RABBI’S WEEKLY MESSAGE

Greetings friends

 

It is hard to believe, but we are in September now. The fall is almost upon us, and we are rapidly approaching another of the four key dates in the year—the solstices and equinoxes. This one ushers in the high holy days of self-examination and introspection—the days of awe when we stand in front of the great judge and hope for judgment with justice.

 

You know, I’m pretty sure I observed them a year ago. I did my examination and introspection, and I’m still here. Surely, I’m good to go.  Aren’t you?  Yes, but only after you take stock of your growth over the last year and continue to correct that which you can, and the best way is to start changing your intention.

 

Some of the events of life we notice, like those changes of season, and some we need time to sit back and observe, like the Age of Reason and the Industrial Revolution, both of which took centuries but propelled man eons.  Who were we to know we were creating climate change?  We did not know better, but at least now we do.

 

Other things are less noticeable.  We have a harder time noticing the ages of man – Leo, Capricorn, Aquarius – but they are, after all, 2,160 years long. So the best you get is about 3 ½ or 4% of an age, and we certainly do not get to observe the great platonic year in which the constellations and fixed stars return to their starting point every 25,920 years. 

 

To appreciate those great leaps of time or faith, watch a gyroscope.  They move pretty quickly and wobble like the earth’s axis and return to their starting point every few seconds.  By watching them, you are observing what G0d observes in the great Platonic year.

Talk about slow motion! And talk about slow; we can be slow learners.  In fact, we are.  We are prone to repeat mistakes lifetime after lifetime.  It turns out we learn best through stories, and we retain the information we get from stories 11 times more than any other way.  Our lives are story episodes – our rise, sometimes our fall, our troubles, our victories, our fears, and our accomplishments. These are the stories of your life.  These are the episodes we review during the ten days of awe commencing with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur – when we seek to be inscribed in the book for a good year.  These are also the stories we should be sharing on Passover when we can stand as a living example of freedom from oppression for those around us who need inspiration, guidance, and encouragement.

 

This week, we read about the system of judges again and that justice and judgment need go hand in hand. They should be the same, but too often, they aren’t.  We are focused on winning, not justice; we are prone to bribery and favoritism.    Yes, judgment and justice – you cannot have one without the other. To ensure it, we must avoid the flattery of ego that blinds vision and distorts wisdom, which is unfortunately too prevalent. We can be too easily blinded and influenced.

 

There is another underlying theme. We are reminded there are property boundaries, the metaphor for the boundaries we set in our own lives.  Those are the truest boundaries of all.  They are the ones that determine health or disease.  And we are reminded that a mechanism must exist to examine all law – ethical, spiritual, ritualistic, religious, governing, and when we are unsure, examine and be prepared to make the necessary changes – get the words of the wise, whoever they are in any given time, and adjust for the changes in society.

 

We remember there are only two great examples of it – the writing of the Talmud and the great commentaries of the Middle Ages.  We must encourage new thought in every age because the circumstances of man change, and the application of law must be prepared to change with it. 

 

There is a prediction that the nation will want a king and a warning that the king must not have too many horses, wives, or gold and silver. That is greed, and that is coveting—and it is a system in balance as the king is chosen by G0d, and so there is a system of checks and balances.  The prophet anoints who will be king, so the twin ruling aspects from Moses continue and must work together—the spiritual and the secular. To prove himself worthy, the king must write out a scroll of the book of instruction, and perhaps a significant portion of this book of words, which was lost for almost 1000 years, could be one of those lost kingly scrolls.

 

Enjoy this week’s reading, and keep practicing forgiveness, kindness, and acceptance. Use this time to continue to forgive those you need to forgive and ask forgiveness from those you need to seek forgiveness from. Give thanks and celebrate your freedom and joy; do not succumb to fear – and please feel free to share this audio and video with anyone you think might enjoy it. And, of course, enjoy our past audio and video episodes on our YouTube channel.   

 

This episode will be posted on our channel – click here to watch the Rabbi David Gellman Show in the 2024 cycle.

 

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Thank you all for allowing me into your homes, electronic devices, and hearts—as you are all with me in mine. 

 

Be well, be happy, be healthy, be free, be kind, be forgiving, be compassionate, be independent of mind and deed, be mindful of your intentions, and be good to yourself.  Continue to celebrate freedom of choice in your life, do not give in to the fear that is so prevalent, and enjoy the peace that comes from acceptance. As always, if you have any questions or suggestions or just want to say “hi,” please send me an email.  I love hearing from you.

 

Remember, anytime you do not want to receive these anymore, please send me an email so I can remove you. I truly appreciate your sharing your sacred time with me.

 

Enjoy and celebrate your life and the lives of others. In doing so, be happy. May you all sow the seeds of and reap the rewards of peace, love, and miracles. Make sure you also celebrate your own unique individuality and incredible awesomeness. 

 

Continue celebrating love; continue celebrating freedom; send renewal and goodwill out to everyone in the world – it is an energy that cannot be stopped. And remember, your world is what you make it.  Just wish upon a star, continue to be a miracle in someone’s life, and light the light of love.