Monday, July 23, 2018

Shabbat Shalom, July 21

This past Shabbat came just as expected. This week provided us with lots of meaningful and interesting experiences awaiting to be analyzed and reflected upon. Shabbat is the time of week when we choose to focus on the mysteries of creation rather than creation itself. So often we let the trials, tribulations, and chores of the week rule our lives; however, it is Shabbat that allows us to realize why we endure all of this. Shabbat is the day that we can really see what motivates us: friendship, beauty in nature, family, pursuit of knowledge, self reflection, etc. There is an image beauty in shabbat that forces us to put down our devices and not focus on taking pictures. When we leave these desires behind we can focus on making memories themselves, rather than making the pictures the memories we remember. We ought to learn from this and remember that pictures are not a replacement for enjoying beautiful views; being present in the moment offers so much more than one million pictures. Providing us with ample opportunity to reflect on our thoughts, the staff organized and led many thought provoking activities for the fellows. We, as fellows, spent time admiring the beauty that G-d places around us, discussed what Shabbat meant, and reflected on our experience in Israel as a whole. Shabbat came to us as a gust of holy wind that carried away our impurities and left behind the main structures of ourselves, leaving us bare and ready to begin the next week.

Written by: Jason Straus 

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