“Sir, you are threatening the security of the plane – you have toothpaste in your carry-on bag…”
“TSA safety regulations, you must remove your shoes,” says the airport security screener…to a three-year old girl.
“Excuse me Ma’am, we’ll need to confiscate your liquid, it’s unsafe to bring onboard.” A bottle of pure water…
Have you ever wondered why it is that at Ben Gurion airport, you’re allowed to carry toothpaste or water with you through security?
I think it’s because when you’re merely doing your job, you can get caught up in technicalities. But when it becomes a matter of life and death, you’re compelled to find the root of the problem. It’s not about shoes, it’s about stopping terror. It’s not about random searches, it’s about finding the terrorist. It’s not about public opinion, it’s about safety.
The solution is to Care. Getting to the heart of an issue, and caring about it, ensures our actions will be motivated and focused. It is how much we care that determines the success and fulfillment of our objective.
As we juste celebrated our identity this Shavuot – the day God gave the Jewish people the Torah – let’s focus on unleashing our drive and passion for caring to be Jewish.
Because once we care, everything else falls into place. Being Jewish is not a job, nor a consciousness – it’s our very life!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendy
