Arvut- Our Great Responsibility
This weeks portion presents a concept that everyone intuitively understands to some extent, but few people realize how important it is to fulfillment in their daily lives. The Hebrew word for this principle is arvut.
This word can be loosely translated as responsibility.
The interconnectedness of all humanity is a fundamental kabbalistic teaching. It is the underlying principle of treating others as we ourselves wish to be treated. It calls upon us to accept responsibility for much more than our individual spiritual development, which is really only half of our work. Arvut reminds us that no matter what I do, I am not truly growing unless they are growing as well.
Rav Yehuda Ashlag, one of the twentieth centurys greatest kabbalists, discusses arvut at length in his book, Gift of the Bible.
Rav Ashlag writes: The torah was not given until each and every one was asked if he agreed to accept the commandment of loving another at the level specified by the words love your friend as yourself.
Each and every one took it upon himself to worry about and work for every other person. He was to fulfill the others needs no less than he would naturally look after his own. After the entire nation unanimously agreed and said, We will do and we will listen, then everyone became responsible that there should be nothing lacking for anyone. Then the people were ready to receive the Torah, and not before.
The implications of this are truly vast, for Kabbalah teaches that the Torah is much more than a book. Torah in Hebrew means truth. To receive the Torah means gaining the opportunity to live according to the true principles that govern the universe. We cannot access this opportunity without arvut. We cannot begin our own spiritual work without wholly and completely accepting responsibility, in thought and action, for the well being of others.
A brief parable eloquently explains Kabbalahs view of mutual responsibility. Two people were in a rowboat, when one suddenly took out a drill and began boring a hole in the boats bottom. Are you crazy? What are you doing? demanded his companion. But the other boatman just kept drilling. Mind your own business! he said. Im drilling under myself, not you!
The lesson is clear: only a fool fails to recognize that were all in the same boat. This is hardly a new teaching, but it is awesome one, and we should try to see it each day as if for the first time. It is not nearly enough to concentrate solely on our own development -- yet spiritual people often fall into this trap. As long as I am growing, they think, thats all that matters. But we have just seen how very far this is from the teachings of Kabbalah. As much as we are responsible for ourselves, we are responsible for the world.
It is not by coincidence that we read this section before Rosh Hashanah. Now we are judged for the past year. Now it is decided what we will merit in the year to come. To be blessed with Light and fulfillment, we must decide now - before Rosh Hashanah - what actions to take upon ourselves in order to help the rest of the world grow closer to the Light of the Creator and fulfillment the Light brings. By doing so, we will be able to come to Rosh Hashanah and request blessings not only for ourselves, but in order to fulfill the arvut we have accepted to benefit the whole world.
This weeks portion presents a concept that everyone intuitively understands to some extent, but few people realize how important it is to fulfillment in their daily lives. The Hebrew word for this principle is arvut.
This word can be loosely translated as responsibility.
The interconnectedness of all humanity is a fundamental kabbalistic teaching. It is the underlying principle of treating others as we ourselves wish to be treated. It calls upon us to accept responsibility for much more than our individual spiritual development, which is really only half of our work. Arvut reminds us that no matter what I do, I am not truly growing unless they are growing as well.
Rav Yehuda Ashlag, one of the twentieth centurys greatest kabbalists, discusses arvut at length in his book, Gift of the Bible.
Rav Ashlag writes: The torah was not given until each and every one was asked if he agreed to accept the commandment of loving another at the level specified by the words love your friend as yourself.
Each and every one took it upon himself to worry about and work for every other person. He was to fulfill the others needs no less than he would naturally look after his own. After the entire nation unanimously agreed and said, We will do and we will listen, then everyone became responsible that there should be nothing lacking for anyone. Then the people were ready to receive the Torah, and not before.
The implications of this are truly vast, for Kabbalah teaches that the Torah is much more than a book. Torah in Hebrew means truth. To receive the Torah means gaining the opportunity to live according to the true principles that govern the universe. We cannot access this opportunity without arvut. We cannot begin our own spiritual work without wholly and completely accepting responsibility, in thought and action, for the well being of others.
A brief parable eloquently explains Kabbalahs view of mutual responsibility. Two people were in a rowboat, when one suddenly took out a drill and began boring a hole in the boats bottom. Are you crazy? What are you doing? demanded his companion. But the other boatman just kept drilling. Mind your own business! he said. Im drilling under myself, not you!
The lesson is clear: only a fool fails to recognize that were all in the same boat. This is hardly a new teaching, but it is awesome one, and we should try to see it each day as if for the first time. It is not nearly enough to concentrate solely on our own development -- yet spiritual people often fall into this trap. As long as I am growing, they think, thats all that matters. But we have just seen how very far this is from the teachings of Kabbalah. As much as we are responsible for ourselves, we are responsible for the world.
It is not by coincidence that we read this section before Rosh Hashanah. Now we are judged for the past year. Now it is decided what we will merit in the year to come. To be blessed with Light and fulfillment, we must decide now - before Rosh Hashanah - what actions to take upon ourselves in order to help the rest of the world grow closer to the Light of the Creator and fulfillment the Light brings. By doing so, we will be able to come to Rosh Hashanah and request blessings not only for ourselves, but in order to fulfill the arvut we have accepted to benefit the whole world.
thank you.
...which is a terribly obtuse and convoluted way of saying i understand teh pleasure in feed back. anywho, off i go to slip/slide silently through the halls of information and query this new thing i have been given.
information is beautiful.