So now that Rosh Hashana is over and we're gearing up for Yom Kippur, I'd like to apologize to anyone who reads my blog. I'm asking your forgiveness for the things I've written that you might be hurt, insulted, offended by. If I've used a tone you feel was unfair, please forgive me. To everyone out there: shana tova v'gmar tov!
Day 258: Who Is a Hero? A Jewish Perspective
It is written in Pirkei Avot "who is a hero? One who overcomes temptation."
Different things tempt different people. There are small things like a chocolate bar or taking the elevator and bigger things like engaging in a sexual relationship with someone who is forbidden to you or stealing something that is left without a guard.
In the past year, I've given into many of my own personal temptations but this year, I'm already working on it. There's something I'd like to do that I've told myself I won't do until after Yom Kippur. As hard as it is to not do it, I know how disappointed I'll be in myself if I give in.
On the other hand, one special section of the Talmud says that a hero is someone who is stronger than we are and who is intimidating because of his strength. I was thinking about examples from situations I've seen or read or heard about. And I can't say I fear any of these people. I think the strength the Talmud is talking about in this case isn't necessarily physical, it might be mental. And so, I respect those people stronger than I: the first responders on 9/11, those of us fighting a mental disorder, and all of you who go to the gym even when you think it's embarrassing.
"In Judaism, heroism is a possibility for everyone, and we are tested almost every day of our lives" (366).
Day 259: Shabbat
This week has been wonderful. The first week of 5776 has been remarkably wonderful. It's been a lot of small things that have made it so good: yesterday I had a really good apple, all week the sky has been beautiful, I've gotten to spend a lot of time with some people I really respect, my school work is going well, and I'm determined even though I've been staying up late to do work.
- Rabbenu Gershom and the Prohibition Against Being a Snoop: N/A
- Be Generous with Power: N/A
- When Silence Is Golden: I put this into practice last week when a struggling friend came to me. I think I need to figure out the balance.
- Learn Even from Those With Whom You Disagree: YES.
- Revenge and the Command to Love Your Neighbor: N/A
- Who Is a Hero? A Jewish Perspective: N/A
Day 260: Accidents Do Happen
It's kind of funny to me to be reading this section after going to my School Law class this week and studying torts. (NOTE: It isn't haha funny but it's more ironic I guess than anything else).
I don't feel like I'm prepared to explain any potential cases brought up in the Torah or in class, though, so you might have to find your own examples. Check Shmot 21.
The Torah and the Talmud are very skilled about "nitpicking" the details in situations. Every possibility seems to have an explanation. I channeled the Talmud in class this week actually. We were discussing a situation where a student used a slingshot to hit another student in the eye on school grounds but before the school doors were opened and with no supervision. Who would win in the lawsuit: the school or the parents of the student who was hit?
My class was proposing all these answers and one girl brought up the fact that it would be hard for a teacher to miss a student bringing a slingshot to school. I felt she was wrong, so I raised my hand and reminded the class that 1) there was no supervision yet as the students weren't allowed in the building and 2) a slingshot is not a complex weapon; it's possible the student fashioned it on the school grounds. It may not seem like a comment to be proud of, but I felt really good about it.
Day 261: When an Accident Is No Accident
"An accident is an accident when it could not have been anticipated. When it could have been anticipated, it is no accident" (369).
So let's give a couple examples of things that aren't accidents:
- getting behind the wheel of a vehicle when you've been drinking and getting into an "accident"
- raising or keeping a dangerous animal and then it uncharacteristically attacking someone
Make sure you take responsibility if you really believe it to be an accident. Apologize, ask forgiveness, or if you're on the other side, grant forgiveness. But make sure you're aware of what constitutes an accident. If you can foresee something bad happening, it's not an accident.
Day 262: Don't Be a Mitzvah Hero at Someone Else's Expense
There are 613 do's and don'ts, commandments we should be living our lives by. Often, we have help fulfilling these mitzvot, they need to be done by more than one person or someone else needs to facilitate.
It's a wonderful thing to fulfill these mitzvot, but it's less wonderful if you're fulfilling mitzvot is negatively affecting someone else. If you have a servant painstakingly bringing water to your house from a nearby well as was the case in one of the stories of Rabbi Salanter, use the minimum amount so she won't be as often in pain; if your evening meals are long and drawn out and someone else is serving them to you, try and make them more concise so that person can go home and rest.
All I'm trying to say is that by being morally conscious and understanding how your actions and choices are affecting those around you, you live with a cleaner conscience and a happier spirit.
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