The "Ask a Jew" thread (Bible, Christians, religious)

[rosends]

Originally Posted by Pruzhany

We do not serve hashem, we have a relationship with hashem.

Taking a Look at Jewish Religious Beliefs - For Dummies

I was under the impression that one of the aspects of that relationship includes our serving -- it is an expression of a facet of the relationship.

[Richard1965]

Originally Posted by Pruzhany

We do not serve hashem, we have a relationship with hashem.

Taking a Look at Jewish Religious Beliefs - For Dummies

Seems like she might have another philosophy mixed in there...

[Pruzhany]

Originally Posted by rosends

I was under the impression that one of the aspects of that relationship includes our serving -- it is an expression of a facet of the relationship.

Examples?

[rosends]

Originally Posted by Pruzhany

Examples?

I found this snippet quickly online (from Y"K) which expresses a variety of aspects of the relationship (the full text has others)

Ki anu amekha, v'ata Eloheinu
Anu banekha, v'ata Avinu
Anu avadekha, v'ata Adonenu
Anu kehalekha, v'ata khelkeinu

we perform avodat ha boreh, service of the creator. Even when that service is shevach, praise, it is still serving the creator.

[Tzaphkiel]

Originally Posted by Pruzhany

Examples?

serving Hashem with joy
running to do the mitzvot with joy

our service to Hashem is Torah study, prayer, mitzvot, acts of kindness
and yes we are in relationship with Hashem: we are married to Hashem, we are the beloved child of Hashem,

from Shir Ha Shirim, "You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one of your eyes, with one link of your necklaces." We are wildly in love with Hashem, as He is with us.

[Tzaphkiel]

here is another:


“Know the G-d of your fathers, and serve Him with a whole heart” (Divrei Hayomim I 28:9).

[Call]

Originally Posted by Pruzhany

It seems I'm the only one left who can translate the Yeshivish you are typing in.

Simply not true. You have no idea how many folks there are who, like me, have no trouble understanding TFF, even if he or the keyboard misspells a word once in a while. I'm sure that rosends is another, and neither you nor I know how many more.

[Tzaphkiel]

Here is a bit from an article on line, link below

"In other words, following our nature – even when good – is not the summit of achievement. The summit of achievement is to weigh and refine each and every character trait – through the study and practice of P'nimius HaTorah – so that our own inner core, our own P'nimius, is reconstructed. The result is that each and every one of our character traits and emotions is used to serve Hashem, and not our own ego...

"This is the Chassidic concept of going out of Egypt...Going out of Egypt means surpassing the static limitations, the Meitzarim, of our own natures, and instead becoming free and enlivened people who continually ascend in our service of Hashem."


Chassidus - Rabbinical College of Australia and N.Z.

[jbgusa]

I belong to a Reform synagogue. Last night, after Shabbat services, I heard someone unsuccessfully trying to start their car. Just clicks, no turnover. I immediately provided assistance since I had a jumper box in my trunk, and got them moving in minutes.

Since I was assisting in "kindling fire" was I wrong in providing help? Should I have left them to walk home in the rain? I am not sure I did the right thing.*




*Also posted Did I Do Something Wrong on Shabbat? but thread died after hostile and now deleted response from another poster.

[Pruzhany]

Originally Posted by jbgusa

I belong to a Reform synagogue. Last night, after Shabbat services, I heard someone unsuccessfully trying to start their car. Just clicks, no turnover. I immediately provided assistance since I had a jumper box in my trunk, and got them moving in minutes.

Since I was assisting in "kindling fire" was I wrong in providing help? Should I have left them to walk home in the rain? I am not sure I did the right thing.

Dis you walk home or drive home afterwards?