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Shraga Simmons

LA Fires: The Meaning of Life, When Nothing is Left

We first enter this world with clenched hands, symbolic of a self-identity that tends to be defined by material possessions: home, clothes, car, mementos. We collect things in the hopes of finding meaning, satisfaction and attachment.

Yet that is not our true essence. As a life-goal, acquiring possessions is an exercise in futility, because possessions are external and independent of their owner. (Maimonides, Guide for the Perplexed, 3:54:3)

This idea is dramatized upon death, when a person’s hands are open – because you can’t take it with you. (Midrash Rabba – Ecclesiastes 5:14)

What truly defines us is not our possessions, but who we are, how we treat others, and how we respond to life’s challenges.

The people of Los Angeles, having lost everything in a firestorm flash, are experiencing this dynamic in real time.

CLARIFYING PRIORITIES

Despite the devastating damage, most people emerged from the LA fires with their health intact, and into the caring arms of family and friends.

Profoundly, our most valuable assets are in the emotional and intellectual realms, independent of external factors. These “acquisitions,” which can never be taken away, are a source of ongoing joy and security. (Rabbi Eliyahu E. Dessler – Michtav M’Eliyahu, vol. 1, p. 43)

  1. Life itself is the most precious possession. People often think: “Lots of money would make me happy.” Yet nothing compares to the value of life itself. Imagine the joy of being saved from a near-death experience. Furthermore, consider how we’d give everything to save our own life. (Rabbi Eliezer Papo – Peleh Yo’etz, Simcha)
  2. Relationships: The loving support of family and friends, and the shared memories, are treasures that no fire can destroy.
  3. God is the anchor of emotional-spiritual stability and consistency. With trust in God, challenges become opportunities for spiritual growth, rather than insurmountable obstacles. As King David said: “God is with us in distress” (Psalms 91:15).

One longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, age 85, when told that her entire home – photo albums, artwork, antiques, etc. – was incinerated, exclaimed: “This is my opportunity for a fresh start.”

STARTING AFRESH

Throughout Jewish history, many courageous people have rebuilt their lives following devastating tragedy.

In the 18th century, as a fire destroyed their home, 8-year-old Dov Ber found his mother distraught.

“I’m not weeping for the loss of the house,” his mother explained, “but for the loss of the document containing our family tree, tracing our lineage back to King David.”

“Don’t worry,” said Dov Ber, who later became the great chassidic leader, Maggid of Mezritch. “I’ll start a new family tree.”

In times of devastation, life’s existential questions are thrust upon us: When everything is stripped away, who am I? What is my most important asset?

During the Holocaust, it is said that those who came to the concentration camps accustomed to greater material affluence, often suffered more.

For each of us, the Los Angeles fire begs the question: How much have I developed into the person who can lose everything, and still be okay?

Though we live in comfort – a house to come home to, a stocked refrigerator and a closet full of clothes – imagine losing every material possession. What if this happened to me?

This powerful, introspective question forces us to prioritize our essential values and goals:

What am I living for? What is truly important?

What have I built? What do I pledge to continue to build?

Our hearts and prayers go out to all those devastated by the fire, with blessings for clarity, courage and strength.

About the Author
Shraga Simmons is a rabbi and journalist. He is the co-founder of Aish.com and co-founder of HonestReporting, as chronicled in the acclaimed book, “David & Goliath: The Explosive Inside Story of Media Bias in the Mideast Conflict” (2012). Originally from Buffalo, New York, he holds a degree in journalism from the University of Texas and rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He is author of LifeWisdom, the multi-volume Torah study curriculum.