Distancers or Connectors

Sep 1st, 2010 by Rabbi Simcha Weinberg in Holidays, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

Eve Shpritser: Connections

The preacher Harry Williams believed:

“We all have experience of two types of feeling. There is the feeling which unites us to our world and makes us rejoice in it, an experience of love, of acceptance, of communion. And there is the other kind of feeling which separates us from our world and makes us hate it, an experience of fear, of exile, of discord.

The first of these feelings belongs more truly to us than the second. We are profoundly satisfied by love and communion. We are exasperated by exile and hatred…

The difference between these two types of feeling is the difference between good and evil and evil is secondary, existing not in its own right but as thwarted goodness. ”

I observed people while waiting to be called for my flight. Some people, the ones my wife calls, “All American,” as praise, are warm and social. They are comfortable initiating conversation, sharing life information, and casually laughing and teasing. They are “Connectors,” who lived the “United,” in the U.S.

Then there are the others who, not because they are shy or withdrawn, keep others at a distance. They prefer separation to connection.

When we articulate the Rosh Hashanah version of the world, we speak of unity and connection. We believe tat unity is the natural state.

It’s worthwhile to include some reflection on whether we are primarily connectors or distancers in our Teshuva process. We must first understand and desire to be connectors before we can say, “And they will form on tightly bound group to do Your will with a full heart.” If we are distancers we will never be able to join with a full heart. Saying these words will only distance us from ourselves.

Author Info:
Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.

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1 Comment

  • moshe stepansky

    I’m reminded of R’ Leibele Eiger’s Torah in the 1st piece on P’ VaYakhel.
    But first – a R’Shlomo preface:
    What is it about Moshe gathering everybody together?
    What transpired as the aftermath of the Golden Calf was that after the 3,000 ringleaders were knocked off, nobody would eat by anybody else. “Well, I know the 3,000 honchos were knocked off, but who knows what involvement my neighbor had!?He can’t be kosher enough for me!”.
    So, Moshe Rabbeinu gathers everyone together and tells them to knock it off -whoever was involved ‘got taken care of’-everybody else is fine -you can all each by each other!!.

    R’Leibele focuses on the 2 mitzvot in P’VaYakhel -Shabbat and Mishkan===> these are the 2 mitzvot that provide a unifying factor for Clal Yisrael.He puts it so beautifully vis-a-vis Shabbat -Everyone in Israel has a piece in Shabbat, irrespective of whether someone’s observance isn’t quite there.

    Although on the surface people may seem to be connectors or distancers, what do we really know about what’s going on with someone? If we, label someone as a distancer, aren’t we also becoming distancers?
    Perhaps we should understand Shammai’s dictum “Hevei m’kabeil col Ha’Odom b’seiver panim yafot”welcome each person glowingly in a different fashion ===>Accept the ENTIRE person as having a beautiful inside.

    We look so beautiful, as usual,both inside and outside, especially our companions.

    May we merit a beautiful year both inside and outside.

 

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