We all have preconceived notions about others and ourselves. Then, something may happen that jolts us into changing our perspective. Naturally, we give pushback. We do not want to change and prefer not to give up what we are used to. We have a hard time redefining our identity to this new view, even when we know it is right.
There is a marketing idea that is to get the person to identify themselves with your product as opposed to seeing it as something that they added onto themselves. E.g., I am “a cross-fit” person, as opposed to someone who does cross-fit exercises.
In the Torah portion this week, Avraham’s nephew Lot has a hard time leaving Sodom; the people and culture he was used to living with. He identified with the people of Sodom, struggled with leaving it all behind and learning a new way of life.
On October 7th, the Jewish people suffered a big shock and were jolted into a new reality. We are often not as united as we should be. Instead of identifying as a Jew, we subdivide ourselves saying things like “I am a ‘Reform Jew’” or “I attend Chabad”. We focus on where we are not connected. After the pogrom in Israel, the Jewish nation became one. Our differences do not separate us. We don’t just “do Judaism”, we are Jews! Proud and united. We are one.
Today, we must try to leave the past behind and be prouder of being Jewish. We must connect with our one big, happy, Jewish family. Not just by showing it on social media but also living our Jewish identity every day.
Don’t mourn the old me who “does Judaism”, however, embrace the new me who is a proud Jew!
As the popular CGI song goes: “I’m a Jew and I’m proud and I’ll sing it out loud ‘cuz forever that’s what I’ll be. I’m a Jew and I’m proud and that’s without a doubt, ‘cuz Hashem is always watching over me”.
Have a good Shabbos,
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman