Rabbi Yerachmiel Milstein gave a great shiur recently titled “Ahmedinejad, the Jews, and You: What We Can Do to Protect the Jews From Their Worst Enemies?” You can download it here.
Rabbi Milstein points out that we are facing real danger from Iran and Ahmedinejad. He illustrates that Achdus is the key to our protection and the root of Achdus is V’ahavta L’reyacha K’mocha – Love Your Neighbor as Yourself.
“As yourself” implies that you have to love yourself first. And self-respect must proceed self-love. In the first half of this shiur, Rabbi Milstein gives us four ingredients of self-respect:
1) Self-respect in how we speak.
2) Self-respect in how we dress.
3) Self-respect in how we use our time.
4) Respect for our Judaism. We are to love Jews, just because they are Jewish. So what is important and precious to us about Judaism.
So what do you find precious about Judaism?
You don’t have to limit it to five things and you can keep on coming back for more.
It’s so nice to hear the favorites list. While it’s true that we observe all the mitzvot because we must, for me, I’ve always felt that attitude can make quite a difference in the way we do things. Anything for that matter. And so while my little one must take her daily vitamin according to Ema, she happens to enjoy the taste. If she didn’t, perhaps she could work on it. Maybe I could sweeten the experience for her. Of course she would take it anyway.
We all have things that are most precious to us as we go about our daily lives. For me, the sense of purpose and meaning, in everything, makes the whole difference. Not that I’m always fortunate enough to be focused on that, I wish I were, and I strive to be. Simchos, even when I don’t know the people so well, touch me deeply. Nothing in the world is like a Chasuna. That binds history with present and is so powerful. Brissim also. If we allow ourselves to really think about what is really going on and happening in front of us, it really is awesome. Sad events as well, where we bind together in support, the way in which we insure the holiness and dignity of a mais. Fasting-nobody’s favorite, but I have to admit that without the physical distractions, I am able to obtain more focused reflection and connection. I could go on but it’s late, and erev turkey day, and while most are off tomorrow, my show must go on in real estate, after which though, looking forward to sharing in two simchos: Bar Mitzvahs, another meaningful event celebrating stages and growth.
Let me set forth a relatively short list:
1) Teshuvah-every Jew has an innate ability to be a Shomer Torah Umitzvos, no matter where he or she is presently in life.
2) Shabbos, Yamim Noraim and Shalosh Regalim-every Jew has the opportunity to reenact and reexperience the critical events in human and Jewish history, the role of the Jewish People as envisioned by God and to stand before God and recognize that God is the Master of the Universe, despite our many faults, both individually and as a community.
3) The Talmud contains ideas about all aspects of human behavior and relations.
4) When one studies Torah, it is because the Torah and especially TSBP are relevant to our lives.
5) Parenting means more than being a two-legged bank but also means passing on Midos and the Mesorah of Torah to the next generation,
6) Chesed-no matter what the need-is an amazing hallmark of our communities.
7)Being there togther as a family and people -both for the good times and the not so good times.
I should add the joy of living in a caring, chesed oriented, sensitive community. A friend, also a BT, whose wife has recently taken ill expressed to me that he would never be able to handle the situation if he hadn’t been receiving so much community support. The level of thoughtfulness from babysitters to meals and everything in between is amazing.
In general, we see chesed in everything from hatzolah to bikur cholim, tomche shabbos to kempitorin aid, private fund raising for people who don’t even know from where that support is coming and a gemach for everything imaginable .
I want to thank Tzirelchana for displacing me as the orneriest curmudgeon on Beyond BT!
I feel liberated!
As to my personal areas of preciousness, I would include:
1. The joy of finding a torah insight beyond the pshat (simple, literal);
2. The opportunity to learn from others who have lived thousands of years earlier;
3. Shabbos, especially Friday nights in the winter (even better if I get to dip into the cholent);
4. Seeing even very young children developing profound and sensitive character traits; and
5. Developing individuality within the framework of Torah.
So maybe, Tzirelchana, it’s fair to say that, to you, the truth and strength of Jewish history is precious.
IMHO, there is no contradiction between belief in Torah M’Sinai & the mesora and finding beauty & preciousness in yiddishkeit. Neither do I think the latter trivializes the former. Indeed, I believe that the former impels the latter.
I resent the tone of this post. Wé don’t do Yiddishkeit because its beautfiul and fun. We do it because it is the truth. We are part of a five thousand year old people who stood at Sinai and endured more trials and tribulations than any nation could ever have withstood and we’re still here. I think this sort of thing trivializes Yiddishkeit and makes it into another alternative lifestyle choice. This is not just another choice—its something we live and die for and have contiued to live and die for. Frankly it really bugs me that Jewish history is so deemphasized. We have an unbelievable history and we need to explore it.
Jewish family life, far and away. Having something substantive, much less eternal, to say and do, and to give, to your children is priceless.
Ditto to Charlie’s 5). As it says (kind of) in Pirkei Avos, not only has HaShem made us His “A” team, but He even told us all about it.
In no particular order, the first five that came to mind:
1) Shabat
2) The prayers
3) The music of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach z’tz’l, especially the Kabalat Shabat service
4) The talmud
5) Knowing that I am part of a people that have stayed together, serving HaShem, for over three thousand years
And then there’s
The joy of eating in the beautifully prepared Sukkah
The off the charts Seder night
All night learning followed by Vasikin davening on Shavuos
Eretz Yisroel
The combination of joy and awe on Rosh Hoshana
The other worldly experience of Yom Kippur
The eating disciplines
The wonderful and caring Jews of all types
The mission of the Jewish People
Shabbos, with the Friday night Shabbos meal standing out in particular.
The unbelievable depth of learning Gemora.
The never ending quest for improvement.
The ability to create close bonds with relative strangers because we share common spiritual goals.
The deeper understanding of happiness and pleasures and there importance to us and our lives.
The understanding that every person has a self-centered orientation and our goal is to move it towards a G-d centered orientation.