TABLE OF CONTENTS

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INTRODUCTION

Moshiach Values
The Spider's Web (The Yetzer Hora)
We Are Right
The Time Has Come

The End of Time
The World is a Stage
The Sounds of Silence
The Shabbos Queen

Pain
United Forever
Mysterious Music
Looking Good?

The Blowing Leaf
Joy
Imagine
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Journey to the Soul
Graduation Day
A Flower Child
The Eye of the Storm

Dawn
The Cold Planet (Story)
Blooming
Avraham

Letter
A New Age (Moshiach)
Soul Food (Kosher)
No Strings Attached (Tzitzis)

A Friend (Mezuzah)
The Promise (The Beis HaMikdosh)
First
The Other Side of the Coin (G-d's existence)

Freedom (Pesach)
The Covenant (Rosh Hashana)
Butterfly (Mikva)
Way of Life, (Judaism)

Living (Sefer Torah)
A Man (Bar Mitzvah)
The Final Touch (Marriage)
Truth

The Soul Connection
Private
Sunrise
Mission

The Royal Prisoner (Israel)
Yarmulka
Beard
Memories

Chicken Soup
Conversation
A Gentle Mist
Games

Children?
The Black Hole
It's Showing
Yitizi

Sensitive Soul
Extreme
Angels
Consume Consume

The Circle
Precious Daughters
Friends
Lukshon Kugel

Strands (Mitzvahs)
Give and Take
I Like
Life

Awakening
If
The Package
Boxes

Gefilte Fish
Coming Home (Shabbos)
A Precious Gift (New born)
A Spring Thaw

True Friends
The Secret Weapon
Nothing is Something
Friend?

Mirage (Values)
Soar Like an Eagle?
Maturity
A Living Soul (My mother)

Thank G-d
Innocence (Babies)
Birds
The Flickering Flame

Waves
Journey

INTRODUCTION

©2005

Have you ever wondered where is the heart and soul of Judaism? Do you feel, that it has no life, no meaning, no emotion? Did you ever want an explanation of Judaism, in a simple, fun way?

All these are reasons, this blog was made.

This blog attempts, to give insights and meaning, into the beauty of Judaism, in a very concise, and interesting manner.
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If one can't see inside something, how does one know when it's full? When it begins to overflow.

When one enjoys something a lot, one eventually reaches a point, when one wants to share one's feelings with others.

These articles attempt, to express the feelings of someone, who was touched in a place, never touched before.
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Each one of us has an ember within us, that at times seems to have gone completely out; then suddenly, a gentle wind blows on it, making it flare up into a blazing fire.

May these articles, be that gentle wind.

Moshiach Values

© 2003

Spiritual values

Touching is selfish,
not touching is respect.

If you love only the body, then you can’t love the soul.
But if you love the soul, then you will automatically love the body, forever...

Flaunt your beautiful soul, not your temporary body.
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Ego

The true ego, is the G-dly ego, that transcends self.

One and one makes two, unless they have egos, then they make one and one.

No person is an island unto oneself, but s/he can be a universe, with G-d.
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Desires

Conquering desires, leads to living on a higher plane.

Childish desires, leads to a wasted life.

Like gravity, being pulled down is natural, but the real trick is to rise above it all.

If a person is attached above, then s/he won’t fall below.

Humility, and altruistic motivations, unlock hidden worlds
that are buried deep within me.

By having humility, I become famous, with G-d.

What is important, is that G-d sees me, and knows who I am, and not other people.

An empty bottle has no value, so too an empty person.
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Growth

Excel in your strengths, and improve your weaknesses.

It’s not my money, its Hashem’s money.
I make money, by investing money, in Tzedeka.
When I give money to the poor man, I become rich, spiritually.
Those who seek money, are not happy with money.
Money is finite, Mitzvahs are infinite.
You only live once, if you have no soul.

What makes me greater than you, is that I am kinder than you, more caring, sharing.
When I go beyond myself, my nature, I become great.
A big man is one, who talks to a “little” man.
If a simple person said a great thing, I would learn from him.
A star, is someone whose soul shines.
To be more, is to be less. More ego, less unity.
To be less, is to be more. Less limited- self, more infinite- us.

I am first, when I let you go first, to sit in the front.
Being first, is to be the first one to do a Mitzvah.
I am competing with myself, to always be better.

Being successful, is having health;
the opportunity to serve G-d;
and children that follow in my ways.

The goal is not, to get all the marbles.
The goal is, that everyone should get all the marbles.

Not taking, rather giving.

Being the first in the pecking order of life, makes one a chicken.

