Heaven, Hell & TOV

I saw this cartoon on Facebook – and it’s sad, but true. It reminded me of an article I recently read about the "Selfie frenzy" and tourism. They have combined to create a quest for pictures of excess, drunkenness and destructiveness damage, defiled treasured sites, as well as insulting local sensibilities to capture themselves in a memorable travel moment that they can post on social media. This is what travel officials and experts describe as an epidemic of narcissism and recklessness as they turn historic sites and vacation hubs into their own personal photography props.

This stupidity has no limits. From carving initials into the wall of the Colosseum in Rome, to climbing sculptures and knocking off pieces, to snapping nude photos of themselves on a Holy mountain in Borneo to filming a pornographic video near the pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx. Then there is the new sensation called "balconing", when inebriated tourists jump between balconies or dive into courtyard pools causing injury and death. Now, tourists must put themselves in the picture and this sends a loud and clear message -- It's about "ME!" It is not about the importance of the place or the customs, manners and histories of the place.

I guess I'm just a dinosaur. Most of the pictures I have and take are of the places I go, the people I meet, or of some event important in the life of my children or family. The only pictures of myself I possess, are those taken of me by others. Let's face it, without those "others," it would just be me, anywhere. I take pictures to preserve the memory and experience. Research has shown that the experiences are more important than things.

Contrary to all the technology which separates us, the Spin Doctors who dictate our self-worthlessness and a society where Value$ rules over the Values of the Common Good -- WE NEED ONE ANOTHER! It is "NOT ALL ABOUT ME", IT IS ALL ABOUT US" – I NEED YOU & YOU NEED ME!!!

There is an old legend, with many variations, about someone who wanted to know the difference between Heaven and Hell. He was shown Hell first. He entered a beautiful room with an enormous table filled with the most delectable food and drink one could imagine. Around the table were seated many people who looked pale and emaciated. On the table the only utensils were very long spoons, so long in fact, that they could not feed themselves, so they were starving with all of that wonderful food in front of them. They could put food on their spoons, but the handles were so long they could put the food on their spoons in their mouths.

He was then taken and shown Heaven. He saw the exact same room, with the most awesome food laid out, just like the table he saw in Hell. And, just like in Hell, he saw the same long-handle spoons. But when he looked at the people around the table, he saw that everyone was happy and well fed. What was the difference? In Heaven the people used their very long spoons TO FEED EACH OTHER!

So, when I hear "Selfie," I think Selfish, Self-important, Self-righteousness. As the Jewish Sages taught, "Everything in Moderation." We do not exist in a vacuum. We are intimately tied to one another. Humans depend on each other for their very Survival! There is no "ME" without "WE"! How does one find the balance? Use the TOV Standard in your thoughts, words and actions -- PROTECT LIFE, PRESERVE LIFE, MAKE LIFE MORE FUNCTIONAL AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

Make your life like the story of Heaven above and not like Hell. Do TOV, Choose Life – and take more pictures of the “OTHERS” in your life!

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Shalom,

Rabbi Jeffrey Leynor