL prayer. What you refer to as written prayers were adopted for times when the community came together and needed to address the Creator as a UNIFIED КТОle. If this is not a valid principle then you will have to explain ЗАЧЕМ Hashem taught a formal prayer to Moshe instead of simply requiring that in all places and times individuals pray their own prayers?

Finally, I think the lack of a proper education on the meaning of the sacrifices is another problem that needs to be better addressed, especially in the light of the way Christianity has confounded the original understanding of this principle.

You know, sometimes – in fact often – prayers are not just for ourselves, but on behalf of others – sometimes others we don’t even know КТО may be suffering greatly. All throughout today I prayed that God might spare Haiti from the ravages of this terrible hurricane coming their way after the people of Haiti have already suffered so much from the terrible earthquake this past January and the cholera outbreak last month. These calamities are not man-made things (although their impact may be heightened by man-made injustices from previous times, such as racism and environmental degradation, corrupt government, etc.) Maybe God does answer on a time-schedule different from that which we humans might wish, and maybe, like a wise father, he really does know what’s best for us – but when there are lives of our fellow human beings at stake isn’t it natural that we humans should be a little “petulant” and “insistent” in our prayers like a young child КТО wants something now??? Lives at stake is not a frivolous thing – at least not to a merciful God.

Maybe some prayers are answered by God showing people something they can do to help others. This is a start, but there’s so much suffering in the world around us – for instance even if God were to show me some way I could rescue people in Haiti, there’s still Zimbabwe, much of the Middle East, the people trying to survive the wrath of the drug-cartels in Mexico, all our inner-cities, etc. etc.

I’d like to think that every kind impulse or good intention or action is a gift from God and an answer to our prayers – but that still only relieves a very small part of the vast suffering of innocent people in this world. That’s when I wonder: what’s so important О НАС God being omnipotent anyway? Can’t we still have the same relationship in which we look to God and worship him even if he’s not omnipotent but simply sees somewhat further and more clearly than us? Or maybe he could have chosen to be omnipotent but relinquished it to allow humankind to have free will?

What is the importance of God being omnipotent anyway?

From my essay Templix of GNOS found at http://www.scigod.com/index.php/sgj/article/viewFile/49/55

An “Ode To Sir John Lennon On The Anniversary Of His Birthday, The Ninth Day of October.”

Imagine an always and in all ways good and immutable God that is always and in all ways Good to itself. And imagine that always and in all ways good God as being mute as well as immutable. And thus, never ever talking to us, just ever always and in all ways doing its own thing. And imagine us always and in all ways doing our own thing. I.e., imagine that whether or not we realize it, no matter ЗАЧЕМ, and ЗАЧЕМ not, we are doing what we are doing, and not doing, we are always and in all ways doing our own thing.

And now imagine such a God always and in all ways letting us do. and not do. what we are always and in all ways doing, and not doing. And then imagine some of the things that we are doing working out well, and some of the things we are doing working out ill. And then imagine some of the things that we are not doing working out well, and some of the things that we are not doing, working out ill.

That kind of good God gives us the opportunity to walk into our lives and walk through our lives until we walk out of our lives. That kind of God gives us the opportunity to make mistakes, and learn from mistakes, and ignore mistakes, and forget mistakes; just as that kind of God gives us the opportunity to succeed, and to learn from our successes, and to raise high our successes, and to never forget our successes.

What more ought we ask of ourselves and ask of such a good and immutable — and mute — God, if there is such a God? An always and in always good and immutable God that is always and in all ways Good to itself. Especially when we are so often bad to ourselves and to those КТО are both like and different from ourselves?

IMAGINE = IGI [In God's Image] + AMEN

From my essay Templix of GNOS found at http://www.scigod.com/index.php/sgj/article/viewFile/49/55

An “Ode To Sir John Lennon On The Anniversary Of His Birthday, The Ninth Day of October.”

