The Resilient Jew

InspirationParsha

Aug 1

As a People we've been victims of hatred, murder, rape, destruction. This Sunday we commemorate the event that spawned the current exile of close to 2000 years where acts against us have been non stop.

ChatGPT gave this answer:

There is no known multi-century period in the Common Era prior to the 18th–19th centuries during which no Jews were expelled from any country. Expulsions, localized or large-scale, were tragically frequent throughout Jewish history.

Until the modern era we have not had the opportunity to be an outwardly resilient Jew. Internally many Jews were resilient despite all of the challenges, externally it often cost one their life.

Today, despite all the negativity, we are afforded an opportunity to be resilient in a manner we have never had before.

What does it mean to be a resilient Jew?

It means to have inner confidence in our self worth as Hashem's Chosen People.

It means to live consistent with that inner core, growing in our observance of Hashem's laws and invested in the study of Torah to better connect with our essence.

Perhaps more importantly it has to do with what it doesn't mean.

It doesn't mean joining the voices of hate against us on account of our insecurity in the name of "morality". The Torah defines our morality, not the world.

It doesn't mean being insecure with our identity as a Jew and as Hashem's chosen People because others have a discomfort with it.

Tisha B'Av and the destruction set into motion a mission for the Jewish People and now is our time to stand up and shine. The mission is to be in a world that has lost its compass and be the light for the world. To do that we need to embrace our essence.

I wish for us this sad period on our calendar that we use this time as an impetus to dig more deeply into who we are and our unique mission on this earth.

Please join me on Tisha B'Av afternoon for a video entitled Tragic Awakening that addresses this idea.

https://www.chabadintown.com/events/tishbav

Best wishes for a peaceful Shabbos Chazon.

With all my love,

Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman

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The Resilient Jew

You Are In Charge

This Shabbos is Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av the first day of the new Jewish calendar month. It also marks the beginning of the period known as the 9 Days, culminating on the 9th day known as Tisha B'Av, commemorating the destruction of Jerusalem and the two Temples.

Say what you're gonna say Do what you're gonna do

Talk is cheap, although it seems to come at a big price these days. But really, anyone with an opinion articulates it without fear. That is in part because today everyone feels that speaking your mind is ok no matter the context, language or opinion.

Life is But a Parable

In this week's Torah portion, hired by Balaak the king of Moab, the prophet Bilaam attempts to curse the Jews. In a series of shaming and even comedic (talking donkey - think Shrek) Balaam is forced to bless the Jews with a series of blessings that are of the greatest the Jewish People have ever received.

Oy, The Stories We Tell Ourselves

It’s a box that I moved into long before I had basic self-awareness. The box is the lenses through which I look at the world. It’s how I show up for good or for ugly. It’s how I perceive others and judge (sometimes even being judgmental – shocker) what I experience.

Geon Yaakov!

I'm getting it, more and more. And as I get it, I develop much more compassion towards others, more accepting of their limitations and how that bumps up against me and my jagged edges but also inner strength.

When Life Gives you Lemons…Find a Chabad House

Let me begin at the end. I have always admired Chabad. Their passion and commitment to every Jew, no matter their level of observance, is one of the most beautiful aspects of this unique and outstanding movement. I have had so many great experiences interacting with different leaders of Chabad that perhaps naively, I thought I knew everything there was to know about Chabad… That was until this past Shabbat.

Living Large - Materially and Spiritually

There is much discussed in the good books about the role we play in our own destiny. Are some people doomed to remain farkvetched (squeezed) while others fortunate to live in abundance? And do we have the ability to change that? I'm going to leave the theological question for others.

Rose Colored Glasses

Have you ever gone through a challenging time in your life (who hasn’t!?) I have. A common refrain I hear—whether in my own head or in someone else's voice—is that someone else has it a lot worse than you.

It reminded me of the saying in Hayom Yom: in material matters, look toward those who have less than you; and in spiritual matters, look toward those who are on a higher spiritual plane.

The Holiday of Good Posture

In contrast to their image of the downtrodden Eastern European Jew, the Zionist fathers wanted to train the young in good posture to demonstrate the Zionistic Pride.

Today, this rejection of the Old Jew and embrace of the New Jew takes on a different form. It revolves around pride in the ingenuity of Israeli's, their role in High Tech, their dedication to helping in crises around the world, being the most moral army, and of course pride in the IDF.

Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman

The Resilient Jew

Light Shabbat Candles in Atlanta at 8:25 pm

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Light Shabbat Candles in Atlanta at 8:25 pm -

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