G-d’s Fatherhood

•September 11, 2009 • Leave a Comment

This is a very interested and important subject that I am working on right now. There is a song sung on Rosh Hashanah, “Avinu Malkeinu” (“Our Father, Our King”).

Avinu Malkeinu by Barbra Streisand

It’s a supplication to G-d to treat us with kindness and generosity, even when we haven’t always lived up to His ideals for us.

Words of the song:

Our Father, Our King
Hear our prayer
We have sinned before Thee
Have compassion upon us and upon our children
Help us bring an end to pestilence, war, and famine
Cause all hate and oppression to vanish from the earth
Inscribe us for blessing in the Book Of Life
Let the new year be a good year for us

 

1. Avinu

The first time when the Torah mentions G-d as the Father of Israel.

(1 Divrey Yamim) 1 Chronicles 22:8-10

But this word of HaShem came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for My Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. He is the one who will build a house for My Name. He will be My son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.’

(Yisheyah) Isaiah 63:14-16

Like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of HaShem. This is how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name. Look down from heaven and see from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are your zeal and your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from me. But You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; You, O HaShem, are our Father, our Redeemer from everlasting is your name.

(Yermiyah) Jeremiah 31:6-9

See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return. They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

Faithfulness of G-d’s Fatherhood

(Tehilim) Psalm 68:5

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is G-d in His holy habitation.

(Yisheyah) Isaiah 49:14-16

But Zion said, “The HaShem has forsaken me, the L-rd has forgotten me.” Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before me.

Don’t Count on Circumstances

•September 10, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Притчи19:21 “Много замыслов в сердце человека, но состоится только определенное Господом.”

Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

Proverbes 19:21 “Il y a dans le cœur de l’homme beaucoup de projets, mais c’est le dessein de l’Eternel qui s’accomplit.”

I have been reflecting on this issue during the last months. We have a lot of plans, but only those that God foreordained, predestined, predetermined before creation will be fulfilled.

Don’t we say, “Let Your Will be DONE”!

Acceptance

It requires a lot of changes, especially emotional, to tune ourselves to accepting things the way they are presented or come to us. We often forget that our lives were already written long, long time ago.

Don’t Count on Circumstances

When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” (Bereshit / Genesis 48:17-19; ESV)

Do you predict the future? I think most people do – not in the formal sense, but informally. As we face our lives day by day, most of us make plans based on how we think life will be in the near future. We look at weather reports to decide what to wear or to determine travel plans. We believe our health condition will remain unchanged. We trust that our personal finances will be stable. We assume that if our job is secure today, it will be so tomorrow. We depend upon our relationships. On the basis of these predictions (unconscious as they may be), we plan our lives.

If we stopped to think about it, I am pretty sure that we are aware that nothing in life is for sure, but that doesn’t stop us from our tendency to predict that the way things are is the way they will be.

In ancient Israel as in many ancient and modern cultures a person’s place in life was determined by several factors, one of these being their birth order. First-born males were given special place. That was the way it was and there was nothing one could do about it. Even in cultures where such customs are not officially practiced, the circumstances into which a person is born still makes a huge difference in their lives. Other factors also influence the kinds of opportunities a person may have in life. While many people have been known to overcome life’s limitations, most people most of the time seem to be controlled by their circumstances. The way things are is the way they will always be.

The incident reported in this week’s Torah portion undermines this though. Near the end of Jacob’s life, Jacob’s son Joseph brought his own children to be blessed by their grandfather. Contrary to custom Jacob, in spite of Joseph’s protests, gave the younger the greater blessing. This was not the first time this sort of thing occurred in the lives of the patriarchs. In fact, throughout the whole story of Israel, we encounter many unlikely people who are drawn into situations contrary to expected societal norms.

In the case of Jacob and his grandchildren, the unexpected turn of events was not by random chance, but by purposeful decision. This reflects the purposeful decisions of God himself as he affects people’s personal lives.

This should challenge how we look at life. We cannot accurately predict our future based on analyzing circumstances. Moreover, the unpredictability of our future is not because of the influence of random chance. Rather, unexpected changes in circumstances are due to God’s direct involvement in life, not because of good and bad luck.

We cannot count on circumstances – good or bad – continuing as is. Neither can we predict the unexpected changes of life we may suddenly face. The way things are is not necessarily what they will be. Rather than focusing on unreliable circumstances, let us trust God who is greater than our circumstances.

Source, TorahBytes

We would not need G-d if we had the control. Is there an area of our lives where we don’t want or G-d to be? I don’t think so; then we have to deal with our emotions, life perception, and finally accept our life (a story written just for you).

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Remember my quotes

“Life is a school, you learn it lessons only when you live it.”

“Do not regret wrong things that happened in your past, regret only when you repent because nobody is prevented from mistakes. G-d has allowed them to happen to teach you great lessons.”

“Remember when you see a man at the top of a mountain, he didn’t fall there. But he kept climbing further even when the effort got painful.”

