Why Do You Want It?

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Torah Reading: Be'halot'cha

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Published: October 6, 2007

Visitor Comments: 18

(18) Dana, June 24, 2008 1:16 PM

THANK YOU !!!

For all and please keep doing what your doing.

(17) Anonymous, October 17, 2007 11:04 AM

inspirational!

Because of my many responsibilities at home(I have a child with special needs)it is difficult for me to attend shiurim. Your messages give me tremendous chizuk. May you continue to inspire individuals with your divrei torah. Best wishes for much hatzlacha!

(16) Anonymous, October 15, 2007 7:33 AM

Makes one think about the real meaning of prayer

Lori really hit the nail on the head. As usual, she is eloquent and at the same time, she gets right to the heart of a matter. She always makes one think. This message, for me, really puts the concept of prayer in an entirely new light. Thanks Lori!

(15) Anonymous, October 14, 2007 3:04 PM

This email by Lori is absolutely wonderful!! In fact, it brought tears to
my eyes. She is terrific and very lovely! Now I am going to just as she
says! I am going to ask why, why, why, and when I have the answer then I
will pray. I can't wait to pray!! Thanks so much!!

(14) motti goldstein and moshe palatnik, October 13, 2007 7:34 PM

your speech hit me down, down, down in the heart, in a good way. this was very inspirational! moshe's comments:this was so great!

(13) Anonymous, October 11, 2007 2:35 PM

When all the "why's" are answered!

I pray for parnasa for years, even thogh my beging thought is for my own confotability, I want it so I can manage my kids more organized, calm. I want it so I can be the giver, helper. I want it so my husband will not be burdened with it and will be able to sit and learn. It not new for me that you need to answer why, but as deep as I dig in, I am answered "no". And we do have a big potential for the parnasa to flow in. What do you say to that? What do I have to do?

(12) Anonymous, October 10, 2007 6:43 PM

Why do you want it?

Thank you for the excellent insights on prayer. I will clarify my motives before I ask!

(11) Chana, October 10, 2007 6:12 PM

Wow, this really made me think. When I davining in the morning I usually ask for careless things. When I think of why I want these things I realized they aren't very important. I hope from now on I can ask forr things not just I need, but Klall Israel need as a whole like Mashiach to finally come!

(10) Yisroel Pollack, October 10, 2007 12:49 PM

Meaningful Companionship

Mrs. Palatnik tch"y,
Thank you for your insight and inspiration. For my part, I don't think puppies offer true companionship or relief from loneliness. That's why they're, as you point out, so cheap. It's easy to delude oneself into thinking otherwise. But in truth, a person needs a person of the opposite sex to fulfill his/her emotional needs. I think that's (part) of the meaning of "Vedavak be-ishto." But I think you're really worth listening to. And just maybe, this is a conclusion you were driving at too.

YP

(9) Malky, October 9, 2007 11:50 PM

Response to "trapped in eternal job"...

Perhaps you need to be with your wife. It should not be "her" city, but rather your (as in the two of you) city. Perhaps what you need to do is explore yourself and your relationship. Maybe Hashem wants to give you what you need, but you're unintentionally being an impediment to your own wish. It isn't the video you should be questioning. Perhaps you need to prod further and keep asking yourself "why?". Maybe then "the job" will come.

(8) alberto, October 9, 2007 7:00 PM

i think this is one of her best videos
it really make me rethink about prayer..

congratulations
alberto

(7) Ellen, October 9, 2007 6:54 PM

"Why do I want it"

This is brilliant. Funny, I kind of discovered the same thing--but now I know to apply it to other parts of my life. I gave all the reasons why I needed parnossah and so far so good, Baruch Hashem, compared to other years. I had not thought of "why why why" for all of it, so thank you for your clear and friendly insight. PS, I loved Friday Night and Beyond. Glad to finally see who wrote it!

(6) Anonymous, October 9, 2007 5:35 AM

response to 'trapped in eternal job hunt...'

Please ask yourself this question:

is it absolutely imperative that you have a job lined up in order to move back to your wife???

Hashem IS all powerful and He can allow you to find a job (the right one too!) at the drop of a hat. He will pull all the right strings for you if you put your trust in Him and give control of the situation over to Him.

