An Uncomfortable Question for Comfortable Rabbis

Added: 2026-05-30

[00:00:00]For example, for example, that's a very, very and it's not a problem because I'm not chopping anybody exactly.

[00:00:05]There's a book on the apps.

[00:00:08]If you're allowed to say that the needs every Jew.

[00:00:14]If the needs every Jew, is that true or not? Is there such a cover or not? The Isis creed.

[00:00:19]Since the name creed.

[00:00:22]The needs nobody.

[00:00:24]A person who has a minute that needs something is a breaker.

[00:00:31]There's no such words TO BE SAID OUT of a person's mouth.

[00:00:34]There's no about it.

[00:00:36]And if YOU FIND THE SAFER THAT SAYS IT, YOU HAVE TO REALIZE WHAT HE'S SAYING.

[00:00:39]YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO TOUCH IT.

[00:00:43]But once you hear once and you hear it twice and you hear it three That's a very good thing to say. No, it's the biggest thing TO SAY. THE NEEDS YOU. THE NEEDS YOU.

[00:00:51]What is the matter with you?

[00:00:53]All that we listen to.

[00:00:56]>> And what's in it for God that we do mitzvahs with our God?

[00:01:02]>> [music] >> What's in it for God that we do mitzvahs? I guess it's it's the same principle. I mean, I've I've heard it said maybe in this forum and other forums that uh you know, God [music] needs our mitzvahs and it gives God pleasure and all that kind of stuff.

[00:01:16]>> If there's one sentence >> [music] >> that needs to be publicized and and and >> [music] >> shouted from the rooftops >> [music] >> to change the world it's this sentence.

[00:01:35]The Abishter himself in his full essence desperately needs a mitzvah. [music] >> Um I I don't buy into that because Moses himself [music] says very categorically in the Torah in Seducta Matitan Lo, if you do righteousness what are you doing for him? You're not doing him any favors. Rather [music] again if you sin, you think you're really offending him? You can analyze that [music] a little bit on a on a acidic level, but essentially when you do mix verses the same principle.

[00:02:08][music] It's not so it's about connection to God. You do the mix verse as a means of bringing yourself closer to God. You need to put on the fill up because [music] God needs you to put on the fill in but because you need to in order to bind your mind and your heart >> [music] >> towards divinity. You need to light Shabbat candles so that you come to the appreciation of how you have your greater responsibility of illuminating the outside world. [music] Mix verses are more for you and your own soul benefit than they are for God.

[00:02:36]>> Is it heretical to believe, say, or teach that God needs us? Because I have seen classes online that say yes.

[00:02:43]>> Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:02:44]>> Are both opinions valid or is only one right?

[00:02:46]>> This is the great controversy about Rabbi Manis Friedman who is extremely popular Chabad speaker. In fact uh the advertisement goes the most popular rabbi on the internet. Hm, I feel I feel cheated but >> [laughter] >> I'm way that way. I'm not even near I'm not even near his numbers.

[00:03:04]>> So he would never have missed if he didn't create the world.

[00:03:07]So why did he do it?

[00:03:08]Why did he do it?

[00:03:10]It's a full-time job.

[00:03:11]It's a lot of people, a lot of problems, a lot of prayers to listen to, a lot of things to take care of and to help.

[00:03:18]It's not a problem for him. He's outside of time so it all happens simultaneously and it takes no effort. He's the infinite omnipotent one. But from our perspective, it is more than a full-time job.

[00:03:27]So why do it?

[00:03:29]Take the easy way out. He was good. He's He doesn't need a world with 8 billion people in it. Why do it? Why bother?

[00:03:38]So the explain, you know why God created the world? Because he wanted Okay, that's a problem already. He's infinite, he doesn't want but he wanted, needed, it's also a problem, he doesn't need.

[00:03:48]Although again we have certain I have to many we have conversation weekly. Does Hashem have needs or not?

[00:03:54]They send me Chabad propaganda every week to try to bolster their opinion. I'm just joking.

[00:03:59]I'm calling it that, but I love it. The material on the Does Hashem have needs?

[00:04:03]Can we appreciate Can we understand the notion that Hashem would have a need?

[00:04:06]So, you know what his need was? He wanted to give good. He wanted to do good.

