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Health & Fitness

That's Just Imperfect!

Life is not perfect, we are not perfect (at least I am not); but our G-d is perfect and His decision to make us imperfect ought to be perfectly fine with us.

They say that when the Rebbe visited the Lubavitch boys campgrounds in the Catskills in the 1960's, one of the sights on the guided tour he took of the camp was (I think) the arts and crafts "office." It was a ramshackle hut, with generations of spray-paint, layers of paint, haphazard planks of wood and old and new nails everywhere along the walls. Someone had spray-painted in loud letters on the wall the words (in Hebrew) "This wreck is dedicated in remembrance of the destruction of the Holy Temple." The Rebbe smiled at that and said, "But why remember the destruction? Remember the Temple!"

The Rebbe didn't explain himself, leaving us to wonder how a wreck could help promote memory of the Temple.

Here's a thought: When G-d destroyed the Temple, His Divine justice was meted out in terrible, historic measure, but primarily it was unleashed on the building, the Holy Temple. The destruction earned by the People was experienced by the Temple. In that way, among others, the Temple's destruction was a service to the Jewish People. In fact, in Chassidus it says clearly that any atonement the People earned through the rituals of the Temple pales in comparison to the atonement achieved through the Temple's tragic ruin.

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Thus the benefit and the blessing of the Temple outlived the Temple itself. Even in a state of ruin, it continued - and continues today - to act as a spiritual support for the Jewish People.

So maybe that is what the Rebbe meant? That the disaster of the arts 'n' crafts shed could be a reminder of the circuitous blessings of the Temple in ruins...who knows. It is possible!

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Now for real life. There is something that imperfection contributes to life that perfection could never. Mistakes, even ruinous mistakes, all help to lend a deep, reflective richness to our lives and characters, transforming us from still, calm perfection to passionate, strenuous imperfection. The shame we experience from our errors does more for our self-improvement than the pride of our accomplishments could ever do. The soul-deep yearning to make up for mistakes helps us discover that depth and height of the soul that sets us apart from angels, even above them.

The same is true about pain and pleasure. The humility, humanity and empathy with which people emerge from painful experiences could never be extracted from carefree, enjoyable moments.

Mr. Max Prager, father of radio host Dennis Prager, was on his son's radio program this week reflecting on his 95th birthday (tzu langer yurren!). In the last four years, he has sadly lost his wife of 69 years and his mobility and independence. Dennis asked him to talk about these last four years. He said (and I paraphrase) "I have great faith in G-d. My life has been so great and happy, and G-d wanted, that before I leave, I should have the experience of empathizing with people less fortunate than I have been. So He brought this upon me to help me understand more people." Awesome, courageous and true.

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On Tisha B'Av we heard an amazing tale of survival from Mrs. Mirielle Wolfe who was one of the hidden children, hidden together with her grandmother, by a Catholic woman in her barn attic for the first four years of her life in Nazi-occupied France. She mentioned that she still has and uses the silver Shabbat candlesticks which her grandmother loyally kindled every Friday in the barn attic.

When I visited her yesterday I asked her if she could show me the candlesticks. She did, kindly, and as I gazed at these silent witnesses to terror, survival and revival, she showed me how she had taped one of the legs back onto the base. "I was going to have it repaired," she said, "but then I decided no; life is not perfect."

Bravo! Life is not perfect, we are not perfect (at least I am not); but our G-d is perfect and His decision to make us imperfect ought to be perfectly fine with us.

Good Shabbos, Shabbat Shalom!

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