Imagine an always and in all ways good and immutable God that is always and in all ways Good to itself. And imagine that always and in all ways good God as being mute as well as immutable. And thus, never ever talking to us, just ever always and in all ways doing its own thing. And imagine us always and in all ways doing our own thing. I.e., imagine that whether or not we realize it, no matter ЗАЧЕМ, and ЗАЧЕМ not, we are doing what we are doing, and not doing, we are always and in all ways doing our own thing.

And now imagine such a God always and in all ways letting us do. and not do. what we are always and in all ways doing, and not doing. And then imagine some of the things that we are doing working out well, and some of the things we are doing working out ill. And then imagine some of the things that we are not doing working out well, and some of the things that we are not doing, working out ill.

That kind of good God gives us the opportunity to walk into our lives and walk through our lives until we walk out of our lives. That kind of God gives us the opportunity to make mistakes, and learn from mistakes, and ignore mistakes, and forget mistakes; just as that kind of God gives us the opportunity to succeed, and to learn from our successes, and to raise high our successes, and to never forget our successes.

What more ought we ask of ourselves and ask of such a good and immutable — and mute — God, if there is such a God? An always and in always good and immutable God that is always and in all ways Good to itself. Especially when we are so often bad to ourselves and to those КТО are both like and different from ourselves?

IMAGINE = IGI [In God's Image] + AMEN

From my essay Templix of GNOS found at http://www.scigod.com/index.php/sgj/article/viewFile/49/55

An “Ode To Sir John Lennon On The Anniversary Of His Birthday, The Ninth Day of October.”

Imagine an always and in all ways good and immutable God that is always and in all ways Good to itself. And imagine that always and in all ways good God as being mute as well as immutable. And thus, never ever talking to us, just ever always and in all ways doing its own thing. And imagine us always and in all ways doing our own thing. I.e., imagine that whether or not we realize it, no matter ЗАЧЕМ, and ЗАЧЕМ not, we are doing what we are doing, and not doing, we are always and in all ways doing our own thing.

And now imagine such a God always and in all ways letting us do. and not do. what we are always and in all ways doing, and not doing. And then imagine some of the things that we are doing working out well, and some of the things we are doing working out ill. And then imagine some of the things that we are not doing working out well, and some of the things that we are not doing, working out ill.

That kind of good God gives us the opportunity to walk into our lives and walk through our lives until we walk out of our lives. That kind of God gives us the opportunity to make mistakes, and learn from mistakes, and ignore mistakes, and forget mistakes; just as that kind of God gives us the opportunity to succeed, and to learn from our successes, and to raise high our successes, and to never forget our successes.

What more ought we ask of ourselves and ask of such a good and immutable — and mute — God, if there is such a God? An always and in always good and immutable God that is always and in all ways Good to itself. Especially when we are so often bad to ourselves and to those КТО are both like and different from ourselves?

IMAGINE = IGI [In God's Image] + AMEN

Concerning the essay of Yale S.Y. Landsberg, there are two INSURMOUNTABLE problems with it which I will briefly explain. First, and foremost, are the ETHICAL/MORAL problems which concern the TORAH teaching on this idea of imagining ANYTHING that we desire for ourselves as human beings–and by the way, this IS supposed to be a Global Day of JEWISH learning and of celebration of the TORAH and the TALMUD both of which are founded upon the cardinal principle that the Almighty does exist and that He created the Heavens and the Earth in Six Days and Rested on the Seventh Day.

For example, there once was a regime that IMAGINED that the world would be a better place IF the Jewish People could somehow be removed from it. This regime IMAGINED the ideological, political, cultural, and military logistics and strategy for making this IMAGINED idea become a REALITY; and the Nazi regime almost succeeded in exterminating the entire Jewish People. So I’m wondering where the MORAL/ETHICAL boundaries are for Landsberg’s somewhat morally warped utopia which logically and rationally is not really sustainable.

