Before and After

There are all kinds of “before and after”.  Global, historic, personal, etc. Eg. BC = Before Covid – hopefully very soon AC = After Covid.

Sometimes in our perception the before was better than the after and sometimes in our perception the after is better than the before. 

Ideally, we are able to find the better in the after as this is what makes life purposeful and meaningful.  Not necessarily is the after as good in terms of circumstances as the before but its impact can surely be better.

I’ve encountered many people and have heard the stories of others who have suffered or experienced very negative and challenging circumstances and have found in the after a better them. 

Ultimately, it is in the attitude.  If the attitude is based on a belief in a Master who runs the world and things happen by His orchestration then since He is good, only good can come from Above and it is upon us to navigate the good that is.

Last week and this week’s Torah portions are all about our forefather Abraham.  Last week was BB and this week is AB – Before Bris and After Bris.  In the BB world Avrohom is limited in his capacity to experience G-d, purpose and life to its fullest.  That is because despite the fact that he is holy and dedicated he has not given himself over completely; he still possesses a thin membrane of self.

Once he has circumcised himself, he has given himself over completely to G-d, he has engaged in a total act of sacrifice, living in complete dedication to Hashem, he is now worthy of Divine Revelation as he has not experienced it before.  Thus, the parsha opens with Hashem appearing to him in this post Bris world.

More than the Jews have kept the Mitzvah, the Mitzvah has kept the Jews. 
The act of Bris remains both a literal and figurative instruction for how we navigate life.  When we are wrapped up in ourselves we always limit the possibilities.  When we remove the self from the equation and make it about others and G-d, genuinely and authentically we open ourselves and the world around us to Infinite possibilities.

Have a great Shabbos!

Ps. Here is a great video that carries this message

Enjoying what
you've read?

Here's more.

June 21, 2024

Just Do It! You can!

Rabbi Schusterman

It’s the human condition to make mistakes, to miss out on opportunities, to mess up. But, what...

December 12, 2019

Holiday of Holidays

Rabbi Schusterman

Rosh Hashanah is coming. The Rosh Hashanah for Chasidism that is. It is called the holiday of holidays...

September 8, 2023

Being Nice to Myself – Elul Spiritual Self Care

Rabbi Schusterman

As Rosh Hashanah rapidly approaches I’m noticing that my self reflection intensifies.  Is that...