Advice to Idealists

From: Root & Branch Association, Ltd.
To: rb@rb.org.il
Sent: 1/6/06 1:13:49 PM
Subject: IDEALISTS by Yosef HaKohen

ADVICE TO IDEALISTS

Journey to Unity Series, Essay 30

copyright (c) 2006 by Mr. Yosef Ben Shlomo HaKohen

LIBERATED YERUSHALIYIM, D.C. (David's Capital), Liberated Israelite Tribal Territories of Yehudah and Binyamin, Kingdom of David and Shlomo, United Israelite Kingdom of Yehudah and Yosef, Erev Shabbat (Eve of the Jewish Sabbath), Yom Shishi, 6 Tevet, 5766, Root & Branch Information Services [mailto:rb@rb.org.il] [www.rb.org.il]:

"For there is no person so wholly righteous on earth that always does good and never sins".

[Koheleth/Ecclesiastes 7:20]

Dear Friends,

There are some righteous idealists who imagine that they don't need to work on improving their character traits, including the way they speak to or about others. "After all", each one says to himself, "don't I have the right values and support the right causes? What more can be demanded of me?"

As we shall later explore in this series, even idealists may have a measure of selfishness and violence within themselves that needs to be dealt with. Rabbi Pliskin offers the following additional insights:

"Idealists can easily become irritated with people who do not measure up to their standards. This irritation can cause them to overreact when they try to reprimand others. They see the truth so strongly that they tend to condemn others for not behaving on the level they should. The major problem is that when they overreact, other people develop negative attitudes towards them and their ideals. If you are idealistic, do not misuse your idealism by attacking others. Rather work on developing approaches that will be effective in influencing others to increase their idealism. Our own idealism should include the virtue of being careful with the feelings of other people. Don't get so carried away with whatever cause you are enthusiastic about that you forget to treat other people with the respect that they deserve".

[The Power of Words, pages 140-41]

The Torah helps all of us to grow. I always thought of myself as an honest person, but the more I studied Torah teachings and laws regarding honesty, the more aware I became of the need for even higher standards of integrity. I always thought of myself as a tactful person, but the more I studied Torah teachings and laws regarding ethical and tactful speech, the more aware I became of the need for even higher standards of sensitivity.

Most of my friends have had similar experiences. The ultimate goal of the Torah path is not to help us become "nice" people. The ultimate goal is to help us become "great" people -- great in love, sensitivity, and concern for others. We have this potential for greatness because we are created in the Divine Image.


Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov from Liberated Yerushaliyim,

Mr. Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen

Advisory Board Member, Ecology Fellowship, Root & Branch Association, Ltd.
Advisory Board Member, Social Welfare Fellowship, Root & Branch Association, Ltd.
Author, "The Universal Jew" (Feldheim Publishers)
Editor, Shema Yisrael website: "Hazon: Our Universal Vision"
http://www.shemayisrael.co.il/publicat/hazon/

Related Teachings:

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, a 20th century sage, writes: "There are world movements that speak of humanitarianism, but are willing to kill those who oppose them. The proper Torah attitude is demonstrated by Abraham's having prayed for the welfare of Sodom (a selfish and corrupt city) even though its people behaved in a manner diametrically opposed to Abraham's ideals. We should not hate those who reject our idealistic values. Rather, our inner wish should be that our opponents should improve their ways". (Cited in "Love Your Neighbor" by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin)