What is the difference between a righteous and wicked person? Rabbi Z.S. Suchard teaches that when a righteous person is in trouble, they seek a blessing, that they should be uplifted. A wicked person seeks to curse someone else. Why seek a blessing in such difficult times? A blessing enables us to change ourselves so that we become a different person. So often we ask why others have not changed their ways to make our lives better, yet we have not looked into the mirror to change ours. This week, we once again hear the beautiful blessing Bilam gave the Jewish people, the words of Mah Tovu said each morning we step foot into the synagogue. Yet, we know those words were intended to be a curse. Bilam exemplifies the righteousness that can exist in the world with this mindset. There are plenty of reasons to curse in our world. Yet, there are more than enough reasons to bless. Simple things–over a cup of water, a piece of bread, the ability to wake up each morning.

This week, in the tragedy of the Texas flooding, we have witnessed another natural disaster, destroying young lives at a camp where children prayed like our own children in our summer camps.

One video showed a group of young campers and their counselors who were able to get to safety. On the bus, they did not sit in silence. Rather, they sang a hymn, “Sanctuary” as they passed through the destruction zone. Our Ziegler Sanctuary is shaped like an ohel, a tent, a place where we gather to celebrate joy and mourn sorrow.

Each week, we come together with the same words of fixed prayer, yet our kavana, our heart’s intention, changes with the world around us. May we find blessing in our togetherness, knowing that a righteous person in these difficult times will seek blessing, so we can help those afflicted and repair the world one moment at a time.