Free Republic

The Baal Shem Tov once said that he was capable of rising to heaven in a fiery chariot as did Elijah, but he would rather undergo the transformation of “…and to the earth you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19) Because through the initial dip downward—as far down as you could possibly go—you can reach much higher. So if it seems to you at times that your life has made a sharp turn downward, or that the world around you has taken a great leap backward, Know that this is only a necessary prelude to a great spring forward and upward yet...

Joseph wanted to raise the Egyptians to a higher spiritual and moral plane. So he arranged that they be circumcised. That way, perhaps the exile destined upon his people would be shortened. The plan backfired. Rather than alleviating the Egyptian exile, Joseph empowered the Egyptians to oppress his people yet more viciously. Joseph believed he could shortcut the Egyptian exile. We sometimes delude ourselves that we can hot-wire our own darkness. We imagine we can bring thousands more to Torah, if we just would compromise with electronics on Shabbat. Or that we could achieve so many more mitzvahs, if we...

REGISTER » Login Daily Dose of Wisdom Today's Meditation Wisdom To Heal the Earth Bringing Heaven Down to Earth Be Within Stay Above The Book of Purpose Parshah Doses Seasonal Meditations Meditations for Happiness Meditations for Peace of Mind Body and Soul Meditations Meditations on Teaching Meditations on Man & Woman Faith & Intellect Meditations on Miracles Meditations on Finance My People Heretical Meditations Meditations on Torah Meditations on Moshiach Thoughts on Injustice Ten Doses of the Rebbe's Vision The Divine Image of Man Meditations on Bitachon Meditations on Mitzvahs Meditations on Healing Definitions Jewish Practice Learning & Values Community...

This is life, all of it: Sitting like a small child upon the shoulders of the Creator of heaven and earth as He carries us out of slavery in Egypt to eternal life in the Promised Land. Everything along the journey is sweet and good, if we will only embrace it with love. Even the pain is good, a pain that cleanses body and soul as we rise to a place higher than our little minds can conceive. And yes, even those paths we believe we’ve stumbled down by our own fault, He carries us tenderly through those as well,...