Elul 27: Transcending Your Comfort Zone by Simon Jacobson

The Book of Genesis (18:1-2) relates that shortly after Abraham’s Circumcision, G-d appeared while he sat recuperating in the groves of Mamrei. While he was communing with G-d, Abraham noticed, off in the distance, three nomads approaching across the desert. Without so much as an, “Excuse me,” to G-d, he immediately stood up and ran to greet them and prepared a meal for them.

From this strange incident, the Talmud derives the equally strange lesson that, “Welcoming guests is more powerful than welcoming G-d.” The Talmud does not ponder if this was the right thing to do because clearly Abraham knew—without hesitation—that this was the right thing to do. But how did Abraham know this? How did he know his actions would not offend G-d?

Abraham knew because Abraham was a holy man. Selfishly, he would have liked to spend more time with G-d. He could have asked him a lot of questions. But a holy person doesn’t do just what’s good for him; he does what’s good for reality. He is capable of transcending his personal comfort zone for the greater good, for the love of others. The truth is that when Abraham turned to greet his guests, he didn’t turn away from G-d. He turned away from one level of G-d to experience a higher level of G-d. This higher level is defined by selflessness, by doing for others.

To love G-d and to love other people is the same thing. Your love of G-d has to bring more love to others. And fundamentally, it goes even deeper than that. When you love G-d, you will love other people more. And that is the whole point of it. Ask yourself, “Do you feel that loving G-d and loving people is the same thing?” Have you been able to apply this in your life?


Rabbi Simon Jacobson is the Dean of the The Meaningful Life Center and publisher of The Algemeiner Journal. www.meaningfullife.com