Destroying And Repairing

This week’s sermon, delivered by the Rabbi where I attend synagogue, was about how much easier it is to destroy something than to fix it. I found it very interesting and it was the Rabbi’s take on the reason why there are three Haftorot of rebuke and seven of conciliation.

The rabbi explained that just like G-d, just like the prophets bring us down and tell us what we have done to warrant the wrath and ire, once it is time to mend, it takes more work. His point was when we do anything to damage a relationship, yes it can be repaired but it takes a lot of work, more work than it took to damage it in the first place.

If we watch what we do, if we guard ourselves and others, so we do not destroy, than we will not need to rebuild. If we had guarded ourselves, if we had protected ourselves when G-d was rebuking us, than it could have prevented the Temple in Jerusalem from being destroyed and it takes a lot more to rebuild it. It is easier if it is never destroyed in the first place.

For me, a sermon like this works. It takes a concept, ties it in to what is happening in Judaism that week and then applies to how we should live our daily lives and interact with each other. This may seem like a simple formula but I have seen and hear a number of clergymen who are not able to do that.

Hopefully I will be able to take this message to make myself a better Jew and a better person.