Parashat Va'Etchanan

Dear Friends,

The ability to persevere and persist towards long-term goals despite challenges is an essential element to study Thora.

Yet, is it always a proper response to persevere and persist?

Studies show that at times giving up is a better response than persisting. People who let go of unattainable goals tend to have fewer depressive symptoms, less negative affect, lower cortisol level, less systemic inflammation, and fewer physical health problems. Moreover, there is an opportunity cost as well. Investing time and energy into one goal prevents us from trying to attempt different, perhaps more attainable or more beneficial goals.

We can look at Moses for a broader guideline as to how to act when a goal is unattainable. Moshe longed to enter the land of Israel. He desired to finish his original mission of bringing the Children of Israel into the land. But he could not enter the Land.

Moses however, did not go down without a fight.

He begged and pleaded to G-d to let him enter the land. We are thought by the Rabbis that Moses begged 515 times to enter. Moshe serves as a paradigm for preserverance and persistance in the face of challenges.

Yet, at the same time and from a different perspective, Moses teaches us about quitting.

G-d told him to stop pleading, he stopped. He put in the effort, but once he realized that the goal was unattainable, he quit.

Once he does, he is freed to focus on a new task.

Within the same narrative, Moses provides for us a role-model for extreme persistence in the attainment of our goals, but at the same time as well an example for quitting when the goal is clearly no longer attainable.

Shabbath Shalom