All week long, I have been receiving messages about the impending Shabbat of Hate, that will be directed at Jews this Shabbat from White Supremacist groups. From concerned friends and officials to messages from all of the big Jewish organizational players, the constant flow of emails have alarmed and concerned many.
Yet the truth is, as Stephen Covey said "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing".
Our job despite all the tremendous distractions including the above mentioned threats, is to continue to focus on accomplishing positive and constructive goals. This is true when we are focusing on helping the world and society achieve its tremendous potential for a more united and caring humanity, and it is true when we are collaborating on strengthening and enabling a strong and robust Jewish future for our youth, children and communities, and it is true when we are helping our fellow, our children and ourselves, focus on being a better person today than we were the day before.
Time is precious and the work ahead of us is tremendous. Yet every moment of focused constructive and productive interactions, Mitzvot, study and application of the Torah and it's teachings, or lending a kind hand to our fellow, are ultimately the best antidotes to the distorted messages of hate and chaos.
This week's Torah portion contains the mandate to build a Temple, a home for G-d. Metaphorically and literally, this is not just about a building in the desert or in Jerusalem, it is about making our own hearts, our own homes and our own communities, be a reflection of this important value and focus.
When our hearts, homes and communities, are full of kindness, empathy, meaning, humility, knowledge and purpose, we are then succeeding in our goal at transforming our hearts, our homes and our communities, and in the process the world around us, into a place that G-d can call home.
Let's be vigilant and responsible (as we are very mindful of), but also focused on the bigger and larger picture and purpose.
Let us also remember we are now in the month of Adar, the happiest month on the Jewish Calendar. This is a month when we are to actively seek to increase in our joy and responsibility.
L'Chaim and a joyful Shabbat Shalom to everyone!
Yisroel
P.S Please join us tomorrow for a part or all of the services and Kiddush and let's work together on focusing on the main thing.