i can personally atest to this reality.
we treat ourselves as our parents treat us
and naturally we treat other pple the same way.
i am not married and have never been.
but i had a serious girlfriend for a long period.
I treated her like trash sometimes.
And I was aware of it.
But I couldn't stop myself.
Now I realize that there was a strong need to control.
That need,as we know,is overpowering.
And I see my dad is a control freak.
And I control myself with an iron hand.
Once I give myself some space and acceptance,
I will finally be able to give others some space and acceptance.
I don't know which thread this should go in
so ill just put it here.
I received a ride today from an interesting character(israel is pretty full of interesting characters).
This guy asked me:
"What is the hardest mitzva on Succos?"
I shrugged.
"'Vehayisa ach sameach'.The Rav(idk who he was referring to,but I like the idea) says that the mitzva to be happy on succos is an all-encompassing mitzva.
Meaning:
On Succos we are not suuposed to be depressed.
We are not supposed to be down.
We are not supposed to be sad.
Or angry.
Or impatient.
Etc.....
I smiled at the man and got out of the car at my destination.
All of a sudden I realized.....
That is impossible.
What's that guy even talking about?!
But then I realzed another thing:
Even without what that guy said,the mitzvah is not so doable for me (or most anybody).
But then I chapped the answer.
Succos!
What is the idea of a succa?
A succah is there to remind us of the clouds of glory that protected us.
We go into the succah and we remember that those "clouds of glory" are still always above us,even if they aren't in the shape of clouds.
We really can live in a "succah" the whole year round.
This world is Hashem's succah.
And we're in it.
We're His special guests.
Bnei bayis really.
And that's the only way to acheive that serenity and happiness that the Torah demands of us.
When we have that security,that emunah,that bitachon....
Than "Vehoyisa ach sameach"
May you all have the bestest of chagim!
And a great shabbos,of course!
I love you all
-uri