The second problem with Landsberg’s essay concerns its flight from RATIONALITY and LOGIC. For example, I could IMAGINE that human beings are NOT really living on a planet, a sphere, that is at this moment turning on its axis traveling from west to east at a speed of 1038 miles per hour, that the STABILITY of the Earth in its rotation and upon which ALL life on the Planet depends for survival does NOT require the gravitational pull of the Moon or for the Moon to remain at the PRECISE distance that it presently is from the earth. I could further IMAGINE that life on this planet can continue WITHOUT the Moon remaining in the precise location where it is. I could further IMAGINE that the information encoded in the DNA of every species and which sets the bio-genetic boundaries of that species is NOT what makes the species to become what they are. The Torah refers to this bio-genetic, DNA limit via the phrase “AFTER ITS KIND”. NOW, if I IMAGINED that NONE of these facts of reality were really true, would they somehow instantly become unreal just because it is in my mind and heart to IMAGINE that they are not real? Of course the answer is NO!

If I we were to continue to make increasingly more and more detailed studies of the physical realm, the socio-historical realm, and to the degree possible, the spiritual realm, in all their infinite complexity, we would eventually be FORCED to the rational-logical conclusion that the Creator DOES exist, that He is NOT mute, limited, or detached from His creation in ANY way, and that just as DNA is not my IMAGINATION, NEITHER IS HE!!!!

О НАС does GOD hear our prayers? Yes He does. and he knows when your thinking О НАС Him.He wants us to seek Him. Ive found to do this is quietly in my heart and in my thoughts,and try not to offend Him with things i watch and listion to, play him Love songs that people write for him.and when people hurt you seek Him for that He,s really Great at making you feel better. God Loves you talk to Him.

God listens as a loving and detached observer and also gives answers. I feel that to hear God’s answer requires silencing the mind of all the chatter. Become still and know that I am God. Another necessary prerequisite is to know КТО you are. You’re not a body, but a soul, a point of spiritual energy sitting in the centre of your head between the thalamus and the hypothalamus glands. This is the seat of the soul. You occupy a body but you are not that body. You are immortal, eternal and indestructible energy, with the innate qualities of peace, power, bliss and purity. You have become dirty while playing around in the dirty old world of matter. God is also a soul, the Supreme Soul, our Father, our Mother, our Teacher and our Guide. He is the purist being of all and He never is born through a womb. You certainly can connect with Him, in fact, it is the destiny of every human being to connect with God. But it is wrong action that clouds our ability to connect with God. God is like the sun and is always radiating light and power towards us, but we fail to receive due to negativity, peacelessness, fear, anger, guilt, ego and the belief that “I am a body”. To connect with God you have to adopt God’s qualities (which are your innate qualities of peace, purity, bliss truth and power) and begin to see the world as God sees it. God has so much love for every soul and sees us all as His children. He is calling us home at this time because He knows that this world is a mess and impure. All of the calamities, wars, environmental problems etc. are part of the purification process. They are totally natural and they are a result of the collective consciousness of humanity. The world has fallen into total degradation, but we can rise above that and become our highest, truest, most courageous spiritual self, knowing that whether or not my body is destroyed, I the soul am eternally pure, powerful and peaceful and I will exist forever. Even death is okay.
Now, (coming from a place of self respect and power) have a chit chat with God.

