A Soulful Journey

  An interesting insight from the biblical commentator Rabbi Hayyim ibn Attar, a seventeenth century kabbalist from Morocco who settled in Eretz Yisrael.     His commentary,   Or Hayyim , questions why the Torah stressed the greatness of human wickedness on “earth.”     Where else does man behave wickedly, but on “earth”?     Or Hayyim responds in a non-literal way.     Rabbi Hayyim reminds us that people were created from the dust of earth.     - Rabbi Lionel Moses

The Dubner Maggid told the story of two men quarreling over a plot of land.  This one said that it belonged to him and this one said it was his.  A rabbi, hearing both sides of the argument, put his ear to the ground for a moment.  Rising, he pronounced, "It belongs neither to you, nor to you." "How can that be?" they both complained. "The earth said that it belongs to neither of you.  You belong to it."  (related by Rabbi Louis Jacobs) It is good to remember that we are only passing  visitors in this life.

Midrash Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13: When God created the first human beings, God led them around the Garden of Eden and said: “Look at my works! See how beautiful they are—how excellent! For your sake I created them all. See to it that you do not spoil and destroy My world; for if you do, there will be no one else to repair it.  And what is worse, you will bring death even to the righteous people in the future." We are the earth's guardians.  It is  irreplaceable and we must learn to tend to its needs better.  

A renowned nuclear physicist, and a Nobel Prize winner was walking with a companion along the seashore when he saw a beautiful crustacean.  The scientist picked it up, examined it cautiously and then carefully put it back precisely where he found it.  His companion asked him why he replaced it so exactly.  The scientist replied, “Perhaps I have already tampered too much with the universe.”  - Bernard Raskas   This is our task to leave as few footprints on this earth as possible.  This is especially important now as we are witnessing dramatic changes due to our negligence.  What difference will I make with wasting water or not recycling or fighting for cleaner air?  The same difference as this scientist with the shell at the  shore. This is what Shabbat is all about; not making changes to the earth.  Letting it, and us, rest.

When God led  Adam  around the Garden of Eden, God said, ‘Look at My works. See how beautiful they are, how excellent! For your sake I created them all. See to it that you do not spoil or destroy My world–for if you do, there will be no one to repair it after you.”  -Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13

In an article called, “National Geographic, the Doomsday Machine,” biochemist George H. Kaub argued that North America will fall into the ocean because of people who hoard and stored the yellow trimmed magazines in attics, spare rooms, and basements. The cumulative weight, Kaub predicted in 1974, would compress the underlying rock formations until they produces fissures.  Towns and cities would then tumble into them. It was a tongue in cheek article but more prophetic than anyone knew at the time.  We are charged with being keepers of our world by God.

An ancient Midrash with powerful implications for today: When God created the first man, He showed him all the trees in the Garden of Eden. He said to him: “See my works now beautiful and fine they are. Everything I have created has been for your sake. Think of this, and do not corrupt or destroy My world; for if you corrupt it, there will be on one to set it right after you.”    - Kohelet Rabbah

Two landlords, neighbors had a dispute about a piece of land. They came to the Rabbi for hearing. The rabbi saw that they would be difficult to deal with, so he decided to look at the plot of land himself. In the midst of the heated argument, the Rabbi bent down and put his ear to the earth and said: ” It is quite strange. One says that the plot of earth belongs to him, other says it is his, and the earth itself says thatyou both belong to her. Since both of your arguments are futile, you should listen to the correct decision."

When circling the earth in NASA's "Discovery" Prince Saud commented, "Looking at it from here, the troubles all over the world.... look very strange as you see the boundaries and border lines disappearing." Do we have to blast off from the earth to see how precious and whole the world is and that all our wars are ultimately meaningless?

Rabbi Abba taught: There is no greater revelation of redemption than that which the verse states: “And you, mountains of Israel, you shall give forth your branches and you shall bear your fruit for my people Israel, for they shall soon come.” (Ez. 36:8)  -Talmud, Sanhedrin 98a

When there is peace below, there is peace on high. 
And when there is peace on high, a sense of abundance and satiety is revealed in the world below. 
 - Rebbe Nachman The  universes are always connected.  What we do matters.  Really matters.

“When earth and heaven kiss” is a description of a person finding peace within himself. Earth is like the body, and heaven is like the soul… When they exist in harmony, it is possible to pray fully and also be blessed with an abundant livelihood. 
     - Rebbe Nachman You know when you are there.

Visions of the future vary.   Some predict droughts and war while others foretell heaven and or prosperity.   The distinct Jewish vision is markedly different: “In the future all the artisans and craftsmen will turn to till the land.”   -Talmud, yevamot 63a How wonderful it would be to forget about being so smart or smarmy and instead be content to watch a seed become a plant?   That is a beautiful prophecy!