Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D.

I read a very interesting essay and will share it with you, following which I will explain why I think it is important at this time during these difficult experiences we are all going through.

A father said to his daughter, “You have graduated with honors. Here is a jeep I bought many years ago. It is old now. But before I give it to you, take it to a used car lot and tell them that you are interested in selling it and see how much they offer for it.

The daughter went to the used car lot and returned and said, “They offered me $1,000, because they said it looked pretty worn out.” The father then said, “Take it to the pawn shop.” She did just that and returned saying that they only offered $100 because it is an old jeep.

The father then asked her to go to a car club and returned telling her father that they offered $100,000 for it because “It’s an iconic jeep and sought by many collectors.”

Now the father said to his daughter, “The right place values you the right way. If you are not valued, do not be angry. It means you are in the wrong place. Those who know your value are those who appreciate you. Never stay in a place where no one sees your value.”

Reading this made me think of how we think of ourselves at various times, under certain circumstances.

I then begin to think of seasons and holidays and family celebrations and our relationship with God. What thoughts enter our minds when we are seated in our respective houses of worship and begin to mouth words we try to understand?

What feelings do we experience when we are with friends and family and witness the generations before our very eyes?

To me, the most important aspect of praying relates to our feelings about ourselves. There are times when the confidence we display seems to disappear and we feel a sense of helplessness. Now, I think, is the time to really remember that we are who we are for many reasons. What we think of ourselves depends a great deal on how we are accepted. God certainly is accepting. And if God is accepting, how can we not be accepting of ourselves and those we know and meet?

I believe that the most important aspect of the essay is to understand we each have value.

Perhaps we should remember that trying to constantly prove our worth to someone means we have already forgotten our value. We cannot and should not start seeing ourselves through the eyes of those who don’t value us. We must cherish our worth, even if it seems others don’t.

Reciting the prayers, listening to the music, and sitting with friends and neighbors and perhaps family, should help us understand that we matter. Everyone matters. And no one can make us feel inferior without our consent.

All this can be accomplished by the simplicity of the worship service designed to make us feel good about ourselves and those we love. Our purpose is to reinforce these feelings through the simple acts of contrition and forgiveness.

If God can forgive us, then it stands to reason we can do no less with those whom we know and the ones yet to meet. Then, in my humble opinion, our prayers will have meaning, and our feeling of self-worth will lead us to a path of completion and fulfillment.