Chosen for What?

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Chosen for What?

Selflessness within the sanctity of marriage is a metaphor for a Jew’s relationship with G‑d.

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Topics:	Marriage, Holiness, Selflessness; Altruism

By Ben-Tzion Krasnianski

Rabbi Ben-Tzion Krasnianski is director of Chabad Lubavitch of the Upper East Side in Manhattan

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6 Comments

Susana Garmizo Hollywood,Fl December 26, 2012

Chosen for what Sir, Your lecture really resonated with me. My late father taught me that ego is simply a way to make yourself feel important. It is not necessary for as a creation of g-d you are important. Amazingly although I am not torah relegious I love G-d I make sure that he always knows that I love and appreciate him. When I feel that I need to connect with him I simply ask for the connection and my loving G-d immediately responds. I always feel the love and connection. How lucky I feel. Reply

Katrin P Germany September 29, 2012

Since I'm in trouble with the church, I came across this media looking for the Jewish response to the fact that you're the chosen people. A couple of month ago the Arch Bishop and in front of thousands of people, exclaimed: "We are G-ds' chosen people". No, you aren't. The Jews are. I LOVE the Jew also, and this is why this lecture was so comforting to me :-) As a Christian, if you only take a very superficial look at a Jew and her/his relationship with G'd (I have no reason to say that I would understand any of it) you can already feel the love between the two. And this is just so wonderful and heartwarming and it makes me very happy. Reply

Ben Tzion Krasnianski NYC, NY July 27, 2011

additional response to Kayo It's precisely because we are inherently nothing and insignificant to Hashem, that since He did choose to deliberately create us then it must have incredible significance. Consequently even the slightest detail assumes monumental and Divine significance since G-d bothered, so to speak, and chose to create us it must be to achieve an important and essential Divine goal. This profound recognition renders us into a chariot, a vehicle or tool for the fulfillment of the Divine intent. It's only then that we unleash and fully realize our human potential, we become full and equal partners in creation, and we draw down all the Divine blessings in abundance for ourselves and for all of G-d's creation. Reply

Ben Tzion Krasnianski NYC June 5, 2011

Wife or Merkavah? Dear Kayo,

In response to your question. Not only is it not a contradiction it goes hand in hand. The Talmud and Zohar tell us sthat our world is an upside down world. When you're something you're truly nothing and when you're nothing you're truly something. It's paradoxical but when you forget about yourself that's when you discover yourself. It's when you let go of your breath that you live.

Marriage is when each one focuses on their spouse and that's when their own true self emerges. Marriage is where each spouse instead of using the other, genuinely needs the other and is able to give as well as recieve simultaneously!

That is why marriage is based on mutual respect. Hashem showed us such respect by needing us. Consequently it's only when you are a a merkavah that your life becomes truly real and meaningful.

May you only have continued success, Reply

jennifer ballarat, australia May 17, 2011

This PHILOSOPHY is wonderful As a gentile who for 50 years has kept the Sabbath to the best of my ability, paid tithe, avoided unclean meats and foods by being vegetarian, I find listening to this philosophy stirs my heart with a feeling of freshness and truth of things being the way they should be. Surely a G-d fearing Jew has much to be greatful for as G-d obviously blesses and guides. Thank you. Reply

Kayo Tokyo, Japan May 16, 2011

Wife or Mikavah? Thank you for very inspiring class. However, I am confused. You told us a very romantic marriage relationship with G-d. But in a marriage relationship, we still possese "I" - I love, I want, I feel pleasure to give to G-d, and so on. I just watched the Rebbe's Lag B'Omer speech in 1984. My understanding is that the Rebbe wants us to be a "chariot" for G-d. How can I reconcile this? Reply

Psychology of the Soul

A series of video classes that expound upon mystical themes from the classic Chassidic work of Tanya.

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