Making the Right Choices

Moshe Rabbeinu presents a simple option to the Jewish people. There are two paths that a person can take. He can choose the blessing or the curse.

The blessing is to listen to the voice of G-d. The curse comes from not listening to the voice of G-d.

It almost sounds too good to be true. All that is necessary in this world to find peace and happiness is to cleave to Hashem. Blessings will flow from such a choice. Curses will come to the one who abandons Hashem and the Torah.

I have just completed a visit to Los Angeles. It is interesting to observe the general population and the religious community, in particular.

The impression that I had is that people are lost and are seeking direction. The secular and non-Jewish are thirsting for some meaning and spirituality. The religious are confused because they are no

longer able to feel that they have it all, because of the undercurrent of anti-Semitism. Despite their fulfillment of the rituals, something is missing.

All of this was predicted by the Prophet Amos. “Behold days are coming when there will be a famine in the land. It will not be a famine of bread and water. But it will be a longing to hear the word of Hashem.”

The period of godlessness in the world, is now over. There is a realization that secularism is not providing any lasting meaning. The quest to do “whatever makes you feel good” is not working. Fighting racism or global warming does not provide any real meaning or contentment.

People need to make the simple choice as clarified by Moshe Rabbeinu. Choose the blessing over the curse. Choose life over a life of emptiness. Choose the Torah and its commandments over meaningless pursuits and the curse that comes with them