Why not return to your wife (and parents), showing them, yourself and Hashem that the most important thing to you is that you be reunited with them, and- EACH DAY, OR BEFORE EACH INTERVIEW, REINFORCE YOUR OWN BELIEF AND TRUST IN HASHEM THAT HE IS GOING TO LEAD YOU AND GUIDE YOU IN FINDING THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU, IN A QUICK, EASY AND NON-STRESSFUL MANNER. (just by saying it, you reinforce it, even if at times you don't fully believe it because of stress) you deserve it!!!! trust in HIM!

(5) Annie, October 8, 2007 9:33 PM

Good point: how many questions must we ask?

when do we find out which are the right questions? your first set of questions to R Weinberg seemed logical (to me), an experienced man such as himself knew those weren't good enough questions & answers... maybe we all need lots of help with just the right questions, I do. I will keep questioning(without letting doubt sink in)

(4) Anonymous, October 7, 2007 11:47 PM

trapped in eternal job hunt separating me from wife

My wife and I live in different cities. We have been apart for 4 months. This happened because she found a new position in the city she now lives in, but I could not move at that time due to my need to complete a degree I was pursuing at night. I completed the degree 2 months ago, and all that remains for me to be reunited with her is to find a job in her city. I have sent out hundreds of resumes, I flew there and had 4 interviews but nothing came of it. One of these kept me there 4 hours, only to wait an entire month to inform me that someone else was "just slightly" a better fit. Every day I ask Hashem to reunite me with her so I can be a good husband, as well as a good son (my parents live there as well).

Nonetheless the job hunt continues, on and on, eternally. Its an inhumane process.

I have asked and prayed. If this video is correct, then what am I doing wrong ?

(3) Anonymous, October 7, 2007 10:10 PM

Thanks,

Hi, I just listened to this fantastic little speech by Lori, on you site, and I want to publicly thank her: It was perfect timing. I was feeling on the low side, etc... and it was a great chizuk!
Thanks,

An appreciative listener.

(2) Catherine Manna, October 7, 2007 12:17 PM

Excellent Point Lori.

Excellent point, that makes you think!
Its true, why are you asking God for anything? Is there a valid unselfish purpose? I ask God to help me become closer to him, and to help my children, I also pray for peace. Spiritual and physical. And with our efforts this all will be a Dream realized. Why? Because that is what God wants and thats what we want, and He or shall I say WE {a team effort} makes all things happen. God and his "Team of angels" and all of us down here on earth, Thats all!

(1) Rosen, October 7, 2007 4:49 AM

"Why?" vs. the gimmes

Since Judaism is all about the universal question of "why?", it's important to remember that than just having the gimmes. Thus one has to explain and justify his/herself in order to get what he/she truly wants and deserves. Like how the Jimmy Cliff reggae song goes - "you can get it if you really want...but you must try, try, and try - then you'll succeed at last." Furthermore, since Judaism is generally a selfless religion, JFK said it best in "ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country." Therefore, we must not get too self-absorbed since no person is an island. We must work hard and smart in order to get what we want, which involves effort and determination.

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About the Author

Mrs. Lori Palatnik

More by this Author >

Lori Palatnik is a writer and Jewish educator who has appeared on television and radio, and is the author of "Friday Night and Beyond: The Shabbat Experience Step-By-Step," "Remember My Soul - What to do in Memory of a Loved One," and co-author of "Gossip: 10 Pathways to Eliminate It From Your Life and Transform Your Soul." She is a much sought-after international speaker, having lectured in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Central America, South America, South Africa and Israel, including featured talks at Yale, Brown and Penn. She lives in the Washington D.C. area, with her husband, Rabbi Yaakov Palatnik. Lori is the Founder of The Jewish Women's Renaissance Project, an international initiative that brings over 1,000 women to Israel each year from ten different countries on highly subsidized programs to inspire them with the beauty and wisdom of their heritage. She is the busy mother of five children, ages 24 to 14; and her son, Zev, just finished serving as a sharpshooter in the IDF. Her weekly video blog, "Lori Almost Live" is a popular feature on aish.com, viewed by over 50,000 people each month.

Follow Lori on Twitter, @LoriAlmostLive

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