Our Rabbi's Message
September 4th 2009
By Rabbi Aaron KriegelOne of the important lessons in the Torah is found in our Torah portion and in numerous other places in the Torah. Perhaps that lesson is one of the central reasons that we have survived as Jews. Perhaps it is one of the central reasons that we as a people were able to live in exile for two thousand years and then build a state during a constant environment of war and hate, a state that is among the most modern in the world.
Here and in so many other chapters God commands us to do whatever we do with all of our hearts and with all of our souls. The almighty advises us that we should never enter into a project or an opportunity with half a heart. We should never consider failure when there is a possibility of success.
Doing something with all ones heart and with all ones soul means that if we are in school, we must study to the best of our ability. If we are on the ball field we must play with all of our heart. When we are on vacation we must take vacation completely and not with cell phones and blackberries.
Working and playing with all our heart and all our soul does not mean that we have to be the best at whatever we do. If we are in school, we do not have to be at the top of the class. If we are on the ball field we do not even have to be good at sports. If we are on a cruise we do not have to take part in all that the social director advises.
We do not have to compare our successes with anyone. Indeed we should not compare them with others. What we are enjoined to do is be the best that we can be. What we are enjoined to do is not to waste time, the one fungible good that is not redeemable at a later time.
As the Chassidic Master, Rebbe Zusya of Anapol once said. When a man dies God does not compare him with Moses or Einstein or Beethoven. God does not ask if his successes were like theirs. God only asks each individual if he was as good as he could be. Did he live life with all of his heart and all of his soul?
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