Do I feel the power – Koach?!

Sometimes it takes a long time for the message to get through.  

My children are all perfect of course, except when they aren’t. The other day one of them did something that required some discussion.

As I sat down to have this discussion with the child, I was very aware of the things that I have learned as a parent over the past 26 years (happy 26th birthday yesterday, Mutik Schusterman!).  I reassured the child that they are still loved, and that we all make mistakes (even their dad does too) and that the important thing is not to pass judgement over ourselves for our shortcomings but to learn how to grow from each experience.

The child heard me and then said, “I’m so glad you are my father”.  Ah, perhaps the sweetest words I’ve ever heard.

As I’m reflecting on the upcoming 28th Yurzeit of the Rebbe, I recalled this interaction and wondered if on some level the message is finally getting through.

Let me explain.

First of all this year is the 28th year since the Rebbe’s passing on the 3rd of Tammuz. 28 in Hebrew is spelled Chof Ches which also spells the Hebrew word Koach which means strength.  I’m reflecting on the strength that I’ve received from the Rebbe and how that has grown over the years.

When I take away all the noise (positive as it may be) of the influence of Chabad in the world in general and Jewish world in particular, I ask myself what is the Rebbe’s relevant core message to me today.

If I look at the Rebbe’s life, I see that the Rebbe wanted humanity to have an essential exposure to the truth of Hashem.  That means to see G-dliness in everything and in ourselves and in others.

In the past that required some squeezing.  Pressure from the outside; pograms, inquisitions and spiritual challenges like hellenism.  When faced with those challenges the Neshama got exposed and the Jew identified!

Today, we live in a blessed world with material abundance, spiritual freedoms, technological G-dly and Torah plenty.  No outside pressure. No external cause for us to connect with the G-dliness around us and within us. To see the G-dliness requires us to dig to our deepest self and see the G-dly inside of us, inside of our personal life story, inside of the complexity that makes me, me and you, you.

In fact, this is the greatest expression of Hashem’s influence in our world; when we find it on our own inside of us without outside cause.

To see the good and G-d;ly in others, one must first see the G-dly and good in themselves.  When we embrace ourselves as a manifestation of the Divine, despite our complexity and life story we have exposed G-d’s essence inside of ourselves and in turn we can see that in others.

This is the calling of our time.  Am I seeing the G-dly in my child?  Am I operating from fear and therefore the discipline looks like judgement or am I operating from an essential G-dly place and in turn I can see that in my child and in turn in the world around me?

Is the Rebbe’s message getting through?

Join us next Friday evening and/or Shabbos day, the 3rd of Tammuz for an inspiring Shabbos filled with classes, lectures, and delicious food as we host Rabbi Tzvi Freeman for a scholar in residence weekend.  RSVP here. 

Have a great Shabbos!

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