RABBI'S THOUGHTS: BEREISHIS

Where Am I?

General Moshe Dayan, war hero and former Israeli Defence Minister, is walking along the street in Jerusalem. A young soldier barges into him and carries on walking without so much as stopping to
apologise.

"Young man, do you know who I am?" asks an irritated General Dayan.
"No, who are you?" replies the hapless young man.
"I am General Moshe Dayan, head of the Armed Forces."

"Do you know who I am?" the young man retorts, quickly.
"No!"
"Thank goodness for that", he replied as he made a quick run for it.

In this week's parsha, Adam tries to hide from G-d. G-d asks him "Ayekah" - "Where are you?" G-d - unlike General Dayan - knows full well exactly where we are and who we are. He certainly doesn't need us to tell Him. The simple explanation is that G-d is being diplomatic, trying to open the channels of communication and allow Adam to explain himself. Another, more profound, explanation is that G-d is telling Adam it is time to take stock, examine your life and your actions - "where are you?"

We ourselves need to take the opportunity from time to time to take a few minutes out of our daily lives and to ask ourselves the question Where am I? Who am I? What am I doing? Am I realising my full potential?

When we provide honest answers to these questions - only we ourselves our able to provide them and not "hide from ourselves" - then we are able to utilise the opportunities which come along to their fullest potential and to have a positive effect on all around us.

Shabbat Shalom