SHAAALOOMMM SWEEEETESTTTTTT FRIENDS!!!!!
In this week's parsha we read about the mitzva to establish judges. שופטים ושוטרים תתן לך. Chazal say that if we have judgment down here - then it won't be necessary to impose harsh judgment from Above. But if down here on the planet we lack justice - then it will come down from Above.
This applies not only to a court system but to us individuals as well. If we "judge" and are mindful of our thoughts, actions and speech, then it will not be necessary to experience judgment from Above. But if we live w/o judging and taking stock of what we are doing then it might be necessary to be judged from On High. This judgment isn't always so pleasant for us in this world [even though it is for our best]. So be your own שופט/ת and שוטר/ת [Based on the Sfas Emes]
So what is our job? To be perfect? Of course not!! The only perfect people are politicians [at least they often try to present themselves that way - until they goof big time and no excuses will help😀] and potential shidduch prospects [until you meet them]. Our job is simply to take a step back and ask as the famous 13 term NYC Mayor Ed Koch [ remember him b/c I am an OOOOLLLD MAN] would often do "How'm I doin'???" Not only to ask others but primarily ourselves b/c we know best what is going on with ourselves. To be HONEST w/ ourselves. BRUTALLY honest. Like judges in court our judgment must be accurate and we shouldn't mislead ourselves into thinking that we are better than we are. The ONLY way to improve is to accept our inadequacies and.then develop strategies towards fixing them. Hashem loves us in all of our imperfections so we should love ourselves too - but that doesn't preclude trying to fix what needs fixing.
“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”
Al Einstein
Every month has a mazel [astrological sign]. The mazel of Elul is בתולה [my Hebrew is weak - unlike my fluent Spanish and Latin - and thus I can't translate 😕]. This teaches us that in Elul we START AFRESH!!!! History is not destiny!!! Just b/c I was a certain way until now doesn't mean I can't be different from here on in. Maybe you "can't teach an old dog new tricks" but FOR CRYING OUT LOUD we are not dogs!!! We CAN change!! If we want to enough [with Hashem's help]!!!!
“It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.”
People generally only change when the pain of remaining as they are is greater than the pain of changing. But change - even positive growth - often hurts b/c it means giving up patterns to which we are accustomed.
SWEEEETESTTTTTT FRIENDSSSS!!!! We are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO lucky. We are ALIVE!!! [At least I was as of this writing....] That means that there is HOPPPEEEE for a MUCH BETTER TOMORROW in addition to the very blessed today!!!
May we all have a DELICIOUS-INTROSPECTIVE-UPLIFTING-CHOLENT-ENJOYING-KUGEL-FILLING-SPIRITUALLY-SATISFYING-SHABBOS and see incredibly surprisingly great blessing in the weeks and months to come. Corona or no corona!!!!
Much love
Me
