"I won't say the good ole days because these are the good ole days" - Rabbi Paltiel. That's some good attitude. We are living in the best of times. We can get so nostalgic for other times that we may miss the amazing good that is going on right now in front of us.

For example in the area of brain research, we now know that the brain is pliable, we can change the wiring of our brain - neuroplasticity. Entire new fields of therapy are open now that work on assisting in making these changes.

In the area of emotional well being we have a much better understanding of what influences shape us and where we need to focus to make change. Books like The Body Keeps the Score and What Happened to You give us an opening into this understanding.

If you are in the sefl development or healing space this is like chocolate cake!

The key to navigating the new stuff is to maintain balance (like Tevya said), not to go to either extreme and to be flexible as to when one needs to move forward and when to hold on to the old.

I was sitting at a Sukkot farbrengen (a Chasidic gathering with L'Chaim, song and inspiration) with a Rabbi from Australia. One of the participants challenged the Rabbi's talk on the pressure he was putting on the listeners to make change in their lives. The Rabbi's response to him was, don't buy into all the woke stuff, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

I appreciated the challenge to the Rabbi, because I often feel that the old mindset doesn't really embrace today's youth. But in this instance I felt a certain liberation in hearing the Rabbi say, Believe in yourself! There is a certain freedom in not being so caught up in where my brain is up to, where my heart is up to, what my emotions are telling me. We all need a break every now and then and our minds and hearts need a break from all the thinking and feeling.

Well you've got it. The break is here and it starts with the feet.

Dancing. Simchas Torah is all about dancing. Dancing is done with the feet, the hands and rest of the body and any associated movements are along from the ride or to enhance the movement from the feet.

The feet are at the bottom of the body, but they lift the entire body. When you dance your heart and brain get lifted up. They get lifted out of their focus on self and are able to experience something else - freedom.

While this is not a year round activity, it is available to us on the upcoming holiday in the holiest and most beautiful way. Beginning on Friday night, Shmini Atzeres, we join in solidarity with Israel to do Hakafot. Then on Saturday night we make a delightful kiddush (and enjoy brisket at Chabad Intown) and then dance the night away. For the grand finale we dance one more time before we read the final Torah portion and begin the Torah anew.

This Simchas Torah, let your feet do the lifting, start from the feet and let your heart and head come along for the ride. Take a break. You deserve it!

Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman