The story is told of a sweet old man named Zusya (his name in Yiddish means “sweet.”) On his deathbed Zusya was found by his friends weeping. They asked him, “What is troubling you Zusya?” Zusya answered, “I will soon come before God in heaven to answer for my life and my deeds. If I’m asked, ‘Zusya, why were you not a great leader?’ I will answer, ‘Because I was not Moses.’ If I’m asked, ‘Zusya, why were you not known for your wisdom?’ I will answer, ‘Because I was not Solomon.’ But if I’m asked, ‘Why were you not Zusya?’ I will have no answer.
Sweet old Zusya seems clear about who he wasn’t. But he weeps for not having known who he was.
How many of us get so distracted by what others have done or are accomplishing (or what we think they are accomplishing based on their social media posts) that we stop valuing ourselves, our own sweet and precious gifts, our own pressing needs and hopes?
In some Jewish communities it is traditional, in the spring, to wish one another a ‘sweet Passover” — a zisn Pesah. As we celebrate the return of spring, let’s all remember to celebrate the sweetness of what each of us brings to this community.
Spring Blessings,
Rabbi Shosh Dworsky
Associate Chaplain for Jewish and Interfaith Life