Take a Census

THE BIG IDEA

The only nice thing about the public shaming process a woman undergoes when she is suspected by a jealous husband of cheating, (Sotah)  is that if her husband is himself a cheater the ritual won’t work. And while she isn’t off the hook spiritually for cheating within their marriage - if her husband is sleeping around and absent from their marriage - to bring her in front of the High Priest, unbind her hair and dress, and make her drink the bitter waters in front of the community will have no effect on her. 

This week take an internal census. Look at all the places you accuse others of behaviors without owning your own. The Torah reminds us that in a holy society, like in any society,  there will be affairs and jealousies and zealots (the Nazir that wants to give his/her entire life to God)  - all of which have to be openly acknowledged and ritualistically regulated.

And while we don’t have most of these rituals today, we most certainly have the behaviors. So before you go around accusing or suspecting or pointing a finger, take a look at yourself. And when you are done - read this blessing, feel it in all the cells of your being and soul.

יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃        

יהוה bless you and protect you!

יָאֵ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃        

יהוה deal kindly and graciously with you!

יִשָּׂ֨א יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃        

יהוה bestow [divine] favor upon you and grant you peace!

May we stop fighting each other and ourselves, may we know the days of Peace and feel ourselves as the reflection of God’s light in all we do.