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Re'eh: MOST FOLKS ARE ABOUT AS HAP Y

8/19/2011

 
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I am new to the South and some of its habits are peculiar to me. Among them, the practice of churches putting up inspiring phrases on big outdoor letter boards. "Jesus wants you back." "Enter now for eternal reward." They are as common here as "Columbus Day Sale" signs in October.

In small-town New England, which was my home up until six weeks ago, signs like this are more often seen in front of local fire departments with messages like: "Spagetti Dinner Fiday Nite, $6 all u can eat." (Yes, the misspellings and abbreviations are all part of the charm).

A few things surprised me about the letter board sign I saw on the way to the synagogue a few days ago, which said, "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." The first thing that surprised me is that it is not in front of a church. It's in front of the State Farm  insurance agency in Palm City, Florida (like a good neighbor). The second thing is that the message is so immediately relevant to this week's Torah portion (Re'eh), and to the central purpose of this blog. 

I suppose that truth is where you find it, even if it's on a letter board sign in a Florida beach town.

This week's Torah portion begins with Moses setting out the two big options before the Israelites: "See, this day I set before you blessing and curse—blessing, if you will listen to the mitzvot of Adonai your God that I am enjoining upon you today; and curse, if you do not listen..." (Deuteronomy 11:26-28).  That's the simple lesson. The choice is yours to either live a life that is in harmony with what is right and good, or to choose to live a life that disrupts the order. One way leads to happiness and one way leads to suffering.

Moses (and the local State Farm agent, for that matter) does not mean that God will magically bring luxury and comforts to those who obey the commandments and a lump of coal to those who don't. The teaching is more basic than that. We choose our happiness in the ways we live our lives. When we live a meaningful life that is connected to other people, when we make the happiness of others a priority in our lives, we experience our own happiness. 

It is a message that is all around us in the choices we make every day. You are the master of your own happiness. The signs are everywhere.
Stephanie Rozansky
8/19/2011 12:56:40 pm

I look forward to these "signs" in my life as I count my blessings! Look at all God has given us to be "happy" about. Rain to ease the drought, sun to brighten my life, friends to give me hope and to comfort, family to give me love and to be loved.

Gary yorkq
8/20/2011 03:31:48 am

I will never look at those sizes same way again thank you rabbi

Ava Pennington link
8/23/2011 03:46:01 pm

One might even say that happiness is less of a destination and more of a journey!

Judy Young
8/28/2011 02:15:33 am

"...all of the words of the siddur are just variations on a theme. Nearly the entire prayerbook can be summed up in a few phrases: "There is a Creator who wants to be known and who wants to transform your life. Let the Creator in, and you will find yourself within the Creator. Once you do that, the path of joy and fulfillment will be open to you."
I THOUGHT BACK ON THIS WRITING AFTER OUR CHAVURAH DISCUSSION (CJC, COLUMBIA, MD) TODAY IN WHICH WE CAME UP WITH ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION: IF YOU HAD TO SUM UP JEWISH PRACTICE/BELIEF IN A 1 MINUTE ELEVATOR SPEECH, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?


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