OUTREACH

EMOR

This weeks Torah reading opens with a most fundamental significant directive to the Jewish people. The redundancy of the verb EMOR V’AMARTAH which means “say/speak“ teaches us that it is not adequate to just share this information with the adults but  the adults are put on notice to be  responsible and vigilant that the youngest children/infants also are regulated by these rules.
Though infants have very little in common with adults having no intellectual cognizance, or understanding of what is going on, or any level of significant comprehension of any of the rules  of purity or holiness that are herewith being commanded, nonetheless there is a vital necessity for these malleable youngsters to be guarded, directed and controlled by caring,  loving, knowledgeable, responsible adults.
The commonality shared by the brightest most developed adult and a newborn baby is the essence of life itself. The brain may not yet be fully developed, nor the heart, nor the emotion, nor the other faculties of the human construct, but life itself is in its most vital state.
Every persons  life-force essence, vivifies every single part of the body with the same Élan Vitale energy whether the body of a newborn or of a giant.

There is an essence that originates in the genesis of the human that continues throughout the entire life. That essence when nurtured properly directs itself to developing the proper intellectual capacity, emotional capacity and practical contribution to the universe.
That core life force has a vital Jewish component referred to as the “G-dly soul” which requires a particular nurturing with the most carefully chosen nutrients to maximize its  maximal development and manifestation in life and its experiences. That nutritional digest for the development of a holy meaningful life is the Torah and it’s Mitzvot.

Living during a social milieu where the youngest infants and yet immature children are given the rights to make irreversible  decisions contrary to accepted historically proven wisdom, defying age old perspectives, giving very little credibility, respect or authority to generational life experience and  denying Divine authority, our world also becomes subjected to consequences resulting from a child’s perspective of instant gratification, nonconformity, lack of discipline or limits and a general attitude of entitlement.
However, it is never too late. Even if we have for whatever reasons of malfeasance or nonfeasance not fulfilled our critical role as adults we can always rectify and reach even higher levels than we ever imagined. On Sunday we celebrate “Pesach Sheini-the second Passover”. This day is  dedicated by the Torah for any member of the Jewish community who for a legitimate  reason was not able to experience the absolute emancipation from enslavement on the first Passover to have a second chance.
It is never too late.
When we take that second chance and correct our alignments we can reach the most sublime levels possible with love, happiness and peace of mind and soul.

Let’s assume our correct and Divinely ordained responsibility of adults in our generation
 

Have a great Shabbos and good week
 

Sholom D. Lipskar

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