Inspire Yourself To Inspire Others
In his classic book Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl writes that “it doesn’t matter what we expect from life, but rather what life expects from us.” The High Holiday season is the time when each person is supposed to ask- what does life expect from me? What is my purpose in this world?
Towards the end of each Yom Kippur Amidah, we say “Elokai ad shelo notzarti, eini kidai-- “My G-d, before I was created I wasn’t worthy.” This statement is very puzzling. How can I be faulted for anything before I was created?
Rav Kook, the first Chief Rabbi of modern day pre-State Israel, explained that you are born into this world in a specific time and place for a reason. You have personal capabilities that are meant be used to fulfill a unique mission that can only be achieved in that time and place. Indeed, “before I was created I wasn’t worthy,” because had I been born in an earlier era, I would have been worthless, unable to accomplish my purpose for both myself and the master plan of the progression of history. While the mission is uncertain, open ended and indefinite, on Yom Kippur we attempt, through prayer and reflection, to define the substance and contours of that mission.
It is in Beth Jacob, our cherished spiritual home, where we are inspired to realize our essential mission of becoming better Jews and better people. Our Torah classes, educational programs, prayer services, chesed opportunities, Pro-Israel and Pro-AIPAC activism, social events, teen and youth programming are all designed to make Judaism come alive in our minds and hearts. I want to express my appreciation to our staff, our shul officers, and all of you—our dear members—for all your time, energy and devotion which make all these programs happen, make them successful and make our shul the very special place it is.
In my Shabbat Shuva Drasha, I emphasized that our mission this year should be to create a community where we reach out beyond our inner circles to welcome, include, and provide innovative programming for all Jews. Towards this vision, we will be promoting an exciting monthly explanatory minyan, continuing our highly successful Friday night dinners, and strengthening our Areivim and Shalom Aleichem chesed activities. We will also continue to offer serious and sophisticated Torah education for all interests, introduce a new Women’s Beit Medrash night, and bring back the Share Your Shabbat program.
I strongly encourage you to partner with me on these initiatives. Judaism asks you to inspire yourself to inspire others. Invite a friend, co-worker or neighbor to join your Shabbat table or to join our tefilla services, Torah classes and programs. Ultimately, each of you has played and will play an important role in creating a compassionate and righteous community that makes a difference in our lives, in the world around us and for which we can all be proud.
Jordana, my children and I wish you and your family a year of good health, happiness, prosperity and success for your family, our community and Am Yisrael.
Gmar chatimah tovah,
Rabbi Kalman Topp
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