Survival of the fittest, or the survival of the soul.
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Intelligence

Being born rich or smart, doesn’t make me rich or smart.
Being rich, is having knowledge of G-d.
I am judged by how much I tried, not how much I accomplished.
My value is based on how much effort I put into, trying to go beyond my natural abilities.
When I work hard to understand, then I am a genius.
What makes me smart, is when I realize that there is a G-d in the world.
A fool, is one that has a G-dly soul and squanders it.

An intelligent person, is one that looks beyond the surface.
S/He sees the good in everybody and in everything. S/He sees the true person.
S/He is not misled by distractions and flash.
A worthy person, is one that realizes, that everyone has worth.
You can’t judge a book by its cover, so too people.
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Beauty

Being prettier than you, does not make me better than you.
As I grow older I don’t decrease in value, rather I increase,

True beauty, is when I have refined character and behavior. Then I am ravishing.
A Yirah Shemayim person, has real, lasting beauty.

True beauty, transcends beauty.
I have to look deep, to see you, the real you.
If you want to look pretty, then you have to act beautiful.
Skin and bones, do not make a human being.
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Love

Love, is finding your Beshert, your soul-mate.

I find my Beshert, through talking, not touching.
Touching distracts, from the real you.

By being close, when we should be far,
we will be far, when we should be close.

Private parts, are just that, private.

Some people dress to reveal their bodies, others dress to reveal their souls.

A love that is based on bodies, will last about fifteen years, (age 20-35).
If one excites only one part of ones being, then the other part (the soul) suffers.

Having many children, doesn’t divide love, rather multiplies it.

A relationship, is when two people understand each others needs.

Guided emotions, is called true love.

You know that you truly love someone,
if you would still love them, after 60 years of marriage.

My wife, is the most special person in the world, because she married me.

A special wife, has a special husband, that made her special.

A handsome man, is a kind man.

Life based on physicality, when the organs wear out, so too life.

Mechanical love, is not human.

Two bodies can’t unite, two souls can.

Blood is thicker than water, but the soul is thicker than blood.

People who only have bodies, have no souls.

The most beautiful woman in the world, is the Rebbe’s wife.

When the shine wears off, the true relationship begins.

Something special, is only shown at certain times.

Hiding is mysterious; revealing is boring.

Our organs are gateways to infinity, that is why they are so attractive.

Relations are for a few minutes, but true love is forever.

Enslaved by the body, or reach the eternal?
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Heat fuses, similarly problems unite husband and wife, man and G-d, spiritually.

When things always go right, we take it for granted,
when things don’t go right, we appreciate it, and grow.

What we have, we take for granted, what is forbidden we are drawn to.

If we would appreciate what we have, instead of what we don’t have,
we would be much happier.

Every person has value, because they are a creation of G-d.

Imperfection, is not an imperfection.

Any lacking one may have, is an opportunity for me to help,
and not a chance for me to put someone down.

We are all equal, striving to do our best.

If my foot hurts, my whole body feels it,
so too, if one person is in pain, the whole world feels it.
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Peer Pressure

Following peer pressure, is for sheep.
The special ones, have the ability to choose, and rise above the average,
and reach the top.

For some, the world is a stage, and they are just actors,
for others, they write the play.

A Jew has to change the world, the world should not change the Jew.
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Riches

Being rich, is having a rich life.
I am rich, when I control myself. Then I am a true success.
To live in an exclusive place, is to live in a holy place, or in a religious community.
Having a fancy Kiddush cup, is worth more, than having a fancy car.

A poor man, is one, that is poor in the knowledge of G-d.
How much I am worth, depends on how many Mitzvahs I did.
Worrying about my possessions, means that the more I have, the more I worry.
Time is precious, not money.

I am judged, by the money I don’t have, not by the money I have,
this being the money, I gave to charity.

Where I live, is not important, but how I live is.
Just because I have a better car, doesn’t mean, that I am better person.
Having more, is not being more.
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Food

Eating good food, is eating Kosher food.
A steak, that had a blessing made on it, is well-done.
The main thing, is not the fleeting taste, rather the lasting elevation.
How it looks, smells, and tastes, is not as important, as how Kosher it is.

More Kosher means, that it is more able to be assimilated by the soul.
It will not cause spiritual cholesterol, by blocking the vessels or channels that connect the soul to G-d.

A small hole in the body, creates a large hole in the soul.
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Clothes

Fancy clothes, are ones that conceal my animal parts,
and as a result, reveal my G-dly parts.

By showing less, I become more.

By making my private parts, public, I become nobody. I’ve sold my soul too cheap.

