Tag Archives: Israel Salanter

Goldilocks Spirituality

01 Friday Apr 2016

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“Spirituality is like a bird: If you hold it too closely, it chokes, And if you hold it too loosely, it escapes.”

-Rabbi Israel Salanter
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Goldilocks, besides a penchant for home invasion, had another enduring quality- being able to find the sweet spot between too hard and too soft, too hot and too cold, too high and too low. She found that which was “just right”. The Goldilocks Principle.
Nowhere is this principle more important to apply than in our spiritual life. As Reb Salanter says, held too close, our spirituality can choke us. Not held tightly enough, we may lose it. Many spiritual texts, like the Torah, can be likened to a fire. Taken too literally or held too tightly, it can burn and consume us. But take it away and we freeze in the dark. So we build a container around the fire- a stove or fireplace, where we can enjoy the fire and benefit from the heat and light it gives without burning down the house. We can tend it, wonder at it, share the warmth and atmosphere, cook nourishing meals over it.
Salanter suggests we approach our spirituality like Goldilocks: Not too hot, not too cold, not too hard, not too soft, just right. Don’t let ourselves off the hook, but don’t hang ourselves on the hook either.
How are you holding your spiritual life today, Goldilocks?

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Rabbi Yisroel ben Ze’ev Wolf Lipkin, also known as “Yisroel Salanter” or “Israel Salanter” (November 3, 1810, Zhagory – February 2, 1883, Königsberg), was the father of the Musar (ethical living) movement in  Judaism and a famed Rosh yeshiva and Talmudist.

Joe Laur is a father, husband, artist, builder, naturalist, consultant, and EcoKosher mashgiach. He lives with his wife Sara in western Massachusetts, where he serves as head groundskeeper and resident singer songwriter. Send him your favorite teaching quote for commentary. He can be reached at joe.laur@joelaur.com.

The State of Our Neighbor’s Soul

24 Sunday Jan 2016

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“We spend our time worrying about our physical well being, and the state of our neighbor’s soul. Better we should spend our time worrying about our neighbor’s physical well being, and the state of our own soul.”

-Rabbi Israel Salanter

SoulCarriedtoHeaven

Soul carried to Heaven by William Bouguereau

This pithy statement from Rabbi Salanter needs little commentary. How often do we get our priorities confused, worrying about the truly unimportant things, and the things we have the least influence over?  Though closely related, in many ways  my own internal state is more important than my outer physical state, and in any case, I always have greater influence on my soul state than my physical condition. I may get sick, have a fall, go hungry, and certainly age and die. All of it is beyond my control in most cases. But my internal condition, regardless of external circumstances, is in my own hands. In any moment I can choose to be angry or  calm, agitated or at peace, even in spite of trying situations and times.

And as far as my neighbor goes, trying to “save her soul” is a fool’s errand. But I can easily make sure she has enough food to eat, clothes to wear, medicine when ill, and comfort and company in difficult straits. This is where the leverage is, my realm of influence. My internal condition, and my neighbor’s external condition, is where I can make a difference, every day, every week, every month, every year.

“Love your neighbor as yourself, I am G!D” is smack dab in the middle of the books of Moses, the Torah. I love the juxtaposition of the phrases- it’s like saying, “Take care of each other. I’m G!D. Any questions?”

How best today, can you care for your soul AND your neighbor’s well being?

-JL

 

Rabbi Yisroel ben Ze’ev Wolf Lipkin, also known as “Yisroel Salanter” or “Israel Salanter” (November 3, 1810, Zhagory – February 2, 1883, Königsberg), was the father of the Musar (ethical living) movement in  Judaism and a famed Rosh yeshiva and Talmudist.

Joe Laur is a father, husband, artist, builder, naturalist, consultant, and EcoKosher mashgiach. He lives with his wife Sara in western Massachusetts, where he serves as head groundskeeper and resident singer songwriter. Send him your favorite teaching quote for commentary. He can be reached at joe.laur@joelaur.com.