WALK THE TALK

This is the season when Graduations are being celebrated all over our nation and speeches delivered at each event.  To my disappointment I was not asked to speak at a Graduation.  However, if I would have received an invitation to speak at such an occasion I would make sure my remarks would be short because the students would be looking at their phones texting one another rather than listening to me.

   Let us fantasize for a moment, and hear some of the words of wisdom I would have shared with the Graduates.

   Today’s world has truly changed in the way we prioritize our needs and our concerns. The role of moral character seems to be minimized, wherein the attributes such as empathy, courage, fortitude, honesty, loyalty, are very often strange to so many.

   I read recently; “Unlike a drop of water which loses its identity when it joins the ocean, man does not and must not lose his being in a society in which he lives. Man’s life is independent and he is born to make his own individual mark on this earth.”

   These are times when we are not only to be concerned about the development of society, but even more so for the development of self. We all need greater belief in ourselves and to have the faith in our abilities, no matter what age. Success demands acts of humbleness combined with a confidence in our G-D Given Powers. Today, our world needs much healing and restoration of human feelings, to improve the standard of living. 

   These are my thoughts at the moment, especially as it applies to the Parsha, we read this week wherein the opening words are, ‘אם בחוקותי תלכו, When Hashem asks man to walk in His statues and keep His commandments.” The word used is תלכו, walk.”

   Rashi comments on the word walk, “Walking in G-D’s law, means taking a journey-a journey of the mind and soul, but more so a journey from the routine, traveling away from the maddening society into a world of dedication and commitment that iniates an-act of walkingwith G-D.” 

   This idea is expressed in the Gemorah Sotah. “To change the world, to uplift the world to a higher plateau, we are to emulate G-D’s ways. 

As He clothes the naked so must we; 

As He visits the sick so must we; 

As He comforts the mourners so must we; 

As He studies the Torah with those in the Yeshiva Shel Maala, so must we 

involve ourselves in the study of Torah and become עמלים בתורה.”

   Furthermore, as Hashem draws His People near to Him, we must be open to accept others and show kindness to others regardless of how different they may be. This is to walk in G-D’s way, and modeling G-D’s behavior. 

  Walking suggests that we be proactive in our Judaic way of life and encourage others to lift themselves out of their passive and indifference behavior bringing about a greater identity as Jews. 

This is a time to engender change.  It is a time to grow and move forward in Yiddishkeit and to release ourselves from the spiritual stagnation that so many have fallen prey to.

 

THE ONLY TRUE HAPPINESS LIES IN KNOWING WHO WE ARE!

OUR IDENTITY IS OUR MOST VALUABLE POSSESION – LET US PROTECT IT AND BUILD UPON IT!