An Island Of Decency In A Sea Of Depravity - An Ark Of Our Own

The Noahide Laws is named after the famed builder of the ark. It is during the Genesis portion of Noah in that we learn of the cataclysmic flood that destroyed life, save that of Noah, his family, and the animals he brought on board with him.

Scripture explains why this dramatic act was needed. Humankind had devolved into a moral abyss. Immorality in all of its forms was rampant. Hatred amongst the peoples of the earth was complete. There was one exception to this rule, Noah. Despite living in the most depraved of circumstances he maintained his dignity and righteousness. Noah "went with God," as Scripture tells us. This means that Godliness ennobled his life and the lives of those around him. 

An island of decency in a sea of depravity was the hallmark of Noah. And so God despaired of Noah's generation and decided to begin anew the task of creating a human species worthy of its vaunted status. Even after it had been decided On High to destroy the existing life, people were given ample opportunity to change their ways thereby obviating the need for the flood. During the long tenure that construction on the ark continued people would ask Noah, "Why are you building this large craft?" To these queries he would reply, "Because God has wearied of human immorality and has decreed that the world will be destroyed should people choose not to repent." Needless to say the people chose to scoff at Noah and his dire warnings instead of taking them to heart and changing their evil ways. Even when the rains of the flood started the people could have changed and transformed those destructive rains into rains of blessing, but still they remained hard-hearted. 

When the rains turned menacing they became known as the "multitude of waters". Noah and his family remained safely insulated from the destruction going on outside. They miraculously survived the flood and lived to rebuild humanity. Upon their emergence from the ark seven special laws were commanded to Noah, and through him to all humanity. The laws are aptly called the Seven Noahide Laws. These laws include: 1. Belief in one God / Not serving idols. 2. Not blaspheming God. 3. Not murdering. 4. Not stealing. 5. Not committing immoral sexual acts. 6. Not being cruel to animals. 7. Establishing courts of justice. These laws are meant to be the basis for all human society for all future generations. These laws clearly establish codes of decency expected of every human being.

Our Sages teach us that the flood waters are also present in every generation. They are represented by the numerous anti-spiritual influences found all around us. These waters may appear very tempting and good at first glance, but when one takes a step back and analyzes what he is seeing, the destructiveness becomes apparent. 

The ark represents different things depending on who is looking.  The walls of these edifices offer protection andsafeguard us from the destruction found in the outside realm. 

The ark represents strict adherence to the Seven Noahide Laws. Those laws are the scriptures clear instructions as to what should be the goals and aspirations of all humanity. It is precisely those laws that allow all of humankind to achieve, in an overt way, its predestined state of superiority and Godliness.

Whichever group we may belong to it is of critical importance to make sure the walls of our "ark" are watertight. This means that humanity must reject secularism (an existence devoid of God).

On the other hand, we see some people who in the name of God perform atrocities that are beyond words to describe. That is precisely why the Seven Laws are so important. Anyone who wants to serve God must do so on His terms. When one uses God's name for evil he has in fact desecrated the Holy Name. This is most hateful in the eyes of God.

During these trying times we must find refuge in our personal, communal, and even national arks. We must make sure that negative influences are securely locked out. Better still, we must allow the light of the enlightened to shine forth transforming the surrounding darkness into life-giving light! [Yeruchem Eilfort]

Does Man Belong To Nature, Or Does Nature Belong To Man?

 

The Biblical Environmentalist

Lush green grass, tall trees and fresh streams framed our journey through God's perfect nature. Sunlight filtered through the overhanging brush, creating patterns on a pine-needle carpet that was rich with activity and teeming with life.

Nature's beauty, unbridled and uncapped, radiated in pristine glory. Untouched by human hand and filled to overflow with insects, birds and wildlife, it was simply a paradise on earth. The animals knew it and we knew it too. We were frolicking in God's own playground.

