Emor – Focus, and if you fall, get back up!

Focus, and if you fall, get back up!!

May 8/9, 2015   Iyar 19/20, 5775

Beginnings are not always so easy and present some difficulty, and with starting any new venture, we have to be prepared for some setbacks, unfortunately and fortunately!  At first, new methods are not as efficient as the old, or at least seem to be, as they’re not proven, and tried and true, or at least until practiced and put into place, then worked on over and over again, and they become a good habit and most of the kinks are then worked out!

Like the old saying goes, “Practice makes perfect”, or “try, try again!

I agree 100%! Religion is no different, as we have our ups and our downs, and we all have our emotional struggles!

The Passover Sedar is a great example; the Sedar has many beginnings as well as many endings!  It is made up of eating special foods, telling the story of the mass exodus, and that of praising G-D. Each section has many starts. We wash our hands, but we do not fully do so because we recite no blessing.  We partake of the karpas, and it can be seen as kind of a hors d’oeuvre, and do not continue our meal as of yet.  We break the matzah, but we do not eat, as of yet.  We hear the 4 questions, but do not answer them immediately.  We begin by sharing how we were slaves, and then interrupt it with another 4 inquiries of the four brothers; the wise, the wicked, the simple, and the son that does not even know how to ask.  We then begin to tell the story again, only this time around, we say, “In the beginning, we were Idol worshippers”.   Similarly, we begin praising G-d by reciting the 1st 2 paragraphs of the Hallel, and then we eat the meal, and then finish the hallel AFTER the meal!   Begin, interrupt, and begin again.

We can see there are many beginnings, as the Sedar shows us.  It is parallel to our relationship with G-D.  There are many facets and tangents: Our need for meaning, purpose, partnership, feeling of oneness, and many more.  However, there are some people that don’t realize that they can start over again and again, and yet again. We always have and need to reassess, recommit, & relearn; always keep an open mind and heart ready to learn and digest.  We don’t always have to agree, but listening with a sincere heart, digesting and a solid plan are obviously great tools!

We are truly privileged and blessed as we are living in a free society that we’re allowed to make many choices for our own self’s; one choice is we have the ability to reevaluate and reconnect with G-d.  There are low points (as we may perceive) and obviously some very high points!!  .  Sometimes when we’re down, we feel our relationship with G-d is almost not there, and that is just not true.  With struggles, we LEARN and build up and move forward!!!

It was a true struggle receiving the Torah, as we slid a bit backward, but we, as a group did not give up.! Hiccups happened and that was not the end of their relationship with G-d; it allowed a new beginning! Moses went back and brought a 2nd set of tablets, and this set endured.  The people did not give u (had a few deviations), and it’s okay to start, or I should say, “re-start” .

There is always a new beginning awaiting.  There is always a solution to a problem; we just need to search and resolve and then re-start and re-devote ourselves.

I sincerely hope that when we fall and scrape our knees, both literally and figuratively, we get back up, dust ourselves off, and re-evaluate, re-assess, re-condition, re-learn, and start again, as a new beginning and a lesson.   You might have left, or might have strayed a bit, but G-d is always present, and The Torah is here to help us!