Rabbi's Message September 2007

Rabbis' Messages

A Message from Rabbi Yitzhak (September 2007)

It is so much easier to see the blind spots of others than to see our own. How strange it is to consider the self-certainty with which we assess the character or actions of others. Unfortunately, that same skilled critical eye often has much dimmer vision when we look at our own lives.
This time of year is a particularly appropriate time to soften any judgment we may have of others and to direct the fullest capacity for discernment toward self-assessment. Undoubtedly, we will begin to see errors that await our correction.

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Seeking and Granting Forgiveness – A Way to Grow

S’licha, a Hebrew word rendered in English as “pardon me,” is frequently and quite casually uttered in the busy places, the streets and markets of the world, the places where people inadvertently bump up against one another and step on each others toes. This commonplace utterance takes on a great weight during the Days of Awe that we will soon enter. As we accept responsibility for our errors and commit to self-improvement, asking pardon for our errors acquires a gravity that sets the tone for the season. Even though every day is seen as an appropriate time for introspection and self-improvement, this season leading up to and during the Days of Awe, is understood to be a particularly auspicious time for this personal work. Even though our efforts at self-improvement may be exceedingly private, there are aspects of the process that are communal. The knowledge that we are not alone in facing our difficult challenges can be an encouragement for our willingness to participate and even to succeed. How great a comfort it is to know that we are not alone in our ability to make mistakes, do wrongs and need to seek forgiveness. This is part of the human condition and we learn to live with it. It is a great blessing to have the ability to grow and change. One of the traditions that I hope you will find useful and meaningful, is the S’lichot service held the Saturday evening before Rosh Hashanah (September 8 at 9:00 p.m.)

Another aspect of the spiritual work of this season is mechila, granting forgiveness. As we approach one another and make ourselves vulnerable by admitting wrongs and insensitivities, our greatest hope is that a compassionate and forgiving heart will receive and accept our sincere apology. While we trust that the wrongs we have committed against G-d will be forgiven when our remorse is sincere and our intention clear, we are often far less confident in the compassion of other people. It can be more difficult to approach another person and confess to a wrong we have committed and ask forgiveness. This requires the courage to become vulnerable in the presence of someone who may meet our apology with anger, resentment and an unforgiving heart. Hopefully as we recognize the vulnerability of the one who is seeking our forgiveness, we will be open and forgiving. Rabbi David Wolpe teaches, “To forgive someone is to believe them to have been wrong and to let go of the moral leverage that our righteousness grants us over another. Forgiveness is renouncing the position of remaining superior. It is a leveling born of letting go...“

This is the spiritual work we have before us. May our trust in our own goodness and the goodness of others be a source of strength and confidence as we enter this season of Teshuvah –Returning to the Highest. May we trust in our G-d given abilities to grow and change. May we enter into this New Year with lighter burdens and clearer insight. May we all be Blessed with a Shana Tova u’Metuka, a Good and Sweet New Year.

Shalom,
Rabbi Yitzhak