Carol

As I read this post, I could not help but wonder, given the original invitation that I received to participate in this ongoing discourse which made clear the intent to CELEBRATE and promote TORAH JEWISH LEARNING, exactly WHICH gOd you are talking О НАС? I ask this question with all due respect and for the following reasons: In the TORAH system of learning G-d is NOT a “detached” observer. In the TORAH teaching, we are NOT body OR soul but a COMPOSITE of the two. Therefore, according to the Torah, to be merely soul or to be merely body is to exist in a spiritually INCOMPLETE state. It is for this reason that one of the 13 principles of JUDAISM is belief in the resurrection. To go further, in the TORAH instruction, physical matter is NOT as you say “dirty”; for the Torah proclaims in very profound terms that everything that was made in the 6 days of creation WAS VERY GOOD–since physical matter was also created during the first six days, it cannot be viewed as something innately evil. The fact that we do not understand from a theological or philosophical standpoint how to reconcile this goodness with the bad and evil in the world does not change the clear statement of the Torah on this matter. In addition, the TORAH word is NOT as you say “calling us home”; on the contrary, it is urging us as partners with the Almighty to affect TIKKUN OLAM which refers to participating with the Creator in the REPAIR of the world; and it should be remembered that our original role as bequeathed to us by the Creator–according to the TORAH–was to be keepers of the EARTH, responsible as conservationist and preservers of its goodness. Note how in the story of Noah that he became a partner with Hashem in PRESERVING the life of the animals that share this planet with us. And whether you take the story as literal or not, the PRINCIPLE that it teaches regarding our role in the Earth is quite clear. In addition, while your discourse seems to advance a kind of gnostic-style DUALISM, a philosophical tenet that is completely incompatible with the Torah, the TORAH, in fact, teaches ECHAD, a ONENESS unlike any other oneness. As the prophet Zechariah proclaimed, “Hashem will be King over all the Earth; on that Day Hashem will be ONE and His NAME will be ONE. This clear teaching of the Prophet does not make it appear that the plan of the Creator is to become more “detached” from his Earth and its inhabitants; rather, it shows that his REAL plan is to affect the FINAL Tikkun Olam whereby the SPIRITUAL, invisible REALM and the PHYSICAL, Earthly, REALM–the “dirty” as you refer to it–will be brought together in a profoundly TORAH spiritual way. Finally, it is disturbing to me that in all of the “bliss”, “peace”, and “love”, that you speak О НАС, the one quality that MOST distinguishes the G-d of the TORAH is noticeably absent: “that you may remember and DO all My COMMANDMENTS and be HOLY”. Also: “LOVE Me and keep MY COMMANDMENTS. Anyone with even an elementary understanding of TORAH teaching is aware of the impossibility of TRULY knowing the CREATOR–another term that is noticeably ABSENT from your conception of gOd–without the understanding that HOLINESS–this includes your term purity–is ETERNALLY bound up with the COMMANDMENTS OF THE CREATOR and that these commandments are in fact the ETERNAL blueprint for ALL CREATION. Profoundly, from the TORAH standpoint, the word LOVE is expressed via a COVENANT relationship, the terms of that relationship being contained in a BINDING agreement–the COMMANDMENTS–that define the nature of our relationship with the Almighty. So, in general while your expressed views DO present a type of spirituality, it is not really TORAH based spirituality which is the
INTENT–another critically important word in the Torah–of the Global Jewish Learning program as I was led to believe anyway.

Hi Carol,
I was going to leave this site to pursue others, but I just cannot get enough of a good thing it seems. I read your comment and also Jimmie’ reply and thought you may like to read something rabbi Adin Steinsaltz produced.
Go to, steinsaltz.org, Study with us >essays> What is the right way to make a cake? It is a good addition to what Jimmie says.
Thanks!

You are right, in saying that I don’t represent a Torah based spirituality. I’m not even Jewish. But wouldn’t you agree that there is only one God, and that God is for everyone, not just for one religion? How can there be a separate God for each religion? So, spirituality has to agree and provide a deeper understanding than religion. This is the problem with scriptures, (although they have had their use in providing the basic laws, but have gradually become adulterated in their purity over time, due to human influence). They have divided humanity rather than united humanity. Look at religious wars. There are certain basic truths which cross all religions. For example, non violence, peace, love, good wishes, purity, right thought, word and action, benevolence, self respect, respect for others, inner power, patience, cooperation, courage, mercy, compassion, humility, etc, etc. Spirituality actually unites people. Look at examples of Jews КТО were persecuted in history, but then there were always stories of amazing courageous people КТО stood up for them and hid them at the risk of losing their own lives. This was truly souls relating to one another as souls, over and above religious beliefs. Religions are associated with the body which belongs to a particular culture, family, occupation, gender, physical location etc. Spirituality says, I’m a spirit. I’m just a point of energy, like you my brother soul. Spirituality makes you a free bird. It helps you to see the bigger picture.

