The term Rabbi is misused and misunderstood more than most other terms. Ask five people to define rabbi and you will likely get five different replies. To me, it just means someone who has a tax-exemption.
What I don’t understand is why someone would need a Rabbi, if he or she can think for himself. I’m not talking about halacha. I’m talking about hashkafa, life-stuff. If it would be a requirement, why don’t Rabbis have Rabbis?
When I was a young kid in elementary school, kids would cheat off me by tests. I didn’t know what to do because I felt it might be wrong but I didn’t want to make any enemies and I definitely didn’t want to tattle (I still look down at tattletales, snitches, canaries and whatever else you want to call them- for the most part). So I asked my parents what’s wrong if I help kids cheat off me, and they answered that later in life they will be used to not having to work/struggle for anything, and they’ll stay with nothing. No hard job, too lazy to solve problems in real-life, etc.
Which brings to mind the universal truth: No pain, no gain. Now how is giving up one’s autonomy to a Rabbi different from cheating on a test? You aren’t going to grow by deferring to another person all your life. You need to think for yourself, to make mistakes, to be independent.
I mean, you can always get perspective and wisdom from anyone and everyone, but to give up your autonomy and decision-making to one person is just stupid to me.
A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.-Helen Keller
Monday, September 21, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Dependence
We are all dependent to some extent.
I myself am very independent-minded, but that only makes me realize how dependent I really am. On family, the government, friends, my community (shidduchim), etc. There are certain things which even if they are unpleasant, I have to go through with them at this time for various reasons, but where I can control it – why shouldn’t I? Why do I always go on trips with friends or family? Yes, it’s a lot of fun and a better experience when sharing with others, but that’s only if it isn’t always like that. Therefore, I’ve decided to stop being such a wussy and go away for a Shabbos without dragging anyone along. Eventually, I want to go on a long vacation without anyone I know.
And talking of shaking things up a bit, I want to start going on trips without a camera just to fully experience things. I want to start going on unplanned, unscheduled excursions. I want to start chatting it up with random people on trains and in the street. I want to start trying new foods and eating things that I’ve decided I don’t like years ago. I want to laugh uncontrollably and then sob uncontrollably. I want to just start dancing in the streets or at least skipping. I want to go to a random acquaintance and explain how much of an impact they have on my (and others’) life. I want to approach a close friend in the streets and shout “I love you!” I want to just take a break from life for a week; no talking to anyone I know or accomplishing anything school-related. I want to sing at a strangers Shabbos-seuda.
But will I?
“Like the body that is made up of different limbs and organs, all moral creatures must depend on each other to exist.”
I myself am very independent-minded, but that only makes me realize how dependent I really am. On family, the government, friends, my community (shidduchim), etc. There are certain things which even if they are unpleasant, I have to go through with them at this time for various reasons, but where I can control it – why shouldn’t I? Why do I always go on trips with friends or family? Yes, it’s a lot of fun and a better experience when sharing with others, but that’s only if it isn’t always like that. Therefore, I’ve decided to stop being such a wussy and go away for a Shabbos without dragging anyone along. Eventually, I want to go on a long vacation without anyone I know.
And talking of shaking things up a bit, I want to start going on trips without a camera just to fully experience things. I want to start going on unplanned, unscheduled excursions. I want to start chatting it up with random people on trains and in the street. I want to start trying new foods and eating things that I’ve decided I don’t like years ago. I want to laugh uncontrollably and then sob uncontrollably. I want to just start dancing in the streets or at least skipping. I want to go to a random acquaintance and explain how much of an impact they have on my (and others’) life. I want to approach a close friend in the streets and shout “I love you!” I want to just take a break from life for a week; no talking to anyone I know or accomplishing anything school-related. I want to sing at a strangers Shabbos-seuda.
But will I?
“Like the body that is made up of different limbs and organs, all moral creatures must depend on each other to exist.”
Friday, August 14, 2009
I've been thinking of how to run this blog and who to tell. I've decided that for now I will only tell my best friend. I want to be able to post whatever I feel anonymously especially since I don't know exactly what I will be posting on here anyway. Oh, and I will be kicked out of yeshiva if they find out I have a blog.
I will see how it works and what I choose to post here. In the meantime, I've been exploring the blogosphere and it's more vast than I ever thought. There's like a whole Jewish/Frum underground here! Some are just fascinating. So I don't have time to read all of them now to decided whether I want to make the commitment of "following" them (which btw, is a very cool feature and alone worth it to have written this blog: I can now see new posts without having to visit all those websites).
I have a couple of ideas for posts, but I want to figure out more features and stuff I can do with this blog before I start.
To a new beginning!
I will see how it works and what I choose to post here. In the meantime, I've been exploring the blogosphere and it's more vast than I ever thought. There's like a whole Jewish/Frum underground here! Some are just fascinating. So I don't have time to read all of them now to decided whether I want to make the commitment of "following" them (which btw, is a very cool feature and alone worth it to have written this blog: I can now see new posts without having to visit all those websites).
I have a couple of ideas for posts, but I want to figure out more features and stuff I can do with this blog before I start.
To a new beginning!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Why I started a blog
So, why am I starting this blog? Is there a special message I have that no one in the blogosphere is doing a good job spreading? No. Here are the reasons I've decided to make this.
1) For myself. I want to remember certain things and if anyone else can add or enjoy, then why not?
2) Because I am drunk on fatigue and doing this on a whim. I may just regret this tomorrow.
3) To learn more about technology and the many facets of it.
4) I occasionally read blogs and it's amazing the way it looks like a... community. Everyone knows each other, and follows each other. People argue, but it's usually like when brothers argue. I want in.
5) I will get to meet some interesting people because of my blog; this I am sure of.
6) So that I have an anonynous forum to share my thoughts, dreams, views, challenges, et cetera.
1) For myself. I want to remember certain things and if anyone else can add or enjoy, then why not?
2) Because I am drunk on fatigue and doing this on a whim. I may just regret this tomorrow.
3) To learn more about technology and the many facets of it.
4) I occasionally read blogs and it's amazing the way it looks like a... community. Everyone knows each other, and follows each other. People argue, but it's usually like when brothers argue. I want in.
5) I will get to meet some interesting people because of my blog; this I am sure of.
6) So that I have an anonynous forum to share my thoughts, dreams, views, challenges, et cetera.
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