How Judaism Saved My Life

jewishchildNot long ago when I was younger – people were satisfied without labels.

You had pants rather than Levi’s. A shirt – not necessarily Polo, or Tommy Hilfiger or LaCoste. Shoes rather than Nike’s or Kenneth Cole.

It was a simpler life.

A person could be easily distracted, or have difficulty paying attention to detail, have forgetfulness, could procrastinate, refrain from sustaining attention on tasks, or shift from one activity to another, or have disorganized work habits or fail to complete tasks.

They would call a spade a spade. Now – they had to label it. They call the above symptoms – ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Good? Or Not Good? I don’t know.

Some people say I have symptoms of ADHD – shared by 4% of the population. I do recognize some of the symptoms. I get distracted easily. I don’t follow through on certain activities.

Apparently it has to do with creativity as well. Creative people look at activities as creative or maintaining. Apparently, when the creative aspect of the activity wanes – so does the interest – so we jump to another activity that catches our interest.

I read a child’s book about ADHD – “My Friend the Troublemaker” by Mrs. Rifka Schonfeld. (published by Feldheim) I could relate to the main character – when the class went to the Zoo – leaving, they searched for the main character and found him absorbed watching one of the animals – forgetting the world around him.

I don’t know if people with ADHD are less likely to get married. (I read that the divorce rate is nearly twice as high for people with ADHD). In general, less people are getting married Today. A new report shows the current number of married adults has dropped to a record low of 51 percent. In 1960, 72 percent of U.S. adults ages 18 and older were married.

Apparently given the ADHD symptoms – had I not followed Judaism – I might have ended up going from Job to Job, or from Date to Date, or from Bar to Bar – without accomplishing much. Just like what I was doing before. I imagine I could have been – a single guy, riding the wave in life.

I like to live a life open to all possibilities. I am not an accountant that everything must be closed. I don’t really care if my checkbook is not balanced or there is $10 or $100 to be accounted for in my Organization’s books.

In terms of Myers Brigs – a personality test – I am an INTP or INFP. Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking/Feeling, Perceiving. According to Myers, perceptive – “P” – types prefer to “keep decisions open”. Another reason why I would rather stay free from commitment.

Torah Gives Structure

The Torah gives a person a structure and a proper perspective of the world. What is important – what is secondary. It gives a person certain things to accomplish at a certain time. Yes there is leeway – but the activities – Mitzvot are required to be done.

The Torah says it is a Mitzvah to Get Married and to have children. So I did make my effort towards that goal. When I went out on a date – it was with the specific intention to get married – not just to have an agreeable time.

Some may feel that the Torah is restrictive. Really it is not. It is that you can do most activities – but there is the proper way, time and place for everything. Even Non-Kosher foods have a substitute that have the same taste as their non-kosher counterparts. Eat Kosher Beef-Fry instead of Bacon.

If it was up to me I would probably sleep late into the early afternoon every day. That gets a person depressed – waking up so late. But the Torah says – wake up every day to serve your Creator. We are to start the day early to pray to Hash-m in the Morning. Every day we say the morning blessings to thank G-d for all the good he provides.

If it weren’t for Shabbat – my life would seem like one long day – never breaking the eat, work, sleep continuum.

The Torah says to study Torah. If it weren’t for that I would probably be stuck in front of a TV for the or video games the greater part of the day – like I used to do before. Tempting – but it’s basically escapism. Now I that I study Torah I understand life and the world with a more open mind and a more broad perspective and positive outlook.

With Torah as a base of education – at home and at school (ie, a Torah day school), children are more respectfully to parents, healthy-minded and happier. We enjoy deeper relationships with children and family members. Each one tries to act appropriately and in a positive manner towards others.

Torah made my life purposeful. I do the Mitzvot and Good deeds that give purpose to life. It makes us bring greater good to the world. It brought me closer to discovering myself and my purpose in life.

A person unaffiliated with Judaism, who wants to observe Torah, need not take upon themselves all the laws at one time. Our sages recommend to take a Mitzvah – do it and then when one is ready take upon themselves something else – do another. Some Mitzvahs that a person might start with are saying the Shema – in the morning and night. Or Saying the Morning Blessings. Or Lighting the Candles before Shabbat. Or Saying blessings beore eating food. Or the Blessing for Good health – Asher Yatzar – said after washing hands after one’s needs. (We have a Mini-Siddur / Prayer Book that Explains how to do the above Mitzvot for Jews. and the 7 Noahide laws for Gentiles to take upon themselves Mitzvot.)

Little by little and step by step you accomplish. You build a relationship with others and G-d and build purpose and meaning in life. Pray to Hashem and you get what you need – be it physical, emotional, in terms of finding purpose or truth – and get closer to G-d. For this is the goal in life – being close with the Creator of life. That’s where true happiness and purpose comes. That is what Shlomo HaMelech/ King Solomon – the wisest of all men, who had all pleasures at his disposition – said “The End of All Matters, After All Being Said is: To be in Awe of Hash-m (G-d) – for this is all of Man.” (Kohelet / Ecclesiastics 12:13)

At the end of one’s life – one should be able to say – I am happy for what I accomplished in life. The Torah gives a person the possibility to do just that.

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