Visitor Comments: 108
(106) Anonymous, April 26, 2012 2:21 AM
NICE VIDEO
(105) Alana, March 17, 2012 3:43 AM
Thanks
(104) Diane, March 13, 2012 6:39 PM
(102) Anonymous, March 7, 2012 9:47 AM
Nice Video!
(100) Sharon Langert, March 1, 2012 6:04 AM
Great video!
(97) Batya, February 29, 2012 1:08 AM
wow
(96) Anonymous, February 28, 2012 4:24 PM
Extremely Inspiring
(94) Caroline, February 27, 2012 6:50 PM
Lovely.
Beautiful video. Really inspiring and a great reminder and reconnecting for my practice of reciting the Shema. My only concern is that there weren't any people represented in the video who were not white men. Would have been nice to see some women and/or people of color. Would have felt more in line with unity and oneness. :) Great video nonetheless. Thanks!
(93) Anonymous, February 27, 2012 7:02 AM
(92) Stuart Gordon, February 26, 2012 3:12 PM
A most important observation
(90) David Naas, February 25, 2012 5:33 PM
marvelous
(89) Sha'ul~Naphtali, February 25, 2012 4:26 PM
A totally inspiring piece
(88) Anonymous, February 24, 2012 7:47 PM
WHAT ABOT MOM?
The Devine One, is One, neither Dad or Mom but both and more. When we say the Lord is One, we leave out the Lady. Your case would have been better stated by using the word "Parent ," rather than "Dad." This leaving the Feminine out of the equation or saying she's included in under a general "he," is like the recent all male GOP panel making decisions concerning women's health.
Chavi, February 26, 2012 9:29 PM
(87) Anonymous, February 24, 2012 7:37 PM
(86) Dovid K, February 24, 2012 7:36 PM
a song I wrote
Very good piece! Here's something I wrote/recorded: In a world which holds so many things Where the lonely weep and children sing I wish I had wings As I step out on the wire. But through the dark of night and the light of day I shall not fall or lose my way As these words remain my pillar of fire. Sh’ma Yisrael, HaShem Elokaynu, HaShem Echad. Emet v'yatsiv, v'nachon v'kayam, v'yashar v'ne'eman V'ahoov v'chaviv, v'nechman v'na'im, v'nora v'adir U'm'tukan u'm'kubal, v'tov v'yafeh hadavar hazeh Aleinu l'olam va'ed.* * “True and certain, established and enduring, fair and faithful beloved and cherished, delightful and pleasant, awesome and powerful correct and accepted, good and beautiful is this affirmation to us forever and ever.”
(85) Ganor, February 24, 2012 7:03 PM
Oh My !
(83) Anonymous, February 24, 2012 3:45 PM
(82) Barry Jacobs, February 24, 2012 3:23 PM
Brilliant!
(81) Anonymous, February 24, 2012 10:02 AM
Great video!!!! Thank you so much
(79) Inspired, February 24, 2012 3:38 AM
Inspired
(78) S.Levy, February 24, 2012 1:35 AM
Sing the Prayer
(77) Tzvi, February 24, 2012 12:43 AM
Awesome!!!
(74) Linda Rivera, February 23, 2012 10:04 PM
Thank you so much for this reminder!
(73) Leonar Elkins, February 23, 2012 9:13 PM
So important to read and wrap our being with
(72) Anonymous, February 23, 2012 8:58 PM
Thank you.
(71) M. Cline, February 23, 2012 7:47 PM
Beautifullly put!
(69) queen israela, February 23, 2012 6:41 PM
Hashems Blessings on you Charlie
(68) Anonymous, February 23, 2012 6:37 PM
(67) Manasseh, February 23, 2012 5:53 PM
Good Comparison
(66) Anonymous, February 23, 2012 5:35 PM
just what I needed today
(65) Devorah, February 23, 2012 5:25 PM
(64) Fangyu, February 23, 2012 5:11 PM
Good stuff. Thanks Charlie:-)
Also, all transgressions in this world actually descent from two greatest sins. One is idolatry and the other is adultery. The Jewish prayer "Shema" already speaks very clearly: Hear O, Israel, HaShem is our G-d, HaShem is one. If going against "HaShem is our G-d", that is idolatry, if going against "HaShem is one", that is adultery. One simple Jewish prayer kills all sins, isn't that amazing? Judaism is forever!!!!!!!
