BE YOURSELF
When we want to emphasise something in Hebrew, we often repeat the word, rather than say ‘very’.
Sometimes we do so in English. We might say: “Emma Raducanu played a great, great tennis match,” though it would be more usual to say: “she played a very great tennis match!”
In this week’s parasha, the word ‘I’, referring to G-d, is emphasised by repetition:
Re’u ata, ki ani, ani hu, ve’ein elohim imadi
“See now that it is I! I am the One, and there is no god like Me!”
The great Hassidic Master, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk (Poland, 1787-1859) uses this verse as a guide as to how we should see ourselves.
He said:
“If I am I because I am I, and you are you because you are you, then I am I and you are you.”
“But, if I am I because you are you, and you are you because I am I, then I am not I and you are not you”
G-d wants us to be authentic and be the best version of ourselves. If I am only I because of who you are, because of what you do, then I am not being true to myself. Similarly, if you are looking at me and gauging how you behave and how you achieve because of me, then you are not being true to yourself either.
As the Kotzker said:
“If I am I because you are you, and you are you because I am I, then I am not I and you are not you”
But if we are able to draw out our strengths, irrespective of what others are doing, then we have uncovered the true ani, the real ‘I’, our core identity, that draws on the ultimate, ani, the ‘I’ that is G-d.
“If I am I because I am I, and you are you because you are you, then I am I and you are you.”
Having just emerged from Yom Kippur, this is a key lesson for us to take forward.
Of course, there are many situations where we must measure ourselves against others. Without an opponent, Raducanu – or any other player – could not win a match! But ultimately, we are playing against ourselves. It is our own personal yardstick that is most important.
May we be blessed in the coming year to strive to the maximum we are able and may it be a good year for us all. Amen