The Alef in Conversation | Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein
Hi, Rabbi Weinstein. Thank you very much for joining me here for a discussion about the olive papers. The specifically, the first two olive papers that we're very excited to put out, which are the playwright of history and home for 1. Now as someone who deals with Eden and has thought about Moshiach, thought about, it would be very, very beneficial for all of us that are the aspiring teachers about Moshiach to get a little insight from you on what would be the easiest and best way to to share and really to get into people's minds these topics, these concepts of, you know, and purpose of creation.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:We're talking about matters of faith. And when someone's not raised with it, they often, have a challenge to overcome. Now even though, Baruch Hashem Herviyid is invested within neshama, But sometimes touching that neshama, triggering it and awakening it is not always, so easy. And what what I try and do is show them, the understanding behind the matter of faith that we're talking about and also the the benefits, because that always helps a person to embrace, different ideas when they can see the the actual benefits of it. It's, it's terrifying for someone to live in a world that is a world of randomness.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:And it's very uplifting and gives one a tremendous amount of hope when they know that there is actually a plan and a destiny for everything. So knowing that that, that Hashem made the world with a destiny and that when he first created the world, even even before he actually created the world, as the tells us, that that in in in in before creation, before the actual, 6 days of creation, before Vayihiar, that there was that that that Hashem made light. Hashem is already spelling out, as the measures tells us, the 4 exiles that the Jewish people are going to be in. And the that there is a plan. And the plan is the which Rashi and many other Meparsham comment, alludes to the spirit of Moshiach hovering over the waters.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:So immediately, Hashem is spelling out right up front that there is a plan and there is a destiny and we're going somewhere. I want something to be accomplished. And this is where we're going, to a place where this this this spirit of Moshiach won't just be hovering, but it's actually going to be, embraced by the world that I'm about to create. That's very uplifting. Tremendously uplifting.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:And when we find ourselves in darkness as as there was confusion. It was desolate, and it was dark. And in that was the destiny. So that is, that is very uplifting, and people wanna hear uplifting messages. So conveying it in that way is, is the beginning of of inspiring people to begin to embrace an idea, which really sounds very Farfetched.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:Also, not only Farfetched, but often feels foreign to Yiddishkayt in from the from the worldly and the from the from the worldly perspective that they have and being raised in a Christian society. What does this have to do with the Yiddishkay? So but when we show it to them in the very first, Sukhim, they begin to see that this is really what the entire Torah is all about. There was an incident with a venerable Hassid by the name of Rupshmul, and he went to Manhattan for particular, purpose, and he took with him a young American Shiva boy, or he used to live with Growner, and they went to a high rise building in Manhattan. And that was the first time that this from all of it and, a Russian Hassid was ever went everyone into a building that had tens, maybe, hundreds of floors.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:And they had to go up to one of the higher floors, and they went and took an elevator and went up. And when they came out of the elevator, they found themselves in a room with, windows, which were floor to ceiling. And of small little looked out the window. And at first, he was gripped with fright. You know, just fear of heights.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:You're so high up. He he never saw the world from such a vantage point. And then as a hostage of his, of his ill, immediately commented. He grabbed, Gamlioglu's hand, his arm, and he made a comment. And he said, you see, when someone raises themselves up a little bit, the world before them becomes a lot smaller.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:And I think this is, fundamentally the challenge that we all have. And when we bring, an idea, which is a spiritual idea, which is in uplifting, an idea that means that we are looking at things from a higher vantage point than people commonly do, and we bring that to someone who simply never had the opportunity or the education, or or, you know, the work, the avoid as we would call it, the work within themselves to see things from a deeper perspective. We bring that to them. That can be shocking. What happened and so the very first insight that we can share with them is that this is a a deeper and more spiritual perspective on the re on reality as we normally experience it.
Rabbi Levik Gourarie:I imagine that you share this concept with a lot of people. Now I guess for some people, it's probably very uplifting. And, you know, it's very nice to hear. But does this concept where you're saying your life is very limited, and I'm giving you here a a whole different perspective, a whole a higher vantage point. Does that scare anybody?
