Fidget Spinners and the Parshah

Dear Friend,

Have you been to the playground lately? You must have noticed that the kids have little contraptions whirring on their fingers. Yes, fidget spinners (and their cousins, fidget cubes) have taken the (juvenile) world by storm, infiltrating classrooms and parks, and even appearing at the dinner table.

What does all this cycling have to do with Judaism?

Well, this week’s Torah portion is all about cycles—the seven-year Shemittah (Sabbatical) cycle, followed by the 50-year Yovel (Jubilee) cycle.

Life, however, is not a merry-go-round (or a fidget spinner). Even as the seasons repeat themselves, we don’t get off exactly where we get on. Time is not a cycle, but a spiral. So, will you be spiraling upward or downward? For that, we have the continuation of the Parshah, which gives us guidelines for honest and productive communal life. As long as we aspire to live in accordance with G‑d’s wishes and help others, we can be assured that we will be propelled ever higher and higher.

Enjoy your read!

The Chabad.org Editorial Team

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11 Comments

Rhona Earth, Sun, MW, UA May 17, 2017

I agree with you. I also believe that, if we live in accordance with our highest awareness of what is right, we will be making the right choices. Truth, Love, Joy Reply

Dirksen Yonkers May 20, 2017

Let us celebrate the 50 years of blessings Reply

Aharon Gerstein Sturgis, Mi May 18, 2017

Gam Zu LTovah. Without the challenge of the downward spiral of fear and separation, we would not find the courage to reverse the spin and have revealed to us the purpose of the downward spiral, where and why and how we get stuck in blind alleys e.g. errors of thinking. We cannot come to see reality and truth and love without their contrast. It is like a divine conspiracy to move us into our divine home, the hidden sanctuary of the Most High.. Reply

Aaron Denver May 21, 2017

in response to Aharon Gerstein:

I like how you put it, Aharon, "...stuck in blind alleys e.g. errors of thihking." When I find myself challenged by some fear, circumstance(s) or self-pity, I have gotten into the habit of trying to remember that nothing happens in G-d's world by accident, and that there is a beneficial side to the challenge, though I may not see it immediately. Easy words to type, and I admit that the practice is challenging in itself much of the time. Peace and clarity usually come in hindsight. I will be keeping your "blind alley...." in mind. Very cool. Thanks.

Shalom.

Shalom. Reply

Rita Forbes MD May 18, 2017

Fidget spinners remind me of being an updated version of the 'spinning top.' It's the one that you wrap a piece of string around and then pull it and let it go. If it is done perfectly, the spinning is concentrated to a defined area and it will spend for a long time. If it is done incorrectly it will wobble out-of-contol for a second and then stop. Your illustration of 'fidget spinners ' being a spiral either moving up or down reminds me of prayers and our connection to G_d. Prayers can be a visual symbol like a baby's umbilical cord connection to the mother the source of its growth and existence. The more connected we are to our source (G_d), the healthier we are and our growth is steady. The more disconnected we are from our source (G_d) our growth is stunted and we become sickly; unhealthy. This essay is a perfect illustation of spiritual and physical occurrences. Reply

John Angeletta May 18, 2017

Heavenly Father makes up for our righteous shortfalls after all that we can do. Reply

Aaron Denver May 17, 2017

Question here for the Chabad team:

During rabbinic training and study, is there any time spent teaching about, as it's usually termed, "Pastoral Work?" Generally, that is work (or mitzvot, as I prefer to think of it) involving rabbinic support of fellow Jews whose life has dramatically changed, or been challenged, by changes in circumstance.

Examples:

Someone is faced with a severe medical issue.
Someone is faced with the unexpected duty of becoming a caregiver for a family member who becomes incapacitated to some degree.

It is fine enough to be able to attend events which someone we consider to be "our rabbi" presents, and those gatherings are meaningful. But when one's life changes dramatically and one cannot attend those events, all too often that person, that fellow Jew, finds himself or herself essentially isolated from the community which was once so welcoming.

My attention was caught by: "As long as we aspire to live in accordance with G‑d’s wishes and help others,..." Reply

Eliezer Zalmanov for Chabad.org May 18, 2017

in response to Aaron:

Absolutely. While there are different tracks for rabbinical ordination, interpersonal relationships are always a part of it. Reply

Aaron Denver May 21, 2017

in response to Eliezer Zalmanov:

Good to hear. There are some times when having a rabbi touch base makes a world of difference. Reply

Jeff Grand Rapids May 17, 2017

Prefect timing, I needed to focus on what is G-D'd will and place all in his hands, but not to forget my part. TY Reply

Jennifer May 17, 2017

The 7 day Sabbath is God's express commandment ignored by most of the world. Reply

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