Curious Tales of the Talmud: What Defines a Relationship

http://www.myjli.com/ G-d created the world because of His desire for a relationship with us. A relationship involves two parties who chose to enter it. If we were to reflect G-d automatically, we wouldn't have the ability to chose to relate to G-d. G-d diminished His light to allow for the existence of a real "other", one that has the ability to choose to accept (reflect) G-d. G-d chose to put Himself in a situation where His happiness, as it where, is in our hands.Thus G-d prays to us, imploring us to choose to experience a relationship with Him. To have a relationship with G-d, we must use all that seems separate from Him for G-dly purposes. Food, sleep, technology, hobbies -- all of these things can be mundane and separate from G-d, but when used for a higher purpose, create and strengthen our relationship with Him. Curious Tales of the Talmud: a new six-week course by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute. Find out more at: http://www.myjli.com