Rabbi Levik Gourarie:Does that do you ever have, like, okay. I'm not interested in hearing about this mashiachling if this is what
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:it means? Yeah. Absolutely. People are generally terrified of a reality which is different than the way they know it. And most people, you know, I say many people spend their lives trying to keep their life in within the box that they know and they're familiar with.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:Yes. And that's a large part of what we're going against when we speak about Moshiach. And that's why I think it's very important to show the personal benefits that we get when we live with the idea of Moshiach, and and we believe it, deeply. So when they see that their problems, you know, their problems are seem so big, actually seems so much smaller, and they see that. They do see that.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:You know, it, the the classic, you know, example where I I see people see that is when someone when we have a lot of guests over and someone breaks a glass at the Shabbos table. And they see how it is has no significant meaning to us. Like, we're really fine with it. I can't say that's from the that's entirely a holy perspective. You know?
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:We just know but but in a certain respect is, yeah, we no longer get caught up in $8 on a glass. That's actually is not what dominates our life. And that's because our heads are, to some extent, raised to higher values, and therefore, these things are not of great value. Yeah. Say that we could buy another one.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:Quick fix. Easy fix. Whereas, you know, there can be, a a a a a 3 day, fight in the family over that broken glass. And from the reactions I see, I think maybe that's what they're used to. Right?
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:So they'd be so these are all ways of us actually showing them, that a higher perspective actually makes the things that bother us smaller. Doesn't mean it takes everything away. And that's showing them and that's a Moshiach perspective. We connect that with Moshiach, that's a Moshiach perspective, and it truly is. We're not we're not stretching anything here.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:This is exactly what it is. We know when I teach about, I translate or encapsulate the idea, this implementation, implementation so that we bring Moshiach to reality as integrating the reality and awareness of god in this world. So that every time we do anything that is associated with God, what are we saying and what are people seeing when they see us doing those things? They say, this is a person who believes in god. They see an expression of god in the world that is integrating God in the world.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:It's interesting that, I looked up how much a football coach gets paid. And, he gets paid far less than the key players. He gets paid handsomely, but he's not not nothing like nothing like the quarterback. And and the reason and and but there's there's there's good reason why. The coach is telling the quarterback what he should be doing.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:The coach himself can't can't necessarily do it. He may have never have been a quarterback. He observes it. He understands it, and he knows how to tell someone what what they need to do. But it's the quarterback who actually has to implement that.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:And he needs to make it a part of his being, that when he gets onto the field, he not only knows what he, is meant to do, but he actually knows how to do it so that when he picks up his arm, his arm does exactly that. That is integration. That's an not just an idea that I understand. That's the implementation of the idea, but it's it's it's it's being one with that which, you know. It's interesting also that athletes the the most fun that the biggest challenge athletes have is not their ability to perform physically.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:The biggest challenge athletes have is is the psychological component of not being distracted in any way from knowing that they can do what they're going to do and knowing that they will do what they're going to do, knowing they have the power to do what they're going to do. And one of the beautiful things about the world being, created with a plan is that it's the knowing that if god created a world with a plan and God put me in this world and God asked me asked me to do something, I know I have the ability to do it.
Rabbi Levik Gourarie:So it's interesting what you're saying because on the following this this view of the topic of the and Moshiach has a plan and a mission for each and every person to, you know, buy into and then try integrating in their life. I would imagine that, you know, as a active shlyak, the rabbi has to deal with people that has to gets to deal with people every day.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:It's an honor.
Rabbi Levik Gourarie:Yeah. I would imagine that, you know, in the last couple months, based off the situation that we're dealing with, we're unfortunately, we're we're on many levels, we're dealing with the state of Hosech, which is more than what what it was, you know, last year. I mean, there's no way to know from HaShoq's perspective, but in people's in people's reality. You know, in a way, it even it works with the with the that's that that we we're learning over here where you have it doesn't just talk about the fact in the beginning of creation, you have. You have, you know, the the foreshadowing of Moshiach coming.
