A Soul Journey

This Wednesday I joined a group of 80+ Atlantan’s on a Soul Trip to NY.  As is a tradition for hundreds of years, we visited and prayed at the gravesite of a Tzadik, a righteous individual in anticipation of the New Year.  In this instance, the resting place of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

The Soul connects at a holy place and is rejuvenated, it’s at ease and as such empowered to go back into the physical reality to fulfill its mission.
We spent the rest of the day visiting various sites in Crown Heights, praying in the Rebbe’s private study and enjoying delicious Kosher New York cuisine.

And then our flight got delayed, AND delayed, AND DELAYED!!! Ending up landing back in Atlanta at close to 1 AM. 

Sitting in the airport knowing we had a few extra hours a fellow traveler suggested we study together and here is where I found the rest of the Soul Journey.

In a fascinating discourse the Rebbe describes the unique relationship between Body and Soul.  He explains that each human being has a balanced structure of body and soul.  The right level of loftiness of soul and the right temperament of the body.

The soul whose nature is to go up, is challenged to come down and affect the body and the world around it.  The body whose nature is to go down, is challenged to go up and elevate itself and the world around it.

When body and soul are well balanced then they are equipped to fulfill this purpose.  If you have too lofty a soul in a very refined body, the body is not challenged. Conversely, a not so lofty soul in a coarse body may not have a chance.

The Rebbe concludes describing the unique blend of the souls of our times.  The bodies are not too coarse and the souls are not too lofty.
The reason this is so, is because the mission of the Jewish People in these unique times is not too be too spiritual and at the same time not to be too materialistic. Our job is to elevate the material world around us, not to get too sucked into it nor to abandon it.  Conversely, our souls role in our times is not to get too lofty and lost in spirituality but rather is to affect the world around it.

This thought is comforting and empowering.  Our job is to be real, real human beings, living in a real world.  At the same time our job is to affect the world.  We are equipped with the tools that we need to accomplish this in a very practical and down to earth manner.

As we approach Rosh Hashanah and evaluate what we’ve accomplished this past year, how are we doing on our mission on this earth, the souls journey, it’s comforting to know that this is within our reach.  For the Torah is not in the Heavens nor is it across the sea, but it is right here in your mouth and in your heart to fulfill it.

Good Shabbos.

Ps. I hope to see you Saturday night at the Lantern Parade, box seats, Havdalah!