Chosen for what?

"Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance."

Epicurus

My back is killing me.

My knee is barking at me everytime I take a step and forget about bending it to sit down!

My shoulders are aching in part from this morning's workout but mostly from schlepping boxes all day.

It's the Sunday before Passover , which in my home is the day we turn the house over in preparation for the upcoming festival.

On my morning bus run, I found myself questioning why I am still so committed to this yearly ritual.

Over the last year or so, I have questioned much about how I address my life as a member of the Tribe,The Chosen People.

Chosen for what?

The rules and restrictions imposed by some Rabbinical authority that has no connection to me or my life makes me question everything that I once accepted as gospel.

Hence, I have chosen to do what I do and what feels important to me.

There is no rhyme or reason to my choices.

I can't say that it's rooted in anything other than it is what I know and familiar with.

Much of what I continue to incorporate into my life makes no sense at all.

Keeping Kosher?

This whole Passover overhaul?

Shabbat dinner every Friday night?

These are some pretty significant commitments considering how many other things I have chosen to do away with or not participate in.

I don't need a lesson in theology.

I know where the whole chosen people thing comes from and what it's supposed to mean to me as a Jew.

Still for me I think that being one of the chosen people affords me the opportunity to make some choices of my own.

Now if I can only figure out why I make those choices maybe I would be less confused.

Shavua Tov!