About

A man once approached the great Chofeitz Chaim and remarked how brilliant the generation was for developing such advanced technological creations, such as the camera. The Chofetz Chaim responded quite to the contrary (and wrote about the topic in one of his monumental works).
The Chofetz Chaim explained that in previous years, Jews always found faith in Hashem, and were able to sustain their belief in all of the wonders of the world. Everything demonstrated the existence of a Master Creator, One that built the world from scratch and continues to support it in every way. However, as the generations passed, people's faith began to decline.
Hashem, in His infinite wisdom and mercy upon His creations, gives us the means to strengthen and solidify our faith in Him. Therefore, he gives us the knowledge and ingenuity to develop new means to achieve greater belief in Him. This does not mean that we are any brighter or wiser than our ancestors. Quite the opposite - we need more help than they did.
How do these technologies help us believe in Hashem?
The Chofetz Chaim quoted the mishna in Pirkei Avos that states how that there is always an eye watching our conduct, an ear that always hears our words, and that there's a book that records all of our actions. The camera, he stated, is just another way to support our faith in this mishna.

Throughout the generations, Jews have always known this and believed it wholeheartedly - without question or hesitation. Yet, over the years, Hashem saw the need to reinforce this faith.
How?
He enabled us to create the camera. With the camera, a person can snap a photo - freeze a moment in time on paper - and store it forever.
Such is an eye that forever watches our conduct.
Hashem also gave us the ability to create a voice recorder that can store the spoken word for ages.
Such is an ear that always hears our words.
Finally, the computer. Ahhh, the great and wonderful computer. The ultimate database of records and information. Built with nearly boundless memory capacity, it can store not just our actions and plans, but the behaviors of everyone on the planet!
Such is the book that records all of our actions!

And such is our world of technology. Not because we're smarter. Not because our brains are wired any better or more advanced than those before us.
We simply need it to grow in our faith in Hashem that is so terribly lacking!
Yes, we do indeed need it to survive! (although not in the way people commonly perceive)

It is, therefore, the purpose of this site to help enhance and strengthen the very core of our religion and foundations of our faith. Today, the basic tenants of Judaism need to be developed. It is my hope that the insights - the Reflections for Life - adequately achieve this objective. As the banner reads on the homepage: don't just learn it - live it!
Now go ahead and live it!


(Note: The sources of the stories and parables related in italics throughout the site are not listed. Many of them come from memory, while others come from various sources too numerous to keep track of. Among the books I use for stories that I have not heard in the past are the Wisdom and Wit series, the Impact series from Dovid Kaplan, and several others.)