July 4, 2023

Contrasting Worldviews: The Mysteries of Baal Paor and the Optimism of Judaism (Rav Hutner)

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Season 4

Unearth the baffling mysteries of the paganistic idolatry, Baal Paor, one of the most perplexing practices witnessed at the end of Parshash's Balak. Discover why this service, involving worshippers revealing their flesh and serving the idol, is considered the epitome of pessimism, negativity, and a stark antithesis to the principles of Judaism. We dive deep into the profound insights of  Rav Hutner, encapsulating the gloomy worldview represented by this idolatry and its destructive impact on its followers. 

But there's more to it than just uncovering the dark side. We contrast the nihilistic practices of Baal Paor with the life-affirming, optimistic perspective of Judaism. We celebrate the Jewish customs that find value, sanctity, and purpose even in the humblest of materials like dirt. As we journey through these mind-boggling contrasts, we shed light on the essence of being a Jew – one that embraces optimism, sees greatness in the ordinary, and transforms the mundane into the holy. This episode isn't just an exploration – it's a tribute to the richness, depth, and buoyant spirit of Jewish faith and traditions. Brace yourself for a revelatory ride that redefines our understanding of life, faith, and beyond.

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One of the strangest, most odd and paganistic forms of idolatry rears its angry head again at the end of Parshash's Bollock, a service titled Baal Paar.

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The service of this idol that was carried out, says.

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Rashi Paar means from the Hebrew word to reveal, and individuals would gather together and reveal the loliest parts of their human flesh and excrete, go to the bathroom on top of this idol.

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That was this Avodhisarva.

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Very incomprehensible what the drive and pull was exactly, but it's tremendously destructive.

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It's hard to understand And Rev He lets us in on a secret as to why it is the antithesis of Judaism and what we can take out of it.

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A very powerful lesson, says Rev Huttner.

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The service of Baal Paar represents the ultimate pessimistic and lowly outlook on life That everything in this world is garnished.

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If you know, you know it's GMG, it's garnished with garnish.

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It's nothingness, it's futile Zero.

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Let me go to the bathroom upon it.

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That's the Avodhisarva, in the same words of Asav Harashah, who said He ne hanaychee hoyleich lommas am going to die.

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Ve lommaleze bechayre, ve lommase bechayre.

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Why should I have this?

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It's emptiness.

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I don't want to do shabbatah.

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Jew, he understands This whole world.

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Eileimaze, it's halig.

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Rashi counts how many mitzvos.

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Billum noticed that the Jewish people have with just dirt, the loliest thing on earth.

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We use it to check the sota in order to bring shalom to a house.

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We use it for keelim to make sure everything is separate for yashrish in the world.

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We use this for para aduma, one of the haligest mitzvos in the whole world Just dirt ash, nothingness.

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Because a Jew understands there's nothing loley in the world.

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It is halig, it is uplifted.

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This outlook on life is glorious and optimistic.

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That's a Jew And that's what olomaze represents.

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The Gmar tells us that one can't throw food Bezoyan eichlin.

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There's something about mi'vaz eichlin, because everything is uplifted when a Jewish person understands what's going on in this world.

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The service of Baal Paar was so detrimental.

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It was so captivating and so destructive because it said that everything in this world is nothing, there's no abysster, my life means nothing and I'm going to die, and that is the opposite of what it means to be a Jew.

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What it means to be a Jew is I see greatness, i'm optimistic and I can take the loliest thing, even lowly ashes, and do endless mitzvos with them.

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How lucky we are to be a part of this great nation.