By Rabbi Mark Borovitz
I was involved in an accident this past Wednesday. A car turned left at an intersection when I had the green light. Thank God no one was hurt. We were all shaken up, the Police were called and the cars were towed away. What struck me was: NO ONE STOPPED! There were a lot of cars honking because the intersection was partially blocked. It took a few minutes for any of us in either car to even open our doors. Yet, all that mattered to anyone else was getting wherever they had to go. I find this amazing!
Yet, maybe it isn’t so amazing. There was low turnout in the elections this past Tuesday. There is great apathy regarding what happens in the world (except, of course, with Israel) and in a society that is so connected by technology, the personal care and concern for other people seems to have left the scene. I am dismayed by this greatly.
All Spiritual Traditions speak to caring for our fellow human beings. Yet, it seems as if we are still stuck in our rut of “what do I get from it,” “why should I bother,” etc. I don’t understand. I just don’t get it. Many people are obsessed with blaming “them/those people.” Many people are interested in “getting theirs” and the lie of “if the rich get richer, the poor will benefit,” even in the face of seeing that this way doesn’t work.
Our Spiritual Traditions were born from the same experiences that we are having now. The Prophets railed against this type of behavior. There are many “religious people” who live the tenets of the above paragraph! They are not just the leaders, however. The Psalms speak to the despair of people who are taken advantage through hatred and egocentric behaviors. Yet, thousands of years later, we are not changing our ways. I hear many people ask: “Where’s God?” I am asking God’s question: Ayecha, Where are You???
Being Addicted to Redemption means I have to look at myself and so much more. It means I/we have to see where we can make a difference in the lives of other human beings. We have to care for the widow, orphan, stranger and poor in our communities, in our world and in ourselves. We have to stop blaming and start helping. We have to have the courage to Manifest Godliness in our daily living. We have to “be Holy because God is Holy.”
I am asking you to stop! Stop being so self-centered. Stop being a person who says “Why bother, I am only one vote, one voice, not capable.” Start being a person who redeems themselves through seeing your power. Start being a person who redeems others through care and concern. Start being a person who sees the God-Image in everyone.