(63) Kay Singer, February 23, 2012 4:54 PM
Gratitude
(62) Anonymous, February 23, 2012 4:36 PM
Thank you
(61) Alaine, February 23, 2012 3:27 PM
(60) Dovid ben Moishe, February 23, 2012 3:25 PM
I'll say it from now on
(59) leah bleiberg, February 23, 2012 3:24 PM
just fabulous
(56) NINETTE ROSEN, February 23, 2012 3:09 PM
EXCELLENT REMINDER
(54) Anonymous, February 23, 2012 1:06 PM
father's company
(53) Russell, February 23, 2012 3:14 AM
Fantastic!
(52) Beverly Kurtin, February 22, 2012 10:54 PM
The peace of Shema
Focusing on Hashem upon falling asleep and waking up brings me the peace of knowing that Hashem is with me at all times. Since I started doing that years ago my life, believe it or not, is free of worry. My reliance on Hashem and my recognition of him keeps my mind centered on the fact that we have One whom we can trust. A few weeks ago I was diagnosed with a fatal disease. My doctor was amazed that I didn't do the "normal" thing when one is given months to live. I merely turned it over to Hashem. Two weeks later a phone call from my doctor confirmed my faith: They had made a mistake! They had misread the CAT scan; I don't have what they thought I did. I don't want to think of how upset and worried I'd have been had I not had known Who was in charge. What can I say except Baruch Hashem?
Sarah, February 23, 2012 3:06 PM
(51) Anonymous, February 22, 2012 5:23 PM
(50) Mindy, February 22, 2012 2:50 PM
Shema
(49) alan, February 22, 2012 2:29 PM
thank you from the heart
(48) Jennifer, February 22, 2012 4:28 AM
(47) Yossi Globman, February 22, 2012 1:37 AM
(46) Anonymous, February 21, 2012 11:38 PM
WOW!!!!!!!!
(45) Anonymous, February 21, 2012 11:36 PM
There is peace in the Shema
You have inspired me once again. The Shema resonates with me whether it is spoken or sung and centers me on what matters. It might interest you to know that I am a school teacher in a Christian school and my class says the Shema every morning. As Ruth said to Naomi, your G-d is my G-d. Thank you for your tremendous work.
(44) Anonymous, February 21, 2012 10:16 PM
Amazing!
(43) John D. Milller, February 21, 2012 8:33 PM
Great indeed
(42) Tova Saul, February 21, 2012 5:04 PM
Magnificent
(41) Anonymous, February 21, 2012 4:37 PM
(38) David, February 21, 2012 2:15 AM
Great words of wisdom
(37) Anonymous, February 21, 2012 1:00 AM
I absolutely love your videos
I am amazed at your ability to size up a need and find a complex concept that can't help but give the person with the problem a solution in a simple palatable short and enjoyable clip - i wish i could give you a list of subjects that i need chizuk with, and let you knock them off one by one - Thank you so much!
(36) Anonymous, February 20, 2012 10:51 PM
(34) jonathan Gardner, February 20, 2012 5:21 PM
very timely
i liked his commentary i say the shema every once in awhile but this explains why i neeed to say it every day. Hahem reallly loves me .I am going thru some trials with my health and finaces not enough but like he said my dad is the ceo and has my best interest at heart thanks Charlie ts what i needed for today
(33) Laura, February 20, 2012 12:31 PM
Thank you
(32) Sam Omekara, February 20, 2012 12:06 PM
Amazing insight
(31) Ady, February 20, 2012 10:12 AM
Hey that's good!
(30) Dov, February 20, 2012 10:08 AM
thank you ,thank you, thank you.
(29) Barbara, February 20, 2012 7:34 AM
Beautiful!
(28) Saul Pillai, February 20, 2012 6:23 AM
Thank you...
(27) Anonymous, February 20, 2012 4:11 AM
Wow! Captioned!
(26) Elisheva, February 20, 2012 2:59 AM
You explained more than the Shema!
A few of us were having a heavy spiritual discussion before Havdallah last night and we were trying to articulate/define that amazing "energy field" that some rabbis have....I think Charlie just explained it better than we could.They ARE the total and complete connection to HaShem and we feel it when in their presence. Todah Rabbah!
(25) Avraam Rubinov, February 20, 2012 2:46 AM
the captioning.
(23) ruth housman, February 20, 2012 1:10 AM
this is profoundly beautiful and true
I was moved by this, as I felt the passion and total belief Charlie had in making this video, which is, beautiful. What is very obvious to me, is that people seem to need also, often, to take the journey to get to this place. Even when we want to fast forward the journey, we can't, unless that person is ready to receive, and maybe the climb itself, up Jacob's ladder as you say, is part of getting to this place. But when one gets here, it's all that matters. You are so right, and so poetically and beautifully right. Thank you.
(22) Anonymous, February 20, 2012 1:02 AM
Ahhh!
