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Feeling Hashem

Question:

Is there an actual Hashem that is around to help us and guide us? Is there really one that we can interact with and feel an “energy” that assures us that we are communicating with a higher presence? I have been told numerous times that these days, we do not interact with Hashem like has been previously done in Biblical times. And it would be best to speak with a rabbi in order to better understand the words of Hashem that were left via the Torah and are there for us to follow. I am at the point now where I don’t understand why we can’t feel that connect with Hashem these a days. Why are we so separated from Hashem? Why is He so distant from us? How can we feel that our cries and prayers are being answered? Why is no connection felt? Should I be concerned and call into question what I have been taught? I don’t know why this relationship with Hashem has to be so difficult and frustrating. Thanks for your time.

 

Answer:

Part 1

Hello,

You are asking an important question, and I would like to address each part individually. In order to understand the answer to your first question I will have to preface your question with some other questions. Why did Hashem make the world, and why did He decide to make us in the first place? What does Hashem want out of the world that He created?

Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto in his work Derech Hashem chapter 1) one of the great kabbalists, discusses this and explains that Hashem, the source of all good, created us, because He wants to reward us in the word to come. The biggest pleasure that can be given to us is an infinite reward that is not a handout, and unearned. Rather we should work for our reward, so that we will have the pleasure that our reward is earned and now really ours. Hashem therefore gave us the Torah, with the mitzvot, and He wants us to work at getting closer to Him, so He can give us this tremendous reward in the world to come. On the other hand, there is a problem, if Hashem will make Himself evident for all, then doing mitzvot would not be a challenge at all, as everyone would clearly see that the only good in the world is to do the mitzvot. Therefore, the world was created with a general rule that, we Hashem’s presence had to remain hidden, with some exceptions to when He decided befitting to reveal Himself, such as by the exodus, and the giving of the Torah.

Yes, it is difficult and frustrating at times, that Hashem is not openly revealing Himself to us, however this is exactly the way that He wants it. It affords us the opportunity of choosing good over evil which is for our ultimate good. Having said that, when a person takes note of what transpires in his day to day life, he will see Hashem’s divine providence intertwined within “nature “. Although openly Hashem’s guiding Hand is not revealed, start writing down in a dairy all the “coincidences” that happened to you today. You will see Hashem and start living with Him. Many of the “coincidences” that happen to us, are not random occurrences, rather the way Hashem sends us the things that we need. In other words, the more we look to see Hashem in our daily lives the more we will see His presence, His involvement and His helping hand in our daily lives.

Question

Is there really one that we can interact with and feel an “energy” that assures us that we are communicating with a higher presence?

Answer part 2

Yes, most certainly. (See further on).

Question

I have been told numerous times that these days, we do not interact with Hashem like has been previously done in Biblical times. And it would be best to speak with a rabbi in order to better understand the words of Hashem that were left via the Torah and are there for us to follow.

Answer part 3

Your Rabbis are telling you that to understand the will of Hashem, i.e., what, when and how to do things, that is through delving and understanding the Torah. That is most certainly true. If we want to know the word of Hashem, and how we are to act, we would have to speak to a Rabbi, who knows the Torah, and Hashem’s instructions of how to live. We were given a tremendously valuable instruction book that contains all the advice and information that we need to live. This book is the Torah, ( which essentially means “instruction”, and an expert in the Torah can glean personal advice to every situation that we will encounter in life.

Question

I am at the point now where I don’t understand why we can’t feel that connection with Hashem these days. Why are we so separated from Hashem? Why is He so distant from us? How can we feel that our cries and prayers are being answered? Why is no connection felt? Should I be concerned and call into question what I have been taught? I don’t know why this relationship with Hashem has to be so difficult and frustrating. Thanks for your time.

Answer part 4

Nevertheless, regarding feeling a connection to Hashem, most certainly this is still most pertinent to this very day. A jews main essence is his neshamah. This comes down to this earthly world embodied in a physical body that pulls us to physicalalities. The more one overcomes physicalalities by letting his neshamah be the driving force of a person, the more one is connecting to his real essence. This will allow his spiritual antennas to feel that connection with Hashem.

The more humble a person is the more he enables Hashem to be part of his life and the driving force inside him. This will be tangible for the believer who will feel that Hashem is holding his hand.

When a person prays with a feeling of submission to Hashem, and prays sincerely, it is possible to feel a certain feeling of connection to Him. The amount of connection that the person will feel will depend on numerous factors. There are times that a person can have this feeling easier, such as during the period of the High holidays. Additionally, the person’s level of spirituality, and spiritual purity can have an effect on this.

Question 

How can we feel that our cries and prayers are being answered? Why is no connection felt? Should I be concerned and call into question what I have been taught? I don’t know why this relationship with Hashem has to be so difficult and frustrating. Thanks for your time.

Answer part 5

As far as our prayers are concerned, Hashem listens to all of our prayers, and He answers all of our prayers. However, the answer is not going to come in the form of a hand coming out of heaven handing us what we ask for. This will be a contradiction to the plan that Hashem has for the world, that He Himself remains hidden. Therefore, He will answer us, in a hidden way, but we have to be alert to see how He helps and guides us. They tell a story of a man who was looking for a parking spot in Manhattan, and he circles the block a number of times. He prayed to Hashem that He should help him. A minute later, the car he was next to pulled out. He then said, “Hashem don’t bother, I already found a spot!”

Another point worth mentioning is that we are not provided instant results. Hashem made our foremothers barren in order to get them to pray. Often Hashem is waiting for a certain amount of tefillot to answer us. Giving the person the problem for what to pray for, is not the goal. The goal is the consequential generated connection.  Hence it make take a day, a month, a year or even years for a prayer to be answered. DONT GIVE UP.

I hope this answers your questions, and if there is anything else you would like to discuss feel free to reach out to us.

Best wishes

 

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