Vacation Time!

Tis the season for vacation. School is closing up, graduations are wrapping up, summer trips are starting, kids are beginning camp, and the beaches, mountains and other destinations are calling.

Like most things in life, vacations can be anxiety inducing. Nuf said?
(BTW with kids it’s called “a break”, without kids it’s called a “vacation”)
And like most things in life, besides the cognitive therapy methods there is a core faith-based solution.

I speak specifically of the stress that many (men?) have justifying taking off work and being present for their spouses or children and for themselves for that matter. The anxiety of not working, of not “being productive” can wreak havoc on a vacation, prevent us from being fully present and drawing the full benefits of the necessary recharging.

In the opening of this week’s Torah portion the Torah tells us that to vacation or take a break is a direct instruction from Sinai – (tongue in cheek).

“And G-d spoke to Moses on Mt. Sinai saying…”. The Torah proceeds to instruct regarding the sabbatical year. Every seventh year the land needs to rest, no tending to the field, not plowing, seeding, watering or even harvesting.

The objective of the 7th year is to allow the land to recharge and at the same time to bring out our faith that G-d is the provider and He will provide even if we don’t tend to the land (when it is by Divine instruction).

Why does the Torah specifically associate this Mitzvah with it being given on Sinai – were not all Mitzvot given on Sinai? Our Sages say it is to teach that every small detail of every Mitzvah was instructed on Sinai, not only the big ones like belief in Monotheism or Yom Kippur.

Like the Sabbatical year, our bodies need refreshing, physical and spiritual refreshing. And so, every now and then we need to break and get recharged.

So;
1. Be present with your spouse or children because G-d wills it so.
2. Don’t worry that you are not being productive – you are being productive every minute of your vacation because you are doing a Mitzvah.
3. Don’t worry about what is going on at the office, it’s in His hands or like the oft quoted line in recovery “it’s all under control, under His control”.
4. Make sure to refresh your soul on your vacation/break; take some time each day of your vacation to study some Torah, listen to a class, bring a book of interesting Torah study along with you on your trip.

Have a healthy and refreshing summer!

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