Yitzchok vs. Avraham

I know that Mrs. Perl said we would discuss this in more depth later, but right now it makes a great blog post. In class, we were comparing Yitzchok to Avraham. We discovered that they essentially went through the same challenges. Now, the question becomes why?

With Avraham we see a lot more need for reassurance and arguments with G-d. It is almost like on the fundamental level Avraham does trust G-d, but every now and then, he still has moments of doubt. When things don't work out like he thought they would he needs Hashem to physically remind him He is there. For example when Lot left, or just the fact that Hashem talks to Avraham A LOT.

Yitzchok seems to understand that G-d is completely in control, and never doubts that. He doesn't need the constant reassurance, and is willing to ask G-d for a child. He "understands G-d" at least as much as is possible. He follows what G-d wants him to do without argument, just complete faith.

They both had different backgrounds: Avraham lived among people without his ideals, whereas Yitzchok lived with Avraham. I think that it is much easier to start something new, rather then to follow the path of your parents. Most people want nothing to do with the way their parents raised them, yet Yitzchok does what his father did to prove that he would do it just as well, if not better.

Genealogy list versus Story

I was just thinking about what we had covered this week in chumash class when I had a thought. Adam knew that his mate had to be Btzelem Elokim- in the image of G-d. He also knew what his tasks were- to follow the mitzvot, to work the land, to rule over the animals, etc. But when man and woman are confronted by the conniving snake, they can't seem to make the correct decisions. They knew when everything was ok what they hada to do, but under pressure, they wavered. They hid from G-d and thought He could not see them,they doubt His authority, they start blaming each other for everything, etc.,and the story seems to go downhill from there. This same mindset is still true for people today. When life is great, so is their observance/ character/ etc. When there is the slightest hint of pressure , people tend to not be so steadfast to their morals that they otherwise "stick steadfastly true to". This just makes me think: at times like that shouldn't these morals be that much more important? However, this idea apparently does not occur to many people during such times. Interesting, isn't it? Something to think about.

Genealogy list versus Story

I was just thinking about what we had covered this week in chumash class when I had a thought. Adam knew that his mate had to be Btzelem Elokim- in the image of G-d. He also knew what his tasks were- to follow the mitzvot, to work the land, to rule over the animals, etc. But when man and woman are confronted by the conniving snake, they can't seem to make the correct decisions. They knew when everything was ok what they hada to do, but under pressure, they wavered. They hid from G-d and thought He could not see them,they doubt His authority, they start blaming each other for everything, etc.,and the story seems to go downhill from there. This same mindset is still true for people today. When life is great, so is their observance/ character/ etc. When there is the slightest hint of pressure , people tend to not be so steadfast to their morals that they otherwise "stick steadfastly true to". This just makes me think: at times like that shouldn't these morals be that much more important? However, this idea apparently does not occur to many people during such times. Interesting, isn't it? Something to think about.

The Decision-Making Skills of Adam and Chava

I was just thinking about what we had covered this week in chumash class when I had a thought. Adam knew that his mate had to be Btzelem Elokim- in the image of G-d. He also knew what his tasks were- to follow the mitzvot, to work the land, to rule over the animals, etc. But when man and woman are confronted by the conniving snake, they can't seem to make the correct decisions. They knew when everything was ok what they hada to do, but under pressure, they wavered. They hid from G-d and thought He could not see them,they doubt His authority, they start blaming each other for everything, etc.,and the story seems to go downhill from there. This same mindset is still true for people today. When life is great, so is their observance/ character/ etc. When there is the slightest hint of pressure , people tend to not be so steadfast to their morals that they otherwise "stick steadfastly true to". This just makes me think: at times like that shouldn't these morals be that much more important? However, this idea apparently does not occur to many people during such times. Interesting, isn't it? Something to think about.

Ponder with imagination

Imagine you were born in the time of Socrates in 470 B.C.E

Socrates and many other very wise philosophers had different and sometimes untrue ideas about psychology.

If you would not have any scientific proof, and you did not have this knowledge about the things that are true and untrue about psychology, how would you answer these following questions and why?

1. Are mind and body related, why do you think so?
2. Do you think nature shapes us more than nurture?
3. Are ideas inborn or are you born with a blank slate?

Question to ponder about: Socrates and Plato both believed that their mind continues existing after their death. Why do you think did they believe so, and don’t we have a similar belief with our soul? What does this mean?

Class Notes From 5/19/11

Perek ב

--> Quick overview: In class yesterday, we started Perek ב. We split it up into three parts. In the first part, passukim 1-3, Hashem remembers the past; the early stages of their relationship when there was love, trust, kindness and willingness to follow H' anywhere. We then began the second part, passukim 4-28. Yesterday we got three points from this part. Here is a brief sypnosi:

1. You left Hashem. You didn't seem to leave H' because you felt H' left you. But rather to embrace הבל, which represents a lack of values. Instead, the Kohanim and Navi'im left Hasshem and followed ba'al.

2. H': Despite the fact that you left me fore no reason, I am still pleading with you to return.

3. Go look throughout history if anything so foolish has ever occurred. They exchanged me for a lesser god, mkur chayim, for a vessel. 

Today we continued...

(Section 4-28)
Section 4-28: Hashem describes his relationship with the people as a husband and wife- wife abandoned husband. 

4. The third thing they did wrong was go to Egypt and Assyria for protection. 

5. You have forsaken me, you are acting like a harlot, זונה. --> I wanted you to become a choice vineyard but because of your sins, you are like a withered plant.

• You sins have stained you, and you can't get the stain out. You're saying you didn't do anything wrong, but I know what you did; you can't hide. You are so filled with desire, you can't stop yourself from sinning. Bnai Yisroel, "I can't help myself, I love these strangers." Hashem, "You should be so ashamed of yourself. All these people are misleading you and causing you to do the wrong thing. You say to a tree 'you're my father' to a stone 'you're my father' and turn your back to me, but in times of trouble you say to me 'save me' but where are those gods that made you? Why don't they come and save you?"

6. Parable of a relationship between man and a woman. Woman leaves and turns to many other men, but then when she's in trouble, she comes back to her husband. Kids don't know their father as a result. 

Saying => Hashem is the husband. Bnai Yisroel is the wife. Jealous husband. In perek bet, though, the husband will still take her back.

29-37

1. Why are you fighting with me and sinning against me?

2. What was the point in punishing your children if  you didn't change?

• Oh, nation; have I abandoned you? Have I done anything to drive you away?

___________________________________________________________

Things to Ponder:

1. Is Hashem a jealous G-d? Is this even an option? If so, how is it justifiable? 
2. Do you think that Bnai Yisroel is being judged too harshly for things that they do politically? 
3. What do you think of Hashem being compared to the husband of B'nai Yisroel? Do you agree with this kind of parable? 

This Year

This year in Yeshayahu and now in Yirmiyahu, we have focused on the action/reaction standpoint rather than the geopolitical on the events that happened. We spoke about how, for example, everything each king did had repercussions, whether they be rewards for doing something good, or punishments for something bad. However, I think it is possible that it is a little of both. If we have free will, why is it not possible that Assyria attacked us and Shomron fell because of completely natural political reasons, and the people sinning is merely a reason given for the punishments? What if everything we've ever learned about Hashem punishing us for our misdeeds is just a ploy used to deceive us? Why would Hashem continue to protect us, even though He knows we will only do the wrong thing?

Sorry it's kind of random.