Faith Lift

"Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes, turn and face the strange … just gonna have to be a different man” (DB)

Are you ready to show
your faith?

Human beings have a natural defense mechanism that becomes activated when we learn new facts that change our perception and conduct in life. It casts a pessimistic and negative shadow upon this new information, which immediately leads us to denial. We reason that if it contradicts our previous knowledge, then it simply cannot be right. By accepting it, we admit that we have been wrong - which is difficult for most people to achieve.
But it gets worse. There are people who align themselves with certain groups that have agendas, yet do not even know what they are denying with those agendas. To deny a fact, a person must first understand the fact itself. To change something, a person must know what it is he is changing ... and if it truly needs changing at all.

A sociology professor in college once called on one of his students and asked, "Johnson, you're a Christian. Please tell us something about your religion."
Johnson stood up, made his way to the front of the class, and spoke for ten minutes about Christianity.
When he was done, the professor continued, "Mohammad, you're a Muslim. Please share with us something about your religion."
Mohammad approached the front of the room and spoke about Islam.
Then the professor said, "Goldstein, you're a Jew. Please explain a bit about your religion."
"I'm sorry, sir, but I can't," he replied.
"Why not, Goldstein?" the professor probed.
"You see, sir, I'm Reform."
"Well, Goldstein," answered the professor, "don't you think you should know something about your religion before you reform it?"

It is painfully unfortunate that there are countless Jews who are brought into this world and are raised in an atmosphere that lacks the knowledge of the basic fundamentals of Judaism. As they grow, they may recognize their spiritual status and may associate themselves with a religious faction, yet they often don't know why. They are who they are by default, not choice. As their brothers and sisters, it is our obligation to share our knowledge with them in a way that is both loving and inviting. It is our responsibility to provide them with a faith lift - to empower them with the beauty of our religion so that they may see that there is nothing needed to reform.

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please give me the ability to uplift my fellow Jew ... and myself!"