True Rest

 Shabbos is known as the day of rest. At first, the concept of "rest" seems simple, relax, spend time with family, eat tasty food and physically rest. How do we then understand that Halachically it is more "restful" to walk ten miles to a shul than to take a five minute drive there? Obviously the concept of "Shabbos rest" is deeper and more subtle than it would seem at first.

The source for the concept of Shabbos rest comes from the paradigm set up in the Torah that G-d worked for six days and then on the seventh day He rested. This idea is expressed in Genesis as "G-d rested on the seventh day after the work which he had done." What these verses imply is that there is a balance and separation between accomplishment/work and satisfaction/rest.

One of the most difficult and challenging of lifes skills to master, is the ability to "live in the moment." Children despite their lack of maturity and development, paradoxically are masters at living in the moment. Children cherish  each and every moment like it is the only reality which exists in their lives. Children unbashfully don't worry about the" future" or "self development" and whole heartedly experience each and every moment as who they are now. As these children grow older they may become obsessed with ideas like "self development", "change", "goals", "careers", "dreams," and many other positive, future orientated activities. As positive and healthy these goals and future aspirations may be, they can easily and maliciously steal the bearer of these dreams from the "magic of the moment".  Future orientated thinking can easily distance one from the magic of the"process"of life; the magic which encompasses the fullness found in the "unfinished" human being".

The depth of the message of Shabbos is that we can, for a day, experience life like a child encounters reality. For one day we are given the opportunity to be completely at peace with ourselves the way we are now. Being at peace with ourselves and "Shabbos rest" do not imply lack of growth or development, but development in a "present" orientated manner. A child in the first five years of it's life develops physically, emotionally and mentally at an astonishing rate, learning, adapting and changing quicker than it will do for the rest of its life. The changes though, come with the grace of a child, without worry or self doubt, but with complete ease, presence and belief that the reality and destiny which needs to unfold will unfold (okay maybe the belief is just subconscious, we are talking about a child after all).

So when Shabbos comes around it gives us an opportunity to feel and experience how we feel about G-d in our lives today. How do we experience the beauty of the world today? How do we feel in our lives and bodies today? Are we able to enjoy each moment today? Shabbos in its depth is saying the way you are today is beautiful.  Shabbos is saying don't work to change your reality, live with yourself, enjoy your reality whole heartedly, and you will flourish through being in the moment.

With the above in mind we can understand why "future" orientated planning is against Halacha on Shabbos. On shabbos we do not focus on what  needs to be changed in the future, i.e. should I start going to yeshiva? should I start a business? etc, even though these are important life decisions which need attention, Shabbos is not the time. Shabbos moves us out of the realm of the six days of "future" orientated work and into the realm of present orientated growth and "being".

 One of the objectives of the Halachot on Shabbos is to guide our actions to only "present" orientated activities. Walking even for a long time (as long as it is in a way permitted on Shabbos) doesn't remove one from the "present" orientated head space of Shabbos, so it is o.k. Driving is a No, No. Driving involves using  ignition which is a form of fire building, combustion, and many other work orientated activities. Work related activities are contradictory to the message of Shabbos because they take one out of the "present" mind space of Shabbos. These work activities put one into a building/creating mode which inhibits one from fully experiencing the moment, Shabbos, and ultimately,  TRUE REST!!

I deeply and whole heartedly  bless everyone to be able to experience true rest, and the sweetness of living in the moment, especially on Shabbot!!

Why I believe in G-d

 I remember once thinking that belief in G-d could be compared to belief in the concept of  love.

I am sure a cynic could attack the idea of love. A cynic could say can you prove that love exists? Maybe all the care and devotion towards ones "loved" one is just motivated by selfish desires, and not love of the other at all? Maybe people live together because of practical reasons? Reasons like it is cheaper (split the rent half way, split the groceries half way etc..) A cynic might say why jump to non practical, non grounded non scientific reasons for explaining relationships like "love" if we can be more practical about the whole thing? Even further an evolutionist might say we don't dedicate our lives to finding and sustaining a relationship with our life's partner because we love them. We try to find a life long partner because it will be good for the continuation of our genes and species.

