Been A Long Time

Share your thoughts.

1. Jacob wrestled with G-d. What does it man to wrestle with G-d? Is that something we're supposed to do? When have you wrestled with G-d?

2. Some teenagers lost friends in a tragic car accident (Rachmana Litzlan) and they told their rabbi that they weren't going to the synagogue for the high holidays because they were too angry at G-d. Their rabbi told them to go to Shul and to bring their anger in with them. Are we allowed to be angry at G-d? May we bring G-d directed anger into Shul?

3. When we say we're angry at G-d, what else might we mean? When we say we're angry at someone, what else might that mean? The rabbis say there are 4 categories of anger in terms of how strong and long people's anger's are. They do not list a category of never being angry, nor do they list a category of always being angry? Do you think these categories should be included in that list?

4. To what extent do people consciously change? At a certain point is it not worth trying? Is it normal to reach an age or stage in life and then coast or freeze in that place? Does being spiritual or religious or Orthodox or any other such label address this question?

5. The word Tzibur - some say - stands for Tzadikim, Beinonim, and Reshaim hinting that a community is comprised of all types of people - righteous, average, and the opposite of righteous. What does this mean to you? What feelings does it bring up? Is it OK to not be a Tzadik? Can it be that people's categories change over time, eb and flow?

6. What is your definition of an intellectual? What other definitions can you imagine? Do you ever discuss man having free will versus G-d controlling everything? Did you ever write a paper or give a lecture on this topic? Do you think there are people who stay up all night talking about these types of questions but never publish or present about them? Do you think there are people who research and present about these topics but don't speak about them much in a natural way in their lives?

7. What do you wish most for people to think or say about you? In your life? After 120? Do you what people think about you matters. In Avot it says that if the spirit of people rests well with a person then so does the spirit of G-d? Discuss the complexities of that rule.

8. Mesillat Yesharim opens with the question of what a person's purpose is in this world? What do you think? Do you know what he says, and what do you think of that?

9. The rabbis say thee are 3 pillars of the word: Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut Chasadim. Does calling them pillars imply they're each equally important? Do you see them as equal? How do connections to these values reflect upon a person's religiosity?

10. Rav Yisrael Salanter said it's harder to change one trait than to learn all of Shas? What do you take from those words? If you follow the thought through to its natural conclusion, what might be the implication?

11. Someone was once telling a friend about a difficult experience and ended by saying - "in the end it was OK" And the friend asked, "Well, what if it wasn't OK?" Are you OK with things not being OK? Discuss the difference between things not being OK because of your choices or due to circumstances beyond your control.