Growth - A Human Trait
"Journeys" – that is title of this week’s Torah Portion.
The distinguishing feature of the human being is his inner drive to journey and grow and his innate sense that propels him to transcend and change his current state of being. He has been endowed with a Godly gift – the ability to journey beyond his own existence and the sense that there is more to reality than just the “here and now of me and you”.
Yes, other creatures can grow, mature, and even adapt to their surroundings, but their development - as extraordinary as it might be - remains self-oriented nonetheless. When was the last time a rabbit marveled the wonders of creation, questioned the origin of the universe, or worried about global climate changes? It simply is not within the nature of other creatures to think beyond themselves.
Only the human being is capable of changing his perspective on life; only mortal man can progress to a higher, more Divinely conscious level of living; only we can come to sense what G‑d deems right and wrong.
If this selfless and spiritual growth is the unique property of human existence, it follows that in order for us to remain human and avoid becoming fossilized as stagnant creatures, this process must go on continuously. We must always strive to expand our spiritual horizons and seek higher and more selfless levels of living.
So in keeping with the title of this week’s Torah Portion – “let’s travel”! Let us journey forward in our mission by making the changes we know to be necessary to actualize and fulfill that mission.
There is no time like the present. This Shabbat is the best time to start!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Raleigh Resnick