Rabbi Levik Gourarie:You also have part of the plan is the 4 the 4 stages of goals, the 4 goal, yes, that we went through. So maybe talk about that a little bit about how we have in our reality today where people feel the goal is in a level stronger than you than, you know, in a very, very vivid and and clear way. How does this, plan and mission give them give them and then us energy and and power to and clarity of vision.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:Well, I I think the answer is in the last words you just said, clarity and vision, in in a in in a somewhat unfortunate way. But then again, you know, in in in a deeper sense, a fortunate way, the darkness that we're in right now is actually giving people a lot of clarity and vision. And that's the irony of the depth of the darkness of the gulls that we're in and that we're we're living through right now, which is a really a historic time, you know, which which is gonna, you know, reach its culmination with the coming of Moshiach. You know, maybe now. And that is that when things are so dark, things are so clear.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:Clipper, you know, forces of negativity create confusion. Confusion is grayness. Clarity is black and white. And there is something to and that's why the Gemara tells us, right, that that before Moshiach comes in in Ben Davidba, that Moshiach is not going to come, unless there is a only at a time when the government is absolutely corrupt, essentially, is what the Gamara says. Oh, it's, heretical.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:Right? We're seeing all of that. But we're seeing it all of it on such a level of dark clarity that even people who for many years tried to pacify, you know, the side of darkness, we'll call it, or the side of confusion, are beginning to open our eyes and realize, wow. This is going from bad to worse, and there's no way there's no way we can continue to embrace this. And so and this really you know, this is a very difficult subject to speak about.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:Darkness is a very difficult subject to speak about because we have an emotional all of us have an emotional reaction. We're talking about it, somewhat, intellectually, but we have an emotional reaction to any darkness that affects us personally. And when we're in a state in an emotional state, it's very hard to have clarity. But, you know, that's part of our mission. Part of our mission is to try the best of our ability, and we and we do we get better and better at it as we as we, exercise them more and more.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:And this is encouraging to to show people as well that to have clarity, of perspective even when things are difficult, to remind ourselves, to reorient ourselves. We may lose ourselves, but then reorient ourselves. I mean, October 7th, we lost ourselves. I mean, I have lost myself. Right?
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:It was overwhelming. But a day or two later, and especially because I had to stand up and speak to a community of people, So I I worked very hard to reorient myself and say, you know, what is the clarity here? And when we do that, we bring light to this darkness, which is exactly what is. What is the divine perspective on what's going on over here? And sometimes our emotions are are are very resistant to that.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:And and this is the experience we have when we speak to, a fellow Jew who was who who who is not familiar with the subject of mashiach. Their resistance is not even a conscious resistance. It's just resistance by everything they know. They just know the world very, very differently. And so we have to us understanding that makes it, will will help us make them more comfortable in embracing this new idea, not as you need to accept this, but I wanna share with you how I see the world.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:And when they see us as beautiful people who, are selfless, who spend, you know, a significant part of our lives giving to others. So they see the results of this perspective. Right? And then they hear where this perspective is coming from, and we attach the 2. That I live this way because I believe this is an expression of God, and this is integrating God in the universe.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:That, that is, all part of bringing Moshiach to the, you know, to the world and to the first and foremost, to the Jewish people.
Rabbi Levik Gourarie:Interesting. Let's play it out for a second. Like, imagine you were learning with me, and I did not have a background on this. Yeah. And then I was to read such a paper.
Rabbi Levik Gourarie:And what questions that
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:would come up to me? When I have a mission to get you to believe in Moshiach, right, that itself lacks some integrity. It sounds good.
Rabbi Levik Gourarie:No. No. Sure. I would love to hear more. Yeah.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:Yeah. Yeah. And by the way, integrity is. Integrity is integration, integrity, integration. Right?
