A conversation with Rabbi Sherre Hirsch

[0:00]" And it really this story. Posted formed by my personal experience. Also from being a rabbi for ten years at large cap -- People we'd be hearing. At some point line take kindly. Like. Dictate the -- terrorist attacks essential joke and they were everybody else's eyes were -- At full -- and their lives were working. As individuals Hearst ward and Africa. -- this is not happening to me. And --"

[0:36]" And and the people that you mentioned the stories you talk about and the bloc and the people have been toward incredible tragedy isn't and setbacks. And it's amazing that you can even. Begin to find the words to comfort them."

[0:49]" What's funny. -- because. A lot of people came to meet with real tragedy. There's sometimes -- words that would -- them Atlantic it is helping hand cried and hoped. I think it might take an accomplished painter. A lot of people came to mean we. Take that weren't as tragic but equally difficult and personal. And -- felt. Even more pain because they can have places to share it and people to talk to because they were. That we shame by struggling said he is very private personal way I want it to protect America."

[1:27]" And that's sort of goes into what you talk about when people are -- no matter what stage of life -- and our plans don't materialize the way we think they're going to have."

[2:19]" So tell me a little bit about that title animals go -- to how weak and as she's safe find our divine past. We plan of god laughs I don't."

[2:28]" I got it from me Yiddish proverb that like gravity used to say that. And -- She rested he -- to tell me whatever I would conquer the a disappointment to teenagers pan out like a -- had broken up with me or accompanied the worst period. She would say you want to make -- just tell -- your plan. And there was comforted because I sides when I was younger attack out of -- classic at me and I thought decade -- high drama. But it cuddle her but I realized the country not take me -- plastic with me the same way that I maxima and I. When he Celtic attack on became apparent stress that the it's a laugh joy outlast. Partnership rather different from -- And I wanted to teach people that I would never think that. That this wasn't a general thank god but actually we can't for the ride and much more profound way that we can ever imagine."

[3:25]" So even with with the bad things things that really."

[3:27]" Aren't and I you know got it caring or. Went where are we being excited we'd be without. Rather than where we gotta watch Sasser. And that image of the -- to -- back to crossfire. I don't mean to cut that -- suffering. Can't buy me. Feels that."

[3:45]" And also. And according to I guess how you view things got a certainly not causing any of these things in our lives."

[3:53]" And it means. I hacker by this concept of the all powerful god became. If not at all powerful that -- cost that evil and I can't live without I'd rather have a god that is a little less powerful. And in the control of all these. They could that happen there or that we don't necessarily understand. That -- actually -- cares for me that's me actually. Wanted to eat meat but -- Like -- purple. -- Fitted very different national special for Christian."

[4:27]" Yeah but you say that this book is not necessarily written for it just. Jewish people -- everybody tell me how how that can fit him with other people's."

[4:38]" And I don't think you're mr. right Jewish -- Jewish people and that's actually not what I felt I want to write a book. But to speak to -- text speak to every. The -- experience a feeling that their life turn -- like April. And it didn't matter to Christian agnostic. Atheist you wish even there are -- and I think there's a few of those in the world. That everyone had that feeling I really became a Christian not especially because. And that expression that god has a greater plan for. Our task is to partner and cute -- what we're supposed to be here."

[5:19]" And there is no proof of that again this is sort of just -- then telling yourself this this is the way you need to thank --"

[5:25]" Well it's part of that is changing your perspective and it's part of that is transforming here to say. I think we spent so much our lives in the year what will be what it doesn't happen what if it did happen. And that is really beyond that realizing that. Having the faith and the police that we can't is. Different that we technique that god they have been -- better track and that even -- it's not turn out likely planned. It'll turn out differently and it could be that they are greater than we ever match it."

[5:59]" How do you recommend that people get beyond the fear because in your book you talk about it's -- title ten steps to finding your to find path might this not turning out like you won it. And I think you begin by talking about fear and and ending your excuse is sort of moving beyond to get going on this journey can you talk to me about some of that."

[6:18]" You know the biggest the first step by talk about it and the excuse is discovering what happened and then. If all me I would -- and I would start dating if army might have been more supportive. If only I had more money and I it would quit my job. We make these couple -- I think asking. And they. Stocks. Keep a game played over and over again. And their justification for us and the other part of it is that the tear them down. Have so much more power -- in action so what I get people in. Take the action first in Judaism he liked to candles and then and a -- And the reason he keep it -- writing it because he's taking action. And he'd seen me. Will or will not potentially. -- fear. If you are afraid afraid afraid to jump off diving board and effort you went on we get appear but he should take action and jumped. At a certain point it can't eat here and you're going to be like at a depth of support and advocate that the mundane example. But. -- certainly taking action he acted if he believed that you can do it kicking action and go for it. And the -- St."

