Ask The Rabbi!!

[TomHagen]

Originally Posted by MithShrike

Rabbi,

Perhaps you can enlighten me on a religious point. I have studied as much as I can find at the used book store and the library which isn't nearly as much as I wish. My background is Christian, Baha'i, and now a cynical agnostic. My question is about the nature of Satan. From what I've read, the duality of good and evil was greatly changed once the Jewish nation came in contact with Zoroastrians in their exile in Babylon. From what little I have read, Satan was Ha-Satan or the greatest servant of G-d and tested the servants of G-d. He was not a diametrically opposed being of once angelic origins. The story of Job makes a lot more sense to me when I heard about this context. For some reason there is a... misconception or evolution of the character of Satan from greatest servant to diametrically opposed evil incarnate a la Zoroastrian Angra Mainyu at least in the modern Christian view of Satan. Is there a fall of Satan in pre-Babylon writings?

Sounds like you have been reading Harold Bloom... not that that is a bad thing.

The scenario you portrayed about "Satan's fall" is not something discussed in any Torah-true Jewish text that I have come across, mystical or otherwise. HaSoton (with an 'uh' not an 'ay' as it is pronounced in hebrew) is merely the name for the evil inclination that resides within a person, which they must overcome and transform to do good.

Great story...

When G-d was creating the world and He created the evil inclination (aforementioned) He had to come up with a name. So first G-d called him the "yetzer horah" - evil inclination. He came back to G-d and said no one will listen to me if I am called that, who wants to really do EVIL - Rah? So G-d sent him back with the name "soton" - that didn't work either, they all new it was a negative proper name. uh-uh they said. So G-d called him the "nefesh habahamis" - the animal soul. But still he came back saying no one wanted to associate with him because they are people, not animals, why get involved with something below us. Then he was called the "sitra achra" - the other side, Oy! who wants to be on the "other side", I want to be on the right side!! So this went on and on until he got the name "Yesh" - literally to exist, but meaning ego. He said "Aha!" - this is a good name I can trick people into doing wrong with, everyone wants to exist and be validated and hold themselves as independent (especially from G-d). People will say "I AM SOMETHING" and their ego and self-aggrandizement will lead them astray, and so it was...

We can't see ourselves a independent from G-d or immediately we fall down the slippery slope.

[ActionAndy]

I know the Catholics have come to declare that extraterrestrial life would not interfere with the Catholic faith. That is, the Pope has said that he sees nothing wrong with the theory that life (intelligent as well) exists on other planets...How do jews feel about aliens?

Rad thread by the way.

[ade06]

Originally Posted by ActionAndy

I know the Catholics have come to declare that extraterrestrial life would not interfere with the Catholic faith. That is, the Pope has said that he sees nothing wrong with the theory that life (intelligent as well) exists on other planets...How do jews feel about aliens?

Rad thread by the way.

Thanks for the thread. You rock! Also, what is your position on ghosts?

[TomHagen]

Originally Posted by ade06

Thanks for the thread. You rock! Also, what is your position on ghosts?

Yes, I do.

There is/was a concept called a "dybbuk" in certain Jewish literature and mystical texts. This might or might not be the equivalent of what is commonly referred to as ghosts.

Do souls sometimes stick around? Yes. Is in the conventional way of a "ghost"? Kinda, Sorta, Maybe. Mystical Judaism is rife with even much more mind-blowing concepts than "ghosts". I guess, define "ghost"...

[ade06]

Originally Posted by TomHagen

Yes, I do.

There is/was a concept called a "dybbuk" in certain Jewish literature and mystical texts. This might or might not be the equivalent of what is commonly referred to as ghosts.

Do souls sometimes stick around? Yes. Is in the conventional way of a "ghost"? Kinda, Sorta, Maybe. Mystical Judaism is rife with even much more mind-blowing concepts than "ghosts". I guess, define "ghost"...

I think you did a good job answering the question, but I the ghost I was refering to can be defined as "The spirit of a dead person, especially one believed to appear in bodily likeness to living persons or to haunt former habitats."