If only all of the world could be so preserved. If only our planet could become one large conservation. Alas, that cannot be. For humanity to survive we must disturb nature's delicate little petals. We cannot build homes without felling trees. We cannot farm land without turning over soil. We cannot eat without disturbing animal and vegetation.

The Contemporary Question

How much should be disturbed and how much should be preserved? That is the contemporary debate. Should we rob the environment to feed our appetites? Should we deplete our resources to serve unending and unnecessary needs? Should we uproot forests and supplant deserts to make space for suburban development?

The developer says, yes. Growing populations require housing even if it encroaches on the environment. Sprawling population centers require goods and services even if it encroaches on the environment. Despite the cost, humanity's needs must come first.

The environmentalist disagrees. "Leave God's nature alone," he says. Revel in its pristine glory, enjoy its enchanting beauty and cherish its peaceful serenity. If we don't learn to protect and enjoy our environment today, it won't be here to serve us tomorrow.

Whichever way we turn we are forced to choose. For humanity to thrive, the environment must pay a price. For the environment to thrive, humanity must pay a price. In its final form the question is, does man belong to nature or does nature belong to man?

The religious answer is, neither. Both belong to God.

A Hybrid Opinion

In his Monumental work, Horeb, Samson Raphael Hirsh argued that mankind is summoned by God to govern his created earth and to fashion all things in our environment to our own purposes; the earth for habitation, plant and animal for food and clothing.

We are permitted to rule over the world for the six weekdays. On the seventh day, however, we are forbidden, at divine behest, to fashion anything into an instrument of human service. In this way we acknowledge that we have no ownership or authority over the world. Nothing may be dealt with as we please, for everything belongs to God.

R'i Hirsch drafts opposing arguments into his hybrid philosophy. The developer claims humanity's dominion over nature and R' Hirsch grants that dominion. The environmentalist argues that we have no right of ownership over nature and R' Hirsch grants that point as well.

Within these parameters mankind is entitled to inhabit the planet and to utilize its resources as necessary. However, unnecessary destruction of any kind, even picking a leaf from its branch without reason, is a crime against nature and forbidden by God. [Lazer Gurkow]

Why Did God Create Evil And What Purpose Does It Serve?

Good Or Evil - Who Decides?


Perfection Does Not Come Easily
Our sages taught that God created the world out of sheer benevolence. He wanted to bestow goodness upon humanity. Because He is perfect He wanted to bestow perfect goodness. In other words, God wanted to bestow Himself.

He could have made a perfect world with people who emulate their Creator perfectly. But such people would have been a poor emulation of God. They would not have been inherently good; their goodness would have been bestowed from Above. It would have been a borrowed perfection.

Thus God created a world in which goodness and evil are equal options, and He  created humanity with the freedom to choose. Our penchant for goodness is not greater than our proclivity for evil; we are evenly balanced. If we want to embrace goodness we must make a choice, and choices reflect who we are. We are not forced into goodness by powers beyond ourselves. We are moved by our choice, by an inner conviction that goodness is right. This inner resolve reflects the goodness within our souls and comes as close as humanity can possibly come to being inherently good.

God did not create evil so that we could indulge it, but so that we could avoid it. If evil did not exist, choosing against it would not be possible, and perfection would slip from our grasp. That evil is a viable option makes it possible for us to choose against it and affirm our inherent goodness.

A Home for God
Our sages taught that God desired a dwelling place in the lower realm. In spiritual terms, that which perceives itself as closer to God is higher, that which sees itself further from God is lower. The lowest realm is where God is completely unknown and unseen. Where God is absent, as it were, evil exists. Yet it was here, in the midst of a world filled with (potential) evil that God wants us to build a dwelling place for Him.

A dwelling place is where a person feels at home. A dwelling reflects the interests and comforts of the person who lives there. God wants us to transform this lowest realm, this evil-prone and most un-Godly place, as it were, into a dwelling place for Him—a sacred environment where goodness and morality are practiced and where His Commandments drive our choices.