(21) Jose Manuel, February 20, 2012 12:48 AM
AVINU, MALCHINU
(20) LG, February 19, 2012 11:08 PM
Running in circles?
(18) Anonymous, February 19, 2012 6:58 PM
Great
(17) Norman Elias, February 19, 2012 6:33 PM
Shema Yisrael IS our purpose in life!
My thanks to Hashem for inspiring the creation of Aish.com and to Charlie for expressing this message so eloquently. A few weeks ago, I read Rabbi Jonathan Sacks' essay for Parsha Bo and came to a new understanding of those first six words of the Shema. I've copied Rabbi Sacks' words below so you can see for yourself. I had always focused on the last four words, Hashem Elokenu, Hashem Echod, the declaration of our faith in one G-d. But now I see that these six words declare our purpose as Jews. It is not just to repeat that declaration of our faith but to strive (as Yaakov did with the man/angel that accosted him all night) with all our heart, soul and might to understand (shema) the full scope of that message. Twice a day, we remind ourselves that Hashem chose us from among all his people to study, struggle with and reach for a full comprehension of the unity of our G-d, our Creator, The One. "Instead of a word meaning 'to obey,' the Torah uses the verb shema, untranslatable into English because it means [1] to listen, [2] to hear, [3] to understand, [4] to internalise, and [5] to respond. Written into the very structure of Hebraic consciousness is the idea that our highest duty is to seek to understand the will of God, not just to obey blindly.'
(16) Saadia Bendayan, February 19, 2012 6:27 PM
Very deep in few and eloquent words, remarkable.
(15) Robbye, February 19, 2012 5:35 PM
Beautiful! Thank you
(13) Anonymous, February 19, 2012 4:55 PM
Thank you so much for this video. Im going through a difficult, confusing time now, and I don't really understand why Hashem has brought me into the situation that I'm in right now. This video helped me understand that Hashem knows what's best for me, and that He is only putting me into this situation for my own good, whatever that may be, even though I don't understand it at the moment. Thank you.
(12) Harry Pearle, February 19, 2012 4:46 PM
Last Word of Shema is EMES: Shema---EMES (Hear Truth)
I noticed that the last word of Shema is ...EMES, truth. Thus, when we read the Shema, we embrace, truth.....As we goe through life, from day to day, we read the Shema. With the passage of time more and more truth, EMES becomes revealed to us......THANKS Charile, for speaking in Rochester NY. Now, I must go and watch your videos and search for truth, EMES...
(11) Ray Martin, February 19, 2012 4:20 PM
Beautiful!
(9) Steven W., February 19, 2012 3:31 PM
Just a Little Nit
Wonderful piece. I take issue with only one thing. The Shema is not a prayer--it is an anthem of faith to the truth of the one God. If you want to find the most important Jewish prayer, you will find it in the Amidah, the prayer "par excellence." Oh, yes (and many people make this error), why do so many folks say "anyways?"
(8) Anonymous, February 19, 2012 3:29 PM
who is in charge
(7) glen sol, February 19, 2012 3:15 PM
(6) esther mercedes, February 19, 2012 3:15 PM
i have been enjoying your mails since 2006
(4) Anonymous, February 19, 2012 1:06 PM
A MIGHTY THANK YOU!
(3) Lisa, February 19, 2012 12:49 PM
Yes, Shema is our Mission Statement........
(2) Alan S., February 19, 2012 11:25 AM
As always, Mr. Harary makes an excellent video. Dare I say, 'powerful' and great food for thought. I personally found its message comforting and beautiful; the images portrayed adds meaning. I have one quibble of course --I am Jewish, after all -- and that is that sometimes, too much food for thought can give us mental indigestion when we start to ask questions. But that is for another discussion. Mr. Hararay's videos are always inspiring.
About the Author
Charlie Harary
Charlie Harary is the First Vice President of Residential Operation and Legal Counsel of RXR Realty, a multi-billion dollar Real Estate Company based in New York.
He received his J.D. from Columbia Law School where he was awarded the James Kent Scholar and the Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Mr. Harary received a B.A. in Political Science and Communications from Queens College, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Mr. Harary is an active volunteer in many community organizations, most notably the Orthodox Union. At the Orthodox Union, he sits on the Board of Directors and Executive Board and is the Founding Chairman of the Young Leadership Cabinet. Charles is also the Chairman of New York NCSY.
Mr. Harary is a prolific speaker and has traveled all over the country and abroad speaking for a plethora of organizations on a variety of topics to audiences of various sizes - particularly for affiliate organizations, various schools, synagogues and college campuses.
For more, please visit www.CharlieHarary.com




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