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Our stress levels are factors in our physical and mental well being, in our relations with family and others and in our general outlook on life. It is too easy in our world of instant communication (even with people who we really don’t want to communicate but who have our cell phone number!) to become stressed out.
The rabbis in Avot taught us that knowing too much increases the pain of life. When I was a rabbi in Miami Beach decades ago, the local paper didn’t really report much news outside of the occasional alligator crossing the highway. However, when I moved to New York and began to read the New York Times I became aware of problems in Botswana and epidemics in Patagonia.
I found that now there were so many new things for me to be concerned about - things that in my blissful Miami Beach ignorance I was not aware of at all. And the wise old rabbis also taught us that increasing wealth and property automatically increases worry and stress. In fact, I would hazard to say that wealth is probably the greatest stress test of all.
In my many years of being a rabbi, scores of people have come to me for advice about their own personal financial matters. All of my protestations to the contrary notwithstanding, the belief in the omniscience of rabbis is deep seated within the Jewish people. I always chuckle inwardly about this phenomenon because, if I am so smart then why am I not wealthy?
I have always been somewhat amazed that I noticed the same or greater amounts of stress among those who had money and did not know what to do with it - invest it in stocks, real estate, bonds, banks, stash it under the mattress - as with those people who came to me to bemoan the fact that they really had little or no money at all.
Of course there is bad stress and there is better stress. But, at the end of the day, all stress is ultimately a form of bad stress in the sense that it preoccupies us, clouds our personal visions and affects us physically and spiritually. Now stress is synonymous with life. It is unavoidable like weather (which by the way also causes stress), traffic and taxes. So the question in life is how does one manage stress and control it instead of letting it control one.
I have found that vacations and trips, pleasant and diversionary as they may be, are nevertheless no panacea for stress. For some unknown reason we tend to pack all of our worries, problems and concerns in our luggage and take them along with us. The stress level on those trips may even be higher than what it is in our usual normal stressful lives.
I have known serene and seemingly stress free people in my life. They combined within themselves a deep faith coupled with a sense of positive stoicism. They always took a long view of life and events. They rarely became angry at people or circumstances and had a sense of patience and purpose in all of their dealings.
Interestingly enough, they did not consider themselves to be overly spiritual but rather emphasized rationalism and pragmatism in their behavior and dealings with others and the world. I have always wondered whether that serenity of personality can be taught and studied and acquired or whether it is an innate gift from God to those fortunate enough to have it.
The prophet equates serenity of spirit with righteousness and moral Torah behavior and says that the wicked rage at life like the turbulent waters of a storm tossed ocean. But I am not certain whether serenity of spirit causes righteousness and moral behavior or whether righteousness and moral behavior causes serenity of soul.
One thing though is certain. Evil people are always stressed since they think others stand in their way and are the cause of their angst and discomfort. Dissatisfaction with one’s self and with what one owns and has will always reflect itself in increased physical and mental stress. So how we pass our stress tests in life is really important to our well being.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
