06-11-2008, 11:02 PM
B"H
Hello. Thank you for clicking on my post. My very last post on this forum is for you, the parents, who have been long-suffering and dedicated. To you belongs the glory. To you belongs the honor. To you belongs the thanks from the bottom of our hearts. Hats off to you. Please accept this from the bottom of my heart.
This is my last appeal to you. My appeal to you is a simple one. Raise your children in the fear of G-d and the Ten Commandments. Now, technically, it is understood under Rabbinical Law that Gentiles are under the Seven Laws of Noah, whereas the Ten Commandments have specific prohibitions like the Sabbath that are seen as particular to Israel. However, since the term "Noahide Laws" is not widely known, the Ten Commandments have a deeper resonance outside of Judaism. Hence, it is to the Ten Commandments that I appeal. Raise your child in the honor of the Ten Commandments!
Parents, it is your duty to teach your children that the right thing is more important than the expedient thing. It is more important than even good grades, college, and success, as important as those things are. Cheating should be unacceptable. It is not a part of growing up. It is an abomination. Whether we are talking about cheating in school, cheating in business, or cheating on one's spouse, it is a form of evil. You must emphasize this simple truth to your children. It does not seem to be emphasized enough in these "sophisticated" times that there are simple rules for right and wrong. Those simple rules may be cliche's to some people, but they are time-tested and never come up empty.
Parents, for the love of G-d, convince your children that the right thing is more important than what they want. Remember that the Ten Commandments are unique among ancient codes in that most ancient codes enjoined upon their followers to honor the g*ds, whereas the Ten Commandments forbade idolatry. The idolatries of ancient times would include the "Mother Goddess," Zeus, or Osiris. The idolatry of today is the individual's self-will. We often demand worship for our dreams and aspirations, from ourselves as well as others. The Purpose of the Torah is to show us that even those things must be subordinated to G-d's Will. Even the poet's dream of the Open Road is second to serving G-d, as He will close that road when it suits Him.
My one specific bit of advice is on the Tenth Commandment. It is my best advice that young men marry young, if at all possible. That choice depends on the individual, of course. However, the Tenth Commandment states that a man must not covet his neighbor's wife. I can testify from personal experience that refraining from coveting one's neighbor's wife becomes very difficult in one's thirties. Thus, I would advise that young men settle down as quickly as possible. Neither celibacy nor pre-marital sex are the best thing for a young man's spiritual development. Adultery is a spiritual destroyer. Covetousness is a gateway to actual adultery, the full road to adultery I have thankfully never traveled, but I still warn you that covetousness is hard in one's thirties, especially given that most women in one's age group have married.
Warn your children of the dangers of sexuality as well as the promise. Warn your children of the dangers of self-will. Warn your children....and love them that much more when they have failed to heed your warnings. You are not G-d that you can judge your own children. So many believe, in the earnestness of their hearts, that they are the sole guides of right and wrong for their children. Is there no G-d who can appeal to their hearts? Must you be the sole judge? No. Your job is to encourage and to cojole, and to discipline when ALL ELSE has failed. Remember that while sparing the rod spoils the child, the Rabbinical wisdom tells us to begin with a shoelace. A shoelace can be the best rod of correction because it gives warning without giving pain.
Parents, inspire your children to be the best. But, tell them to remember that even being the best is second to doing right. We talk a lot about being the best. However, it is more important to be good. What is being good? Have you not been told? Tell your children to remember their Creator in the days of their youth. This is the most important memory that they can retain. That memory must be ever present in their lives. It must be a present memory, always. A past memory of one's Creator does no good. One's memory should be a present, felt reality.
What are the Ten Commandments?
"Shemot - Exodus
Chapter 20
1 And G-d spoke all these words, saying:
2 I am HaShem thy G-d, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
5 thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve them; for I HaShem thy G-d am a jealous G-d, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me;
6 and showing mercy unto the thousandth generation of them that love Me and keep My commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of HaShem thy G-d in vain; for HaShem will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work;
10 but the seventh day is a sabbath unto HaShem thy G-d, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates;
11 for in six days HaShem made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore HaShem blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
12 Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which HaShem thy G-d giveth thee.
13 Thou shalt not murder.
13 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
13 Thou shalt not steal.
13 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
14 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ***, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. 15 And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the horn, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off."
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsou...dus20.html
They are simple to understand. They are only difficult to follow if we refuse to surrender the human will. But, once we surrender our human will, they become as natural as Life itself. Yet, most children will not follow them unless they see their parents be an example. Parents cannot be an example if they are self-willed themselves, whether that self-will is of a "liberal" nature or a "conservative" disciplinary nature. Self-will creates rebellion in one's children either way. That is the great challenge that you have, to be continuously overcoming your own will. In that way, the children now have examples that they can follow, instead of mere empty words.
Thank you, parents, for all that you have done for us. Forgive me if I have failed you in any way. It is to G-d that you should look, not to me. If the adults on this forum have set a good example, it is due to Him. If we have not, forgive us, and look to Him. That is the message that I leave you with.
G-d bless you all. All the best.