Just because it is exciting or titillating, doesn’t mean that it is the meaning of life.

Only by uncovering the fake person, can you reveal the real person.
Quality, not quantity.

When light is dissipated, it is weak,
but if it is focused it becomes powerful.
Physicality dissipates, whereas the discipline of spirituality is a laser to happiness.

The body is a holy vehicle, to reach the infinite.
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Strength

Just because I am stronger than you, doesn’t make me better than you.
True strength, is to say that I am wrong, when I’m right.
Peace is the goal, not my territoriality.
Humility unites, ego separates.

True strength, is withstanding the winds of fickleness,
styles, fads, promotions, advertising, etc.

The media wants you to buy, then sells you down the river.

Regarding the Yetzer Hora, the first time is free, after that you pay.
To manipulate my Yetzer Hora, is true greatness.

I compete with myself, and not with you.
I am better than you, when I run faster than you, to help someone else.
I am better than you, when I run to do G-d’s Mitzvahs.
I always try to be the best, person that I can be.
I failed, because I didn’t try.

In the darkest moment, is hidden the greatest light.
One doesn’t grow, by taking the easy path.
When one has reached rock bottom, one can start to grow.
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Happiness

I realize that everything is guided by the “hand” of G-d,
as a result, bad things that happen don’t bother me as much.

A happy life, is seeing the beauty in everything and in everyone.
Doing more, is having more.
More Mitzvahs, more riches.
Machines don’t make one happy, people, and a G-dly life, do.
Leading an electronic life, eventually burns out. TV, is the opiate of the masses.
The greatest sound in the world, is the sound of a child laughing.

Happiness, is knowing that I did the right thing.
Happiness, is a result, not a goal.

Be a truth seeker, not a thrill seeker.

Reading fiction is one thing, living fiction is another.
The greatest high, is to become infinite.

A picture is worth a thousand words,
but an experience is worth a thousand pictures.

A life of meaning, is a meaningful life.

The ultimate goal, is to be the ultimate....
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Life is a voyage. The ship is the body, and we are given the steering wheel, free-choice.

A circle can be viewed as going nowhere, or to be infinite. So too life.

If a person just skims the surface s/he will eventually drown.
A life of a plant, does not flower.
A person that is not connected spiritually, cuts oneself off physically.
Spiritual slavery, is not being able to express ones true potential.
Freedom is connecting with my true nature.
The happiest point in life, is fulfilling my purpose in life.
Having it all, is uniting the spiritual and the physical.

Being a well rounded person, is connecting with my soul.
The soul is like a muscle, if you don't use it, you lose it.
To be great, is to be spiritually complete.
Body is division, the soul is unity.
The more religious, the closer to G-d.

If you feed a tiger, (the animal soul), it only gets bigger.
Don’t only feed it, guide it.
Physical beauty, is a reflection of inner beauty.
Elevated, not degraded. Respected, not used. Give, don’t take.
Ego is like a melting ice cube, that has no substance. It’s like chasing the wind.
We compete with ourselves.
Constantly trying, is constantly being successful.
Clothes don’t make the man, the man makes the clothes.

Free-choice is a G-dly power, one chooses G-d.
Transcend, not transgress.
Time, a thought, a feeling, an action, a life.

Physicality is constantly deteriorating; spirituality is constantly growing.

The highest pleasure, is G-dly pleasure;
but you have to be a vessel, in order to be able to receive it.

G-d recreates the world every moment,
so every moment, is an opportunity to come closer to G-d.

Creation and Creator, meet at man.

The book of life- Chassidus.

The Rebbe, is the Tzadik‘s Tzadik.
Being connected to the Rebbe, is being connected to the truth.
Be a King for a day, do a Mitzvah.

Man transforms lifeless matter, into a heart that feels,
a mind that thinks, a life that achieves, a living being.

Why crawl, when you can fly…

The Spider's Web (The Yetzer Hora)

© 2005

Silky strands, glistening in the entrancing moonlight; slowly shimmering in the summer’s heat. Yet, its seeming innocence belies, what lies beneath...

Enticing man since the beginning of time, it hides in a shadow of a shadow, waiting patiently for the inevitable.

Seemingly innocent and weak, but in reality, devious and irresistible.
It promises ecstasy, but delivers pain. Making the beautiful ugly, and the ugly beautiful.

For eons of time, many have approached its lair and tried to escape, but failed miserably. Making fools of even the wisest of men, its unsuspecting victims are trapped, time and time again.
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Deftly spinning its web in countless ways, the victim’s innocent glance, gives the spider the opening, to shoot its desires deep into his bowels.

