Limmud Oz 2021

The proper path, it is written, involves all that is beautiful or honourable to ourselves, and from the people around us. But so much “ugliness” or dishonour, can be projected on to us, internally from self-criticism regarding various “failures” or “faults” and externally in our dealings with others.  Service fatigue or burnout in our efforts to help others can be overwhelming or frustrating. “Ugly people” - in the sense of their apparent characters or at least the way they treat us- offer little in affirming our “inner beauty”.

We will draw on our lived experience as people of various cultural and religious backgrounds and how we sometimes find comfort or guidance in our faith traditions. E.g. The Prophet went into a cave. We can forgive ourselves because God is abundant in forgiveness. We cannot be ugly if God made us. In-fighting consumed Korach. There is nothing new under the sun.