Matter was pure at first, when the world was new, but through the law of entropy has become impure. There was a time which is spoken О НАС in all mythologies when the world was a garden of flowers, when humans and nature were resplendent in their beauty, purity and cooperation. It was paradise. This was a world of complete non violence. Gradually, over time we lost our purity, and consequently, so did nature and all of matter. Right now we are living in a time of total irreligiousness and impurity. But this is okay. It is a time of change. This is the time when God is calling every human soul home to Him. This is ЗАЧЕМ there is greater interest in spirituality. Everyone is crying out for God. Even those КТО are in complete body consciousness are crying out for God, just a rebellious child cries out for the love of his parents in a dysfunctional way. We have become orphans, squabbling and fighting with one another, because we have forgotten our Father. But, the amazing thing is, He actually is already here. And it’s time to put our spiritual house in order (forgive everyone and let go of all grievances) and prepare for the homeward journey to God, into the light. He loves us more deeply than any human being can love us. He is without a body. We truly are also incorporeal souls. Our spiritual Father and Mother, (he doesn’t have a gender because He is incorporeal but has the energy of both a Father and a Mother), is holding open His arms to each and every child, (all souls are His children regardless of religion or behaviour).

Once again, I must disagree with much of your statement although I understand the deep spiritual concern that I believe you are sincerely addressing. First of all, quite a large percentage of the world population, although not all, would concur with you that there is only one God. If we were to focus SOLELY upon this particular block of the world that believes in one God, we would still find many catastrophic conflicts that threaten the very existence of humanity. Obviously then it is not so much a problem that Judaism is advocating that others outside of its religious context cannot know God. The real and more complex issue is the reality of different APPREHENSIONS of God, Spirituality, and Religion that cross-cut innumerable groups around the world. Even among groups that share a single and central religious text, this problem exist; and as history shows us, this has been going on for quite a long time! One small example of this problem is the discourse in which you and I are presently engaged. Whether you are aware of it or not, you are advocating a very DISTINCTIVE RELIGIOUS/theological view О НАС the nature of God, the cosmos, the body, the soul, matter, and evil, all the while believing, erroneously, that you somehow stand OUTSIDE of the domain of RELIGION as a representative of a more pure UNIVERSAL SPIRITUALITY–a spirituality that, paradoxically, possesses the exclusive concepts and definitions of terms like “matter” that you have so carefully explained. Importantly, I am not saying that some kind of universal spirituality in some yet unrealized sense could not benefit humanity. But what I AM saying is that REALISTICALLY as opposed to IDEALISTICALLY there have been TWO outcomes in the history of humanity in an effort to bring О НАС such a universal spirituality: First, and according to our ancient sages this quest finally led to fragmentation of “spiritual” ideas–О НАС the cosmos and everything else–into world wide IDOLATRY together with the violence, destruction and death that have been associated with it. Then in a second attempt to realize a universal spirituality many millennium later, the ROMAN EMPIRE via its adopted form of UNIVERSAL RELIGION attempted to bring together under one spiritual umbrella the ENTIRE world which as you have pointed out resulted in oppression, destruction, and death on a world wide scale. It is therefore difficult for me to conceive of this universal spirituality, especially the very distinctive form of it that you are attempting to impose in a TORAH based forum, especially in view of the fact that the two of us cannot even agree on the theological conceptualization of terms like “matter”. And as I have previously indicated, the DOCTRINE that you are advancing concerning matter, the body, the soul, etc., is not only incompatible with Judaism, it is also not necessarily seen as spiritually universal among other philosophical and/or theological settings of a more secular/liberal nature. The most we can realistically anticipate at the present time is mutually respectful, meaningful, and genuine dialogue О НАС spiritual matters. In the present case the focus is TORAH-based spiritual learning in a forum focused exclusively on this approach to spirituality. So if I was a person unfamiliar with the Torah orientation toward spirituality, being respectful, I would seek to PARTICIPATE in this unique spiritual learning experience rather than try to impose something altogether different from outside. And of course this would not necessarily exclude questions in order to point out differences and similarities between the Torah view and others.

