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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