Elul 23 5781

 Elul 23, 5781/August 31, 2021

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker

There are times when it can seem hopeless. We go through this every year. Stop, reflect, repent, do better. To do better we have to change and people don’t like to change. We don’t like to change. It’s hard to change. 

Judaism asks us to do many hard things. It’s our sacred responsibility to offer hospitality, to be honest, to avoid gossip and evil speech (in person, on social media), to do acts of loving kindness, to comfort mourners, to allow people to think differently, to make peace between individuals, to judge others fairly, to feel and express gratitude, to pray and study regularly. This is just a small list of mitzvot – sacred obligations.

Judaism does not teach us to do these things because everyone else does them. We do them because even though they are hard, they are at the core of who we are as Jews. Out of our relationship with God, our relationship with our People, the wisdom of our tradition – in some way they address us and point us in the right direction. Such teachings point the way to become a mensch – a full human being.

It’s not hopeless to strive to do better. It’s not hopeless to stop doing what’s easy and instead make every effort to become the person we hope to be. It may not be easy, but it is among the most important things we can do.