CHABAD.ORG MAGAZINE: Why Sit Low During Shiva? Why Must We Struggle to Survive? (and more...)

Magazine Dedicate an email Tishrei 27, 5772 · October 25, 2011 Editor's Note: What do you know about Noah? Most of us know that he built and lived in a floating ark while floodwaters raged all around. What gets overlooked is what Noah did after the flood. After a year of feeding and caring for his floating menagerie, Noah and his family left the ark. The world did not look anything like he had left it. Gone were the cities, gone were the people, gone were the familiar landmarks. Even most of the animals were gone. All Noah had were his own two hands and a vision. He saw the world that could be rebuilt. And so, he set to work. One seed at a time. One brick at a time. One moment at a time. Let us take a lesson from Noah. No matter what we lose, no matter where life takes us, we can always rebuild. Noah's loss must have been devastating, as ours sometimes are. In the words of the wise King Solomon, "There is a time to weep," but as Solomon also says, there is "a time to plant." And just like Noah's seeds grew and flourished, so can ours. Menachem Posner, on behalf of the Chabad.org Editorial Team This Week's Features Printable Magazine What Is the Jewish Perspective on the Bible Codes? By Yehuda Shurpin Questions & Answers Why Sit Low During Shiva? I am in the seven-day mourning period for my sister. I am curious about some of the mourning customs. By Dovid Zaklikowski Why Must We Struggle to Survive? If G‑d cares so much about the human race, why do we struggle like so hard just to survive? By Bronya Shaffer Videos How to Waterproof Your Life When we feel swamped with the demands of life, how can we cope? By Chana Weisberg  Watch (20:51) The Mechanics of Redemption How the cumulative effect of our positive actions results in the perfect world of Moshiach. By Shais Taub  Watch (53:46) Dealing with the Flood of Life How to build a sanctum of time and space to protect oneself from the floodwaters of an overwhelming life. By Chana Weisberg  Watch (3:40) Parshah Wrong Time for Building Legacies How could they think of a legacy for the future, when the present needed so much help? By Levi Avtzon Self-Consciousness and G‑d-Consciousness Noah's intoxication—far from being an accidental outcome—was his actual intent from the start. By Rabbi Ben A. The Rainbow in the Cloud The embattled light of truth, justice and divinity will never again be thoroughly blocked from filtering through the collective clouds of mankind's perversity. By Yaakov Paley The Flood Within There are so many ways to wipe out a civilization. Did G‑d choose to flood the world just for the dramatic effect? By Erica Zviklin The Window On the threshold of redemption, we must open windows through which to look upon a harmonious tomorrow. By Yanki Tauber Jewish Practice Redeeming the Firstborn Understanding the origin of the pidyon haben—redemption of the firstborn—ceremony. Feeding Animals The Torah commands every man to ensure his animals are fed—and in the proper time. Actually, we are commanded to feed our animals before we eat ourselves. By Aryeh Citron The Laws of Rosh Chodesh The Jewish calendar follows the lunar year. The renewal of the moon marks the beginning of the month. By Eliezer Wenger Advice Making Do with What You Have "What's so wrong with making do with what G‑d gives you? If this is what we have, why do I feel deprived if I don't have more?" By Elana Mizrahi My Daughters Do Not Stop Fighting! One daughter even told her sister that it would not bother her if she dies! This is an ongoing issue. By Mindi Schmerling My Teacher, the Abuser The good is unblemished. He couldn't destroy it, even if he tried. And now it is safe with me. By Sara Esther Crispe Stories Gold and Silver "After you saw I hadn't taken any of your gold coins, why did you not trust that I hadn't taken any of your silver coins, which are much less valuable?" By Bentzion Elisha On Line to the Auschwitz Gas Chamber "He didn't talk about his past life much. He never discussed the Holocaust, his family or his parents." By Dovid Zaklikowski The Meaning of Love Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev learned the meaning of love from a drunk. By Yanki Tauber A Brief Bio of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev Remembered for his fiery service of G‑d, his love for his fellow Jew, and his advocacy before the heavenly court on behalf of the Jewish people. By Chana Lewis Kids Noah's Ark Fascinating facts, images and videos of assorted animals; watch the lion roar; hear the monkeys chatter! 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