Caitlyn and the 50th Gate

Lately, I've been like an ostrich. I've been doing my best to keep away from all of the insanity going on in the world. I figured that I have enough insanity going on in my own house, and I see no need to add to it. Actually, it has been very nice living in my bubble of pseudo-ignorance. Between focusing on my kids, dealing with the chronic laundry problem, and the rest of the millions of things I have to do, my poor tired brain just doesn't have any space to think about anything else.

Nonetheless, when Hashem wants you to know something, it doesn't matter how far removed you are from the rest of the world. He'll make sure you see it. Case in point: the other day, my husband showed me a picture on his phone of a beautiful woman in a seductive pose on the cover of Vanity Fair.

I know what you're thinking: “Mujer, what is your husband doing looking at such pictures?” You're right. I asked him the same thing. He explained that he gets the top 9 news stories every day automatically, and this happened to be one of them. “So, what's news about this woman?” I asked him.

It's not a woman. It's Bruce Jenner,” he said.

………………….” I stared at him, my jaw dropping more by the second. “Wh…whh….uuuhhh…” I didn't know what to say to him. All I knew is that my jaw was literally millimeters from the floor.   It took me almost a minute to respond, as I was busy trying to push my dislocated jaw back into place, and trying to comprehend what he just told me.

Bruce Jenner, one of the greatest Olympians of all time. Bruce Jenner, biological father of six children. Bruce Jenner, 65 years old. Bruce – I mean, Caitlyn – Jenner. OMG am I hallucinating???

He/she is not a complete woman, if you get what I mean. Actually, his transformation isn't the point of this article. What really gets me is not what he did, but how the world reacted to it.

Because of his decision to live as a woman, he has shot up to another level of uberstardom, even if only for the next six weeks. The entire world is applauding his “brave” decision to come out as who he feels he really is- Caitlyn. His wife/ex-wife/I have no idea what she is at this point, Chris, says she is happy for him.

On July 15, he/she/I have no idea what he is at this point, is scheduled to receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY Awards show in Los Angeles. Courage??? For what, exactly???

As far as I know, there has not been one condemnation of what he has done. To really emphasize the pathetic erosion of morality that is going on in the western world, none other than Caitlyn himself has said in his upcoming documentary: “I am the new normal.”

This statement is the essence of the problem. We live in a world that is sliding down a giant spiral which seems to be headed into a gehinnom-like abyss. There is no right and wrong any more. What was seen as inappropriate behavior just 15-20 years ago is now glorified as “progressive life choices” or whatever politically correct term people can come up with.

Why are we supporting such behavior? Jews around the world! Is this the way Hashem wants us to live?? That we should be happy for people that want to live in debauchery, completely controlled by their physical desires? What about our Torah, our Divine guide to life? Does it say somewhere, “Thou shalt support whatever perversion people come up with, because thou art too afraid to say otherwise”?

Jews! What kind of morals are you teaching your children? What happened to right and wrong? This is how you want your children to grow up? Thinking that  a man can turn into a woman, because he feels that Hashem made a mistake??? Why are we not teaching our children that Hashem knows what He's doing, and if He puts a female soul inside a male body, it is because that is what the soul needs for its correction?

I am simply disgusted by this entire fiasco. It is perfectly symbolic of how far we have assimilated into the gentile culture. We are behaving exactly like the Jews did when they were in Egypt. They, too, had assimilated nearly to the point of no return. Kabbalah calls this the fiftieth gate of impurity. If the Jews would have sunk just one more level, they would have been lost forever. Hashem therefore took them out “with a strong hand,” because they simply couldn't/didn't want to do it on their own.

It's a scarily familiar situation today. How many Jews are thinking about making aliyah and living a life of holiness? Not the majority, I can assure you. How many Jews are trying to keep their children away from internet, tv, movies, and every other influence that is corrupting what were once pure and innocent souls?

We should be crying for our children. They don't yet realize what an injustice they've been done. We have literally murdered their innocence. So many children these days have such a jaded look in their eyes. Where has the pure child gone? Are there more than a handful of children over ten years old who still don't know anything about sex?

I am well aware of the dilemma that many parents face now. They simply can't throw out the TV, get rid of their kids' iPhones, etc., without having World War III in the house. I know it's not easy. I also know it's not a quick fix.

Parents, if you genuinely want to get your children away from all that garbage, take small steps. Instead of taking everything away, slowly infuse holiness into your home and family life. Maybe start with lighting candles on Shabbat. Maybe a nice Shabbat dinner can be your one night a week when the family sits down together for dinner without being in a rush.

External changes are important, but internal changes are vital. Parents, that means you. If you want your children to disconnect from the filth of the western world, then you must do it, too. Get off Facebook. Go online only if you have to, and limit your time to the bare minimum. Stop gossiping with friends about absolute nonsense. Start reading books that will enliven your souls, like The Garden of Emuna and The Garden of Gratitude.

Start strengthening your connection with Hashem with an hour a day of personal prayer.

Dear parents, it is our responsibility to ensure that the precious diamonds Hashem gave us will sparkle to their maximum potential. Exposing them to mud and garbage is only hindering their brilliance. We are so close to the Geula, you can feel it in the air here in Israel. Now is the time for major life changes. May Hashem bless you and your children with a smooth and quick transition to a life of holiness and purity, and may we all merit to greet our Holy Moshiach speedily and with great happiness, Amen!

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Feel free to send Racheli your questions, particularly in the areas of marriage, dating, child-rearing and women's role; write her at racheli@breslev.co.il