[00:04:09]>> Rabbi Manis Friedman says many times that that God needs us and he's in many videos. It's like we could call it his his like go-to saying is it's a big idea that he wants to emphasize a lot. We want to understand what's First of all, is he correct? Is it is is he allowed to say such a thing? And then if if it's a kosher idea, is it an idea that we should emphasize so much and turn into one of the ikrei emunah?

[00:04:29]>> I don't know if you realize this, uh, but you've created a commotion uh, online because >> [snorts] >> you said a few simple words. Three words.

[00:04:40]God needs us.

[00:04:41]>> More than we need him.

[00:04:43]>> The message that God needs us more than we need him.

[00:04:48]I think that's what separates Judaism from the rest of philosophy, religion, matters of faith, business.

[00:04:56]That's what the Torah is trying to tell you.

[00:04:58]>> What? How do you see that?

[00:05:00]>> Vayeired Hashem al Har Sinai. God came down to talk to you.

[00:05:04]>> Well, no, where's your Where is your proof? Give me proof here. You're You're making a very big statement here.

[00:05:10]>> Yes.

[00:05:10]>> Okay.

[00:05:11]>> The proof is that he initiates everything.

[00:05:14]>> To help us >> the world.

[00:05:15]>> Show us what to do. Yeah. In order for us to learn what to do.

[00:05:18]>> Why does he need to teach us what to do?

[00:05:21]We are serving him because his need is more real than ours.

[00:05:28]So, why should you be mevatal your ratzon for his ratzon?

[00:05:32]Because his ratzon is more intense, more real, more necessary than mine.

[00:05:37]>> So, you're saying that you're doing God a favor when you serve him, basically.

[00:05:40]>> Absolutely.

[00:05:44]>> It's a big line. You know that, right?

[00:05:46]>> Yes.

[00:05:48]And without >> I mean if you've been beam of Hadassah, you know, we're coming up with this completely original thing. Nobody says, "Well, let me tell you, you're doing God a favor when you serve him. He's not happy."

[00:06:00]>> Once you Once you get this idea, you find it everywhere.

[00:06:04]Everywhere.

[00:06:07]>> It's a very strange thing that I have to defend the Torah to the rabbis.

[00:06:14]A lot of people who argue say, "If he needs it, so what what what do you want from me?"

[00:06:29]So what if he needs it?

[00:06:39]Or we're suggesting, "Wow, if he needs it, that's a whole different what?"

[00:06:45]Who cares?

[00:06:47]Or they say, "What if you don't care?"

[00:06:52]He needs it, he doesn't need it. Well, what if you don't care?

[00:07:04]If you don't care whether he needs it or not, then you don't care whether there's a tailor or not.

[00:07:09]You don't care whether you're a Jew or not. I mean, what what do you mean why what?

[00:07:12]Who cares?

[00:07:14]Who cares about anything?

[00:07:24]So let's let's see if we can Point number one.

[00:07:30]What is the difference whether I need it or he needs it?

[00:07:36]The first [snorts] thing is, if I need it, then it's my issue.

[00:07:43]And if I decide I need it but I'm too lazy.

[00:07:47]So, I don't have a right to say I'm not going to do what I need.

[00:07:54]But if he needs it, what do you mean you're lazy?

[00:07:59]It's not a good It's not a It's not a good excuse.

[00:08:02]He needs it.

[00:08:04]So, your mood is irrelevant here.

[00:08:09]It takes it outside of your uh of your little world.

[00:08:17]When you feel that you need it, if you think you need it, when you want to do something, this way it's a much bigger thing and it's not up to you, so your moods You know, facts don't care about your feelings.

[00:08:34]So, if he needs it, then it becomes a fact. It's not you anymore. That's That's the first significant difference.

[00:08:47]The second thing is, what is more inspiring?

[00:08:52]When I feel like I need it, or when I feel like somebody needs it from me?

[00:09:00]On the surface, it seems it is.

[00:09:03]Well, if it's mine, of course I'm going to do it more seriously and more consistently than if it's not mine.

[00:09:11]I'm not sure if that's true even.

[00:09:22]There are certain things that are so much me that of course I'm going to do it.

[00:09:27]There's no way I'm not going to eat.

[00:09:29]There's no way I'm not going to sleep cuz I need it.

[00:09:39]But, putting on tefillin for me it's not that crucial to me.

