Your Obligation as a Jew

Judaism has a tradition, going back thousands of years, of integrating spirituality into our everyday lives. The purpose of this is to uplift mankind by abiding by ethical and moral values. By doing this, we also maintain a connection with a people, our people.  As Jews we have a covenant with G-d, and being the Chosen Ones does not come without obligation. In fact the obligation of being a Jew, of keeping our “part of the deal” is cemented in the Mitzvot of our obligation to mankind.  

That being said, being Jewish is a gift, it is not a burden. What greater joy is there than giving to others?  There are many ways to give to others, and at the same time make such a difference to both the lives of others and to ourselves.

The gift of friendship is one to be treasured and reciprocated. To hold our hand out to somebody who needs a hand to hold onto, can never be described in words. To wipe a tear from an aging eye, or to see a smile dawning on a lonely face, are gifts more precious than money can buy. To place a piece of bread in a hungry hand, or to clothe a shivering body, need no words and no thank you. To look a person in the eye and make them feel like they make a difference, that they are worth our time, and that we care, can only come from the Soul. A Jewish Soul is one of the greatest gifts of all – “A Neshomah.”

To be Jewish is to cherish memories, to celebrate life, both in its joy and its suffering. It is to identify with the plight of Jews everywhere, and to be sensitive to all human suffering. The mission of the Jewish people has never been to make the world more Jewish, just more human……

I would like you to take a few a minutes to think about what it means to you to be a Jew. Then determine what your personal obligations are to mankind and the world you live in as a Jew, an ethical and moral human being.

“In all these endeavors, I have been inspired by the teachings of the Torah and The Talmud that each of us has an obligation to work to make peoples’ lives better.” – Eli Wiesel

L’hitra’ot

Justine