To My Dear Students,

This week’s Torah Portion tells us that the women of ancient Israel donated mirrors to beautify the ancient Tabernacle. 

Mirrors are important in our lives.  Most of us make use of them throughout the day.  Spiritually speaking, other people are mirrors, for what we see in them is a reflection of us.  Hence, when we grow angry at the faults of others, it is time to look within.  When we criticize others, it is a sign to make sure we are not our own targets.

A psychologist asked a group of college students to jot down in thirty seconds the initials of people they disliked.  Some could think of only one person, while others listed as many as fourteen.  The result of this research was that those who disliked the greatest number of people were themselves the most widely disliked.

A traveler came to a town and asked what kind of people lived there.  The townsman asked, “What kind of people populated the town you come from?”  The traveler answered, “The people in my town are mean-spirited, nasty, and horrible.”  “Then,” said the townsman, “you will find the same kind of people here.”  Later, another traveler asked the townsman the same question and was asked in return, “What kind of people live in the town you come from?”  “Oh, they are wonderful, kind, generous people,” said the traveler.  “Then,” said the townsman, “you will find the same kind of people here.” 

It is likely that the faults we find in others are mirrors for the faults we unconsciously recognize in ourselves.  We do not see things as they are.  We see things as we are.

Shabbat Shalom,

Your Rabbi