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The Short Vort- -“Get a Look at who is Nothing!?” (8/24/10)
The Short Vort
Good Morning!
Today is Tuesday the 14th of Elul 5770 and August 24, 2010
Get a Look at who is Nothing!?
There are not that many “rabbi jokes” out there.
In fact, in comparison with doctors and lawyers, there are just a few and far between ‘rabbi jokes’.
However, here is one which has to do with the upcoming ‘high-holyday season’ and is appropriate for us.
The Story of the Rabbi, the Cantor, and the Shul President
It was Kol Nidrei night and the Shul was packed. Not a seat was to be had; it was an SRO night at the local synagogue.
The Rabbi, while looking out at the massive crowd; and upon seeing all of the men decked out in their kittels, noticed all of the Yahrtzeit lamps glowing from the back of the sanctuary.
The sight of the angelic looking men combined with the soft orange glow of the Yahrtzeit lamps took their toll on the Rabbi and he collapsed in a swoon on the Bima.
As the Rabbi was stretched out on the Bima, he screamed out in an emotion laden voice, “G-d, who am I to be chosen to lead this congregation to forgiveness today? I am a nothing!”
The Shul Cantor, not to be undone by the Rabbi, quickly collapsed on the Bima. As he was falling, he utilized his best falsetto voice as he intoned, “Oh great G-d in heaven, who am I to chosen to be the Cantor of this holy congregation? Oh, dear G-d, I am a nothing!”
At this point, the President of the Congregation, who was also prominently displayed on the Bima of the synagogue, stood up and promptly dropped down to the floor. As he was dropping he declared, “Oh, all powerful and rich G-d, who am I to be honored with being the president of this congregation? I am a nothing!”
At this point, the Cantor lifted his head off the floor, looked up at the Rabbi and said, “Hey Rabbi, get a look at who has the chutzpah to think he is also a nothing!”
(Now you can start to laugh; not too much, just a chuckle or two will suffice)
This story is very important to the process of Teshuva.
On one hand in order to achieve Teshuva, we have to realize that we are something,
Meaning, if we want to achieve any success in Teshuva, we cannot just say, “We are nothing”.
Meaning, if we constantly say, “We are nothing”, then we can never improve.
After all, if we truly believe that we are nothing, then a real ‘nothing’ can never really improve; after all a ‘nothing’ has nothing in them to improve.
On the other hand, if we really believe we are so ‘great’ that we can even claim ‘we are a nothing’, and that people can ask about us, “Get a look at who thinks they are nothing?” We also will never improve.
True Teshuva, requires a balanced and fair view of ourselves.
On one hand, if we truly believe we are nothing, then we will never improve.
A person, whose self-esteem is so low that they are convinced that they are helpless, is also hopeless; and a hopeless person will not change.
However, if we believe we are truly great, indeed, so great that we feel confident publicly proclaiming how ‘nothing’ (read: EVERYTHING) we really are, we also will never change.
After all, if I have reached my goal already, there is nothing else to strive to.
Equally problematic is when I feel the goal is unattainable because I am so low; as there is nothing there with which to work with.
True Teshuva requires the person to realize that there is room for improvement while simultaneously recognizing that improvement is indeed attainable and possible.
In short to change, improve and do Teshuva, I must realize I am ‘something’ and that ‘something’ can get better, while simultaneously avoiding the parallel abysmal pits of despair or haughtiness, as both can lead to stagnation or even worse.
To begin to change, I must believe I am a something who can become an even better something- while resisting the temptation to ‘cop-out’ by either blaming my distorted inflated view of myself, or by blaming my equally distorted deflated view of myself.
Now let us begin…remember the court case is two weeks from Thursday.