A recent post by Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner reminded me of a great story:

There was a young student who one day began contemplating the conundrum of Divine Foreknowledge versus Free Will. The more he thought about it. the more distressed he became - after all, how was it possible that he could have any choice at all, if God supposedly knows everything that will happen, as a matter of fact, makes it happen?

Unable to wrap his head around this ages-old paradox, he began slipping in his faith in an omniscient God. "If we have free will," he reasoned, "then God must not really know what our thoughts are. But if that's the case, then can God really be all that powerful?" His friends and relatives saw how this preoccupation was affecting the youth, and so they suggested that he go see Reb Pinchas of Koretz, the chasidic master, and pose the question to him: Does God know what Man thinks?

After a long trip, the young man - not one prone to visiting those of the chasidic persuasion - reached Reb Pinchas' home. When he entered the study Reb Pinchas was learning Torah, and he looked up at the student with his penetrating gaze. "Reb Yid!" exclaimed Reb Pinchas, "if I can tell what you're thinking, wouldn't you agree that the Holy One, Blessed Is He can obviously do the same?"

Creativity flourishes

Soul Geology

In the Earth, there are so many wonderful treasures. And if you know where to dig, you will find gold, diamonds, jewelry, all kinds of treasures. 

But if you don't know where to dig, all you will find is rocks and dirt. 

The Rebbe is the geologist of the soul; he can show you where to dig, and what to dig for - but the digging you must do yourself. 

Intro/Outro sample on Searching from Matisyahu's Spark Seeker. 

I think that the sample is taken from a lecture given by Rabbi J. Immanuel Schochet, who develops this concept in Chasidic Dimensions.

Free shiur from Rav Moshe Weinberger

From this past motzei Shabbos at the hilulla of Rav Kalonymos Kalman Shapira, the Piaseczna Rebbe zt"l hy"d. Unfortunately I couldn't make it, as I was spending time with my father and his siblings at the shiva for my grandfather A"H.

Here's the link for the shiur; I haven't listened to it yet, but I'm sure it will be great! For thousands of other shiurim on the Rebbe's works, and on countless other topics that run the gamut of Torah, visit www.ravmosheweinberger.com, where a new(-ish) subscription plan allots fifty credits per month for only $6.99, with no obligations.

Yay!

Reb Ally's yeshiva now has a website, where one can learn more information about the yeshiva's goals and aspirations.

Check it out!

Quick Update

I didn't realize how long it's been since I updated anything to the blog. Things have been super hectic here, and while we're still trying to hold on to that spiritual infusion we got over the past few weeks, our lives in the alma d'shikra continue.

A lot has been going on lately, a lot of new changes and adjustments - some good, some less apparently so.

At the risk of being the bearer of bad news, my grandfather (my father's father) passed away this morning, and I have been mulling over what I would like to share about him. I plan on doing so at a later date (in the near future), but as it is currently Rosh Chodesh, we are not supposed to eulogize and the temptation would be too great. Please check in later this week for something more.

Besurot tovot.