"When a king and a bridal party meet, the bridal party must make way for the king. Nevertheless, [the first-century C.E.] King Agrippa made way for a bride, and the sages praised him. When they asked him, "What made you do so?" he replied, "I wear a crown every day; she will wear her crown but a brief hour."
--Post-talmudic tractate Semachot 11:6
"[...] probably the most positive benefit one acquires with power is the ability to use it generously." (360)
This is the key: when, even for a brief period of time, we are given a position of power, it is our job to do that job to the best of our abilities. This includes looking out for the people over whom we have some power.
This was kind of the situation when I chaired a weeklong encampment for my youth group in high school. Suddenly, roughly 200 Jewish teenagers knew who I was and what my name was, and it was my job to make sure they had a good time. I might have been able to do a better job in trying to include those teens who weren't always included, but I think for a high schooler aged 16, I think I did a good job. I still love those quotes at the top of this entry, so please, keep those in mind.
Day 255: When Silence Is Golden
Sometimes we don't know what to say. Now, read this next line very carefully: THAT'S TOTALLY OKAY. Sometimes it's good to not know what to say. Sometimes, just being next to the person who needs you is more consolation than words could ever be.
It is taught in this section that, to provide words of consolation, one must wait until the person in need of hearing them has calmed down or is no longer in shock.
I understand how this works for people in mourning or people who have suffered a loss of some other kind, however, I'm wondering how this works for the mentally ill or unstable?
There are people who need to have someone next to them and need to be calmed down, but if they throw fits, when is the right time to begin talking and what is the right thing to say?
Day 256: Learn Even from Those with Whom You Disagree
"In contemporary life, we must remember that liberals have things to learn from conservatives, conservatives from liberals, Orthodox Jews from Conservative and Reform Jews, and Conservative and Reform Jews from the Orthodox." (363)
I could say more because this is a topic I love and am passionate about, but I think it would be best left at the above quote.
Day 257: Revenge and the Command to Love Your Neighbor
I know this entry has been very quote-heavy so I'm trying not to use too many, but there's a passage I feel would explain this concept better than I ever could. Do you mind? Yes? Okay, well then I'll try to paraphrase.
The prohibition against revenge is written in the same verse as the very popular "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Vayikra 19:18). Why are they written in the same verse? Because by instructing us to love each other as we love ourselves, we are being instructed to love each other despite whatever has happened between us.
There will be people we hurt and people who would probably like to hurt us, but on the flip side, if we display love, especially to those whom we aren't happy with, we deserve to be loved in return.
I hope that was a good paraphrase...but just in case you missed quotes: "The Talmud teaches that the Second Temple was destroyed because of causeless hatred. Perhaps the Third Temple will be rebuilt because of causeless love."--Rabbi Kook
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So tonight begins Rosh Hashana. As of sundown, not only is our slate wiped almost clean but so are we. This is our chance. With this new year, we become new people. It's time, I'm ready. In 5776, I want to be the me I want to be. Last year, I straightened my hair before chag. But that's fake, I don't have straight hair. This might sound stupid, but I think because I went into the new year not looking like me, I was a person unlike my usual self this year. So, Shana Tova, I'll write again motzei chag! May this new year be sweet, wonderful, healthy. May you be provided many new experiences, new friends, and opportunities you didn't have last year. May you try new things and take steps to becoming the person you've always wanted to be. Shana tova u'metuka!
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