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Why do women choose to observe the Mitzvah of Family Purity?
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Lost: I was just wondering: why we can't kill ourselves?

  

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Rabbi Mendy Chitrik: Hi! How may I be of assistance?

Lost: I was just wondering: why we can't kill ourselves?

Rabbi Mendy Chitrik: Because suicide is murder. We don't have the right to take a life that G-d created. That's the answer to your question...but I have a question for you...why are you wondering about it?

Lost: Well, life sucks and u try to live with it but u lose the strength to do everything—then why can't u kill yourself?

Rabbi Mendy Chitrik: You trying to tell me you don't like ice cream? I have never heard of anyone who does not like ice cream.

Lost: :)

Rabbi Mendy Chitrik: You don't need to kill yourself-you need to kill part of yourself.

Lost: What?!?!

Rabbi Mendy Chitrik: Would you agree that you're depressed? I think you are. And you need to kill your depression.

Lost: OK, how do I do that?

Rabbi Mendy Chitrik: You've already taken the first step.

Lost: I have??

Rabbi Mendy Chitrik: Yes. You're connecting with a fellow human being by coming here to chat. It's not a little step..it's a big one. Now you've got to keep moving in that direction. You need to find a real live person (not that we're not real, or live, but y'know what I mean) to speak with, to be open with, to share feelings of sadness and happiness with...ok? :)

Lost: Thank you :) I'll think about what you've said.

All names, places, and identifying information have been changed or deleted in order to protect the privacy of the questioners. In order to preserve authenticity, the chat sessions have been posted with a minimum of editing. Please excuse typographical errors, missing punctuation, and/or grammatical mistakes which naturally occur in the course of informal chat sessions.

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COMMENTS

We are all LOST sometimes

Posted by: Debbie on Jan 03, 2005

I think as humans we can all relate to Lost on some level. My prayers are with you Lost and for everyone out there who gets lost. The most valuable advice I ever got from someone was that we are going to feel pain and want to run from it but to just sit with it. I figure if I sit with it and deal with it, no matter who uncomfortable it may be, I become a stronger person and will deal with the pain "easier" or for a shorter period of time in the future. Also, when you are in pain determine how you got there and try to avoid the same path in the future. G-d bless you Lost!

Been Lost Too

Posted by: MJ, McLean, VA on Mar 04, 2005

I have dealt with depression over a number of years. When I'm at my lowest, I tend to feel that life has always been horrible and always will be, and that I can't stand the level of pain that I'm feeling any longer. As many times as I've been up and down, it helps if I can remind myself that I'm not going to feel this way forever. Things have looked just as bad before, but then they got better. One book that was written by someone who had attempted suicide a couple of times said that after each attempt, she had fought to survive. She didn't really want to die, she just wanted the pain to stop. It may seem like forever but it will stop, and there will be times in the future when you're glad you're alive.

You are only lost if G-d can't find you

Posted by: Anonymous, Lancaster, PA on May 15, 2005

Lost: Question: Is G-d real to you? or is G-d an idea - more tradition than reality. I know life is hard. Why? because we have freedom of choice. You want your kids to love you because of who you are, and not for what you give them, right? So G-d uses bad times to A) teach you to trust and love Him more B) to test your faith. or C) punishment for defying his laws. Read Job & the Psalms: 118,50,129. Depression can come from running away from G-d; G-d's will should be more important than your own. (see Jonah) When was the last time you woke up in the morning and said to G-d "What can I do for you?" Instead of "what are you going to do for me." As for feeling alone, You can't escape from G-d. Despite our sins, rebellions & unworthiness "His mercy endureth forever"; David reminds us "whither shall I go from Thy Spirit, if I ascend into heaven thou art there; if I descend into hell, thou art there" Ps.138:7-9 Pray the psalms; ask for revelation of G-d's truth. I'm prayin
G-d
It is forbidden to erase or deface the name of G-d. It is therefore customary to insert a dash in middle of G-d's name, allowing us to erase or discard the paper it is written on if necessary.