Elul 1 ~ Rabbi Menachem Creditor

Regular encounters with death have taught me to look into people’s eyes and to hear their words with both urgency and patience. There is such holiness waiting in all people. We need only to listen to their voices.Birth has taught me that everything we do reverberates in the souls of others. No act is neutral. We have deep power within to heal ourselves and those around us. The human capacity to alter the cosmos can be used – must be used – for good.

I’ve learned that flaws are holy, that the deepest forms of joy and comfort come after accepting personal vulnerability. And once we learn to see and cherish our own imperfections, we can learn to more honestly accept and love others.

Deep breathing is good.
Crying is good.
Laughing is good.

Holding each other is exquisite.
Granting each other space is healthy.

I’ve learned that God’s loneliness birthed us and is a source of deep love. I’ve learned that we are never truly alone.

Rabbi Menachem Creditor is the founder of Shefa Network.
www.shefanetwork.org