Synergy~A Mantra You Can Live By

Rabbi Mordechai Dixler, Program Director, Project Genesis - Torah.org writes,

Last night I got one of "those" shopping carts. Finding it blocking the supermarket door, I figured this cart was somehow meant for me. As I prepared to push it down the aisle, though, my misfortune became clear: the wheels forcefully veered to the right. My shopping experience would now be marred by the constant need to realign my shopping cart!

Man would naturally take advantage of every opportunity to grow in his relationship with the Creator, if it were not for a force that constantly pushes him off his desired path. The human soul has every desire to reunite with its source, the Al-mighty Himself. While the nature of our spirit is to mature and reach upward, our physical nature stunts the growth and pulls us in undesired directions.

These challenging circumstances are a product of the Creator Himself, designed to make our relationship with Him a result of meaningful victories over opposition. Something that comes easily is worth very little. Fortunately, G-d also provided us with the means to curb this physical force and set the wheels of our soul back on course. "I created the inclination towards evil, and I created the Torah as it's antidote." (Talmud Kiddushin 30b)

The Torah reading of Bechukosai begins "Im Bechukosai Teileichu - If you go with my statutes." Rashi's commentary understands this as an imperative to toil in Torah study. The root word of "BeCHUKosai", Rav Tzadok HaKohen ztl explains, is "Chok" which refers to something engraved. Devoting time and energy into a project has a symbiotic effect  -- the project leaves an impression on those laboring over it. Says Rav Tzadok, intense Torah study, wrapping ones mind around the infinitely profound wisdom of G-d Himself, engraves the soul. The greater the dose of intense Torah study, the deeper impression it makes on the spiritual. As a result, the wheels of the soul are gradually realigned, and Man is pulled back on course in his relationship with the Al-mighty. This is what is meant by "Teileichu - you will go." As we said, the soul naturally goes forward in its growth, its progression towards its Heavenly Source. The toil over the Torah's wisdom gets engraved on ones heart and sets the soul back on that course."~

This teaching spoke to my heart. The world is such a busy place beloved, it is always vying for my attention. When I stop for just a moment and listen to what my Father in Heaven has to say I am always amazed at how He knows exactly what I need to hear to set me back on course.  These days of the Omer have been enlightening, challenging, revealing and encouraging. We engage ourselves in the mitzvot of each holiday 30 days before its arrival in order to understand and access all that our Father has to offer us. But with the giving of the Torah we have 49 + 1 days. We need that extra time. Our Father loves us beloved and wants to give us every opportunity to benefit from what He has to teach us. If we forget to count the Omer in the evening we can do so the next day, but without the blessing. This year I realized that when I do forget and count the next day it seems empty somehow, I have missed that divine appointment with my Father to bless Him and in a way thank him for all that He has shown me that day.

Enjoy the amazing teaching by Rabbi Akiva Tatz on Shavuot
Shabbat Shalom~Elishava
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