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Shalom Alechem everyone, well, it looks like another beautiful day in the center of the universe. Everything is quiet the world is at peace, the weather all over the world is just like it is in San Diego California, not! It is a wonderful affirmation though. Don't you think? One would almost consider it a cosmic neurosis, LOL.
Speaking about neurosis, I believe we have a galactic psychosis called Isis that is the new global rage (no pun intended)! And they are growing at a geometric rate no less. One can surmise the galactic trauma is in its basic formation. I believe this is worth praying about! I believe this is worth beseeching our divine essence in assisting us in defusing this virus called Isis. This is the month to do it. In this particular portion it speaks of many interesting things. It speaks of a person having to build a protective barrier around his roof so that no one falls off. Isn't that an interesting analogy of what's going on today, trying to save people from falling off the deep end.
But there is another area in this portion I wish to discuss. It is in the second reading. In this reading it speaks of having a concern for other people's property. In other words, if we were to find an object, whatever it is, a bag of vegetables that somebody left behind, or anything, when we find it we should treat it as though it was ours, and pray that the one who lost it can be contacted.
I wish to tell you a true story about what happened to me nine years ago when I made my second trip to Israel. It was the third day of the Passover and it was the time of the blessing of the Kohane priests at the Wailing Wall. I was running so late that I took a taxi, and when I paid the man my wallet fell from my pocket in between the seat and the door. I did not know this! I ran to the Wailing Wall to wash the hands of the priests, which was an experience all unto itself. When I finished I walked towards the bus and felt my back pocket and it was empty, OY!! I had $20 in my front pocket thank goodness to get myself somewhere but.... I was out of business!!!
I stopped in my tracks and looked straight up and then looked back at the Wailing Wall and asked, God, why did you put me out of business?! What did I do to earn such an intense event?! All I could say was, "I can't believe this, I'm out of business, I can't believe this, I'm out of business!!!" Yes, I had a lot of cash and credit cards and driver's license and all that stuff, you know the drill.
I was so nervous, the only thing that saved me from banging my head against the wall was that I had my passport and my other ID in my other back pocket. So I got on the bus, not knowing where I was even going, just shaking my head and asking why. I was so nervous I got off the bus 2 stops early. I figured the most sane thing to do was to walk and pray, and figure out how I'm going to call my wife and tell her this wonderful news. As I'm walking up the hill towards where I was staying, my cell phone rings. It's a number I never saw before, but I've only been there a week. So I pick up the phone and a man says, hello, are you Mr. Mordechai? I said yes, who is this? He said, I'm a man at your bank and I have a man who just walked in and says he has your wallet and he was able to track you down through your insurance card and your bank card. I said, where are you calling me from? He said, I'm in the bank on your corner. I said, I can be there in five minutes.
Now I must tell you all that at that point and from that point on I became a knower not a believer, but wait – there's more.
When I got to the bank a religious looking guy was standing there and asked, are you Mordechai? I said yes. He said, I have something for you, do you have any ID so I know it's you? I said, you have my drivers license in that wallet. He said, that's not good enough, and so it was a good thing that I had my passport on me in my other pocket. Now many of us would be upset that he would not go check out the drivers license in my wallet, but this was Israel! When he gave me my wallet I looked inside and he said, don't worry, it is all there. So I took out $200 and offered it to him as a reward, and he put both hands up and stepped back two steps and said, I don't want money, I want you to bless me!
Well let me tell you, I gave this man the best and most sincere blessing I had ever given anyone up until that point in time! It was a blessing that both of us sincerely gave and received! It was sort of half of a spiritual epiphany! The receiver of the blessing was the other half, and together we made an appreciating unity that we both felt the chills.
There are many other stories like this that happen in Jerusalem. Now don't get me wrong, there are many things that happen the other way also, I am just expressing to you how I am counting my blessings and have counted my blessings ever since that day.
The Ark opens this evening Friday, September 5 at 8:40 PM PDT. Let's pray for the impossible! Let's pray for world peace! Let's pray for a radiation free Pacific ocean! Let's pray for the neutralization and destruction of Isis! This my beloved star seeds is "mission impossible". So, if you are going to shoot, shoot for the stars.
So please don't forget that gratitude is the best attitude. And if we all have time this week, to please ask forgiveness from all the people around us this past year that we may have abused or humiliated, unless of course they really deserved it.
Peace, everyone. Shabbat shalom
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