This desire for transformation can only play out in a lower realm. By definition this means a place where sanctity is unknown, where goodness is not compelling and where evil is possible. If this were not a lower realm, God's desire for an abode in a lower realm could not have had been fulfilled here.

God thus created evil. Not so that humanity would choose it, but so that humanity could choose it. Could, but hopefully wouldn't. Inevitably some would fail and choose evil; a lower realm makes immoral behavior possible. But God also knew that not everyone would gravitate to evil. Most of humanity would be upright; they would choose ethics, morality, holiness and Godliness. In this way the lower realm would be transformed into a dwelling place for God.

Two Brothers
We now understand why Rebecca gave birth to twin brothers, one righteous the other evil. From the womb they were pitted against each other; their children locked in perpetual battle. The prophet foretold that "One nation will strive against the other [but in the end] the older [Esau] would serve the younger [Jacob]."

Esau represents evil and Jacob represents holiness. Without Esau this world is not a lower realm. Without Jacob this world cannot become an abode for God. The two are evenly matched, made to struggle against each other. But in the end, Jacob will prevail and Esau will humbly seek entry into the Divine dwelling place: "The older will serve the younger."

The day will come when humanity will transform this lower realm into a sacred dwelling place for God. On that day children will walk about without fear. No longer will children will have to shed their innocence. No longer will they fear the thief, for on that day even the thief will change his ways.

On that day humanity will be inspired by the sparkle and shine of God's holy home. Evil will be eradicated and the Messiah will finally arrive.
[Lazer Gurkow]

Leiby Kletzky's Parents Release Statement To The Public

The parents of 8-year-old Leiby Kletzky OBM  have issued a statement after the tragic loss of their son. Deeply touched by the outpouring of support that has come in from Jews and non-Jews, religious and secular alike, the Kletzky's have a message of thanks and of hope.

They urge people the world over to perform “acts of unity and loving kindness” to keep the memory of their angelic boy alive.

Published on Judaism website chabad.org Mr. and Mrs. Kletzky posted the following:

Statement by Rabbi Nachman and Itta Kletzky Parents of Leiby Kletzky, of blessed memory:

By the Grace of G‑d Tammuz 19, 5771 / July 21, 2011

The traditional seven intense days of mourning ("shiva") for our beloved Leiby are complete, but the ache in our hearts will remain forever.

We thank G‑d for the nearly nine beautiful years that He entrusted us with Leiby's pure soul. We are certain that Leiby is now looking down from heaven and blessing us all.

We would like to once again thank all our friends and neighbors; all the selfless volunteers from near and far; local, city, state, and federal agencies; and all our fellow New Yorkers and beyond who assisted us physically, emotionally, and spiritually--as well as all of G‑d's children around the world who held our dear Leiby in their thoughts and prayers.

We pray that none of you should ever have to live through what we did. But if any tragedy is to ever befall any of you, G‑d forbid, you should be blessed with a community and public as supportive as ours. We feel that through Leiby we've become family with you all.

Many of you have asked us what you can do now in Leiby's memory, and how you can help us find comfort. Looking back at Leiby's all-too-short years among us, here are a few ideas:

Acts of unity and lovingkindness. Let us perpetuate the feeling of collective responsibility and love expressed during the search for Leiby. An additional act of kindness toward your neighbor, or to those less fortunate than you, can go a long, long way toward perfecting our world. Putting a couple of coins into a charity box daily is oneway of tangibly expressing that lovingkindness.

Gratitude. Leiby deeply cherished his siddur, his prayerbook, and praying to G‑d meant the world to him. He was known by his teachers for his concentration in prayer, always being the last to finish. In Leiby's memory, when you wake up each morning take a few moments to pray and reflect and thank G‑d for giving us life ("Modeh Ani" in the prayerbook).

Light. Every Friday evening our family sits down together for Shabbat dinner to the light of the Shabbat candles. A candle shines for each of our children--and Leiby's candle will always be included. On Friday evening, please give a few coins to charity and light the candles before sunset with our beloved Leiby in mind.

