Creating a Truer World

This shu-shine is dedicated in the merit of a complete and speedy recovery to Yishai Shmuel ben Devorah Itah, a young man who embodies the values of the message herein.  Please listen to this weeks shu-shine mp3 in his merit.  He needs your personal prayer and blessing right now.

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Some people will argue that integrity is subjective.  That there are no absolutes between right and wrong, and that we all draw the line as best we can.  And while it is true that many people be do draw that line at the most noble place they understand, the Torah challenges us to always reach deeper.

I have a 'shu-ism', that "You can't part your hair without looking in the mirror".  And what it means is that while you can make your hair look pretty good by just running your hands through it, you can only get a perfectly straight part by looking at your reflections; in other words, to really reach higher levels of perfection, we have to be willing to look ourselves in the eye.

We are blessed to live in a time and era where we are able to observe and call out corruption wherever it may hide, from the highest levels of government to the remotest villages in the jungle.  The information age has created transparency into the most secret and hidden parts of both governments and societies, and at times we may feel overwhelmed by all the 'evil' and corruption that we feel our world is drowning in.

But we are at a good place in history.  Truly.

Because most generations of history were to busy fighting for survival to have the luxury of examining good and evil, and righteousness and corruption, on such fine and detailed levels.

We must never forget that it is only in an environment of peace and security that the opportunity for the highest levels of social refinement to take place.

And so those of us who notice what is wrong must not rest.  We must not rely on the excuse of subjectivity when it comes to right and wrong.  We must pit our caring and loving and honorable Spirits against all that causes us pain, and iron out the last wrinkles that are glaring like black spots on an already whitening sheet.

Because we are at a good place in history.  And it is our personal integrity that will make it a great one.

Attached please find a Shu-Shine for the Torah portion of 'Mishpatim': "Creating a Truer World".

May we all be blessed to find the strength and bravery to demand honesty in all that we do, and to inspire integrity in all whom we encounter.