[00:09:50]It's a little idealistic and when I'm in a good mood, I really feel like doing it, but if So, it's not true that if I need it I'll be more consistent and more I mean, the opposite.

[00:10:07]When you know that somebody needs something from you, that is more of a motivation than if you feel like you need it.

[00:10:28]Number three.

[00:10:33]If you need it and you do it it'll be of great advantage to you and you'll have a chelek in oilam haba.

[00:10:45]Everything's great.

[00:10:47]But, it doesn't explain why you were born in the first place.

[00:10:54]When we say God needs the mitzvah, you're opening a whole big subject.

[00:11:00]Bishvil haTorah, bishvil Yisrael.

[00:11:04]Wow, that that's that's a completely different topic than you want to, you don't want to.

[00:11:13]Now we're talking about tachlis hakavana. So, it's not oh, the Aibershter needs, why do I care?

[00:11:20]Zeh kol ha'adam.

[00:11:23]It's the only reason you exist.

[00:11:28]Zeh kol ha'adam vetachlis bri'oso.

[00:11:32]So, if you convince yourself that you need it, then it's not Zecher L'Churban and it's not Tachlis Briah say.

[00:11:40]It's just something you happen to need.

[00:11:45]But if the Aibershter needs a dirah b'tachtonim, that explains everything.

[00:11:52]So, that's why he created us, and that's why he gave us a Torah, and that's why he gave us b'chira, and that's what we're doing all these years.

[00:12:23]One of the questions that it answers, I have to be very careful not to carry a key on Shabbos.

[00:12:37]So, I understand the lomdus.

[00:12:40]It's not how heavy the object is. You're not allowed to carry, and it's considered a melacha.

[00:12:50]But come on, a key?

[00:12:53]Or even two keys?

[00:12:56]Like, what are you freaking out over here?

[00:12:59]This is a melacha?

[00:13:02]In principle, transferring property is part of business and part of commercial behavior.

[00:13:10]Okay, okay, but you know, you're going a little too far with the one key.

[00:13:21]But if he needs it, then there's no question anymore.

[00:13:28]He is bleak of all and to him something tiny and infinitesimal can be just as important as something infinite.

[00:13:40]>> [clears throat] >> So, we can't dismiss any myths as being too petty, too small, too unimportant.

[00:13:56]That's why we can do all the myths with the same enthusiasm.

[00:14:08]As I saw here the myths for color to be a hamula.

[00:14:27]If it's something that he needs, what is this number five? If it's something that he needs, we have a whole new respect for Torah.

[00:14:41]Torah is not a book of good advice and and um life coaching.

[00:14:54]To tell to completely different Torah.

[00:15:00]I know nafshik so this Yahweh's.

[00:15:07]Most people never thought that Torah was that serious.

[00:15:17]By the way, the way we understand uh I know nafshik so this Yahweh's is very different than >> I know not if you see obviously very different than the way you feel it understands it.

[00:15:35]They understand it to mean the Hebrew said to say I wrote the title myself.

[00:15:40]Nobody wrote it for me. I wrote it myself.

[00:15:46]Which is underwhelming.

[00:15:52]You have some?

[00:16:00]So it's perfectly written. Okay, it's fine.

[00:16:05]God wrote it. Oh, must be a perfect book.

[00:16:10]We have a completely different understanding of it.

[00:16:19]But when you do understand it that it's I know not she It's not just a different Hebrew said it's a different title.

[00:16:31]That's why the title can never change and will never change. It's a different Like for example, if I could dish borrow who means all my house and so I have to express itself in my house. So once so express itself in my house, then we don't need it anymore.

[00:17:01]You bring the Sheena down to earth so in my house and and it's done. Now we don't need to do this is anymore.

[00:17:11]But if I could dish borrow who means him Oh, then it will always have to do this is >> It's just That's all off the top of my head, but you have to look up more.

[00:17:31]What other significant changes does this bring?

[00:17:53]There's a huge mymar.

[00:17:56]It's a bossy regarding mymar.

[00:18:01]Where the rebbe says that the yates a harder doesn't want you to believe that you're that great.

[00:18:08]That you're in a gay at asmus.

[00:18:10]You have to look up that sicha, what else the rebbe says about that.

[00:18:16]But knowing that it's a gay at asmus does something and the yates a harder doesn't want you to have that.