Get Ahead

Get Ahead

 

Here is a blast from the past, a nineteenth century joke:

“What’s the matter?”

“Never mind.”

“What is mind?”

“No matter.”

 

The joke underscores how vital is our mind, our processing of information and ultimately decision making.  If the mind is of “no matter” just travel with the pack.  Then if others fall off a cliff like lemmings, you will go with them.  This past month we were taught by example how to avoid the mind that does not matter while observing our Jewish traditions.

 

For two days we reveled in Rosh Hashanah, praying, feasting and singing.  We rejoiced at life granted for another year.  Then ten days later we fasted, stretching out our hearts to the beneficent God who wants us to become finer, more humane and cognizant of the mitzvot while acknowledging our flaws and sins in a raw and powerful service of significant length.   Then a few days later Sukkot comes when we meander out of our homes, gathering in small shelters, called Sukkot, walking in nature, observing life unadorned.  During this Festival of Sukkot we open up the book of Ecclesiastes and read about life’s paradoxes.  Pick up the small book and you will find such inconsistencies as “eat your bread in gladness” and “there is great evil under the sun.”  And then there is the familiar, “there is a season for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot….”

 

If you were attentive, the three holidays we have observed are so markedly different from one another that they set the mind careening in several different directions.  That is intentional and instructive.

 

We attended many schools in our lives.  In each grade or academic level there were many disparate things we needed to learn, often in conflict with one another!  “Math is vital for you livelihood,” you were told.  In the next class, “Without a strong basis in English you will go nowhere.”  So which is the truth?  They are all truth for life itself is a paradox.  It is not linear.  There is no “one size fits all” or straight line that begins at one point and goes to another pre-appointed point.

 

Perhaps Judaism during this month can teach us and our nation a great lesson.  No one thing or idea is right all the time.  No person is correct all the time.  Theorems are just that, theorems.  Our faith calls upon us to carefully examine and listen to all ideas with dignity and respect. After we have heard all sides we can determine the best path for us to take.  No problem is identical to one we have encountered before (even while Ecclesiastes declares, “there is nothing new under the sun.”  Yet another paradox!).

 

Our critical thinking, our mind, is our best resource.  That is why as Jews we continually strive for excellence and are disproportionate number of Noel Prize winners (about 20%).  That is not because Jews are smarter.  It is because we insist on a broad spectrum of learning.  No philosophy, science or art contains all the answers to life’s conundrums.  The answer lies in the combination of them.  Torah begs that we open our heads to learn from everyone, everything and every experience.

Reb Zalman Pizner was quite wealthy and yet he dressed as a peasant, like a simply farmer while wearing a handmade expensive hat.

A friend asked Zalman why he chose to dress that way when he could afford finer clothes.  

He answered; to most people the body is the most important element.  They feel they gain respect by others when they look at what they are wearing while leaving their head uncovered.  I, however, believe that the head is the most important part of the body so while my clothes are ordinary I will always wear and elegant hat.”

Read.  Listen. Consider.  Think.  Then investigate.