?אִם אֵין אֲנִי לִי, מִי לִי? וּכְשֶׁאֲנִי לְעַצְמִי, מָה אֲנִי ?וְאִם לֹא עַכְשָׁיו, אֵימָתָי If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what I am?
If not now, when? Rabbi Hillel - Pirke Avot - Ethics of our Fathers: 1:14
Rabbi Hillel teaches us that we are responsible for our own concern so that we can fulfill the obligation to care for others.
If I am not for myself, who will be for me? Summer adventures and vacations are not what we all planned for this season, but still necessary in this moment in time. Especially in the throes of this summer, we need to refresh our soul & spirit. We all need to take the time to nurture our inner being and provide moments to center ourselves in our challenging world. By taking time for ourselves we bring greater strength for our ability to help others.
But if I am only for myself, what am I? Indeed we always need each other and our Jewish community. In the weeks ahead let us continue to reach out to one another and make someone else’s day just by calling and showing how much you care about and value that person. We all have a chance to bring reassurance, kindness and togetherness.
As always, I do hope to connect with you either online or by phone. If you just want to say hello, if you are having a tough time, if you feel disconnected from community or if everything is going fine, please contact me. I am always glad to speak with you.
If not now, when? Make the time to create the moments and nourish your soul. My Shabbat Message will be taking its own summer rest for the next few weeks.
Hear our prayers for the well-being of our family and friends. Hear our prayers for the safety of our neighbors and community. May God bless you and keep you. May you be blessed with a week of peace.