[TomHagen]

Originally Posted by ade06

I think you did a good job answering the question, but I the ghost I was refering to can be defined as "The spirit of a dead person, especially one believed to appear in bodily likeness to living persons or to haunt former habitats."

Then, yes, there can be to quote you: "the spirit of a dead person, especially one believed to appear in bodily likeness to living persons...", many very righteous people see their ancestors in this way and this is deemed positive, while it can be frightening/awe inspiring.

Everything except for the 'haunt' part. That is more like the aforementioned 'dybukk', which is much different, where a soul would possess a person, G-d forbid. This rarely happens.

[ActionAndy]

Originally Posted by TomHagen

Then, yes, there can be to quote you: "the spirit of a dead person, especially one believed to appear in bodily likeness to living persons...", many very righteous people see their ancestors in this way and this is deemed positive, while it can be frightening/awe inspiring.

Everything except for the 'haunt' part. That is more like the aforementioned 'dybukk', which is much different, where a soul would possess a person, G-d forbid. This rarely happens.

So more on possession--Do you have a ritual for exorcisms?

[TomHagen]

Originally Posted by ActionAndy

I know the Catholics have come to declare that extraterrestrial life would not interfere with the Catholic faith. That is, the Pope has said that he sees nothing wrong with the theory that life (intelligent as well) exists on other planets...How do jews feel about aliens?

Rad thread by the way.

Thanks brotha.

The discovery of ETs would pose no more of a threat to Judaism than would the discovery of a new species of rabbit.

It would be limiting G-d's power to say that He could not have placed life on other planets. In fact, there is a reference in the biblical Book of Judges (53) to an inhabited place called Maroz, which the Talmud identifies as a star.

But Jewish thought has always believed that the most weird and wonderful creatures are to be found right here on earth. We can explore the remotest extremities of space but still remain alien to our own humanity. The real secrets of the universe lie hidden in the depths of the human soul.

[smokin5]

I'm surprised noone has asked this yet, so I'll pose it:

Is there a brucha (blessing or "grace" for those who don't know) you say before lighting a cigar? What is it?

And do I really have to smoke 8 cigars on the last night of Hanukkah?

[TomHagen]

Originally Posted by smokin5

I'm surprised noone has asked this yet, so I'll pose it:

Is there a brucha (blessing or "grace" for those who don't know) you say before lighting a cigar? What is it?

And do I really have to smoke 8 cigars on the last night of Hanukkah?

Sorry, there is no Brocha - Blessing over smoking cigars. But utilizing them for good, as many of us do, in aiding relaxation, clarity of mind, forming social bonds etc. is all good.

No you don't have to smoke 8 cigars on the last night of Chanukah, but u can bomb someone with 8 cigars!

[ActionAndy]

Originally Posted by TomHagen

Thanks brotha.

The discovery of ETs would pose no more of a threat to Judaism than would the discovery of a new species of rabbit.

It would be limiting G-d's power to say that He could not have placed life on other planets. In fact, there is a reference in the biblical Book of Judges (53) to an inhabited place called Maroz, which the Talmud identifies as a star.

But Jewish thought has always believed that the most weird and wonderful creatures are to be found right here on earth. We can explore the remotest extremities of space but still remain alien to our own humanity. The real secrets of the universe lie hidden in the depths of the human soul.

I looked into this and not only is this Maroz place inhabited, but its people are cursed. That's pretty neat.

[M1903A1]

Originally Posted by TomHagen

everyone wants to exist and be validated and hold themselves as independent (especially from G-d). People will say "I AM SOMETHING" and their ego and self-aggrandizement will lead them astray, and so it was...

"Men make plans...G-d laughs."

We can't see ourselves a independent from G-d or immediately we fall down the slippery slope.

Not to be confused with "THAT" slope...right?

[TomHagen]

Originally Posted by M1903A1

"Men make plans...G-d laughs."

True.

Not to be confused with "THAT" slope...right?