 When I listen to these arguments, however convincing they might sound to my academic brain, my very soul screams out, no, this is not true, LOVE does exist! Life cannot be right without this missing ingredient called love. Their is a voice inside me, not a academic voice, but a  voice stemming from an internal soul/wisdom  which says you know and feel that love exists. And  I have learned to listen to this second voice. I sincerely believe that in this confusing and sometimes overwhelming maze called life, we have to be guided by something higher than just plain logic. In this life, to find "truth" we need to be able to connect to our deeper wisdom, our "second voice." And my deeper wisdom says love does exist!

 So, in the deepest way my inner voice says there is a G-d, there is a deeper power to this universe.There is a reason for every day, there is a deep purpose for every breath, there is a order to  everything which happens, there is a purpose why we live and there is a purpose why we die.
My soul says I am not alone, G-d is right inside me, just waiting for me to say hello.

 So much suffering comes from when we don't pay attention to our inner voice. When the voice says don't take the well paying bank job, be a painter instead, painting is what will give you real strength, painting is what will help you reach your real potential.  You must listen to that voice. You must listen even if the academic brain goes into a crazy frenzy and says BUT THE BANK JOB MAKES MUCH MORE MONEY, BE PRACTICAL !!  

My inner being and voice world like to live in a reality that when I am stranded on a dessert island during a deadly storm, to know deep down that I can actually DANCE!! I can dance because I am not alone, G-d is with me and this storm is happening for a reason. I can dance because even if I die (the worst possibility) that will be orchestrated by G-d as well. I can dance because the words of king David "Even when I travel in the valley of shadowed death, never need I dread evil when you are with me" (psalm 23) rings loudly in my ears. So I'll pray to G-d to help me out of this situation, dance a little, and let the light of my soul and mind guide me to safety.

 So you ask why do I believe in G-d? I believe in G-d because deep down, I  prefer do dance than to cry. I believe in G-d because I prefer to love than to live without love. I embrace G-d because in my quietest moments, G-d is the truth that rings true to my inner knowledge, to my inner voice. Lastly, I believe in G-d  because I know that I must find the courage to listen, to embrace, and to accept my inner voice, come what may.

Every man Dreams

Every man dreams,
All humanity dreams together,
Every mans heart yearns for peace,
Every man craves for love, deep, deep real love,
Every mans soul is searching for stability, searching for security yearning to succeed.
We are all on the same page,
We are all dreaming, hoping to reach the stars,
We are all working to be touched by the magic of life,
We are all waiting for the magic of life to sweep us away.


Yet we feel so alone in our struggle,
Yet we feel so separate,
Yet we feel so unique.


Let's remember we all dream together!



I wrote this poem to try to express the commonality of the human experience.
I feel so strongly that very often we feel so alone in our struggles and aspirations.
I feel like if we only felt that everybody is trying together.
That everybody in one way or  another has the same goals.
Goals like fulfillment, health, love,enlightenment, peace, security,  financial stability and serenity.
If we can feel this common life bond, our own struggles will become much less frighting.
Our struggles will move from the realm of a individual, whose power and ability is limited and move to the realm of humanities struggle which has so much more power, hopefulness and light.

So much of emotional pain is caused by the darkness of our personal situations, we feel so stuck, we cannot see a way out of our dilemmas we cannot see a way out of our emotional blockages or pain.....

So I suggest look around, breath in the pulse of the universe, you are not  alone, you are not alone at all, we are all struggling together. Take strength in the fact that we are all trying to figure out life together, each one climbing up the ladder of life little by little, day by day. I promise look around,  feel the bond,  you too will climb, you too will feel the magic.!