WIY

HashemLovesMe’s mom,

I think I saw that video a while back. The fact is, that any person who acts like that will be laughed at by children, it doesn’t make it right but kids are kids and I don’t think they can be blamed for laughing at someone who looks ridiculously hopeless.

Maybe you should ask your kids if they feel the video is promoting laughing at others because kids don’t usually think about and see things the way we do.

Trying to be helpful

I think most people here are repectful and thanful to the others when someone helps them. For those who aren’t let’s be dan them lkaf zchus. It happens quite often that someone posts something for the benefit of another and then the other person misses the post and never saw the response or wasn’t online for the next few days…. for the most part I’m pretty impressed with peoples middos here.

BDE its really sad news.

I know this isnt the place for it but I dont know where to put it,

MODS, how does one write in Bold, italics or slanted, larger fonts,

Thanks

i love coffe

This should get you started but please confirm with your Rabbi

http://www.communitym.com/article.asp?article_id=101085

RSRH

I think all agree that certain beliefs are required like Anochi Hashem and Lo Yihyeh Lcha the first 2 aseres hadibros. According to most rishonim, they are mitzvos as well not just beliefs.

Additionally, there are 6 Constant Mitzvos that one must do at all times.

1. Knowing there’s a Hashem

2. Don’t believe in other gods.

3. God is one.

4. Love God.

5. Fear God.

6. Don’t be misled by your heart and eyes.

SmartTeen

“I am looking for a way to get myself to want to daven. For about the past 2 years, I have only been davening in school when we are ”forced to” or when my mother makes sure I do. When we are on vacation or on Sundays.. I don’t. I guess most of the reason I don’t like to is because I feel it is useless. For many years I was stuck in a few difficult situations and the whole time I would daven every day, but nothing ever changed so I lost hope. Can anyone help me?

Also- is it better to daven and not have any kavannah and space out and skip words etc. or is it better not to at all?”

Lets analyze what you said.

“most of the reason I don’t like to is because I feel it is useless. For many years I was stuck in a few difficult situations and the whole time I would daven every day, but nothing ever changed so I lost hope.”

Firstly, Hashem doesnt have to answer your Tefillos, He can just say NO. Dont think for one second that you do Hashem any favors by Davening because you arent. Davening as well as everything else we do is for us. Additionally, Hashem did us a HUGE Chessed that he allows us to even come before Him and talk to him and ask for things that we need. Its a mistake that people think that Hashem has to answer them. A mistake and a big Chutzpah. In reality, Hashem does so much good for us every second of our existence that its almost a chutzpah to ask for anything more. We have permission to Daven because He said we can.

The purpose of Davening is to realize who we stand before. If a person stands before a king and has a chance to ask for anything and while talking his/her mind wanders the king will certainly notice that the person isnt “here” and will be very insulted and will not accept a word the person says. The person will be lucky not to get thrown into prison let alone have requests granted!

When we Daven before Hashem we must recognize who we stand before. Da lifnei mi atah omeid. We must make every effort not to think about anything but the meaning of the words during our Tefillos. Yes thoughts will try to pop in, but gently send them out and pull yourself back to shemonah esrei.

There are a number of reasons why Hashem wont listen to ones Tefillos and a major impediment to Tefillah acceptance is Davening with sincerity. We say in Ashrei Karov Hashem Lchal Korav Lcho Asher Kerauhu Bemes. Hashem is close to all those that call out to him in TRUTH, that means sincerity. If one says Hashiveinu (the Bracha about Teshuvah) or Selach Lanu but has have no real intention of getting closer to hashem then they are a liar, they are lying before to HASHEMS FACE!!!!! What chance is there that Hashem will listen to any of their other Tefillos and requests? NONE NONE NONE to the power of a gazillion.

Hashem wants togive you and provide all of your needs, but turn to Him with the knowledge and Emunah that only Him only Hashem can help you and man is helpless on his own. No man on this planet can help you and anything and everything is all from Hashem. If you daven before Hashem with sincerity and clear knowledge that you must Daven because He is the one that provides everything and the ONLY ONE who can help you, you will be answered.

There are other impediments to Tefillah, like one who talks loshon hora or lies, or talks in shul sins of the mouth block out a persons tefillos.

