Have you ever felt like you're so far from your spiritual path that returning seems impossible? In the past few weeks, I met with several locals who are reconnecting with their Judaism. However, over the past 50 years or so, they felt lost, disconnected and were taking detours.
I recently read a talk from the Rebbe describing the challenging times of the Mitteler Rebbe (the second Chabad Rebbe). During that time, Jewish children were being forcibly conscripted into the Russian army from a very young age. A devastating experience that seemed to tear Jewish souls away from their heritage.
While in such darkness during their captivity, they felt disconnected, unable to perform mitzvot and many forgot their Judaism.
You might wonder: What's the purpose of their soul's journey if they are not in touch with their essence, not engaged Jewishly with Torah and mitzvot?
No matter where one is spiritually, there's always hope. Even if you've strayed far from your spiritual roots, G-d orchestrates moments where you'll discover at least one single mitzvah you can perform with incredible enthusiasm. That one moment of genuine connection can be so precious and may be the reason for your entire soul's journey, making it all worthwhile.
It's not only about how many mitzvot one performs, but the passion and self-sacrifice behind them. Even if someone can only keep a few commandments, the spiritual value of those actions, done with complete dedication, can outweigh everything else.
Whatever your current situation, never give up! You can always get back on track and continue to grow. Start with one action; learning one more verse of Torah (weekly torah class?), performing one more mitzvah (Shabbat Candles? Mezuzah?) or starting the day with the Modeh Ani prayer. Each step builds momentum, each action bringing you closer to your true soul identity.
Have a good Shabbos,
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman
P.S. The previous Rebbe would say a person's true age isn't measured by their passport, but by the years they've genuinely engaged with spiritual growth. We might be forty or seventy on paper, but spiritually, we could still be learning and growing like a child.