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:Integrity is that when we're being authentic, right? True to. So Moshiach is not an idea that I want you to believe in the way I believe in Moshiach is how I live my life, and I'm simply sharing with you that the reason why I lead a life like I do is because I know this to be true. And so sometimes when we are coming to someone and trying to get them to know something, you know, sometimes that shows up almost sometimes, like, when the person that, is not getting it, they have the whole question, and it'll almost be like a a disagreement, and I'm gonna prove it to you. That puts us as at odds.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:We're not on the same we're on opposite sides of the table. Right? When I'm simply sitting next to you and sharing with you, you know, what drives me, where this comes from. Right? And I'm just sharing with you who I am.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:There's a way of teaching these ideas as not as academically, like, as I'm gonna teach you an idea, but I'm going to share with you what inspires me. So I'm not teaching you an idea. I'm sharing with you something that, an idea that I'm that I know that inspires me. Right? That is love is a way of doing this.
Rabbi Levik Gourarie:So in a way, personally, I can tell you for myself, this is really is a learning experience for me. As I'm learning a lot more about Moshiach And not only learning about it, but integrating it, as you're saying, with the process of working on it. And I feel that every is gonna use it. Anyone, not everyone's gonna use it. Well, on some level, feel that experience as well, where you can suddenly see how when he talks about you talk about, Moshiach is a central fact.
Rabbi Levik Gourarie:We talk about Matan Torah, it's a central fact. You talk about when he sees mister Ayam. Again, the but when you have to when you give it over to somebody else and you have to give it over words that make sense in English. Can't just say, you know, this is what it says. I know.
Rabbi Levik Gourarie:I believe in it. That really changes a lot.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:Yeah. Actually, to me, this is a critical component in in in effective teaching. Even when we're teaching, like when I teach a full out class, right? It's an hour, it's an hour and a half, whatever it is. Right?
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:When I'm teaching it as an idea that you should know, I'm weakening my teaching. But when I'm teaching it as an idea that I know that's a beautiful idea, It makes it more available to the student because I'm not, I'm not, pushing it down their throats. I'm not imposing. So that's that's what I'm trying to convey over here. So even even teaching this, and it's a teaching style.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:Right? I'm teaching it as this, as it as I relate to it, not as you should relate to it. When someone sees that I am genuine with it, that makes it so much easier for them to be genuine with it. Yeah. Just before we conclude, I I just want to share, a few lines of a letter, which was a a communal letter that the rabbi sent out to the Jew addressed to the Jewish people in 1959, just before Rosh Hashanah.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:And, towards the end of this letter, the rabbi writes, if a person does not fulfill his task and does not utilize his his inestimable divine powers, It is not merely a personal loss and failure, but something that affects the destiny of the whole world. And the these few lines to me capture much of what we were discussing. That there's a plan. We're a part of this plan. We're only a part of it, of this enormous, enormous plan that, it it it's difficult for us to even appreciate what God has invested in us, the capability God has invested in us to be able to do towards this plan, which is the, the the era of Moshiach.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein:And that when we don't do it, it's not about us affecting our own lives. It's about us affecting, you know, impacting the entire plan of the universe. So this is very empowering. It could feel overwhelming, but it's actually very empowering because we begin to realize, you know, the full greatness that was invested within us.
Rabbi Levik Gourarie:Thank you very much, everyone, for, coming here and having this conversation. I it was a very, very enlightening and very helpful conversation. I I hope that a lot of the concepts and ideas that you shared will be used and can be used by many whoever's listening and whoever can, wants to teach about mashiach. What we're presented here, what has been discussed and been, referenced countless times is the Aleph, which is a new, Moshiach education tool. Short, stand alone, 20 minute, no prep, text based Moshiach education that can be learned with, or a small group of people.
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Rabbi Levik Gourarie:Run it with 1 person. Run it with 2 people, and you'll see our, you know, company guarantee is that they're really, really gonna like it.