The web’s dazzling shine, hypnotizes him, in endless arrays of tantalizing movements and deceptions. One caressing strand, after another, entraps it prey.

Slowly, step by step, the victim comes closer and closer, succumbing to the spider’s irresistible allure. Being pulled in deeper and deeper, into its deadly web.

Suddenly, the spider pounces! Shocked, the captive fiercely struggles to escape. But it’s too late, there is no turning back.
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As bleak night, slowly turns into brilliant day, the spider realizes, that its end is near. It frantically reaches into its bag of tricks, only to find it empty.

All its deceptions have been uncovered, one by one.

Fear races through its being, as it desperately searches one last time; hoping against hope, that just one more trick might be found.

Yes, one is left, the most powerful one- Coldness! For thousands of years it has been hidden, only to be used in a dire situation, for this, the last battle.

The spider gathers all its powers, for this last delusion. It has to work, it cannot fail, all of eternity depends on it.

With Herculean effort, it fights one last battle.
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At first, it seems to be winning; yes one victim falls, another, and another.

But slowly, its energy wanes, as the Tzaddik’s piercing glance, throws the fear of G-d into its abyss; penetrating into the spider’s deepest dungeons; bringing life, where only death reigned.

The game is over.
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Before it was a King, but now only a pauper.
A sad mirage, that entangled mankind in its tentacles, leading them to destruction. Making the worthless seem priceless, and the priceless seem worthless.

Now the mask has been removed; the truth is openly visible. The spider has completed its mission; it has carried man to his destiny.

The time has come; the redemption has arrived!

We Are Right

© 2005

I’m right, your wrong,
It would be funny if it was only a song.
But when it comes to relationships,
it becomes a force that separates.

Up, down, inside-out,
which one is right is open to doubt.
But if it is peace that we seek,
then I must respect you, and you must respect me.

We don’t have to be the same,
in order to be sane,
rather our differences can be our strengths,
instead of causing friction, to fight at lenght.

Like a zipper, each side unites with the other,
so too, you and I can become brothers.

One and one can’t unite,
until we reach a higher light.
The light of the Torah is the only way,
to leave the confines of every day.

I understand you, and you understand me,
that’s the key,
to solve the age old mystery.

Instead of endlessly arguing over whose right,
we listen to each other and stop the fight.
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So let’s both try to see,
if I can understand you, and you can understand me.
Then the whole world will come together,
and there will be happiness forever.

For peace is not just nice and pleasing,
it also has power to bring blessing.
For G-d is revealed in a place of peace.

Then we can touch the infinite,
and help the world become the Garden-of-Eden.
And then we all, will become greater.

So come let’s soar to the greatest heights,
and see the world in a different light.
Then we will realize how foolish we were,
to act like children and be so absurd.

For we will have Moshiach,
and be able to reach our true potential.

When G-d is revealed there will be true joy,
and everyone will always be happy without toys.

The Time Has Come

© 2005

The tiny bundle changing daily, ever so subtly.

The seeds were laid from the beginning of time, only now reaching fruition.
Finally, it has reached its climax. It is now ready for the daring move, into a new life, totally different than the one before.
A bit apprehensive, to take the last breath-taking step, but now there is no turning back.

The instinct that is hidden deep, begins to activate.
Pushed forward by an unrelenting, invisible force.
The contortions begin, twisting and turning in all directions.
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Finally, after a long struggle, there is a tiny break.
Another intense battle, but at last it succeeds; the small break, becomes a gaping hole.
“I’m out! Freedom at last!”
Once an apprehension, now overwhelming joy.

Everything is changing, my feelings, my thinking, the world around. All moving so fast.
What was once beyond grasp, is now easily understood.
Being able to do things, that once seemed impossible.
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The feeling is beyond description, rolling throughout my being.
I discover my glorious wings, and begin to fly in all directions.
Soaring up as far as the eye can see,
and then diving down. Totally exhilarating.

The transformation, is far beyond my wildest imagination.
My hesitance is now long forgotten, as though it never was.
A new being, a new life, a new world.
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Like a child, that has become an adult;
the world has reached maturity.
It has finally achieved the purpose of its creation.

The ugly worm, has turned into a beautiful butterfly.
Now able to perceive G-dliness, and not be blinded.
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As Moshiach’s light pierces through the black hole,
G-dly energy ripples throughout the universe.

The previous world is a distance memory,
now hard to believe that it ever existed.

All of history has been transformed into beauty and grace.
Now a butterfly, that has finally spreads its wings and fly......