Try Walking Sideways!
By Rebbetzen Anna Bergson
I was honoured to be asked to deliver the Devar Torah for the Global Women’s Hallel Zoom this week.
Of all months to speak about…the Hebrew month of Tammuz only really elicits thoughts of doom and gloom, sadness and mourning as we start the 3 weeks and events leading up to the destruction of the Temple. Further thought lead me to even more less than upbeat connotations eg fasting during a UK heatwave (always seems to be during the 3 weeks!), overgrown hair and simchos on hold…
Lucky Rebbetzens who had previous happy months to speak about! We’ve had a run of them from Shevat bearing the acronymn ‘Shenishema Besurot Tovot’ – that we should hear good things – Shevat marks the beginning of spring and leads in to the month of Adar which is the month of joy/Purim. Next is Nissan which is the month of freedom/Pesach. Iyar, another acronymn ‘Ani Hashem Rofecha’ – I am Hashem your healer – a month of healing. Sivan – the wonderful month of the giving of the Torah.
Tammuz…even the star sign doesn’t look or sound so great being a crab/cancer.
But then I did some research into crabs and discovered that they are amazing creatures!
Crustaceans shed their shell many many times, each time they can increase their size by up to a third! The shedding process is very difficult, requires a lot of energy, is very stressful and dramatic.
Now I had the beginnings of my Devar Torah! We have safely shed and put away our winter coats – have we realised our full potential for growth?
Have we become bigger and better people – are you ready for a new chapter in your life? Now is the time to do it! The crab is very vulnerable after it has shed its old shell as the new one is soft and open to infection, so it hides temporarily. Nevertheless, this does not deter him/her from always finding the strength to go through with this process. A humbling lesson for us all.
Another amazing fact about the crab – one leg is longer than the other and so walking sideways is more efficient and ensures they don’t trip up over themselves!
Most of us walk forwards or backwards. We try to walk forwards with our good deeds, words and actions. We move forwards with people who are a good influence over us. We move backwards with g-d forbid negative actions/behaviours/bad habits/addictions/people that bring us down.
But do any of us walk sideways? Walking sideways is different from the norm. It is unique and ensures you are not ‘going with the flow’ of society/our environment that is moving forwards/backwards. You won’t trip up over anybody if you walk sideways because nobody else is doing it!
And so this Tammuz I challenge us all to start our own movement of walking sideways, ie be an innovator, be creative, stand out and be inspirational by expressing your own g-d given unique talents.
Because just like the crab always finds the courage and strength to grow every month, surely we can too.
And by emulating the positive attributes of the crab, we will please g-d transform this seemingly sad month into a month in which we can truly rejoice in our collective greatness, achievements, and most importantly, love and kindness.
Anna x
PS – This article is dedicated to a special lady (R.L) who always tells me she enjoys my writing and encourages me to write more whenever I see her!
Anna Bergson is Rebbetzen of St Anne’s Hebrew Congregation and is also a Hypnotherapist & Holistic Health Practitioner.
Her website is www.annaholistictherapies.com
Thank you, Rebbetzen Anna. Even the humble crab has things to teach us. Although the lead-up to Tisha B’Av is a time of sorrow and reflection , the 15 Av is an event that is life-affirming, when love banishes hate.