This world is tough; it is unrelenting and all-consuming. Our society seeks to define us by its materialistic standards and compels us into an unwinnable rat race. The anxiety we develop as a result is to be expected; it's no wonder we struggle to gain control of our lives and redirect our thoughts, speech, and actions. So how do we do it?
The answer lies in this week's Torah portion, Shemini, and our current Hebrew month, Nissan. The Torah tells us about the importance of the Mitzvah of Kosher eating, not because of its health qualities, but because it helps us redefine ourselves, not by the world's standards, but by divine wisdom. We eat differently because we want to live differently, focused not merely on our own existence and gratification but on a greater purpose to improve ourselves and refine the world around us.
This is also reflected in the word "Nissan," which means miraculous miracles. The month of Passover, when we were liberated from Egypt, beckons us not to live by natural means, by order of the world, but to reach for higher and follow Hashem's plan for each of us. When we do, we become insulated from the "influence' of others and undaunted by the obstacles that appear because we no longer operate by the mechanisms of a materialistic society.
As we transition from Passover to Shavuot, the next holiday commemorating the Torah's giving on Mt. Sinai, we must choose. Do we want the "normal" life our world offers, or do we want something more, a life of meaning and purpose? It's time we raised ourselves to the level Hashem chose us to be.
Mission: Reject a mediocre life defined by materialistic standards; adopt a divine path, and enjoy a newfound enthusiasm for life.