The Census

THE BIG IDEA

This week’s Torah energy reminds us that all the normal desires, lusts, jealousies and extremist tendencies that exist in any human being ALSO exist in those cosmically tasked to uphold holiness. 

Certain unfulfilled married women will get restless and cheat on their husbands, some psychopath jealous husbands are going to falsely accuse loyal wives of infidelity, and some hardcore God lovers are going to want to give up the pleasures of this world and become monks. 

Being supercharged with access to divine consciousness doesn’t exempt any of us from lower or higher urges — but it does make all of us responsible to deal with them. 

And while we (thankfully) don’t ritualistically shame women in our modern times, it is essential to admit our inclinations to either lust, anger or self denial — and the way these tendencies can interfere with our ability to stay connected to divinity and the life that is all around us.

This shabbat is a highly favorable time to take an inner census of your personal temptations for the sake of personal growth and collective redemption. Trust that wherever you are in your process of self discovery and personal accountability, thanks to the gift given to Aaron and passed on to us (until this very day) by his descendants, you are to be continually blessed and linked with the holy name….

יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃ {ס}        

יהוה bless you and protect you!

יָאֵ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃ {ס}        

יהוה deal kindly and graciously with you!

יִשָּׂ֨א יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ {ס}        

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

May our inner work please God and help us activate our spiritual potential and enter the era of Growth Through Joy.