Memorial fund. Together with Rabbi Binyamin Eisenberger, we have established a memorial fund to help people in dire need (www.leibykletzkymemorialfund.com), to channel the lovingkindness shown to us and our dear Leiby toward many, many others in need. We welcome your participation.

From the deepest place in our hearts, we thank you all for your help, your support and your prayers. May Leiby's soul live on as a blessing inside each and every one of you.

Sincerely, Nachman and Itta Kletzky

Official Leiby Kletzky Memorial Fund

Coping With Grief By Doing Good

Nachman & Esty Kletzky and children  have set up The Leiby Kletzky Memorial Fund to keep Leiby’s memory alive by helping others. The goal is to raise $1 million through donations. 

Your generous contribution to the Leiby Kletzky Memorial Fund will accomplish all the wonderful things that Leiby would have achieved - had he lived.

The Fund will:
* Help young orphans cope with tragedy
* Help indigent families feed their children
* Help needy children falling behind in school
* Help poor parents clothe their children in dignity
* Help critically ill young children
* Help penniless couples to marry
* Help families going through a critical time in their lives

... and much much more!

Your gift to the Leiby Kletzky Memorial Fund will mean that all the hope and promise that was lost through Leiby's death will be revived through all the kindness and generosity that will be done in his memory.

Please be generous. Please help keep the memory of Leiby Kletzky z”l alive in our hearts and mind. Forever.

The Fund will be managed by Leiby's parents, Nachman and Esther Kletzky, who will oversee distribution of funds along with their esteemed  Rabbi Binyomin Eisenberger shlit"a.

The Leiby Kletzky Memorial Fund has been established under a  recognized 5013c IRS tax exempt non-profit organization, Khal Lev Echad.

You can make a donation online at www.leibykletzkymemorialfund.com 

or by  check payable to the Leiby Kletzky Memorial Fund and send it to:

Nachman & Esty Kletzky
c/o Rabbi Binyamin Eisenberger
1448 56th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219

Leiby Kletzky HY"D & The Double Rainbow

 

Just before the funeral for Leiby A"H last Wednesday night, there was a (hail) storm in Brooklyn, followed by a double rainbow.

[*How to pronounce Leiby's name - Leiby is pronounced Lay-bee or Luy-bee*]

Some blog readers had questioned what the meaning behind the sudden appearance of the double rainbow coincidentally before his funeral could mean. Was it some kind of sign or message and if so what might that be?
No one can know for sure, but just speculate and theorise. To help inquisitive minds understand this better here is a viewpoint that I hope will be of some comfort and help the healing process somewhat.

It is customary when seeing a rainbow to pronounce the blessing, "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who remembers the covenant, and is faithful to His covenant, and keeps His promise".

Leiby's savage captor (his name doesn't deserve mention) violated 3 of the 7 Noahide Laws as well as of the 10 Commandments. "The Prohibition Of Theft (Kidnap)" -  "The Prohibition Of Murder" and "Do Not Cause Any Kind Of Pain Or Suffering To Any Living Creature".

He also violated giving any ounce of respect, honor and dignity to the deceased and his corpse.

The rainbow is a timely reminder of the value to society that by observing the Seven Noahide Commandments  they serves as a basis of healthy communities and functioning societies as these are the tools and guidance we need to live by.  They are the pillars of human civilization and are the eternal value to uphold an ethnical, moral, valuable, meaningful, truthful, and just society!

That said, Leiby's disappearance, heartless and cold blooded murder and subsequent barbaric mutilation of his corpse affected alot of people who never knew him. The loss was felt around the entire world. His 8 precious years of life cut so senselessly short. (He never reached his 9th birthday which would have been in about 2 weeks time).

Now to address the rainbow. Even in the gloom a rainbow will occasionally appear. The definition of the rainbow is - "A colorful curved band across the sky seen when the suns rays pass through falling mist".

