A Soulful Journey

 "I feel dead.  I have become a broken vessel."   -Psalms 31:13 There are times in all our lives when we feel like this.  Our task is to learn the lessons of such dread and internal pain.  Ask, "What do You want me to learn from this, God?"

 "The Tablets and the broken Tablets were both placed in the holy Ark."  - Talmud, brachot 8b This is a powerful lesson about accepting everyone as a part of our community- those who are whole and those who are broken all have a place with God and us. 

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi advised: And be careful to continue to respect an elder who has forgotten his Torah knowledge due to circumstances beyond his control. Even though he is no longer a Torah scholar, he must still be respected for the Torah that he once possessed. As we say: Both the tablets of the Covenant and the broken tablets are placed in the Ark of the Covenant in the Temple. Even though the first tablets were broken, their sanctity obligates one not to treat them with contempt. An elder who forgot the Torah knowledge he once possessed is like these broken tablets.

Human beings are a little like electric bulbs. A little child found it electric bulb in the street and he brought it home to his mother. The mother said, ”Throw it away.”  “Why?” “It is broken,” said his mother. “But it doesn't look broken!” Said the child. “It is broken on the inside,” she said. That’s what God in prayer do to us.  They make us good on the inside. An electric bulb can give light but it has to be connected! So plug-in and you will shine and be beautiful before God before man!  - Rabbi Nathan Zelizer

The Berditschever Rabbi was seeking a Shofar-Blower.  Many applied for the post, and he asked each one his   mystic thoughts during the Shofar-blowing.  No one's answer pleased him.  Finally one man said: "Rabbi, I am unlearned, and I know no mystic thoughts, but I have four daughters to marry, and I have no money for their dowries.  Therefore when I blow the Shofar, I think: 'O Lord of the Universe; I have done my duty in obeying Thy command; do Thou also Thy duty and send me worthy mates for my daughters.'" The Berditschever Rabbi appointed him to blow the Shofar.  If he thought that he was inadequate for the responsibility, the rabbi chose him and declared him fully adequate.  Your  brokenness is what can bring you wholeness.  

Rabbi Alexander said: “If a person uses broken vessels it is a disgrace.   But with God it is otherwise.   All His servants are broken vessels, as it is written, “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and the contrite He will save.”   -Pesachim 158b Perhaps this is the greatest argument to not be judgmental.