Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 13 Elul, 5783

As we approach the light of the last full moon of 5783 this evening, this is a time for us to truly shift. The work is now done.  We’ve learned what we’ve needed to learn.  It’s now time to put things into perspective.  To stop thinking. And just “be.”  Moses and the Elders bring the people together – Moses is done talking.  And they now reach out to the people and they LEAD.  They go. They are.

And the message is simple.

• Stay connected.  With Hashem.
• Set up reminders before you go in – stones, plastered in lime with the Torah written on it.  The Torah provides direction IN
• Set up reminders once you are in – with the Torah – but in addition, set an altar to Hashem up as well.  Keep grounded. Keep reminding yourself.

We have a boundary.  We are free.  There is an outside marker – for when we are wandering away from the promised land – the land of spiritual freedom and liberation – it is the Torah.  And there is an inside marker – to warn us BEFORE we exit – the Torah AND an altar.

For the next two weeks, lets leave a marker here. The Torah.  And as we enter into 5784, we will set the marker up once again, but this time, we will include an altar.  What is an altar? In Hebrew? It is a place of sacrifice.

There is no freedom without sacrifice.  Many struggle with this concept.  Sacrifice and Freedom “feel” like they should be opposite one another.  If I am free, I no longer need to sacrifice. But that is not true.  We have freedom AND sacrifice.  Why?

Because we saw what freedom did to the Israelites when they left Egypt. Moses pleaded with us to remember.  Freedom isn’t free.  It comes with a cost.  When we enter, we can’t just “do whatever we want.”  We are compelled. To stay connected.  That means sacrifice.

Sometimes we want to share something with a person we care about – but we recognize they may not be ready. I have a choice. Sacrifice the release of my emotional energy speaking truth into that person’s life? Or allow my energy to come out and give them something they may not be ready for?  I am free to do either. But love dictates centering others. And. Centering ourselves.

Instead of releasing the emotional energy on someone else? We have the ability to look within – what can I do to release that energy for me. The feeling of helplessness that I can easily resolve by telling someone what I think may help them – and if they choose to ignore it – “that’s on them.”  Versus recognizing they are just trying to survive and my advice is going to feel like throwing them a rock while they are drowning.

Freedom isn’t free.

Stay connected.

Be reminded.

This is the lesson. Let’s intend to live this for the next two weeks as the light of the moon begins to wane on 5783, and we move towards a NEW spiritual year – filled with apples and honey – sweetness and joy!

What are your thoughts?

Here is my commentary from a year ago:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 18 Elul, 5782

So, Moses has finished his last lecture. He, along with the Elders come to the people to start giving directions on crossing the Jordan into the promised land.

They start with; keep all of the commandments when you enter. In order words, keep your connection with Hashem.

They continue with; here’s what is going to happen; before you cross the Jordan and enter the promise land, set up huge stones for yourself, and plaster them with lime. Write on them the words of the Torah; because (so that) you can come into the land.

The Torah is the grounding and compass for liberation and freedom. It is an anchor for us. Why do we need this anchor? Because; many would hear freedom, experience freedom and “go nuts” with their freedom. There’d be chaos. It would probably look a lot like what happened when we left Egypt – we THOUGHT we were free and liberated, but our journey between Passover and Rosh Hashanah (in my opinion) has taught us that true liberation and freedom is one of the spirit. It is beyond physical.

Moses and the elders talked about once they entered the land (after Crossing the Jordan) they should do the same. Set up stones, but instead of just writing the Torah on them, you should set it up as an altar to Hashem as well.

My thought is these are reminders when we come in and out of our spiritual liberation and freedom, that the Torah should always be pointing us back to where we belong.

The key here (and Moses and the elders close todays portion with this) – is that we should always listen to Hashem.

The Torah, the commands, they all serve the purpose of connection.

What are your thoughts?