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The Jewish outreach and education network of Southern Arizona 2443 E 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85719
Second suggestion box to G-d By Suzanne Cummins
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Rabbi Yossie Shemtov REBBETZIN
Chanie Shemtov OUTREACH DIRECTOR
Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Feigie Ceitlin Affiliates:
Cong. Young Israel, Chabad at the University of Arizona, Chabad on River, Chabad of Oro Valley, Chabad of Sierra Vista, Chabad Jewish Center of Vail and Lamplighter Chabad Day School of Tucson
EDITOR
Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin COPY EDITORS
Suzanne Cummins Tzirel Lite CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
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Note: “G-d” and “L-rd” are written with a hyphen instead of an “o”. This is one way we accord reverence to the sacred divine name. This also reminds us that, even as we seek G-d, He transcends any human effort to describe His reality.
I think we all knew that my last suggestion to G-d was probably not very useful. I asked G-d to admit he was wrong and I think that might have sounded a bit arrogant. Maybe. So I am taking a new direction with my current suggestion. I am not going to say G-d got it wrong the first time – just that I have a thought about improving the world that He might not have considered. G-d - Let’s get rid of evil. Free choice was a great experiment, but it’s time for a new one. Let’s think about all that could go right without wrong in the world. No wars, no torture, no inhumanity to other humans. Perfect! Wait, I just remembered... You DID promise that. You said we would have perfection after Moshiach comes. OK, my suggestion is now slightly revised. How about giving us Moshiach now? Wait, I just remembered something a bit awkward. You imposed obligations on us that we (theoretically) are supposed to fulfill before we get Moshiach. OK, I have a different suggestion. Let’s forget about waiting for Moshiach for a moment and just get rid of the evil stuff now. I think You can forget something if I ask nicely, right? You made me forgetful – seriously, that is happening more and more every day. G-d can
certainly decide to adopt that characteristic for one little change... Like for eternal utopia. How hard could that be? Wait a minute, I just got another thought (if you can call this mental meandering a thought). I just remembered about the whole Noach situation. (Even with my memory, I was able to pull up the Torah reading from a couple of weeks ago…). So it looks like that last time G-d decided to clean things up, he CLEANED THINGS UP. Not in a good way. Except for Mr. and Mrs. Noach, I mean. They came out OK. But I am pretty sure I haven’t gotten the message to build an ark of late... and I really get seasick.
OK, G-d. Just forget it. The whole global warming thing is looking more and more like you may be having some issues with us (sea-rise and all). So I am just going to shut up and ask you to think about how I have been lighting Shabbos candles on time lately. Have you noticed? Of course you have. And as for my suggestion, I withdraw the whole thing. Are you good with that? (That was to G-d – anyone else reading, I hope you are good with it also.) — Suzanne Cummins is a Senior Lecturer Emeritus at the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management
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