[7:36]" Telling you about a fun to say -- disappointed with the way your career is going. Which seem to say that died or. If somebody is not believing in god that there might be just something better out there for you how do you recommend people move beyond that."

[7:52]" At first didn't think people need to do to celebrate what it is rather than what day get it. Because went -- We look at all the things that we don't have while we don't know what we eat we understand. As opposed to what we it is that there's a great. Teaching in in the Bible where god is. Describing himself to take -- their key attributes about it -- that are extraordinary they're not expecting to -- it conduct at this point got to get. -- and difficult and but he just cracked -- extraordinary. I take the way to cats on a -- thirteen. Thirteen which an extraordinary. That are. Special technique he's unique world and start from there. Part of part of our problem is that where -- pastor -- in the future work your future regretting the past. And part of -- challenge -- can really be here now and what do we do it. In me forget we've protected people that -- to look at them that. No longer belong like it out and -- can remember why we're there resentful about or holding onto them. And what I -- people forget architect of the person's past and not because they're capture it. But because the kind of person you know because he stopped. Me. For. And that's part which are. Getting president is to elect also show that explains guilt that we he'll. That -- it gripped. And doesn't four."

[9:37]" I -- I think that's a very challenging."

[9:41]" like a -- but getting over it and at a certain point you get over. It -- An attitude. -- there's. Kitty that we choose life for which use gas and particles not -- which is where he died because -- like. It's that we choose to. -- against."

[10:02]" And it's probably a constant conversation you have just. I have put yourself you feel yourself may be slipping back and then have to pull yourself up again."

[10:10]" What I tell people -- to protect the pocket not meant to be read from start to finish but again. The book is meant to be put on the side of your cable night after a difficult -- to pick it up. Cute look at it chapter and -- and make you think and then an -- Have another chapter Q you stopped at a meeting. And if Bret struggling give her the book that would ultimately happen is start to work that steps and they start towards you. And big Church worker --"

[10:43]" And I've heard to mention a couple of times to compare his despair yet tell me about that."

[10:49]" And we -- compared to -- meeting we catch people outside. But we interpret them as they're inside. So becomes very frustrating because it's about everything look at all they have and look I don't. Because work -- only -- we can see from our perception of the outside. And yet we don't what's really going inside and the Easter comparing your insides to someone outside. You're gonna get there because everybody's outside archaic but it up wonderful mask but we rarely know -- and and against -- correct that pretty quick comparing it yeah. You realize said. Every person. It made an image of god has their struggles that they need not be cheering you. But Russell was there. And try to discover -- there. Should be and it rabbi and it really. People keep me -- Can't just. And I can turn me. -- compared to spare you know because people stories more. Real -- are -- and arsenic it's. And to -- the talk about it."

[12:02]" Why did you talk to me a little bit about finding meaning a particularly like that chapter and I think that's very closely linked it compared to -- we can't we kind of do it with ourselves."

[12:13]" I think. This concept of finding happiness doesn't really work for me because. Hacking is I was what makes you happy what data from terrible to happen next step. Meet me is permanent which actually he'll mean. It never leaves because it changes -- connector for your soul. And what I say in the park and when I believe in life. It when you do something that is meaningful that -- intrinsic meaning that it touchy issue away transforms you. You automatically affect other people and then they -- a new army intact or -- I EU finding me. And it it's not about a selfish pursuit of meaning. It's kind of selfish -- if anything about. Really preen your tactics helped the world way to kind of tree tree which is exciting when you think about it."

[13:09]" So finding meaning could be and something that you do volunteer wise or what else do you suggest."

[14:41]" It's almost as random acts of kindness we heard about years ago yes."

[14:45]" It's thick -- but I heard about that yet to get can't that would I think it is an act of kindness and -- But I don't can only speculate except that comes out that your children and their children's children. It's -- it's not act like conditional saying it is that you and telling them how you're affecting others if you're focused on affecting others. They -- focus on being real and true. To yourself and authentic. Except it and."

[15:16]" I there a couple of other points that you want to make."