Truth and Peace

Truth is always subjectively colored and varies depending on the source from which we derive it. This is not the case with the Torah—our Torah.

It is God’s revelation to the Jewish people, and it is the Jewish people alone who take it seriously. The ethics of the Torah can be understood universally and are the starting point for a world that bases its lives and decisions on values, not opinions.

Furthermore, truth also depends on access to and engagement with sources of Jewish wisdom, because Judaism is not an ideology or a political program.

Truth also depends on our daily, general state of mind—affective-emotional, cognitive, and social. Our state of mind filters and focuses the information that affects us. Conversely, the information available to us affects our consciousness and perception.

The list of factors that create and influence our truth is therefore long. We must always be aware that there are many truths!

I am reminded of the saying, „Two Jews, three opinions.“ What I mean to say is that truth always emerges through dialogue and with consideration for all involved.

Therefore, when in doubt, I always choose peace. For it is peace that never delays. But first, order is needed so that peace can be established.

The first Kohen haGadol, Ahiaron, coined the phrase:

„Seek peace and pursue it.“

We should all take this more to heart.

Published by my friend Dan Lewin…

If people are truly honest, no one cares about what’s happening in another country—or the suffering of its people—unless they have a deep personal connection to those people. Around the world, there are countless cases of atrocities, oppression, and suffering—many far worse than what is happening in Gaza. So why the obsessive fixation on Israel while basically ignoring greater tragedies elsewhere?

Because, at its core, it’s fueled by jealousy and hatred. Few will admit it, so they wrap it in the language of morality—convincing themselves, and others, that they care deeply about “human rights.” But they don’t.

They aren’t empathetic, they aren’t kind, and they aren’t honest. They bend history, twist facts, and use false virtue as a cover for resentment

„Heart of Stone“or „Circles of Truth“

(Poem by Marcus Günther Michael Gundlach)

I never had a Heart of Stone
What are you waiting for?

I never had a Heart of Stone
Listen to the voice

I never had a Heart of Stone
Take your choice

Now, I am waiting
The times of quarrels
are over

Never use Torah
because she is for all of us

For the excluded
For the mighty
For the spiritual low
For the spiritual high

I am aware whats going on
Never give food to rule

My place is at Kiddush
and in Shul

Now you can listen
to Hashem

Because I sayed everything
My way is not over

I am staying strong
In my Love

Whats about you?
Fly like a dove

Lost my best years
The time with greatest fears

I feel like in my youth
And Trust in YOU

To serve again
In circles of truth

ON Parasha Wajakhel!

It’s time to consider Parasha HaShavua. In Vayakhel, the commandment to keep Shabbat is repeated right at the beginning! This double command is very important, as it was also required in the previous parasha. One might think that after Moshe Rabbeinu shattered the first pair of tablets, it’s now too late. This is not the case. In Vayakhel, he gathers all the Children of Israel and speaks to them as a father speaks to his children—firmly and sternly. He admonishes that anyone who works on Shabbat, that is, who makes this day a creative day on which something is changed, shall be put to death. This extreme instruction illustrates the extreme importance of Shabbat. A „heave-off,“ a gift for the construction of the Temple, is to be given to the Lord—from everyone whose heart desires it. He speaks of gold, silver, and copper. This is clearly evident in the presentation of Aaron, the first Kohen haGadol of Israel, in the parasha. It is important to recognize that both women and men participate in this process of giving to the Sanctuary. They all contribute with their individual talents. See Exodus 35:25. The women are listed first, followed by the princes who brought the shoham stones and the stones for the ephod (the breastplate of the Kohen haGadol). Finally, Exodus 35:29 states: „All the men and women whose hearts were inclined to do all the work that the Lord commanded through Moses to do—they brought them as a gift to the Lord.“

If one examines the content more closely, it is striking that Moshe Rabbeinu successfully obtained forgiveness for the sin of the Golden Calf. Two things are important to me here: One must remember these events so that one can attain the prerequisite for an awareness of the forgiveness of this great spiritual defeat and transgression. The joy with which a new beginning becomes possible for everyone can now be all the greater. Moshe Rabbeinu descends with a second pair of tablets and gathers the Jewish people. What is the purpose of this gathering?!! It is about the Jewish people understanding, above all, that G-d’s desire is to build a sanctuary – nothing else. The brief but very clear, indicative admonition to keep Shabbat, which comes at the beginning, is very important. He then describes in great detail and at length which materials are needed to construct the Tabernacle, and it becomes increasingly clear that the entire Jewish people, everyone, is involved. Men and women equally generously donate all the materials that Moshe Rabbeinu lists.

Then Oholiab and Bezalel are listed, who receive these donations as foremen and construct the Tabernacle. The people continue to donate generously until the craftsmen inform Moshe Rabbeinu that they have more than enough to complete their tasks. Therefore, Moshe Rabbeinu proclaims that all donations should cease. It is also important to recognize that there is close contact between Oholiab and Bezalel with Moshe Rabbeinu, and he listens to them.

For my part, I surrender any acquired rights I may have acquired in the past to the true and only King we have—Hashem—and will participate in our Jewish tradition, which dates back to this time.

Shabbat Shalom.

613 Mitzwot and the Aseret haDibrot

All 613 commandments of the Torah are of eternal relevance and cannot be exchanged or replaced with one another. The Aseret haDibrot are ‚Ten Statements‘ that contain all 613 Mitzvot.

It is therefore important to take them seriously as a monotheist and Jew, because that is what they are intended for. Let us never forget that all commandments of the Torah are and remain irreplaceable. This is important to know because it was popes, among others, who introduced a modified version for the Christian public in order to subsequently deviate their interpretations from Hashem’s Eternal Covenant with his people and claim that it had been replaced.

I would therefore like to call on everyone to read and compare the Aseret haDibrot in the original Hebrew or an authorized translation in another language. There are blatant deviations – even today.

This is precisely why the commandments of the Torah are never suitable for harnessing them to the cart of particular interests. It is simply wrong, misleading and forbidden. This is why we Jews, all of us – regardless of whether we are Kohen, Levi or Jew – insist on the original and that is not interchangeable in Hebrew. This year, the Aseret haDibrot will also be read, heard and hopefully understood in public, because only if we Jews and you discuss the essence of all 613 Mitzvot can we ensure that Hashem’s differentiated address to his people is guaranteed for all time.

Only thoughts to reach truth

Who or what is outside? – It’s the next one. Who’s next? The neighbor in the diaspora is mostly Christian, but in reality the Jewish fellow human being. Next in Eretz Yisrael is mostly Jewish and in reality the religious fellow human being. Who is the fellow human – the one who doesn’t negate me in my being different. What is not negate? The one who doesn’t want to undo the mystery of difference. What’s the secret? There are many paths to G‑d. What are the ways of G‑d? They establish peace and order. what is peace More than the absence of war. What is order? The result of letting the will of G‑d work in us. How do you know the will of G‑d? Through the permanent study of the respective „holy“ scripture. How does this font work? The result of the effect can be seen in the people it produces. What makes a human a human? fear of G-d and joy of life. Where G‑d is there is life. Where there is life, G‑d is not far away. Fear increases the distance to life and at the same time decreases the proximity to death. Life is not self-sufficient, but requires constant service. Serving is an expression of responsibility on the Vistula. Where man does not take himself too seriously, he is drawn to G‑d. Closeness to G‑d is found in stillness and strictness of form. Strict form springs directly from spiritual breadth. Vastness is thinned reality. Reality lies in perception, truth lies in silence.