Friday, February 11, 2005

Question & Answer With Rabbi Lazer Brody

A Simple Jew's Question:

How does one maintain a focus on ruchnius with a furnance that dies or a faucet that starts spewing water? These things eat up a person's time, taking him away from the more important things in life.

Rabbi Lazer Brody's Answer:

The wake up calls do waste time, but it's Hashem's message to us to think about the tremendous amounts of time we waste. When the furnace goes and we have to run around looking for repairs, Hashem is saying, "What, the Super Bowl was more important than Baba Kama? You have time to waste? OK, I have plenty of messengers to help you waste time!" And, after you waste $750 good green bucks fixing the thing, Hashem is saying, "If you would have given maaser properly, you could have given another $750 to a worthy Torah scholar in Eretz Yisroel. You find it difficult in parting with your money for a mitzva? I have plenty of messengers that will help you part with your money for a tzora." Our job is to open our eyes, do Tshuva, and correct what needs correcting. Unfortunately, many folks close their hearts, eyes, and ears to Hashem's messages.

6 Comments:

At February 11, 2005 at 10:26:00 AM EST, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This message is very good and I like it.

Although I think I would follow a different road. Perhaps these difficulties are there to send us the message: Be Normal.

Don't try to run and hide from real life. Become a part of it.

 
At February 11, 2005 at 2:36:00 PM EST, Blogger PsychoToddler said...

I know there's no quid-pro-quo in schar and onesh, but sometimes it feels like it. Like when I type a blog critical of some rabinical authority, and the next day my brand new computer conks out.

Makes me wonder.

I should feel flattered that the Ribono shel olam is so concerned with my character development.

 
At February 11, 2005 at 3:56:00 PM EST, Blogger Keren Perles said...

PT--Sure schar and onesh are quid pro quo. The concept of middah kneged middah holds true today as well...

As I discussed with my class today, that's why on Purim we're supposed to give tzedakah to anyone who requests it, no questions asked. Purim is a special time for us to ask Hashem for things, where quite often tefillos that have heard "no" far too often finally hear "yes." Why? Because by giving to anyone who asks, we are tapping into the potential of the day, and showing Hashem, "Look, just as I gave to this man without asking questions, without seeing if he 'deserved' it, please Hashem, look down on me and grant me my request as well, even if I don't deserve it..."

And you SHOULD feel flattered. Hashem DOES love you...a lot :)

 
At February 18, 2005 at 12:44:00 AM EST, Anonymous Anonymous said...

By taking every thought captive...everything one does, be it fixing a leaky faucet, etc., should be an act of worship to our Most High G-d.

 
At October 4, 2006 at 5:19:00 PM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Somewhat in line with what the last anonymous poster said, I think these daily hassles are also sent to us so that we can learn to deal with them calmly, rather than getting frustrated, thus strengthening our emunah and developing ourselves spiritually, which will of course help with the bigger challenges we face. A simple errand provides us with so many opportunities; the opportunity to be kind to the customer service representative, instead of hostile; the opportunity to practice hisbodedut while driving to the store; the opportunity to smile at strangers on the sidewalk, brightening their day.

 
At June 16, 2007 at 11:45:00 PM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

re that H' will give opportunities based on your attitude, e.g. if you don't give tzedaka, then you'll pay for tzora...i think this is intended to help us focus on chesed H', the kindness of G-d. i feel that this is the most important thing, although not the easiest or simplest thing to do consistently. and yet, the more we can put our energy and willingness to see "chesed H' kol hayom"(tehilim), the better off we are.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home