Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 14 Tishri, 5785
Parsha Ve-Zo’T Ha-Berakhah – “This is the blessing”: (Deuteronomy 33:1 – 34:12)
Fourth portion (second time around): Deuteronomy 33:18 – 33:21

Good morning! Today is the last day before Sukkot. The full moon is shining bright tonight, and the fullness of our energy is being cast into the darkness. As we head into Sukkot, the energy from a week ago joins us. These were the questions we were reflecting on:

• Where do we see our abundance? What is the sea that brings it to us? What is the sand we are digging into – in order to find it?
• Why would our world expand? What are we living that we should receive MORE from the universe? Are we aware and conscious of the beliefs in a given moment that drive our actions and behaviors? Do we know why we do what we do?

As we head into the Harvest, let’s reflect on what we are cultivating in our life. What are the shadows we have navigated this past year?

One word that has been coming up recently for me is the word “Veneration.” We often associate this word with saints in the church. Mother Theresa, Ghandi, etc.

The word is interesting to me – it literally means “great respect; reverence.”

The question I have for the year ahead?

What would it take within us – to be venerated within? What would we need to feel great respect and reverence for OURSELVES?

This is not EGO – no. This is self. I can CONVINCE myself in my brain that I deserve respect and FEEL self-righteous. That is not what we are talking about.

With no audience With no one around us. As we sit alone. What would we need to feel great respect and reverence for our TRUE self. The one that we keep masked and hidden from others? The one that is the truest form of our inner being?

This is the journey ahead of us.

What are your thoughts?

From last week:

Good morning! Today we are three days from Yom Kippur. These are the moments of reflection that will spill out into our 5785. Where are we spending our energy?

For me the theme of being present is bubbling up to the surface. We can get very focused on the future – whether things will work out for us – in our family, in our career, in our friendships, in our romantic partnerships. We often see the future as something we need to scrutinize every decision we make in a moment.  One wrong decision destroys the possibility of the future we’ve locked onto.

What if? Each moment allows us the freedom to just be and decide what feels best for us in that moment? And instead of attaching that to a future, we just trust the future versions of ourselves to handle their moments when they arrive?

One question that has helped me (from my therapist) is “what decisions need to be made in this particular moment?”  We often think about “big” decisions – when in reality, those decisions don’t need to be made in the next 30 seconds. We may want to make them now, so that it’s not “hanging over” us, but then we are choosing the comfort of “knowing” with the process of “being” in a moment. Because most decisions we make? Aren’t about choosing where we are going. The decisions we make are more around closing the door on a direction we are not willing or wanting to go. Or? Remain in.

Just because we connect with someone, doesn’t mean we will be lifelong friends.  I can decide today that someone is going to be my “best friend” and I can label them as my “best friend.”  The truth though? I have not been a good predictor of who my best friends have been and will be. Because I have always been surprised when things get tough – who shows up for me? Who checks in with me? Those have been the people I feel most connected with. The ones who take the time to know the depths of my life story. The ones who are showing “for me” and not because of their guilt or obligation.

And? It inspires me to want to show up for others. To see them. To listen and hold space.

This is the hard work. This is the ease. And this is the theme going into today’s portion. Let’s dig in!

18And to Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your departure, and Issachar, in your tents.

19They will call peoples to the mountain; there, they will offer up righteous sacrifices. For they will be nourished by the abundance of the seas, and by the treasures hidden in the sand.”

Zebulun and Issachar are going to call people to them. They are nourished by abundance coming from the flow of the sea. The treasures dug out from the sand.

20And of Gad he said: “Blessed is He Who grants expanse to Gad; he dwells like a lion, tearing the arm [of his prey, together] with the head.

21He saw the first portion for himself, because there, the portion of the lawgiver is hidden. And he came at the head of the people; he did what is righteous for the Lord, and what is lawful with Israel.”

For Gad? He expands his territory. Hashem allows that to happen. Gad did what was righteous for the Lord, and maintained the boundaries with Israel.

So this is beautiful as we head into Yom Kippur.

• Where do we see our abundance? What is the sea that brings it to us? What is the sand we are digging into – in order to find it?
• Why would our world expand? What are we living that we should receive MORE from the universe? Are we aware and conscious of the beliefs in a given moment that drive our actions and behaviors? Do we know why we do what we do?

These are good questions for us to dig into.

What are your thoughts?