Rabbi Mendy Herson's Blog

Making Space

Friday, February 24, 2023 - 6:03 PM

Can we really bring G-d into our day-to-day lives?

The idea sounds so wonderful, but is it for real? G-d is Infinite, ungraspable, and totally beyond our ken. So how can a finite human embrace the Infinite? In other words, how does one bring Infinite Energy into a finite life without ‘blowing the system?’

Not surprisingly, that’s an old question.

Centuries apart, Moses and Solomon were puzzled by the same thing.

When the Jews were in the desert, G-d commanded Moses to “make for Me a Sanctuary and I will dwell [there, among the people].” He was to build a Tabernacle - a portable Sanctuary - with a very specific design and measurements. The Tabernacle was physical - thus finite - and Moshe wondered how it could possibly serve as a ‘dwelling place’ for the Infinite.

Hundreds of years later, after the Jews had settled in Israel, G-d told King Solomon to transform the Tabernacle into the Holy Temple (the Beit Hamikdash) in Jerusalem. Solomon had the same question: “Would G-d truly dwell on earth? The heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain You, and surely not this Temple which I have built!”

Their question was rhetorical. Moses and Solomon knew, and you and I know, that indeed we can bring the Infinite into our lives. Even at this very moment.

What does Infinite mean?

When we speak of the Infinite in a theological context, we refer to something that is truly without limits or bounds, at any dimension or level. This itself means that the Infinite must be able to manifest within the Finite. If not, then we’ve just discovered its limitation (an inability to be present within the finite).

More simply put: G-d being Infinite means that G-d is present wherever G-d wants to be present. There are no limitations.

Whether it’s in the Tabernacle, the Holy Temple, or in our day-to-day lives, the Infinite is present.

A Chassidic Master was once asked, “Where can I find G-d?” He answered, “Wherever you let Him in.” When we set aside our self-serving, instinctive impulses and consider what G-d wants from us at this moment, and surrender to that destiny, we become a Sanctuary for the Divine.

Do we feel Infinity? No; that would ‘blow the system.’

But we feel the effects of being connected to the Infinite. It feels right. It feels good. It feels intimate. Because there’s nothing more wholesome than bringing the Divine into your life.

The Ox's Guide To A Happier Life

Friday, February 17, 2023 - 6:05 PM

The Torah is big on personal responsibility.

If a person owns an animal, and that animal does damage to a person or property, the animal’s owner is – generally speaking – responsible for those damages. This week’s Torah reading presents the example of an ox, and how its owner needs to know the ox’s behavioral tendencies and prepare accordingly. If, for example, the ox doesn’t normally gore innocent bystanders, the owner wouldn’t need to take steps to safeguard against that eventuality.

However, if there is a change to the ox’s behavior, and it starts goring innocents, the owner needs to actively recalibrate his expectations of the ox and take appropriate precautions – including training the ox away from that behavior.

Here’s an interesting twist found in Jewish Law. If the owner sells the goring ox to another party, Jewish Law no longer views it as a goring ox. Why? Because the animal’s new setting can reset its tendencies, and we don’t carry forward our assumptions about its behavior.

The message: Environment has great power and influence on animals . . . and on people.

Our personalities have an ‘ox’ dimension – the gravitational pull that keeps us in counter-productive cycles. It’s the impulsive, self-gratifying tendency that pulls us toward behaviors that are against our better judgment and best interests, particularly where the environment stimulates, supports or condones that behavior.

Our personal “ox’ needs re-training. It needs to ‘un-learn’ negative behavioral patterns.

Often, it’s not an easy process.

So here’s a method of wrestling with your inner ‘ox’: Give yourself over to ‘new ownership.’ Upgrade your environment. Take your ‘ox’ to a different, holier place. Re-examine your social circle and pastimes. Spend more time in high-minded places, doing good things. Try a Torah class or prayer services.

External change can lead to internal transformation to a whole new you.

Feel The Love

Friday, February 10, 2023 - 6:07 PM

To feel loved is to feel trust.

To feel loved is to know that you have a safe relationship, one which even your greatest weaknesses can’t destroy.

To feel loved is to feel that someone genuinely wants you to be your best self, because that’s the best for you.

To feel loved is to never be alone, even when there’s no one around for miles.

G-d’s profound gift to us is pure love.

Our very existence is an act of G-d’s love.

And our opportunities to develop an ever-greater connection with the Divine, our mitzvot, are given to us as an act of love.

Years ago, I met with a young lady who professed disenchantment with her Judaism. In our conversation, it became apparent that - while she had gone to Hebrew School, been “Bat-Mitzvah’d and confirmed,” and majored in Judaic Studies while at university - she hadn’t heard a single Jewish authority figure tell her that G-d loves her.

That made me very sad.

Right And Left Revisited

Friday, February 3, 2023 - 6:08 PM

Right and left, heads and tails. Freedom and responsibility, capitalism and socialism.

Life isn’t one-dimensional. We need to maintain a broad perspective, juggling often competing values, the complexities of human relationships and our internal gravitational pulls.

In Judaism, we see this reflected in the fact that Mitzvahs come in two general flavors: Dos and Don'ts. Behave this way, and not that way.

We can find these two elements in any strong relationship. The foundation of a meaningful bond is basic respect. We restrain ourselves from doing anything that might intrude on this meaningful connection. First, do no harm. But that's not enough. We need to also pro-actively build the relationship, creating avenues for further depth and beauty.

This also frames our relationship with G-d: By respecting the Don'ts, I declare that my momentary impulses aren't as important as my connectedness to the Divine; it's like controlling your temper at home, because the family cohesiveness is so much more important.

In performing the Dos, I’m finding opportunities to fulfill the desire of a Loved One. It's like bringing home flowers to show how much you care.