OCTOBER 12 • 2023 | 59
J
N

SPIRIT

A Powerful 
Partnership
D

o you ever feel like 
the odds are naturally 
stacked against you? 
I am blessed to work at the 
Daniel B. Sobel Friendship 
House, supporting 
individuals on their 
path to recovery from 
addiction and mental 
illness. One topic that 
often arises in our 
community discus-
sions is the influence 
of our DNA and family 
dynamics on our pre-
disposition to addic-
tion and other illness-
es. At times, we might 
feel that these factors 
have predestined us to 
a life of hardship and self- 
sabotage.
This week’s Torah portion 
recounts how God created the 
heavens, the Earth and every-
thing within them. When it 
comes to creating humanity, 
God proclaims (Genesis 1:26), 
“Let us make a human.
” Many 
of our commentaries have pon-
dered whom God is addressing 
when saying “let us ...
”
One particularly compelling 
and empowering interpretation 
suggests that God is speaking 
to each one of us; we are God’s 
partners in our own creation. 
While it is true that external 
factors like our DNA, family 
background and life experienc-
es may pose challenges, God 
reminds us that we are co- 
creators of our destiny. We have 
a say in defining who we are. 
When we embrace the notion 
that we are partners with God, 
we can overcome these obsta-
cles and shed the feelings of 
resignation and helplessness. 
We can continually reinvent 

ourselves, discovering inner 
strengths that enable us to rise 
above life’s challenges.
The great Chasidic Master, 
Reb Zusha of Anipoli, once said 
to his students, “I am not 
afraid of being asked why 
I was not Moses; after all, 
God already has a Moses. 
I am afraid, however, of 
being asked, ‘Zusha, why 
weren’t you Zusha?’“ God 
does not desire us to mimic 
someone else’s greatness; 
instead, God calls us to 
become the best versions 
of ourselves. God reassures 
us that He is our partner 
in this ongoing journey of 
self-improvement.
We embark on this 
transformative journey by 
taking practical steps, not just 
making vague promises to be 
better. Instead, we choose one 
specific aspect to work on and 
commit to it for a set period. 
By setting a specific time frame 
for our goals, such as dedicating 
ourselves to improving a 
character trait for a month, 
we make the path to self-
improvement more manageable 
and achievable.
God wants us to thrive and 
flourish, like a loving parent 
wants their child to succeed. He 
stands with us at every juncture 
of our journey, offering His 
partnership and guidance.
As we embrace this part-
nership with the Divine, may 
each of us find the strength to 
become the best version of our-
selves. Wishing us all a joyous 
and meaningful Shabbat. 

Rabbi Benny Greenwald is the director 

of the Daniel B Sobel Friendship 

House. 

TORAH PORTION

Rabbi Benny 
 
Greenwald

Parshat 

Bereshit: 

Genesis 1:1-

6:8; I Samuel 

20:18-42.

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