Zone1 The real secret of Jewish success.

[Woodznutz]

Some say it's called 'chronic optimism'

Despite war, Israel ranks 8th in global happiness survey, same as last year

Findings reflect overall satisfaction with society and life, says Bar-Ilan University researcher Anat Fanti, but concurrent rise in distress levels also show psychological cost of conflict

www.timesofisrael.com

The happiest are overwhelmingly white, Christian countries.

 

[ding]

How do you know that he was still planning to give the blessing to Esau, and not simply prefer a less painful reason for him to live with?

Esau already married idol worshippers at that stage.

That was my point. She never gave it a chance. For all we know God was going to change Isaac's mind. But she didn't wait for that. Instead she used deception to fulfill the prophecy.

These accounts are very deep. For all we know if she hadn't have tried to fulfill the prophecy through deception, Isaac would have changed his mind and Jacob wouldn't have had to be sent away. The moral of this story is to trust God.

 

[toobfreak]

Even Jews have a hard time explaining their own success.

Pretty easy to explain really. Success is directly proportional to hard work and determination (unless you are BORN into money).

 

[Lisa558]

Pretty easy to explain really. Success is directly proportional to hard work and determination (unless you are BORN into money).

….and ability.

 

[ding]

God agreed with her,
that's all you need to know.

God doesn't condone violence or deception. Anyone who reads these accounts that concludes he does is not reading these accounts properly.

 

[rylah]

The happiest are overwhelmingly white, Christian countries.

Sure regarding the 'white' and 'Christian' part of Scandinavia?

Switzerland is 13th place...

 

[rylah]

That was my point. She never gave it a chance. For all we know God was going to change Isaac's mind. But she didn't wait for that. Instead she used deception to fulfill the prophecy.

These accounts are very deep. For all we know if she hadn't have tried to fulfill the prophecy through deception, Isaac would have changed his mind and Jacob wouldn't have had to be sent away. The moral of this story is to trust God.

She gave Jacob a chance, to dig his twin's cunning and courage to lead a nation, as Esau naturally had in abundance.

God doesn't need a chance,
His name carries the blessing.

 

[ding]

She gave Jacob a chance, to show Isaac he's capable of the same cunning and courage as Esau naturally had, and lead the nation.

God doesn't need a chance,
His name carries the blessing.

You are celebrating deception when there is no need to. The moral of the story is trust God.

 

[rylah]

God doesn't condone violence or deception. Anyone who reads these accounts that concludes he does is not reading these accounts properly.

Did you ask the Egyptians?

 

[BreezeWood]

The happiest are overwhelmingly white, Christian countries.

the happiest are socialist when properly applied ...

1. Finland. For nine of the past 10 years, Finland has ranked number one. The country scores highly for social support and low perceived corruption, and residents often point to the social safety net – including education and healthcare – that creates a sense of security and wellbeing.

What Makes Them Happy: Top factors include robust social safety nets, high life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, and low corruption.

very far from anything found in any of the desert religions. or a clarion call for capitalism.

 

[rylah]

You are celebrating deception when there is no need to. The moral of the story is trust God.

The moral of the story is that God's name carries the blessing.

Trusting God doesn't mean doing nothing.
And cunning is crucial to leadership,
especially for the naturally weak.

 

[frigidweirdo]

Many if not most people have other things to do than spend every waking hour pursuing money.

I got that, but I'm wondering why you posted it in reply to me talking about Jews being successful financially because of money lending.

Seems like you struggle to stick to a topic, or even understand it.

 

[rylah]

Feeling joyful is an important thing in Judaism.

It’s how Jews maintain their strength in the face of horrible bigotry and loss.

It's actually one of the commandments for the holidays.

Mo'adim L'Simchah

 

[Lisa558]

It's actually one of the commandments for the holidays.

Mo'adim L'Simchah

Yes. I was told that during my year of mourning (RIP, Dad) during which I attended no parties or joyous occasions, an exemption was made for dancing on Simchat Torah.

 

[ding]

Did you ask the Egyptians?

Didn't need to.

The moral of the story is that God's name carries the blessing.

Trusting God doesn't mean doing nothing.
And cunning is crucial to leadership,
especially for the naturally weak.

Google AI disagrees.

The primary moral of Jacob's deception is that Rebekah and Jacob should have trusted God to fulfill His promise, rather than resorting to deception. While God’s sovereign plan prevailed despite their actions, the narrative highlights the painful human consequences of trying to force God's will through dishonesty.

• Trust Over Deception: Rebekah knew God’s prophecy that the younger would serve the older, but she felt she had to make it happen. The narrative often focuses on the, often, necessary, trust in God's timing, as well as His, sovereign power, to bring about His plan without human interference.
• The Cost of Dishonesty: While the blessing was valid (as confirmed in Malachi 1:2-3), the deception led to immediate destruction: Rebekah lost her favorite son, and Jacob faced years of exile.
• Grace Amidst Error: God’s grace allowed the blessing to stand, showing that His promises are not thwarted by human failures, but their actions were not condoned.
• Blessing and the Name: While Jacob (whose name means "deceiver" or "heel-grasper") sought the blessing, the story shows that blessing came from God's decree, not from the act of deception itself.
  

In summary, the story emphasizes that human manipulation is not required to achieve divine purposes, and trusting God's providence is better than taking matters into one's own hands.

 

[ding]

The moral of the story is that God's name carries the blessing.

Trusting God doesn't mean doing nothing.
And cunning is crucial to leadership,
especially for the naturally weak.

Most scholars and theologians agree that the prophecy ("the older shall serve the younger") would have been fulfilled without Rebekah’s deception, as God's plans are not dependent on human deception. While Rebekah believed she was ensuring the prophecy, her actions were an unnecessary, premature intervention that caused severe familial dysfunction.

Perspectives on the Prophecy and Deception:

• Divine Sovereignty: God’s promise to Rebekah was ordained, and the ultimate outcome was guaranteed regardless of the method used to achieve it.
• Alternative Paths: Rebekah could have chosen to trust God and discuss the prophecy with Isaac rather than engineering the deceitful scheme.
• Consequences of Deception: Though the prophecy was fulfilled, Rebekah’s actions led to immediate, negative consequences, including the breakup of the family, Jacob’s exile, and her never seeing her favorite son again.

 

[rosends]

Physical work isn't in the Jewish occupational playbook, it's unthinkable to Jews.

Then you know nothing about Jews.

 

[BreezeWood]

Then you know nothing about Jews.

- save your reply for l-558.