But the key is sincerity.

“Also- is it better to daven and not have any kavannah and space out and skip words etc. or is it better not to at all?”

If you cant Daven all of it and have Kavanah at least daven some of it with Kavanah. NEVER say any tefillah and skip words, your words can end up saying terrible things due to what you omitted and can bring bad things upon you.

In Shemonah esrei, the most iportant bracha is the first, so make sure you know the meaning and have in mind by that. Once you have that down pat work on the next bracha and so on and so forth.

popa_bar_abba

Yes and yes.

Would someone go water those plants?

Sacrilege

You are making me very hungry. Lol!

Theprof1

Thanks!!

Sacrilege

Ok.

Theprof1

You make a good point. Actually, Achdus is as Rashi says by Har Sinai on the passuk “Vayichan Sham Yisroel Neged Hahar” he says “Keish Echad Bleiv Echad” like one man with one heart. Achdus is a coming together to the point that we all fuse into one. Wow I just had a chiddish!! This just came to me: Rashi says Keish echad “Bleiv” echad and explains that in all other encampents there were complaints and arguments but not here. I want to explain that Rashi means that when it comes to Torah, everyone has their own Kavanos and Machshavos and Hashkafos…no 2 minds are alike so there can never be Keish Echad “Bmoach” echad or “seichel echad” one man with one mind or one brain. There are many ways to get to Hashem. However when it comes to our hearts, they have to be one, all of our collective machshavos have to all have the same goals, Ahavas Hashem, Yiras Hashem, Ahavta Lreiacha Kamocha..how we get there is up to us but the bottom line is our hearts have to be as one in all these areas.

You are most welcome!!

Ben Torah

That may be and I’m not saying otherwise. But some people arrogantly think that we Jews own the world and can treat goyim how we want, or some people thing that to gain respect from them we need to lower our standards and act and speak like them. I have found the opposite to be true.

pascha bchochma

Its interesting, as a kid I was alway taught or I always heard how bad goyim are to Jews and how much they hate us, but the truth is that there are plenty of goyim which are really nice and respect Jews. When a Jew acts as he should he gets admiration and respect. Its important to remember that they do look at the Jew to see how he behaves so let’s all make a Kiddush Hashem. People often wonder how they can make a kiddush Hashem yet its so simple. If you do business with goyim and you act like a mentsch, be honest, and talk like a Yid without nivul peh they will be very impressed and that’s a Kiddush Hashem!

P.s. Pascha, I answered your question on the Shir shel yom thread please check it out.

Frumladygit

I think one would make Baruch (without shem umalchus) sheasa li ness bimakom hazeh.

Moq

Wait, you are going to compare us normal folk to David Hamelech and Michal?! They were on a supremely high madreiga and were Baalei Ruach Hakodesh. Who really knows what that love means. Go check the Radak or some other Meforshim I’m sure someone goes into it.

Furthermore, you can love someone without being married. But at the minimum you have to know the person or know a lot about them. (Michal knew all about David, and maybe had met him as he was quite famous and a best friend of her brother Yonasan) The Rambam translates love as the emotional pleasure a human being experiences when he understands and focuses on the virtues of another human being.

There’s no way hes a beter athlete than Derek Jeter!

Missme

You probably didn’t do well on reading comprehension in grade school. You take me out of context time and time again. I won’t waste my time defending myself against your distortions of my views. Say what you want.

Sacrilege

Love, defined by the Rambam is :

The emotional pleasure a human being experiences when he understands and focuses on the virtues of another human being.

Health

Its a pretty darn big Chillul Hashem to

1. Allow some non Jewish politician to read off a speech you wrote which undermines our present Gedolim and says that they are manipulated as though they don’t have a mind of their own

2. To act like you represent all of Orthodox Judaism and present us as hateful intolerant bigots.

Do you know that Levin says that terrorist attacks happen because of gays?! He’s out to lunch with the Westboro crowd.

Wolfish

How did you get into cooking? I’m a guy and I don’t want to be an am haaretz in the kitchen I want to know how to make some good stuff besides grilling a good steak.

Tomim

Lol. Not a bad idea.