Words, Words, Words
Author:
Rabbi Schusterman
Date:
July 22, 2020
Tags:
Challenges, Change, leader, Loving-Kindness
One need not look far in this week’s Torah portion to learn a relevant lesson and draw a connection to the times in which we live.
The second word of the Parsha and the final book of the Torah is Devarim – Words!
How much of the polarization in today’s world is from words? Words spoken on TV, social media, between friends.
Moses’ words are actually words of rebuke, but spoken from a leader who loved his people. Heard by a People who loved their leader they heard the blessing in the words.
With all that we know today about human psychology and the way the intellect and emotion operate, we are much better equipped to influence others through thoughtful, empathetic, not making assumptions, really listening types of conversations.
The Two Temples (Beit Hamikdash, holy sanctuaries that stood in Jerusalem) were destroyed on the 9th of Av to be commemorated this coming Thursday.
The second of the two our sages say was destroyed on account of baseless hatred among people.Ā Ā
My guess is that if people used the tools of empathetic listening, not making assumptions, really listening to the other, the baseless hatred would have never flourished to the point of destruction.
What can I do today to speak more positively of others?Ā What can I do today to give the other the benefit of the doubt and not make assumptions? What can I do today to really listen to another with an open heart and compassion?
I suspect that there is a lot I can do and if I did it it would make my little world a better one.Ā And who knows how that might make the bigger world around me a little better as well.
Good Shabbos and happy journeying through the book of Devarim – the journey of words.
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