Clifton Park Chabad

2 days ago

The ancient Greek people were kind of funny: they had gods for EVERYTHING.

They had a god for metalwork, a goddess for hunting, a god for fire, and a god of wine.

They even had a god that punished people going 60mph on the left lane of the 87! (Okay, I made that one up...)

Thinking about it, I recognized that, unfortunately, sometimes we also have silly little gods without even realizing it.

If you ask me, I will unequivocally state that there is only one G-d. Still, I sometimes seem to feel that other forces control my life.

There is the god of my canceled flight (it's a god without the decency to give me an alternative flight!).

There is the god of my flat tire (which construction worker in their right mind will think it's okay to leave a nail on the street?)

And there is the god of my 2 hours of sleep last night (don't get me even started on that one).

I guess this is why Moshe had to make it abundantly clear in our Parsha that:

"You shall know this day and consider it in your heart, that the L-rd He is G-d in heaven above, and upon the earth below; there is none else!"

Who was Moshe speaking with? A group of people who experienced endless miracles in the desert, including the defeat of great and mighty countries. They didn't need any convincing of the existence of Hashem.

But faith should never be taken for granted.

To have faith, we need to think deeply.

To have faith, we need to learn to look past the outer layers of every situation and to remember that at the core of it, it's all part of Hashem's plan.

To have faith, we need to constantly remind ourselves of our faith.

Hashem is "in the heaven above, and upon the earth below."

When things go smooth, and we feel on top of the world, or when things go wrong and we sink low, Hashem is with us.

But it's much more than that.

"There is none else."

The saintly Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Barditchev used to sing:

"Where will I find you, Master of all the worlds?

"When I go up, you are there; when I go down, you are there.

"When things are good, it's from you. When things go bad, it's also you, and if it's you - it can never be bad".

May we always feel Hashem, and may we always feel (the) good!

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom!

And as today is the 15th of Av (an interesting holiday- read up www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/53680/jewish/15th-of-Av.htm), we begin signing off with a "May you be inscribed and sealed for a new year" as the summer winds down!

Rabbi Yossi & Leah Rubin
Light candles at 7:43 pm, Shabbat ends at 8:46 pm ... See MoreSee Less