I arrived back in my homeland (notice I didn't say Homeland) yesterday. After sleeping for about 11 hours total, I believe I might actually be over the jet lag. Though this trip was very different and much more regimented than the previous trips I've been on, I had a blast seeing Israel through the eyes of my peers who are just now beginning to establish a connection to Judaism or to Israel in very different ways.
So here I am, back online, ready to formally complete the project I began over a year ago. Before I left, I completed the 26 out of 52 weeks covered in the book. Which (I only just discovered a second ago) is exactly half a year! I really should calculate math faster... So let's talk now about the second half of the year through the lens of Jewish ethics!
[Week 27]
- Help Someone to Find a Spouse, Help Someone to Find Work: I remember both being very good things to do, like a blessing that you've contributed to their lives.
- Do Good...Now: What's stopping you from doing good now? That's the point. Every little act of kindness adds up, and they're so easy to do.
- Teach Your Child Torah: We, as Jews, value education. We also value Jewish education. That is how we are supposed to continue our traditions. That is what mesorah is. We need educated children to continue upholding the commandments or just to live Jewish lives.
- Teach Your Child the Value of Human Life: I'd be interested in exploring methods of teaching children the value of human life, but it is definitely a value I want my children to hold dear.
- A Pragmatic Reason for Forgiving Others: I don't remember the reason, but according to my own philosophy, holding grudges takes too much effort and it's a waste of my energy.
- Charity Is Not Enough: I don't remember...
[Week 28]
- Find Work for the Developmentally Disabled: I remember this one because my cousin is developmentally disabled! I also know that there are a lot of organizations out there that focus on helping the developmentally disabled find jobs. There's a bakery in my hometown that does that actually. The cookies are really good.
- An Employer Must Know How His Employees Live: If a good leader needs ethos, pathos, and logos, I would think a good employer would need the same traits.
- Confession and Your Neighbor's Soul: Okay, not a clue...
- How Can One Repent Who Has Committed the Ultimate and Unforgivable Sin?: This one is definitely a section I'll reread, I think I need to.
- When a Jew Acts Dishonestly Toward a Non-Jew: ...he sets a precedent in that non-Jew's mind as to what a Jew is, and that's not okay.
- One Boss in a Million: I don't remember...
[Week 29]
- Have You Written an Ethical Will?: I got really excited about this because the week before the end of the semester, my rabbi gave a d'var Torah that reminded me of this section!
- Three Traits That Reveal Your Character: Is this the one about anger, drink, and charity? If not, I can't remember this section but I feel like I enjoyed it...
- "Until the Day of One's Death": Not remembering...
- When the Old Become Frail: Not remembering...
- Beyond the Letter of the Law: Also not remembering...Geez, what happened during week 29 that I can't remember what I read? Oh...now I remember....
- Consult with Your Spouse, Consult with Your Friends: Consulting with loved ones is a sign of respect. Additionally, they can help you make a more educated and wise decision than one you might have arrived at alone.
[Week 30]
- "The Dust of Forbidden Speech": Not sure I remember...
- A Twenty-Four-Hour Experiment: If this is the section about not speaking lashon hara for a full day, then I remember it well. I wanted to try to do this and a complaining fast during my Israel trip. It went fairly well I think but still, I can always improve.
- Don't Bear a Grudge: I know I seem to talk about my rabbi and rebbetzin a lot, but they've had a big impact on me. One of the things my rabbi likes to say is that holding a grudge is like swallowing poison and expecting the other person to get sick.
- Pick Up Stumbling Blocks: If you can make someone else's life easier or more pleasant, you should do it!
- The Limits of Self-Sacrifice: Judaism does not ask that we hurt ourselves or that we become martyr's in G-d's name. We value life: the lives of others and our own.
- "Go and Gather the Feathers": Once you've said something to others, you can never take it back.
[Week 31]
- Make Sure You Have a Friend Who Can Criticize You: I remember what I was going through when I read this section and it honestly turned around how I was thinking about the situation I was in. I am incredibly lucky to have multiple friends who can tell me when I'm messing up and when I need to figure out what I'm going through. But more than that, I'm incredibly lucky to have friends who will help me through it and help me find a solution.
- Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs, and the Need for a New Kind of Hero: With two more of my family's b'nai mitzvahs underway, we desperately need a new kind of bar mitzvah: one that puts more of an emphasis on the "mitzvah" part.
- Start Your Day with Gratitude: Thank G-d for the good in your life as you open your eyes each morning. That, in itself, is a small miracle. Plus, starting your day with gratitude will give you a more open mind and a happier demeanor.
- If You Have a Tendency to Complain About Others: Try your hardest not to!
- Respect Your Family's Privacy: Knock before you enter a room and don't pry if they don't want to volunteer information.
- "What Does a Good Guest Say?": Start with "thank you" and work from there.
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