In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl writes about the dangers inherent in the teaching of man’s “nothingbutness,” the theory that man is nothing but the result of biological, psychological, and sociological conditions, or the product of heredity and environment. Living with such a viewpoint makes a person believe that he is merely a pawn and victim of outer influences or inner circumstances.
Frankl posits, however, that the human being is not meant to experience freedom from conditions, rather, freedom to take a stand toward the conditions. Frankl once remarked, “As a professor in two fields, neurology and psychiatry, I am fully aware of the extent to which man is subject to biological, psychological and sociological conditions. But in addition to being a professor in two fields I am a survivor of four camps – concentration camps, that is – and as such I also bear witness to the unexpected extent to which man is capable of defying and braving even the worst conditions conceivable.”
At the heart of Frankl’s groundbreaking psychiatric solution to dealing with life – a theory called logotherapy – is the notion that everything in your life has meaning. Logotherapy is sometimes called “healing through meaning” (Logotherapy in Greek), and it teaches us that the primary motivational force of an individual is to find meaning in his life.
The ability to fight hard, even in the face of adversity – something the Jewish people have been doing throughout history – comes from our deep sense of purpose and meaning in our lives.
When Bilam talks about the Jewish people, he says (23:24): הן עם כלביא יקום וכארי יתנשא – “Behold, the [Jewish] people will arise like a lion cub and raise itself like a lion.”
According to Daas Z’kenim, Bilaam was telling Balak that far from being humiliated, the Jewish nation will rise to even greater heights, just like lions.
The Jewish people have been attacked, persecuted, scapegoated, and the talk of the news. Maybe we should no longer call it “News,” and instead we should just call it “Jews!”
The Ohr HaChaim teaches us an amazing thing. Unlike the other nations who gradually lose their strength, becoming exhausted by the many wars they fight, the Jewish people – just like a mature lion, וכארי יתנשא – will lift themselves up time and again without showing signs of age!
No matter what, the Jewish people show the world that life has meaning, life has purpose, and life has tremendous value.
Let us constantly remind ourselves that whatever it is we are going through and experiencing, we can and MUST find meaning.
Have a holy Shabbos!
In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl writes about the dangers inherent in the teaching of man’s “nothingbutness,” the theory that man is nothing but the result of biological, psychological, and sociological conditions, or the product of heredity and environment. Living with such a viewpoint makes a person believe that he is merely a pawn and victim of outer influences or inner circumstances.
Frankl posits, however, that the human being is not meant to experience freedom from conditions, rather, freedom to take a stand toward the conditions. Frankl once remarked, “As a professor in two fields, neurology and psychiatry, I am fully aware of the extent to which man is subject to biological, psychological and sociological conditions. But in addition to being a professor in two fields I am a survivor of four camps – concentration camps, that is – and as such I also bear witness to the unexpected extent to which man is capable of defying and braving even the worst conditions conceivable.”
At the heart of Frankl’s groundbreaking psychiatric solution to dealing with life – a theory called logotherapy – is the notion that everything in your life has meaning. Logotherapy is sometimes called “healing through meaning” (Logotherapy in Greek), and it teaches us that the primary motivational force of an individual is to find meaning in his life.
The ability to fight hard, even in the face of adversity – something the Jewish people have been doing throughout history – comes from our deep sense of purpose and meaning in our lives.
When Bilam talks about the Jewish people, he says (23:24): הן עם כלביא יקום וכארי יתנשא – “Behold, the [Jewish] people will arise like a lion cub and raise itself like a lion.”
According to Daas Z’kenim, Bilaam was telling Balak that far from being humiliated, the Jewish nation will rise to even greater heights, just like lions.
The Jewish people have been attacked, persecuted, scapegoated, and the talk of the news. Maybe we should no longer call it “News,” and instead we should just call it “Jews!”
The Ohr HaChaim teaches us an amazing thing. Unlike the other nations who gradually lose their strength, becoming exhausted by the many wars they fight, the Jewish people – just like a mature lion, וכארי יתנשא – will lift themselves up time and again without showing signs of age!
No matter what, the Jewish people show the world that life has meaning, life has purpose, and life has tremendous value.
Let us constantly remind ourselves that whatever it is we are going through and experiencing, we can and MUST find meaning.
Have a holy Shabbos!
