The Challenge of Wealth

This period on the Jewish calendar is known as the Three Weeks.  We commemorate the final siege on Jerusalem, beginning the three weeks on the 17^th of Tammuz, with the destruction of both Temples – Batay Mikdashos – on the last day of three weeks, Tisha (9) B’Av.

It a time of somber reflection and has been for the past almost 2000 years.  We reflect on the challenges we have experienced through the ages and we connect as a community to nurture our faith and hope in better times.  The ultimate of which is the coming of Moshiach and the building of the 3^rd Bais Hamikdash.

For me and the majority of readers of this essay, I suspect that the traditional somber reflection of these weeks, do not reflect the realities of our blessed world and our personal experiences.

We don’t struggle with the type of hatred that has been the nature of Jewish life and Jewish communities for centuries.  We are blessed with abundance materially and spiritually. 

In the best of times when countries across the sea have provided rights for Jews, they were granted by individuals for their own interests not out of a true belief that Jews had equal rights.  And while our country continues its journey of growing in its embrace of those foundational principals, today, the very foundation of this country gives us those rights. 

So, although we are never to become content, and to always realized we have our freedoms because Hashem has so granted it to us, we must ask the question; what do we mourn during these three weeks?  What is it that we are missing in our world and in our lives that would be transformed by the coming of Moshiach?  What is our somber reflection during this time?

***

Challenge of Poverty

Being poor, financially, emotionally, intellectually, is no fun.  When one is hungry, or emotionally needy or feeling unknowledgeable, it can be lonely.  Very lonely.  But, a healthy person even when lacking these things, has a drive and clarity as to what needs to be done to get the food, love or knowledge that is missing.

There is a motivation and purpose to this person’s life.  And the results are clear; the hungry person gets innovative and produces results.  The emotionally lacking person identifies inner worth and creates relationships with those that could provide the connection and love that he/she needs.  And the person yearning for knowledge becomes informed, educated and maybe even a scholar.

Challenge of Wealth.

But what of one who has all of these things; plenty of money, love and connection and intellectual accomplishment?  How do they grow?  Are they in danger of stagnancy? Where does such a person draw inner motivation?

While the challenge of poverty of any kind is quite lonely, it has an upside in that it squeezes the person from the outside to produce results – like an olive being squeezed produces oil.

Wealth on the other hand has contentment, “I have what I need”. I don’t struggle with that inner loneliness.  The downside is that we have to dig deep inside of ourselves to find motivation to produce, to grow and to keep accomplishing.

Over the centuries when we were faced with challenges from the outside, a sort of poverty, we were naturally squeezed to identify with our connection to Hashem and Judaism, and to yearn for better times.

Today, our challenge is one of wealth.  And in many ways, it is much more difficult.  Today, we have the need and the opportunity to dig deep into ourselves, to connect with our core, because of our core. 

To connect with our core, not because of outside influence, because someone is telling us that to be a Jew, we need to risk our lives in service of Hashem.  But rather, to recognize that in our core, we are a part of hashem, and that both makes us worthwhile and empowers us to reach a level of connection that is much more real and much more essential.

For me, this is what I’m reflecting on during this Three-Week period in this blessed country.  I’m asking myself if I’m content with where I am as a Jew or am I’m allowing my core to shine, authentically. 

I wish you a good Shabbos!

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