To the original debate, Adam and Eve were ‘with’ the Lord in Eden. The ‘corrupted’ material world was a side effect of sin and they were separated from the Lord’s intimate presence. (sin cannot inhabit the perfect Truth in eternity otherwise it is no more perfect) The Book of Adam and Eve declares the Lord had pity on them to hear their prayers when they vehemently cried out for helps. As recorded in Jubilees, Abram discerned, or was given understanding, to perceive the emptiness of his Dad’s idolatry in worshiping material objects. Turning away from materialism, he separated himself to the invisible Lord of all things. By respecting Abraham’s obedience to offer his only beloved son, the Lord answered his action with a substitute ram; a material illustration which can be interpreted spiritually as symbolism of Jesus’ ultimate Work, to give himself in the flesh as a substitute for the sinful flesh of others, that they might be released from the bondage of the flesh to find the invisible Lord. (order of operation transposed) Solomon’s prayer was respected and answered when he prayed for the invisible treasure of wisdom but the Lord gave him material blessings as well. A component of the spiritual act of loving another is giving a material deed or object; the Lord has given this marvelous world to humanity in the Spirit of Love? All or nothing logic seems to be an issue, when scriptural teaching (and life experiences) declares a mixture of material and spiritual (visible and invisible) issues. Hence, the Lord honors both material and spiritual dedication and judges to respect whatsoever righteousness may be to hear a plea of prayer. By a literal/material obedience to the Law in the Torah, the first witness of Jesus upon the earth cannot be accepted, but they will accept him upon his second appearance, nevertheless this will turn out to be a spiritual righteousness by holding to a material/literal obedience of the Law of Moses by faith? It is a mixture, not all one way or the other. The Lord of all things judges the mixture in a human mind, body and soul whether to answer or ignore their prayers. Degrees of pride and humility open the debate further, whereas pride generally indicates ingratitude and humility generally verifies thanksgiving for the Lord’s blessings? ‘Ye shall have equal and just weights upon your balances.’ -hope to have added to this debate worthwhile ideas, thanks

You are to be congratulated on your presentation of a decidedly CHRISTIAN interpretation of the Book called by JEWISH people, “Bereishit”. In the Christian bible it is called “Genesis”. Now, if we are to truly make any progress in understanding each other, it seems only reasonable to start with the fact that the Christian and Jewish INTERPRETATIONS of the Bible are not the same. So when you use terms like “corrupted”, “material”, “flesh”, “lord”, “spiritual”, “law”, “Torah”, “Moses”, “faith”, “humility”, and “sin”; recognition of these differences is critical.

The basic theme that runs throughout your statement is quite old going back to the first century, over 2000 years ago! More specifically, it is the teaching of ONE of the many BRANCHES of CHRISTIANITY that developed after the original community became fragmented. I am of course referring to GNOSTIC CHRISTIANITY. The teaching of this branch was DUALISTIC with a “higher” spirituality that, it was thought, transcended the written TORAH–including all of it’s commandments that apply to the physical world and existence–and the G-D of the Torah; and it had a “lower” spirituality that included all of the “MATERIAL” , “physical”, world and “MATTER”. These Gnostic Christians did not only place the TORAH in the lower sphere of spirituality but also went one step further to place the person that you refer to in your document in the UPPER sphere. So as they understood things, MOSHE and the Torah were considered to be a less perfect spiritual representation of this “savior” КТО was supposed to have originated from the upper sphere together with a more perfect “father” that was not supposed to be identified in any way with the G-d of the Torah. In short, Moshe’s receiving of the Torah although possessing spiritual value was seen as the somewhat spiritually incomplete “material” version of the more “true” and “perfect” “spiritual” version from beyond. To avoid misunderstanding, I am NOT suggesting that your discussion is an EXACT duplication of these early teachings although it is PRETTY CLOSE! However, it is true that most Christians are not aware of how aspects of these teachings ended up in the “new testament” scriptures that they consider to be ultimate “truth”.

