Kabbalah Down to Earth - Lovingkindness meets Intellect

Intellect often comes from the interactions between the brain and Hashem. Differently, lovingkindness, such as “honor, and love” come primarily from the heart (spiritually).

Abraham showed us the prime example of lovingkindness, and see where he stands now: He is a sacred Father of 3 major religions, and over the history of creation, and even now Abraham is the most loved person ever to live on earth; not Ishmael, Moses, Solomon, Paul, Jesus, or Mohammed.

My vision of Abraham is that he was someone that if you wanted to talk intellectually, he would talk intellectually, but it is his lovingkindness that made him a successful Patriarch.

Ever met a domestic dog? Dogs can teach us a lot about selflessness. A dog's love comes straight from the dog's heart. A dog's loyalty is such that often it will risk its life to save its owner. This is best described as heart or lovingkindness, and not intellect. Intellect in its purest sense is too cold to have friends.

Does Gd Love Women as Much as Men or Is He a Bigoted Bastard?

Firstly, I want for women to know Gd loves all of His people!

Hi!  I am a gentile.  Years ago I got really angry at a Rabbi for letting me know that I am Bnei Noach.  It probably was rude, but forgivable.  However, another Jew told me that he could guarantee the Jewish Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel would never ever act that way, and that helped me feel better.

I once thought similarly like so many women that Jews had placed me in what was essentially in a lower caste.  I thought Jews idealized ideas such as never letting gentile slaves free, feeding people like me things that they found already dead, etc.  However, I didn’t give up my pursuit of Hashem with the Torah as my guide.  From what I found, I can tell women that given enough patience and in depth study, Torah guarantees us the “Thank Gd I am not a woman prayer,” or in my case the “Thank Gd I am not like the other man,” prayer won’t be bothersome.

What I don’t know is how each woman can find peace.  I am not a woman, and even greater; women are not alike.  I don’t claim to know how all men may find peace in Torah either!  Gd created us as individuals, each with something different to offer.  I don’t know how each person may find his or her inner peace from Torah study, but I can say with confidence that Gd loves it when people try to get to know Him better, and that inner peace is findable through unlocking the secrets of Torah.

In study, I too have reached incorrect conclusions.  There is that prayer, “Thank you for not making me like the other man.”  Can anyone empathize with my situation easier now?  Once, I too was angry.  I had misconceptions about how Jews were supposed to act toward gentiles.  Through study I learned that I was wrong about Torah and that G-d never calls for bigotry.  Instead, Jews are called to follow Abraham’s examples of lovingkindness and hospitality, and Moses’ example of compassion for animals.

I, myself, have found happiness as a gentile.  IMHO, Noah is the epitome of the spine of Torah.  The entire world laughed at him, and he had the spine not to assimilate!  God cleansed the world for the sake of one righteous man, Noah.  I won’t look down on him!

DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) and Faith

In study of “Dialectical Behavioral Therapy,” I find that DBT is relevant to faithfulness.  DBT understands that our mind is a product of reason and emotions.  Where reason and emotions overlap, there is wisdom to be found.

Faith that comes from the gut, loving-kindness, causes our hearts to ache for those without faith, as victory comes to those with faith.

Faith may also be rational, connecting to the Mind.  Faith explains why some live blessed and why some don’t.  Undersized, malnourished children, with bellies full of worms, AIDS, and malaria; such persons are charged with having to respect their ancestors, even though their ancestors are to blame.  Torah explains this horror.

Yet, my reality is such that when I experience something good, I give thanks.  I thank Gd for not making me like the other man.  Time, reason, tells me my reality will unfold according to Hashem’s blessings, because as though I am puffed up, the righteous will live by my kind of faith (Habakkuk 2:4), both Jew and gentile.