The particular double rainbow seen on Wednesday sometime before Leiby's funeral, the higher arched rainbow represented Leiby A"H  who is up in a holy Heavenly place where all the magical colors in the universe are created . In the middle of the two rainbows is a void. The higher rainbow  separated by the lower rainbow this lower one representing his bretheren - the people of Israel who are down here on the lower realm of the world, planet earth.

Those "suns rays" passing through would be Leibys precious and pure Soul and holy rays brightly shining down and radiating through the entire Universe from one end to the other. 

Leiby's Soul lit a spark in everybody elses. Entire communities got together in unity, a chain reaction that followed from the beginning of Leibys  disappearance and continues even after his untimely and unnatural death. Communities and individuals worldwide took part in prayer services praying for the welfare of Leiby A"H (a complete stranger to most up until that point) while he was missing. Another particular case in point, the food and water that was generously and wholeheartedly donated for the volunteering and official search parties racing against time to find Leiby A"H. We all became a part of  this together united as one extended family - regardless of religion or race.

The colors of the rainbow glisten so pretty in the sky. They color our world in these dismal dark times. Challenging the forces of gloom, in a struggle to keep the world bright and colorful, and to keep our hearts hopeful and happy. Just like the rainbow arches from one end to the other, through courage, kindness and friendship we can bring hope, happiness and healing to everyone at the farthest flung corners of the universe. One good deed leading to another. Changing the world, one simple act at a time.

The "falling mist "- So many countless tears that everyone cried, including Leiby's own tears when he was vunerably at the mercy of his captor.  One can only assume the poor frightened little child had tears rolling down his cheeks as he pleaded for his life to the man he had trusted him to help in his time of need. Now up in Heaven he cries out to God for his slain and slaughtered body and that God avenge his blood that was so callously and senselessly spilled with no regard or respect for the deceased body. Justice for Leiby will never truly be served until God Himself deals with the callous murderer.

The region between a double rainbow is dark. And darkness certainly decended into the community that dismal day when the black news broke and we all learned the unspeakable reality of the barbaric act involved that absolutely no one saw coming - the tremendous shock, pain and anguish gripped with terrible grief.

The Jewish community has one heart, but today the heart is shattered into a million pieces, but that can't be said for our spirit. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.

Just like light and darkness succeed each other so to after the worst of the worse circumstances we need to believe that better things are sure to come.

Through this horrendous and inexplicable grisly tradgedy that defies human logic, Leiby  actually lit up the world so to speak and put the world in motion through unity and acts of kindness with people taking upon themsleves learning and good deeds that in the merit of the action we are doing Leiby's Soul will be elevated to higher realms. We pray that Leiby's  Soul will have a closer place to God due to our positive actions in his merit.

Altho hardly an easy process , let's focus away from the pain, gutwrench and gruesomeness and take it upon ourselves to do something positive so Leiby HY"D didnt die in vain. Get involved;

Learn For Leiby A"H  http://www.learnforleiby.com/

Be Part Of The Sefer Torah In Memory Of Leiby Kletzky A”H
https://www.misaskim.org/sefertorah.php?aff=olme

In the spiritual reality, nothing is lost: Not the beloved one's purpose, nor their goodness, and nor even their real existence. The Soul continues to exist eternally. At the end of life, every soul returns to its unique "place" in the "world".

To Nachman and Ita Esther Kletzky and daughters (may you live many healthy long purposeful filled years) I say this from the depth of my heart "May the Omnipresent comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem".

Yehuda Ben Nachman may your precious and pure Soul find comfort in Heaven amongst our Heavenly Father, sisters and brothers. May we all be united sooner than soon with the Righteous Messiah. Amen.

* HY"D - Is the abbreviation of the Hebrew words meaning "May His Blood Be Avenged" *

*A"H  - Is the abbreviation of the Hebrew words Alev HaShalom meaning 'Peace Be Upon Him'*

*How to pronounce Leiby's name - Leiby is pronounced Lay-bee or Luy-bee*
*The name Leiby (Leib) means Lion in the Yiddish language*
----------

By R' Shefa Gold

Our consciousness holds in it a memory of utter catastrophe, of the death and rebirth of this planet. The story of the Flood represents this awareness which awakens us to the preciousness of Life. And the story ends with a great blessing, a great promise.