Your solution to what you view as the material vs. spiritual dichotomy; a dichotomy that I must tell you does NOT exist in Judaism anyway and which would tend to make unnecessary that aspect of your discourse; is to present what from your standpoint must be the ultimate representation of this “higher” spirituality: this person which you believe to be “typed” or symbolized in the story that Jewish people refer to as the “AKEIDAH”. You might know it as the “binding of Isaac”. Unfortunately, this ultimate symbol is absolutely incompatible with Judaism and for reasons that are too numerous to mention. But here is a short list of points that you seriously MUST consider if you are going to discourse in a meaningful way in a TORAH JUDAISM forum:

IN JUDAISM:

1. The written Torah that Moshe received on Mt. Sinai IS from HEAVEN, the abode of G-d, the one and only Creator of Heaven and Earth and is, therefore, Divine Revelation. The Torah makes EXPLICITLY clear that we do NOT need ANYONE to bring it down from heavenly places for us. We already possess it.

2. Human Sacrifice throughout the recorded history of the bible is regarded as gross pagan IDOLATRY. Consequently, resorting to the Akeidah or Isaiah 52 and 53 to justify it is a misreading of the text as it was originally intended. What the Christian community fails to understand is that the person they worship is a COMPOSITE of more than TEN other Pagan Roman “Christ” figures—a “Designer” Christ of sorts–КТОse blood and flesh one WAS required to drink and eat, respectively; the rituals and doctrines of these pagan “saviors” were worked into the New Testament text largely to satisfy a Roman public that ALREADY had their OWN “saviors” many of them depicted hanging on crosses prior to the new testament time. Yet NO place in the original authentic biblical text do we find these practices–NOR did they exist AT FIRST in the original Christian community!

3. Atonement in the Torah system is not affected simply by presenting a sacrifice of ANY kind and the ULTIMATE way in the Torah teaching of acquiring atonement DOES NOT INVOLVE SACRIFICES WHATSOEVER!

4. Human beings are NOT in the “bondage” of the flesh because the flesh is NOT a prison in TORAH JUDAISM. The ancient Gnostics, much of КТОse doctrine found its way into the New Testament text, DID, however, believe that the flesh was bondage.

5. In Judaism, human beings are NOT born spiritually “corrupted” and the teaching of Genesis is NOT that the entire creation became hopelessly corrupted. For example, Bereishit Chapter 8 clearly says that G-d would NO MORE CURSE THE GROUND. Careful reading of the appropriate passages shows that the Creator RESTORED the ground so that it would once again bring forth the blessing and bounty from the Earth. If this is not the case then it will be hard to explain how the promised holy land of the Jewish people would require prayers and blessings of thanksgiving if what comes forth from it is hopelessly “corrupt”—I know that you stop short of actually going this far. But you still retain many aspects including a form of the Gnostic Dualism of earlier times.

6. The Jewish Messiah–or as you would say “Christ”–is NOT a gOd-mAn
born of a human female and a god. Notwithstanding the “soft-peddling” of many Jewish teachers in this generation, this is considered gross IDOLATRY in Judaism and according to the TORAH. This was, however, the clear teaching concerning ALL of the other PAGAN ROMAN “Christs” КТОse rituals, nativity, and doctrines predated the Early Christians of the first century; moreover, a careful reading of the history will show that AT FIRST such beliefs DID NOT exist in their community either.

I could of course go on pointing out the differences between the Jewish Torah view and Christianity, but I think the point is clear. Ignoring these differences just makes our dialogue hopelessly confusing. Our ОБЩИНЫ, as I have said before simply DO NOT share the same APPREHENSION of G-d, so it doesn’t make sense to engage in discourse in a way that assumes that they DO.

Reply to Jimmie 2 days ago

Very well said!