The Tango World Championship

•August 24, 2009 • Leave a Comment

The 2009 Tango World Championship in Buenos Aires

Tango dancers

The Tango Championship has begun on August 23, 2009. A total of 479 couples from 154 cities and 28 countries around the world are competing in the two contests involving dancing the more traditional milonga ballroom tango and the more European stylized Choreographed tango.

Tango dancers

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TANGO Photos Gallery

On Monday 24 and Tuesday 25: Classifications Salon Tango, and wednesday 26 and thursday 27 the Stage one.

Japanese couple win Tango contest

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Tango Contest

Two Kinds of Relationship

•August 20, 2009 • 1 Comment

It takes a lot of courage to forgive someone, but it takes an even bigger courage to ask for forgiveness!

Heart

Some of the relationships are like glass. Those we should leave instead of trying to put them back together and keep hurting ourselves. However, only few of our relationships have captured our hearts so much that no matter the fact someone broke it, we still love that person with all the little pieces.

Elul “The Spiritual Inventory”month

•August 19, 2009 • Leave a Comment

One month before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Shofar

Preparing for the greatest Jewish Holidays

Elul - devoting a full month before Rosh Hashanah to the process of Teshuva.

shofar

A time of accounting for the past year, for Reflection, Introspection, and Repentance.

Reflecting

We have a very busy life and don’t even have time to reflect. At least in this special month of Elul take time to reflect, make an analysis of your life.

Shema Yisrael

Shema Yisrael – Hear Yisrael

Adonai Eloheinu – The Lord our God

Adonai Echad – The Lord is One

Creativity in nature

•August 17, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Those who look for beauty, find it.

Angelgir

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Art and Nature

Poetry

•August 16, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Doha 2006 Games

•August 9, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Doha 2006 Games Opening Ceremony

Doha Asian games

Together Now by Jacky Cheung

Reach Out by Sunidhi Chauhan

Reach for the star

Quotes

•August 8, 2009 • 1 Comment

Life is a foreign language, and all men mispronounce it. – - Christopher Morley

FirenzeGold/Florence Quotes

 

“It’s ok to disagree as long as we don’t lose self-control in the disagreement.”

“Truth is something that everyone wants to hear, but not everyone can handle it.”

“I always wonder why the truth hurts. I think the truth doesn’t hurt, but the way it is presented or perceived hurts.” – “If the shoe fits, then wear it because you’re already wearing the other one.”

- – -

“If I don’t hear words of encouragement from others, then they start to pop-up in my head because I need them anyway.”

“My passions, simple but extremely strong, have driven my life: longing for Truth, knowledge of Love, searching for Peace, and Compassion for the suffering of mankind.”

- – -

“We often forget that the real Life is not built with things we want, but with things we need.”

“Life is a journey back to its Source. Each life is unique, the only difference with mine is – I already have everything I need. And even if I end up in a desert, I still have everything I need because ‘God is with me’ that all I need.”

“Life is not about finding yourself or someone, but to find the Source of life. That someone you have met on your way is also a pilgrim on the same journey.”

“Life is a process in which you cannot miss a step.”

“Blessed is the one who found a real friend. But there is no comparable blessing than to find the way HOME.”

- – -

“Life without love is like a plant without roots, in other words dead.”

“Love has not another desire than to fulfill itself.”

“A real friend is someone who stays in your life while everybody else is just passing by.”

“No road would seem long and journey hard when you walk in a good company.”

“A real friend is someone who knows a lot about you and still wants to be with you.”

“A real friend knows to hear your silence, and read the truth in your eyes.”

“You don’t owe anything to anybody. But if you do have the Living-light in you, share it.”

“The only thing I can do for someone who comes into my life is to share it.”

“There are so many people better than you, but my heart chose to make a place for you.”

“A relationship cannot succeed if it is built on lies.”

“Find a real friend is like to find a lost drop in the ocean.”

“I personally rather enjoy the silence with a good friend than to have a nice conversation with someone else in her/his absence.”

“I have met many new people and many more that life made me or I choose to forget.”

- – -

Perseverance

“Life is school, you learn it lessons only when you live it.”

“Do not regret wrong things that happened in your past, regret only when you repent because nobody is prevented from mistakes. God has allowed them to happen to teach you great lessons.”

“Remember when you see a man at the top of a mountain, he didn’t fall there. But he kept climbing further even when the effort got painful.”

- – -

“We are young only once, but someone can be immature for a lifetime because wisdom doesn’t come with age. We pay a high price for maturity.”

“C’est une longue bataille «l’établissement d’une personnalité», c’est aussi très pénible mais pas impossible.”

“It is a long fight the identification and establishment of personality. It’s painful but not impossible”.

“Our today sacrifice will be tomorrow greatest investment we ever made.”

“Real difficulties can be overcome. It’s only the one we create that are unconquerable.”

“It is only God who already gave everything its value, a man that can smile in trouble, someone that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection.”

- – -

Inside beauty, inside light

“Inside beauty is like wearing comfortable clothes suitable to any situation.”

