Dear all,
There is a Jewish story about a guy named Zusia. Zusia was a good guy, a real mench. His entire life, he aspired to be as giving as Abraham, as visionary as Moses, and as wise as Solomon.
One day, Zusia dreamed that he met God. God said, “I have one question for you, Zusia.”
Zusia said, “I know what it is. You want to know why I could not be more like Abraham.”
“No,” God responded. That's not it.
Zusia continued, “Then You must want to know why I was not more like Moses?”
“No,” God answered again.
Zusia finally said, “Then You must be wondering: why I was not more like Solomon?”
“No,” God said…. “I want to know only this: Why were you not more like Zusia?”
Friends, so often we spend our days aspiring to be like others.
And there are times when someone might even say to us, “You have big shoes to fill.”
But here's the key to life: The only shoes you have to fill are your own. Now, this does not mean we shouldn't try to grow and make ourselves better. But it does mean we shouldn't pretend to be someone we are not. Just be yourself.
Today – as we enter the secular new year, we keep ourselves in check once again. This is our moment in time to become the best person we can be. So go out, fill your shoes, and walk into tomorrow!
With love and Shalom,
Rabbi Zach Shapiro
