Are You Appreciated?

ARE YOU APPRECIATED?
Thanksgiving, Jacob and Laban
Do you feel valued by your loved ones, by strangers, by colleagues, by co-workers, by superiors, by subordinates -- by anyone? One of the simplest yet deepest ways of measuring people's selfishness is by witnessing how much they appreciate another. And by that we don't mean appreciating someone because you stand to gain something from that person, but appreciating that person in his or her own merit. It's one thing to value someone who did you a service (though that too is not to be taken for granted). Valuing someone for no ulterior motive is totally another matter. Does anyone appreciate and value you unconditionally? And for that matter, do you value anyone out there unconditionally? These are good questions to be asking on Thanksgiving, and like all piercing questions, they provoke us and can shed light on our psyches and provide insight into our lives. Are we, at the core, selfish or selfless people? Did our parents -- and does society -- validate or invalidate us? What impact does that have on us today? How much are we into protecting our image vs. looking outside ourselves? And above all, what can we do about it -- how can we become more sensitive human beings? How can we learn to value and be valued, to appreciate and be appreciated better?
You may be surprised to learn that the epic confrontation between Laban and Jacob in this week's chapter reflects the ultimate battle in our own lives between self-absorption and love, between worshiping the body or valuing the soul, between instant gratification or transcendence. In a fascinating presentation, the classic mystical treatise called Ayin Beis, whose centennial we celebrate this year, dissects the Jacob and Laban story, offering us, like never before, a map of the human and cosmic genome, coupled with a plan how to climb from raw matter of our mortal universe and limited perception to the most sublime heights of the infinite itself.
As we read the story of Laban's mound, please join Rabbi Jacobson in a fascinating class about the forces that make us tick. Discover a new and poignant barometer to measure the level of "self-focus" in you and in others. Learn how Laban and Jacob manifest in your daily life, and how that can help you grow and transform your self-esteem and your relationships.