Most people occupy the same spot each time they are in shul. This time honored tradition is called sitting in ones makom kavua. A valuable insight into this custom may be found in this weeks parasha. The bad guy, Bilam, is committed to cursing Israel. Unfortuately for him, each time he opens his mouth, blessings emerge instead of curses. What does he do? He changes his spot and tries again. The fact that Bilam assumes he will be successful, if only he changes his place, implies that he believes his failure is attributable to the spot and not to his own short-comings. This is why we seek to occupy the same spot each time we are in shul. In this world of imperfection, we do not expect that each prayer experience will be completely successful. Nevertheless, we commit to trying again - but from the same spot, not a different one, for we realize that the change must come from within ourselves and cannot be blamed merely on the place. Byedidut (w/friendship), Rabbi Mitch Levine
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 13:22:42 +0000
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