| “Nothing’s perfect” – is something we all | | | | and tears. It probably isn’t till we die that we'll be |
| hear and say pretty often. We grow up knowing that | | | | able to experience real perfection…” |
| no matter what we do and where we go, we will | | | | Yet at the same time, this “horrible world” |
| always see defects in everything and everyone | | | | around us is also breathtakingly beautiful. It inspires us, |
| around us. But if things are really built this way, then | | | | heals us, entertains us and cares for us. And if you |
| why do we have this longing for perfection? | | | | think about it, the only thing in it that’s out of order |
| When I worked for a large international corporation, I | | | | – is ourselves. But why? |
| once had to write a so-called “360 degree” | | | | Nobody gives us answers to these questions. We are |
| report on my boss – a description of his attitude at | | | | born with them and die with them, never managing to |
| the workplace, intended for the higher executives of | | | | disclose any part of the truth. We get used to thinking |
| our company. When I got to writing about his negative | | | | that “we do not deserve to know,” or that |
| features, I went and asked him what I could actually | | | | “such small and flawed creatures as us simply |
| write. Smashing the phone on the wall or destroying | | | | weren’t meant to reveal what’s hidden to |
| computers in front of the employees—wasn’t | | | | us.” But our children, don’t they have the same |
| really something I wanted to share with our | | | | questions? And their children? And all the people that |
| headquarters. | | | | ever lived? And if so, how can it be possible that it |
| After some thinking, he said: “Write that I am a | | | | was all made without any purpose? |
| perfectionist. It's not as bad as my other problems, but | | | | Reaching Perfection – Miracle or Vital Need? |
| at the same time, HQ people consider it a defect in a | | | | The wisdom of Kabbalah says that these |
| leader.” | | | | “rhetorical” questions are perfectly normal and all |
| I remember being both surprised and confused at the | | | | people have them within. They emerge from what the |
| same time. Surprised at how graciously one can | | | | Kabbalists call “the point in the heart”—the initial |
| conceal one's disturbing attitude and habits, and | | | | part of our soul that causes this much-said-about |
| confused at a thought that occurred to me many | | | | longing for perfection. Kabbalists explain that this |
| times before: “Why is perfection so unattainable? | | | | longing is nothing less than our inborn desire to |
| Moreover, why do we long for it so restlessly? And | | | | reconnect to our spiritual root, the Creator. |
| usually, the less perfect we are, the stronger we long | | | | And the most interesting part of it all is that we have |
| for perfection.” | | | | to achieve the state of perfection and eternity, and we |
| The fact is that we rarely pay attention to that voice | | | | have to do it while living in this world. In other words, |
| inside us that encourages us to accomplish something | | | | there is nothing to be discovered after our death. And |
| that looks absolutely perfect. More or less, that little | | | | moreover, after we die, there is neither hell, nor |
| voice is telling us: “There is perfection out there; you | | | | heaven. In fact, Kabbalah puts it even simpler: We |
| just have to find it. Just look a little harder and you | | | | already are in hell, living our lives the way we do now. |
| will.” | | | | There is nothing worse than this, because we don’t |
| However, that voice will always be followed by | | | | feel our connection with the Creator even by a |
| another one that says: “Even if there is perfection | | | | hair’s breadth. Now isn’t that a refreshing |
| out there, it’s a waste of time to try and find it in | | | | viewpoint? |
| our severe, defected world, full of envy, hate, blood | | | | |