Nov. 25, 2015
It's time for giving thanks.
The first intermediate weekday blessing of the Tefilah (Amidah) is Atah honen l'adam da'at ... "You give humans understanding." God gave us the ability to discern. In Genesis we find the ability to distinguish between good and evil. Myriad places in Jewish law require distinctions: between light and darkness, between holy and profane, between kosher and non-kosher, between friends and non-friends.
I give thanks this Thanksgiving for the ability to discern. Many decisions in life require discernment between what we consider good and evil. We require clear standards and the ability to stand up for our values. That requires both courage and open mindedness, because sometimes we may be wrong. Sometimes it requires the courage to do what we consider right when the rest of the world judges it differently, and hopefully eventually we will be found to be correct. Sometimes it requires the ability to discern that we, I, have made an error, and to correct that error despite having been as clear as possible at the time that I was correct in my, our, assessment.
To discern is perhaps the greatest ability given to us, and the most difficult. It requires clear distinctions, and the determination to decide when clarity is not absolute but movement is necessary regardless.
This year I thank God that among all the animals, we have been challenged to discern and choose a path for ourselves, and ultimately to affect the world with our choices. It's an awesome responsibility, and hopefully one made with God in mind at every turn, because then the discernment is l'shem shamayim, for the sake of heaven. Ken y'hi ratzon.
The first intermediate weekday blessing of the Tefilah (Amidah) is Atah honen l'adam da'at ... "You give humans understanding." God gave us the ability to discern. In Genesis we find the ability to distinguish between good and evil. Myriad places in Jewish law require distinctions: between light and darkness, between holy and profane, between kosher and non-kosher, between friends and non-friends.
I give thanks this Thanksgiving for the ability to discern. Many decisions in life require discernment between what we consider good and evil. We require clear standards and the ability to stand up for our values. That requires both courage and open mindedness, because sometimes we may be wrong. Sometimes it requires the courage to do what we consider right when the rest of the world judges it differently, and hopefully eventually we will be found to be correct. Sometimes it requires the ability to discern that we, I, have made an error, and to correct that error despite having been as clear as possible at the time that I was correct in my, our, assessment.
To discern is perhaps the greatest ability given to us, and the most difficult. It requires clear distinctions, and the determination to decide when clarity is not absolute but movement is necessary regardless.
This year I thank God that among all the animals, we have been challenged to discern and choose a path for ourselves, and ultimately to affect the world with our choices. It's an awesome responsibility, and hopefully one made with God in mind at every turn, because then the discernment is l'shem shamayim, for the sake of heaven. Ken y'hi ratzon.
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