“Inside beauty is alive, and it needs care and attention.”

“There is no need to describe inside beauty. It talks about itself like a perfume smell, we cannot see it but we know it’s everywhere on us.”

“Inside beauty is so wonderful and captivating that no artist can draw it”.

“Inside beauty is hard to describe, we can only perceive it with our heart – if you’re only experienced to do so.”

“Everything has a beauty, but not everyone knows how to see it.”

“There is nothing ugly, it’s just shaped differently. The only things ugly I’ve seen were evil.”

- – -

“Quand nous étions jeunes, nous vivions dans l’illusion, dire l’imagination car il n’y avait encore rien de réalisé. Mais au fil des temps on se rend compte que la réalité est différente. Ce n’est pas la faute de la vie, mais notre perception.”

“When we were young we lived in illusions, there was nothing accomplished yet. But then we realize as life goes the reality is different. It’s not life’s fault, but our perception of it.”

“There are so many things in life that we cannot explain because we perceive with the five human senses. But when we perceive with the heart, then everything become clear.”

“Low self-esteem has no power on you without your consent.”

- – -

“It is easy to understand God as long as you listen, don’t try to explain Him, and remain in the state of Shema.”

Embrace the un-embraceable

“Is there anything better than to passionately long for something bigger, to embrace the un-embraceable, to please and glorify the Divine, to be in every aspect conformed to Him? And in that way be grateful to Him.”

“There are many things in life that catch our eyes, but only few have captured our hearts. Those we feel to be attracted to by their Uniqueness, Holiness and Awesomeness, for those we must hunger after.”

“If the sight of the blue skies, blooming flowers in the color of Spring, the extraordinary view of the sea and the sound of waves, the indescribable shape of mountains, and everything that lives in and on it fill you with joy, have power to cheer you up, then your soul is alive because nature is full of Divinity.”

- – -

“God is always with you… you just need to pay attention.”

“Faith makes all things possible, and Love makes them easy.”

“If we have really experienced the goodness of God, wouldn’t we want to share it?”

“What is more important the Source of Love Itself or the forms in which love is expressed?”

Modified and made mine FirenzeGold/Florence

“Some of the relationships are like glass. Those we should leave instead of trying to put them back together and keep hurting ourselves.”

“When it hurts to look back, then it’s scary to go forward.”

“It is by chance that we meet. By choice that we became friends, And only God holds us tied.”

“Good friends are like stars, we don’t always see them.  However, they shine in our hearts and make our days bright.”

“A real friend remembers that we were, and believe that we still can be.”

“To find the beloved, at least one must have faith.”

- – -

Unknown Authors

God's favor

“When someone tells you, «You cannot go further», just tell them to look behind and see how far you’ve come.”

“Don’t ask God to make your life easier, ask Him to make you a stronger person.”

- – -

Israeli flag

“A lot of black people believe that Jews in this country have become white. They behave like white people rather than Jewish people.” – - Toni Morrison

 

Things We don’t See Everyday

•August 5, 2009 • Leave a Comment

“If the sight of the blue skies, blooming flowers in the color of Spring, the extraordinary view of the sea and the sound of waves, the indescribable shape of mountains, and everything that lives in and on it fill you with joy, have power to cheer you up, then your soul is alive because nature is full of Divinity.”

Captivating

An amazing light

Chili volcano-eruption

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Amazing

NGC6960

God indeed created everything perfect, unique and beautiful

Something bigger

“There are many things in life that catch our eyes, but only few have captured our hearts. Those we feel to be attracted to by their Uniqueness, Holiness and Awesomeness, for those we must hunger after.”

Everything has a beauty, but not everyone knows how to see it. There is nothing ugly, it’s just shaped differently.

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Our Awesome Planet

World 7 Wonders

The Solar Eclipse

The Solar Eclipse

The longest total solar eclipse this century crosses Asia, with swathes of India and China plunged into darkness on July 22, 2009

Unusual sunset

Unusual sunset

Amazing tree

Woman Tree

Assasinspider

Assasin Spider

The only things ugly I’ve seen were evil.

Wondering why Global Warming?

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Pictures of Nuclear Explosions

Ivy Mike was the first H Bomb test

It was exploded at 7:15 am on November 1st 1952. The mushroom cloud was 8 miles across and 27 miles high. The canopy was 100 miles wide. Radioactive mud fell out of the sky followed by heavy rain. 80 million tons of earth was vaporized. Mike was the first ever megaton yield explosion.

Do nuclear tests actually cause earthquakes and make the planet more prone to geologic disruption?

Whiteford was able to make a simple comparison of the earthquake rate in the first half of the century, before nuclear testing, and the rate for 1950 to 1988. In the fifty years before testing, large earthquakes of more than 5.8 occurred at an average rate of 68 per year. With the advent of testing the rate rose “suddenly and dramatically” to an average of 127 a year. The earthquake rate has almost doubled.

Source, Silicon Graphics Inc.