Passover for Gentiles?

Find out from Rabbi Yossi Garelik the deeper meaning of Passover which applies to each and every person regardless or race, ethnic background or religion.

Death No More !

Find out why death even exists.  It has a purpose which soon will cease to exist.  Find out how you can connect to eternity and inmortality.  It’s not a dream, but as close to each of us as soon as we open our eyes.  

Bill Alexon

Bill Alexon founder of SportsPower International came to our studio in Brooklyn to discuss ways to collaborate on education regarding the Seven Universal Core Values.  Bill travels around the world bringing NBA players who inspire fans to make right choices in life and how to overcome adversity.  We look forward to future collaboration with Bill and the professional basketball players he works with.

Gerard McLeod

Publicist to Hollywood Celebrities, Photographer and Television Show Host of “Follow Your Dreams” endorses the 7 Universal Core values with a special interest for musicians, singers, composers and artists to apply ACCOUNTABILITY by creating art which promotes responsibility and positive behavior.

Still Sitting on the Fence? –new 8 week series starts this week–

To kick-off the new series of lectures, we’ll discuss what “Sitting on the Fence” means regarding the 7 Universal Core Values.  If you’re still thinking about coming to the lecture or not, don’t sit on the fence and join the discussion.  You’ll be surprised how much you will learn.

What do you think “Sitting on the Fence” means?

Sitting On The Fence

 

The prophet Eliahu challenged the people to not “hop between to opinions”.  This state of undecidedness is the most difficult to deal with because the person changes and fluctuates from one moment to another.  He is doubleminded.  His heart get confused and he confuses others.  In this lesson we will call such a person a “Fence Sitter”.

 

“Eliyahu came to people and told them: For how long can you continue to ’straddle the fence?’ If Hashem is God, then follow only Him, and if Ba’al is god, then follow him, but the people could not answer him.”

Kings I 18:21

Objectives:

 

1)   To define Idol Worship

2)   To understand the difference between an Idol Worshiper and a Fence Sitter

3)   To determine the feasibility for an Idol Worshiper to change versus a Fence Sitter

4)   To understand how to “get off the fence”

 

Object Lessons:

1. Eliahu (Elijah) at Mount Carmel (from I Kings 18)
2. Axe in the Hands of the Chopper
3. UPS delivers a package with a $1,000,000 from Uncle Tony

 

1. What is Idol Worship?

To worship anything that is not G-d; to believe that there is another power other than G-d.  The concept of “worship” in this context does not just refer to prayer, but it is more about having devotion and gratefulness towards something/someone. 

 

2. Differences between an Idol Worshper and a Fence Sitter

 

IDOL WORSHIPER…                       FENCE SITTER…

	Devoted   Focused   Fully Committed to Spirituality		Not Devoted   Un-Focused   Committed only to himself (Spirituality is occasional and when perceived as beneficial)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.  For who is it easier to change?  For an Idol Worshiper or a Fence Sitter?

An idol worshiper can be re-directed towards Truth.  The same devotion, commitment and intensity that was towards the idol is now focused on Truth and living a lifestyle fully dedicated to practicing the 7 Universal Core Values.

4.  How do we get off the fence?

It’s not enough to believe in G-d, it’s about living by this believe.  It is not an ideology, it’s a way of life.  Being committed to the Live Giver and being Accountable to

 

Relevant Questions

1)   How does a Fence Sitter corrupt others?

2)   In what way does an Idol Worshiper impact others?

3)   Why didn’t Eliahu just tell the people to forsake worship to false gods?

 

Answers 

1)   The FENCE SITTER corrupts others.  Others can relate to him as a good person which enables him to influence people when he is not doing what is good.  This is the ROOT CAUSE of CORRUPTION. 

2)   He confuses others.  His double standard gives a false sense of security that it is fine to live this double life.  Good and evil must be separated, they can not coexist forever.  It is man’s duty to bring out the good from its evil shell.

3)    Because the people believed in G-d too.  They were not pure and sincere idol worshipers, they wanted to benefit both from G-d and from the idol.

Andreaus 13

Artist, Reporter and Human Rights Activist, Andreaus 13 endorses the 7 Universal Core Values.  Especially in light of recent racial attacks it is clear how important ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPECT and COMPASSION must be promoted.

Core Value #7: Quality Control (Create Courts to Implement Justice)

Core Value # 7 –Quality Control– comes from the positive precept to Create Courts to Implement Justice.  If it were not for such a system our Sages teach us that people would eat each other alive.  Human nature requires that there be checks and balances and divisions of power.

In your opinion, what has made America the great country that it is?  Take a moment to think about this.  What is there in the American system of government and justice that can be applied to our own personal lives?

Core Value # 6: COMPASSION (no cruelty to animals) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . with Rabbi Yossi Garelik

The CORE VALUE # 6 is COMPASSION which comes from the Biblical prohibition not to be cruel to animals (eating the limb of a live animal)

How can you deal with him/her kindly and with compassion? How to stick to the facts without offending others? How to be effective and efficient and still being patient with different communication and working styles?