It is upon this blessing that our spiritual life rests. God touches our memory of devastation and says, "This will never happen again." He makes a covenant with all of life and places a rainbow in the sky as a sign
of that covenant. "I will look upon the rainbow and remember."

The blessing of the rainbow is the remembrance, the assurance, that we are ultimately safe. This deep unquestioned sense of security and trust in the essential goodness and rightness of reality becomes the foundation for the process of awakening. This sense is so basic that changing circumstances and events cannot disrupt it. A. H. Almaas calls this quality, "Basic Trust". Its presence allows you to relax and just be with whatever is.

Basic trust gives us the capacity to surrender, to let go of doubt and step into the unknown. As limiting ego-structures dissolve and we open to an expanded perspective, it can feel as though everything we know is falling apart.

The rainbow reminds us that whatever happens, we are safe. Even when terrible things happen, when the outer structures are destroyed and we are seemingly paralyzed by fear, the rainbow appears and reminds us of a deeper safety. YES, EVEN DEATH IS SAFE! And that sense of safety becomes the springboard for our next step. This innate and implicit trust ultimately manifests as a willingness to take that necessary leap into the unknown.

And so "Basic Trust" manifests in the courage to be with what is, and then instead of being a reactive victim of circumstance, you learn to live your life from a deep wisdom, from a wide perspective.

The portion of Noah (in Genesis) blesses us with yet another Rainbow: The story of the tower of Babel. The tower of our arrogant singular purpose topples and we are given the rainbow of diversity in its place. As we seek to touch the Unity (prompted by a hunger for mastery or control), we are answered with multiplicity. We are sent on the rainbow journey to acknowledge every shade of experience, to recognize the whole spectrum of what it means to be human. We are blessed with complex beauty, confounding paradox, and the opportunity to know and enjoy all the separate colors that together form the magnificent white Light of the One.

The Spiritual Challenge

The Slonimer Rebbe describes the three levels of faith:
There are three rungs of Faith: Trusting Mind, Trusting Heart , but there is a rung still higher, Trusting with your limbs/embodiment: where Faith  penetrates every fibre of your being, where horror can't seize you, for your whole body feels the protective Divine presence.

Complete faith occurs when it unfolds in all three dimensions. As King David said, 'My heart and my flesh [my body] sing to the Living God. Not just the heart, but also the flesh, our skin and our muscles, our bones and limbs also sing to the Living God, for faith suffuses our entire being.

The spiritual challenge is to suffuse our entire being with a sense of ultimate safety, to integrate into our very bodies, the promise of the rainbow.

THIS SENSE OF SECURITY is our inheritance. And yet at some point we become disconnected from our Source and lose our "Basic Trust". We feel betrayed and lose our footing. The spiritual challenge is to re-connect with the truth of our safety, no matter what happens, so that we can again feel "held" by the goodness of Life, the Ground of Being.  Then we can rest in the Divine embrace.

Almaas describes the challenge like this:
"It means experiencing the factors which brought about the profound disconnection from reality, and experiencing repeatedly the fundamental truth of non-separateness, to the point where the soul can again rest in the knowledge of that truth. Each new experience of essential truth deepens the soul's contact with her own basic trust."

As we receive the blessing of the rainbow we are challenged to remember God's promise and dedicate ourselves to living our lives in its light. Whatever blocks that light must be examined with compassion, and dissolved through dedicated practice.

When the tower of our singular will for power topples and we are left with the multiplicity of languages, systems, conflicting stories, and values, our path becomes confused and scattered.

 Yet the spiritual challenge is clear. Diversity must not be ignored as we seek a vision of Unity.  The shining vision of our Unity should not fade as we celebrate our differences. We must not betray the Many for the One, or the One for the Many.

Sometimes experiencing God's faith in us allows us to find our own faith.

