Living in Anticipation

Some people live from anticipation to anticipation. As soon as one anticipated event or milestone is reached the next one is on the horizon. It may be 1 month or 6 months away, but the anticipation of that next destination keeps the person going.

Being fully present is difficult, living in the present is a challenge. Yes, Chabad philosophy in particular emphasizes the need to be present in everything we do. It is a value par excellence.

The first Chabad Rebbe taught us this value in the context of these Torah portions. Here is his teaching;
“In the early years of his leadership the Alter Rebbe declared publicly, `One must live with the time.’ From his brother, R. Yehuda Leib, the elder Chassidim discovered that the Rebbe meant one must live with the Sedra of the week and the particular Parsha of the day. One should not only learn the weekly Parsha every day, but live with it.”

“Bereishit is a cheerful Sedra, even though its ending is not all that pleasant. Noach has the Flood, but the week ends on a happy note with the birth of our father Avraham. The really joyous week is that of Parshat Lech L’cha.

We live every day of the week with Avraham, the first to dedicate his very life to spreading G-dliness in the world. And Avraham bequeathed his self-sacrifice as an inheritance to all Jews.”

The idea of living with the Parsha is about living in the moment. Our spirit is affected by the Portion we are reading. It’s power is so great if we are present that it can affect us to feel pleasant or joyous.

Like everything else that is of value, it doesn’t happen on its own but requires investment. Investment here is the study of the Torah portion in a committed fashion.

When we study the week’s Torah portion on a daily basis, we begin to live with it and it begins to affect us on many levels.

Try it! Have an uplifting Shabbos with Avraham!