Signing off.
Hello. Thank you for clicking on my post. My very last post on this forum is for you, the parents, who have been long-suffering and dedicated. To you belongs the glory. To you belongs the honor. To you belongs the thanks from the bottom of our hearts. Hats off to you. Please accept this from the bottom of my heart.
This is my last appeal to you. My appeal to you is a simple one. Raise your children in the fear of G-d and the Ten Commandments. Now, technically, it is understood under Rabbinical Law that Gentiles are under the Seven Laws of Noah, whereas the Ten Commandments have specific prohibitions like the Sabbath that are seen as particular to Israel. However, since the term "Noahide Laws" is not widely known, the Ten Commandments have a deeper resonance outside of Judaism. Hence, it is to the Ten Commandments that I appeal. Raise your child in the honor of the Ten Commandments!
Parents, it is your duty to teach your children that the right thing is more important than the expedient thing. It is more important than even good grades, college, and success, as important as those things are. Cheating should be unacceptable. It is not a part of growing up. It is an abomination. Whether we are talking about cheating in school, cheating in business, or cheating on one's spouse, it is a form of evil. You must emphasize this simple truth to your children. It does not seem to be emphasized enough in these "sophisticated" times that there are simple rules for right and wrong. Those simple rules may be cliche's to some people, but they are time-tested and never come up empty.
Parents, for the love of G-d, convince your children that the right thing is more important than what they want. Remember that the Ten Commandments are unique among ancient codes in that most ancient codes enjoined upon their followers to honor the g*ds, whereas the Ten Commandments forbade idolatry. The idolatries of ancient times would include the "Mother Goddess," Zeus, or Osiris. The idolatry of today is the individual's self-will. We often demand worship for our dreams and aspirations, from ourselves as well as others. The Purpose of the Torah is to show us that even those things must be subordinated to G-d's Will. Even the poet's dream of the Open Road is second to serving G-d, as He will close that road when it suits Him.
My one specific bit of advice is on the Tenth Commandment. It is my best advice that young men marry young, if at all possible. That choice depends on the individual, of course. However, the Tenth Commandment states that a man must not covet his neighbor's wife. I can testify from personal experience that refraining from coveting one's neighbor's wife becomes very difficult in one's thirties. Thus, I would advise that young men settle down as quickly as possible. Neither celibacy nor pre-marital sex are the best thing for a young man's spiritual development. Adultery is a spiritual destroyer. Covetousness is a gateway to actual adultery, the full road to adultery I have thankfully never traveled, but I still warn you that covetousness is hard in one's thirties, especially given that most women in one's age group have married.
Warn your children of the dangers of sexuality as well as the promise. Warn your children of the dangers of self-will. Warn your children....and love them that much more when they have failed to heed your warnings. You are not G-d that you can judge your own children. So many believe, in the earnestness of their hearts, that they are the sole guides of right and wrong for their children. Is there no G-d who can appeal to their hearts? Must you be the sole judge? No. Your job is to encourage and to cojole, and to discipline when ALL ELSE has failed. Remember that while sparing the rod spoils the child, the Rabbinical wisdom tells us to begin with a shoelace. A shoelace can be the best rod of correction because it gives warning without giving pain.
Parents, inspire your children to be the best. But, tell them to remember that even being the best is second to doing right. We talk a lot about being the best. However, it is more important to be good. What is being good? Have you not been told? Tell your children to remember their Creator in the days of their youth. This is the most important memory that they can retain. That memory must be ever present in their lives. It must be a present memory, always. A past memory of one's Creator does no good. One's memory should be a present, felt reality.
What are the Ten Commandments?
"Shemot - Exodus
Chapter 20
1 And G-d spoke all these words, saying:
2 I am HaShem thy G-d, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
5 thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve them; for I HaShem thy G-d am a jealous G-d, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me;
6 and showing mercy unto the thousandth generation of them that love Me and keep My commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of HaShem thy G-d in vain; for HaShem will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work;
10 but the seventh day is a sabbath unto HaShem thy G-d, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates;
11 for in six days HaShem made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore HaShem blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
12 Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which HaShem thy G-d giveth thee.
13 Thou shalt not murder.
13 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
13 Thou shalt not steal.
13 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
14 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ***, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. 15 And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the horn, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off."
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsou...dus20.html
They are simple to understand. They are only difficult to follow if we refuse to surrender the human will. But, once we surrender our human will, they become as natural as Life itself. Yet, most children will not follow them unless they see their parents be an example. Parents cannot be an example if they are self-willed themselves, whether that self-will is of a "liberal" nature or a "conservative" disciplinary nature. Self-will creates rebellion in one's children either way. That is the great challenge that you have, to be continuously overcoming your own will. In that way, the children now have examples that they can follow, instead of mere empty words.
Thank you, parents, for all that you have done for us. Forgive me if I have failed you in any way. It is to G-d that you should look, not to me. If the adults on this forum have set a good example, it is due to Him. If we have not, forgive us, and look to Him. That is the message that I leave you with.
G-d bless you all. All the best.
Signing off.
