BARBARA'S TCHATZKAHS

By: Lazer Gurkow ------------------------ The ninth of the Ten Plagues to be visited on Egypt was the plague of Darkness: “No person could see his brother, nor could any person rise from his place, for three days; but for the children of Israel, there was light in all their dwellings" (Exodus 10:23). The physical plague of darkness had its root in a spiritual darkness, which can be defined as the absence of G-d’s revealed presence. In discussing the spiritual origin of this plague the Midrash cites two opinions: Rabbi Nechemia taught that the darkness originated in the regions of geheinom (purgatory); Rabbi Yehudah taught that it originated in the celestial spheres. [1] The Chassidic masters explain the difference between these two forms of darkness: 1) The classic dark, associated with geheinom, acts as a curtain. When a curtain is drawn across a window it obstructs the sunlight and leaves the room thoroughly in the dark. This is the darkness of geheinom, where G-d’s presence is ...

My friend, Rabbi Schwartz gave a very interesting analogy to someone at my Torah study class. It was a beautiful analogy from the teachings of the Sages. To paraphrase: The student asks the teacher how do I know how close I am to God? The teacher said, "put you arm out in front of you with your palm open to your face. Can you see your hand?" The student said yes. The teacher said "Move it towards your face about 6". Can you see your hand?" The student said yes. The teacher said "Move it towards your face another 6". Can you see your hand?" The student said yes. The teacher said "Move it towards your face another 6". Can you see your hand?" At this point the student's hand was covering his face. "Rabbi," said the student, "I can no longer see anything." "And so it is with God," said the Rabbi, "when you think you can't see or feel Him? He's so close He's right on top of you....

"I assert that the cosmic religious experience is the strongest and the noblest driving force behind scientific research." The university professor challenged his students with this question. Did God create everything that exists? A student bravely replied, "Yes, he did!" "God created everything?" The professor asked. "Yes sir", the student replied. The professor answered, "If God created everything, then God created evil since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are then God is evil". The student became quiet before such an answer. The professor was quite pleased with himself and boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth. Another student raised his hand and said, "Can I ask you a question professor?" "Of course", replied the professor. The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?" "What kind of que...