7/4/1776 was 17Tammuz. While the Declaration of Independence was in the final process of signature, Jews around the world were fasting. It always fascinated me, this seeming coincidence; why that date, out of all dates.
While it has never been perfect, nor perfectly free of anti-Semitism, the US has been a haven for us. Not only are we free to be as Frum as we want to be, the non-Jews are really starting to be wonderful. During a work stay in Texas, I was amazed at all the people who basically stood up for me because I wore a Yomika. Indeed, there's a Christian leader (John Hagee) who's renounced converting Jews. He's said, publically, that when Moshiach comes, he'll let us know who's right. What more could we ask from non-Jews?
Still, the 17Tammuz thing. Then, it came to me last July 4th. 17Tammuz is all about breached defenses. Before, we could always blame our shortcomings on the Goyish Oppression. It was an excuse, maybe even a valid excuse. In this country, that defense has been breached. We cannot blame our failings on the Goyim. Our shortcomings are 100% our own responsibilities.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
2
A few years ago, I met a man who had been a Rov in South Africa. An older man, he was quite the storyteller. One of the topics he brought up was that he never knew why water circled the drain the other direction in the Southern Hemisphere. The answer's simple I said: the world turns in a different direction in the Southern Hemisphere.
I explained the Coriolis effect, which also explains why hurricanes and tornados also turn in the opposite direction in the Southern Hemisphere. If you look down at the North Pole, the Earth turns in a counter-clockwise direction. If you look down at the South Pole, the Earth turns in a clockwise direction.
He looked at me carefully and said, this is very important. Use this well.
Two weeks later, he left this world. I like to think that I eased his transition to the World to Come, maybe he was waiting for this answer before he was ready to leave. I'm not sure, but he did inspire me to apply this insight to the world of Torah.
It wasn't long before it hit me: the Coriolis effect is the instantiation of this in the world of Gashmius, and Eloo v'Eloo Divrei Elokim Chayim is the expression of this in the world of Ruchnius. Two diametrically opposed viewpoints with both 100% correct can only work if one if correct from one perspective, while the other is correct from the other. For some perspectives, we may have to leave this world to appreciate, but there is always a question of perspective.
Think of this question: do we go clockwise, or counter-clockwise around the Bima during Hakafos? Well, both answers are correct: clockwise when looking up from the ground, counter-clockwise looking down at the Bima.
Now, there is an example where perspective doesn't matter in both the world of Gashmius and Ruchnius. The speed of light is constant. It doesn't matter when you are approaching or receding from the light source, the speed is constant. The frequency shifts red when you are receding, blue when approaching, but the speed is constant. Similarly, Hashem is Good. It may appear favorable or unfavorable to us, but it is always Good.
I explained the Coriolis effect, which also explains why hurricanes and tornados also turn in the opposite direction in the Southern Hemisphere. If you look down at the North Pole, the Earth turns in a counter-clockwise direction. If you look down at the South Pole, the Earth turns in a clockwise direction.
He looked at me carefully and said, this is very important. Use this well.
Two weeks later, he left this world. I like to think that I eased his transition to the World to Come, maybe he was waiting for this answer before he was ready to leave. I'm not sure, but he did inspire me to apply this insight to the world of Torah.
It wasn't long before it hit me: the Coriolis effect is the instantiation of this in the world of Gashmius, and Eloo v'Eloo Divrei Elokim Chayim is the expression of this in the world of Ruchnius. Two diametrically opposed viewpoints with both 100% correct can only work if one if correct from one perspective, while the other is correct from the other. For some perspectives, we may have to leave this world to appreciate, but there is always a question of perspective.
Think of this question: do we go clockwise, or counter-clockwise around the Bima during Hakafos? Well, both answers are correct: clockwise when looking up from the ground, counter-clockwise looking down at the Bima.
Now, there is an example where perspective doesn't matter in both the world of Gashmius and Ruchnius. The speed of light is constant. It doesn't matter when you are approaching or receding from the light source, the speed is constant. The frequency shifts red when you are receding, blue when approaching, but the speed is constant. Similarly, Hashem is Good. It may appear favorable or unfavorable to us, but it is always Good.
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