When you were growing up, did you ever hear someone say that Rosh HaShanah celebrates the birthday of the world? Well, if you look a little further than that childhood statement, you will note that this Holy Day commemorates the sixth day of creation, the day on which human beings were created according to the story in Bereishit.
In that account, G-d said, “Let us create man.” Why was the term “us” used? The Baal Shem Tov gave the following explanation: Angels do not grow at all and animals grow but they do so only involuntarily. So both angels and animals were created in a state of completion. Human beings on the other hand, are neither totally spiritual like angels nor physical like animals. Human beings come into the world completely physical but through their own efforts develop spiritually. So G-d was speaking to “man” and seeking his participation in his own creation.
Rabbi Abraham Twerski explains the use of the word “us” further: “ It is as if G-d said I can create you completely spiritual but then you will be just another angel. I will create you physical, but with the potential to become spiritual by your own effort.” That is why G-d said, “Let us make man. I will give you potential, and you must develop it.”
There are many ways that we are inclined to develop in life. We all know that intellectual development is highly valued especially in our secular society. We pride ourselves on our scientific achievements and technological advancements. Those of us who are involved in educating youth understand that information is developing exponentially and so it is important to teach individuals how to advance their own learning so they can discover the changes as new information becomes available about our physical world. Physical development is also highly valued. Just look at our health clubs and gyms. Now they are not only filled with young bodies that can wear spandex, but with aging bodies that are struggling to maintain a hold on health and vigor. What is not always valued, however, is spiritual development.
Many individuals either feel they do not have time to be concerned about spiritual development as part of their existence…they must spend long hours just trying to maintain their jobs, provide for their families, and make it through a labyrinth of daily activities that allow them to exist comfortably in their homes. Organized religion doesn’t speak to them in a world that so readily touts the importance of the individual. They tend not to ask the big questions like, “what is our purpose in life? Or “why is there a world,” because they know science cannot answer these questions and they want quick answers. These questions require us to have a special way of looking at the world, through the eyes of faith.
The development of our neshama, soul, requires us to devote time figuring out what IS our purpose in life? Are we here merely to work, gather wealth, and die? Or are we here so we can make connections with one another that will change our life and those with whom we are in contact for the better? Do our souls grow more when we are isolated or when we accept our interdependence and help one another?
Our spiritual sides will grow when we learn to approach others not as objects but as subjects. Martin Buber wrote about this when he talked about his “I Thou” relationships. We know that “using” people to attain an end, is inappropriate. We know that when we learn to identify the feelings that others have and treat them in ways that we would want to be treated, that our relationships with those individuals become deeper, our souls are enhanced.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, told the following story that illustrates the necessity of recognizing that each person inhabits two worlds: The Rabbi was approached by an individual who complained of a lack of meaningfulness in his life, despite a successful career and healthy family. The individual still felt lonely and empty. Rabbi Schneerson explained, “There is an old saying that when two people meet, it is two souls against one body. Because bodies are self-centered by nature, they cannot join forces…each pursues its own physical needs. Souls, however, are selfless by nature, so when two people join forces, their souls converge. May I suggest you set aside some time each day to study and pray and do an additional good deed. This will nourish your soul and give focus and meaning to all that you do, rather than being controlled by the random forces of your life.”
The wonderful thing about Judaism, is that it does not expect us to figure out for ourselves how to grow our souls. It provides us with directions that can lead us on the path of spiritual development. Whether it is by taking time each week to observe the Shabbat, making sure we engage with our families beyond their physical needs..spending time talking, relating to one another because we care about each other; or by making sure that we become aware of our mission in life which is related to being a reflection of G-d who created us in G-d’s image and living each minute of life accordingly, we have ways to grow our souls. The performance of mitzvoth is designed to lift our souls upward. The key is to recognize that although our souls strive to transcend our physical bodies they also try to introduce G-dliness into our lives and we need only to pay attention to the fact that the performance of good deeds makes us partners in our own creation.
I’d like to end with another story told by Rabbi Schneerson. “Every person has a body and a soul. It is like a bird and its wings. Imagine if a bird were unaware that its wings enabled it to fly, they would only add an extra burden of weight. But once it flaps its wings, it lifts itself skyward. We all have wings- our soul- that can lift us as high as we need go. All we have to do is learn to use them.”
I hope that as this year unfolds each of us will nourish our individual souls….taking time for study, prayer, and good deeds
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