You Are In Charge

InspirationParsha

Jul 25

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. Other tragedies have befallen our People in this period or on the Tisha B'Av.

Our Sages tell us that the Bais Hamikdash was destroyed on account of baseless hatred between Jews. To remedy that we need to engage in "baseless loving".

But how do we love the people we don't really like? Or how do we like the people we love?

I've been accused of being a fantasizer and not realistic. However, I do believe that all the confusion and darkness we are experiencing in the world today is a birthing of something transformative and profound. In a word, "truth". Truth is coming to the surface slowly in every area of life.

Among the truths that are being exposed is the reality that we are all human beings, divine creatures, that G-d values. It may show up in a confused and wonky manner in the campaigns and protests defending those that are perpetrating evil. But the underlying desire is to value the core of each person. (The confusion is the moral equivalence and a fear to take a stand.)

It shows up in the coping mechanisms that we use to protect our inner core. We are learning that our value doesn't need to come from others, even our parents. In that pain of acceptance we are recognizing that we are truly worthwhile despite any external factors, because Hashem created us.

The more we do this with ourselves the more we are able to do this with others.

To move away from baseless hatred we need to move to a better connection with our own core. When we do that we can see our connection to the other on an essential level. Just as we are a creation of Hashem, so are they. Just as we possess a neshama, so do they.

In a world without leaders, we are the leaders. Our leadership is divinely ordained by virtue of the fact that Hashem put us on this earth for a purpose. A divinely ordained leader has the power to tap into the divine within themselves and then in turn deeply care for the other.

The Bais Hamikdash, the Temple, was a place where G-d was at home. Where people could come and connect on an essential level. When we got away from that core, G-d was no longer at home.

To make Hashem feel at home again, we need to get more deeply connected with the Hashem inside of us and then in turn inside of others.

Think about this today; which relationships in your life are currently fractured? Is the fracture an essential fracture or an external one? Can you dig more deeply into yourself to find your inner core? To create real space for the other's inner core?

Let's use this period of the 9 days, leading to the 9th of Av, to find connection and healing.

With all my love,

Good Shabbos!

Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman

Ps. Put this on your radar: Unity Shabbat! Create deeper connections as one.

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