When Bad Things Happen To Good People

In todays society, there are many terrible events that occur daily and we try to grapple why. One such tragic event is unfortuneately the discovery today of the body of missing Leiby Kletzky (may God avenge his blood) an innocent and angelic 9 year old from New York  who was brutally murdered and dismembered after he disappeared Monday afternoon after getting lost while walking alone for the first time from his Borough Park day camp and following a man down a busy street, sparking a massive search.

It’s hard to understand why bad things happen to people who have done no harm.

It's not easy to go through terrible pain and continue to bless God. Facing pain is not easy for even the greatest of human beings. Only God is perfect. We are mere human beings. And when we go through pain as we all do it can be overwhelming. We may respond with frustration, bitterness, and even anger and resentment towards God. And that's okay. God understands. We don't know what's going on in Heaven, or what Gods calculations are.

Why do bad things happen to good people?  The question of "why do bad things happen to good people" is one that has been asked of many people for centuries.

"It is not in our hands -- neither the suffering of the righteous nor the comfort of the wicked," says R' Yannai in Ethics of the Fathers, 4:15.

By Aron Moss

Why is this world so unfair? Why do people suffer undeservedly? Any person with an ounce of moral sensitivity is outraged by the injustices of our world.

If this ultimate question were answered, then we would be able to make peace with the suffering of innocents. And that is unthinkable. Worse than innocent people suffering is others watching their suffering unmoved. And that's exactly what would happen if we were to understand why innocents suffer. We would no longer be bothered by their cry, we would no longer feel their pain, because we would understand why it is happening.

Imagine you are in a hospital and you hear a woman screaming with pain. Outside her room, her family is standing around chatting, all smiling and happy. You scream at them, "What's wrong with you? Can't you hear how much pain she is in?" They answer, "This is the delivery ward. She is having a baby. Of course we are happy."

When you have an explanation, pain doesn't seem so bad anymore. We can tolerate suffering when we know why it is happening.

And so, if we could make sense of innocent people suffering, if we could rationalise tragedy, then we could live with it. We would be able to hear the cry of sweet children in pain and not be horrified. We would tolerate seeing broken hearts and shattered lives, for we would be able to neatly explain them away. Our question would be answered, and we could move on.

But as long as the pain of innocents remains a burning question, we are bothered by its existence. And as long as we can't explain pain, we must alleviate it. If innocent people suffering does not fit into our worldview, we must eradicate it. Rather than justifying their pain, we need to get rid of it.

So keep asking the question, why do bad things happen to good people. But stop looking for answers. Start formulating a response. Take your righteous anger and turn it into a force for doing good. Redirect your frustration with injustice and unfairness and channel it into a drive to fight injustice and unfairness. Let your outrage propel you into action. When you see innocent people suffering, help them. Combat the pain in the world with goodness. Alleviate suffering wherever you can.

We don't want answers, we don't want explanations, and we don't want closure. We want an end to suffering. And we dare not leave it up to God to alleviate suffering. He is waiting for us to do it. That's what we are here for.


Ed note:To be a victim is not crime.  But to do nothing to help them may be.  They are worth a hand up.

We work to be part of things. Part of work, part of family, part of a functional society, part of all kinds of things.  Parents are “good” in a child’s eyes, because they provide the essentials of survival and trust, their ability to have significant relationships, to feel good about themselves, to achieve goals, and have hope about the future.  To make them feel loved, secure and safe and to develop a positive attachment and feel protected.

We are living in a society that is nearly paranoid with the possibility of terrorism or violent crime but too many of us completely ignore the facts and numbers of abuse. 

Be attuned to your child (particularly if they're behaving or saying things out of the ordinary). You have a responsibility and obligation toward their personal health and wellbeing.  Listen,believe and trust what they tell you is true.  Very rarely does a child make up a story about this.

