In life, the human being does not live only on bread and money.  While it is true that we must work to cover our basic needs, happiness is not found only in material abundance. Often, we find people who have everything they need and more, but still aren’t completely happy.

Many times, we can see people with well-paid jobs who decide to leave their job because they do not feel fulfilled or satisfied with what they do.  This teaches us that financial success and material wealth do not guarantee lasting happiness in our lives. (Do we remember Abraham Maslow’s pyramid?)

In this week’s Parasha, Moshe tells the people that upon entering the land of Israel, they should be aware that in addition to working and being successful, they would need a spiritual purpose in order to live happily.

To find true satisfaction and fulfillment, it is essential that our existence has a purpose, a mission that motivates us every day to get up and give the best of ourselves to other people.  Helping others, doing good deeds, and cultivating a healthy and active spiritual life are essential elements to achieve happiness and inner tranquility.

The connection with our inner being, with G-d and with the world that surrounds us, gives us an enormous feeling of fullness and satisfaction that money can never give us.

For this reason, we must seek a balance in our lives, where we understand that material and financial success is a means, but not the goal.  Let’s focus on finding purpose, cultivating spiritual well-being, and contributing positively to society.  Thus, we will discover that happiness transcends the material and will accompany us on our path to personal fulfillment.

The true meaning of a successful and meaningful life is to love others, ourselves, and to help.

This will lead us to find inner peace regardless of external circumstances, that we have to live.

Satisfaction in life is found in the search for a deeper meaning, in doing good deeds, and in taking care of our spiritual and emotional well-being.  True happiness is found in a generous heart and in a life dedicated to doing good.

May God give us the great blessing of finding the meaning of life and the satisfaction we long for, and that together we can build a more fulfilling, spiritual, healthy and happy world.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Refael Cohen