The Rebbe's Answer to an Age of Uncertainty
Are you unsettled inside? Anxiety, discontent, discomfort?
Who isn't?
Today's therapeutic brain science tells us that in early childhood our sense of self is formed. If our parents were connected to us, then we know we are and our worthiness. Even if our parents did it all right (and we know they only did their best) other factors could have affected how we show up in the world. Things like the environment, our friends, our teachers and other people and circumstances that may have shaped our sense of self.
But where does true worthiness come from? If my parents didn't do a good job of connection or if I was affected by the other aforementioned things, is there hope for me?
(To be fair, all of us have this struggle at some level. Not only because all parents are human and we've all been affected by other factors, but because we are human beings. We live in a perpetual tension between body and soul. The soul doesn't want to be in the body and so we struggle with identity; am I a body who is interested in self, or am I a soul who only wants to live higher.)
The answer is of course, YES! We need to recognize that our true worthiness comes from a place that transcends all of life's circumstances. It comes from Hashem via the Neshama - the Soul.
In other eras, when we were more cloistered and Jewish practice and life was more all absorbing it may have been easier to navigate this. But in our modern world, filled with blessed abundance, our identity rooted in the soul struggles greatly.
Enter the Rebbe.
This Shabbos blesses the anniversary of passing, 3 Tammuz of the Rebbe.
The Rebbe, a Rebbe, is in touch with his soul and by extension the true identity of everything in this universe. The Rebbe in particular dedicated his life to bringing this consciousness into the Jewish People.
Today more than ever, when our Jewish identity is being challenged, the Rebbe's message is more relevant than ever.
As we struggle in our times for Jewish identity and in honor of the Rebbe and this special day on the calendar, I encourage you to take a few moments and study one of the Rebbe's teachings. www.therebbe.org. Read it, reflect on it and see how any of his teachings can serve to strengthen your own Jewish Identity to become more connected with your own soul and the soul of all of existence.
Then, please check out the page for 3 Tammuz and consider practicing some of the observances. It is a holy day with unique powers.
https://www.chabad.org/therebbe/article_cdo/aid/6497204/jewish/3-Tammuz-Customs-and-Resources.htm
With blessings to be connected to our soul, to the Rebbe and to our purpose on this earth.
Good Shabbos!
Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman
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