No one has the right to deprive, harm or violate anyone. Stand up and fight for your child.  They're the most important and precious beings in our lives. Most importantly TAKE ACTION by reporting it to the appropriate law enforcement authorities! Be procative.To ignore your or someone elses child borders on neglect. Don't fail the child or the system. Never betray your childs trust. Make sure the child knows they will be believed, loved, accepted, protected, and defended no matter what. Children deserve every protection possible from the dangers of our society. Parents number one job is to keep their children safe.

Israel:Jellyfish Threaten Power Plant

Swarm: Hundreds of jellyfish blocked the water-supply grills at the Hadera plant

A swarm of jellyfish is threatening a power plant in Israel.

A huge swarm clogged up the Orot Rabin plant in Hadera, Israel, a day after the Torness nuclear facility in Scotland was closed in a similar incident.

Hadera ran into trouble when jellyfish blocked its seawater supply, which it uses for cooling purposes, forcing officials to use diggers to remove them.

The creatures also wreaked havoc in America during the country’s big holiday weekend. [dailymail uk]

Watch video here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14038729

Earthquake Shakes Melbourne Australia, Aftershocks Felt

A screen grab from the Geoscience Australia website, which shows the epicentre of the quake (see the red dot, pointed to by the red arrow).

Geoscience Australia says Victoria has been shaken by a significant earthquake.

The magnitude 4.4 quake was centred north of the town of Korumburra, in eastern Victoria at 11:32am (AEST).

Geoscience Australia duty seismologist Emma Mathews says the quake was felt from the Melbourne CBD, to 60 kilometres north and 100 kilometres to the east.

"So by Australian standards it quite significant, it was felt widely in Victoria," she said. "We've had over 100 felt reports from the main shock."

"It's not on the scale of events experienced in Japan and New Zealand but that's to be expected because of the nature of the Australian tectonic plate."

Ms Mathews says reports of aftershocks have already started coming in.

The first one, at 12:37pm (AEST) was magnitude 3.2 and the aftershocks will probably continue for some time.

"So the aftershocks have started. Aftershocks are likely to decrease in magnitude over time," she said.

"Based on historical events in Korumburra, in March 2009, there were over 200 aftershocks recorded in the area."

She says only locals will feel the aftershocks as they diminish in size.
Ms Mathews says Korumburra is an active area for earthquakes.
"Prior to this, the two larger events [were] in March of 2009 and these were 4.6 events," she said. [abc.net.au]

A magnitude 4.4 earthquake, with its epicentre near Korumburra in Victoria's east, has been felt more than 100 kilometres away in Melbourne.

The quake, which struck just after 1.30pm (NZT), was centred 7km west of Korumburra, and 120 kilometres south-east of Melbourne.

The earthquake occurred at quite a shallow depth, a Geosciences Australia spokesman said.

The organisation is still working to determine the exact depth of the quake.

It was followed by several other tremors which were felt across Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, the Herald Sun reports.

Melbourne resident Vicky Watson, who works in the CBD told ONE News the 11th floor of her building was shaking.

Residents in suburbs including Rowville, Trafalgar, Kilsyth, Hawthorn, Elwood, CBD, Melbourne Airport, South Melbourne, Brunswick, Richmond, Lilydale, Fitzroy, Elsternwick, South Yarra all reported feeling the tremors.

Korumburra Hotel publican Troy Patterson said when the earthquake hit, the pub shook for about eight seconds, accompanied by a loud rumbling.

"The whole place literally shook," he said.

"You would think a truck had driven through the pub."

Many Twitter users have also gone online to share their experiences.

"Cold, Windy, Rainy, Earthquakey, what a bloody miserable day Melbourne," says Rhys McCaig.

''That was a big one,'' tweeted one person from Rowville.

But David Flynn was a bit more flippant about it.

"Melbourne declares state of emergency as earthquake spills lattes, makes scarves & wraps fall off racks along Chapel Street," he said.

There are no reports of damage so far.

The area in Gippsland is prone to small earthquakes, with a number of tremors measuring between 1.8 and 4.6 originating in the same area in March and May 2009. [tvnz.co.nz]