Ki Tavo

Deuteronomy 26:1 - 29:8

William Shakespeare's Sonnet 29
When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featur'd like him, like him with friends possess'd,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Why would I share one of my favorite Shakespearean sonnets with you less than 10 days from the start of the Days of Awe? It is clearly not a Jewish text, nor does it send a message of community and working together.

Rather, it brings us to the first part of Hillel’s words from Pirkei Avot: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me?" (Ethics of the Fathers, 1:14). We need to work on this first part before we can get to the second half: “But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?" (Ethics of the Fathers, 1:14)

So many of us feel alone and bereft, wishing things are better in one way or another, wishing we have what someone else has, not content or appreciative of the gifts that we have each been given. Although the poem seems to refer to another person who brings joy and love and good feelings, it could also refer to moments of spiritual completeness.  It is my hope and prayer that each of us has had such moments of joy and a sense of being loved by another, whether the love is spiritual in nature or from another human being.

It is only when we can make peace with our own journeys, some more difficult than others, that we can go to the second part of Hillel’s words. We cannot help others until we recognize our own gifts. Our hearts open in gratitude and we are able to stand together once more.