#BlogElul
Now, of course, everyone is laughing at me, for quoting the great Rabbi McCartney. But don’t forget what the Mishna says:
Ben (the son of) Zoma said: Who is wise? He who learns from all people, as it is said: ‘From all those who taught me I gained understanding’ (Psalms 119:99).
There is a lot to be said for following Rabbi McCartney’s advice. Sometimes there is no purpose to be served by anger, hatred, or the expenditure of energy on a situation that cannot be solved. Sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and let it be.
If you do that, you are not only letting the situation be (and accepting that you cannot change it, and are done trying), but also yourself. Sometimes you feel as if your existence needs to be justified, as if your very being is challenged. But like the Divine itself, you are what you are.
ืื ืึทืึนึผืืึถืจ ืึฑืึนืึดืื ืึถื-ืึนืฉึถืื, ืึถืึฐืึถื ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืึถืึฐืึถื; ืึทืึนึผืืึถืจ, ืึนึผื ืชึนืืึทืจ ืึดืึฐื ึตื ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื, ืึถืึฐืึถื, ืฉึฐืืึธืึทื ึดื ืึฒืึตืืึถื. 14
And God said unto Moses: ‘I AM THAT I AM’; and He said: ‘Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: I AM hath sent me unto you.’
As you go forth into the world each day, remember that you are a child of G-d, created in the Divine image. Your being has intrinsic worth, every day.
To quote some other illustrious sages, Illegitimi non carborundum – don’t let the bastards grind you down!