Drawing
nigh or coming close to any individual can be a perilous
experience. The well-known adage "familiarity breeds
contempt," is too often true. That is why family
members at times speak to one another employing language
that they would never dare use with others, or in public.
Siblings are not only known for their "rivalries,"
but all too often for their outright contempt for each
other. Love and hate are frequently the opposite sides
of the same coin, and marriages that were once presumed
to be predicated on profound love, turn into battlefields
of irrational resentment.
It
is not unusual for people to distance themselves from
acquaintances and friends because they in no way want
to wind up entangled in the messy affairs of others.
This distancing is at times due to the fact that they
fear that their involvement will somehow reveal their
own blemishes. Photography studios today have been raking
in record profits touching-up blemishes on old photos,
and photographers are often sternly warned not to come
too close. We have become, in reality, a society that
goes to great lengths to hide our blemishes, our shortcomings,
and our failings. Any action that may be seen by others
as weakness is thought to be humiliating, since it may
prove to all that we are indeed less than "perfect."
And
yet, in Exodus 29:45, G-d tells us that the closer He
gets to the Jewish people, the more the people will
embrace Him. In contrast to the human experience, G-d's
imminence will only enhance His grandeur and the people's
recognition of His perfection, His kindness and His
love.
Unfortunately,
many people today are reluctant to draw close to G-d.
Religion, in contemporary society, is commonly characterized
as creating dependance, and frequently denounced as
inhibiting, allowing little or no personal discretion.
Many see religious practices as oppressively burdensome,
and fear that religious observance will result in a
loss of independence.
The
truth about religion, however, is quite the opposite.
Many adherents actually find religion in fact liberating,
strongly encouraging independent thinking and action.
Religion often gives individuals the strength not to
be unduly swayed by the popular movements of the day.
Instead, each person is guided by their own inner sense
of what is correct and moral.
It
is certainly true that religion can become a crutch
and may be used by some in unhealthy ways. However,
the Jewish religion is in no way a crutch. It is in
fact a handbook--a guide that maps out the journey for
a spiritually fulfilling way of life. Religion has the
ability to endow individuals with the strength to pick
themselves up when they stumble, and to hold their heads
up when they are tired and ashamed. It helps each person
be true to one's family, one's people and one's land
in the face of the frequent pernicious influences of
society that challenge our loyalties to those people,
places, things, and ideas that are most dear to us.
The
tragedy of contemporary society is that religion is
often regarded as gauche, hence G-d is not very popular
in certain circles. As a result, many people don't allow
themselves to be drawn close to G-d. And yet, those
who do allow themselves to be exposed to the positive
experiences of religion and religious observance, find
themselves deeply enriched.
G-d
can be our King. G-d can be our Deity. But we need to
allow Him to dwell amongst us. If we fail to do so,
we will have impoverished our lives and impoverished
our world, perhaps irretrievably.
May
you be blessed.
This
Shabbat is also Shabbat Zachor. It is the second
of four special Shabbatot that surround the holiday
of Purim. On this Shabbat, a thematic Torah portion
about remembering Amalek is read from Deuteronomy 25:17-19.
It is considered by most authorities to be a positive
commandment for both men and women to hear this particular
Torah reading.
