Graduations and harvesting wheat: Reach your potential
As originally appeared in The Jerusalem Post on June 3, 2022.
Potential is a French word meaning that you aren’t worth a damn yet. -Butch van Breda Kolff
Earlier this week our family reached a milestone as our middle child, PCK, graduated from high school. Far from the pomp and circumstance of graduations abroad, the Israeli version is similar to the entire local education system. Sort of disorganized, rambling, a lack of decorum with parents and graduates talking showing a complete disregard for the actual program, but somehow it finishes and the kids make it out okay with a diploma. We want to wish a big Kol Hakavod to PCK, the one child who each year on the first day of school took a picture scowling, showing how she really felt about going back to school. We really can’t believe she finished high school, and wish her the best in her future endeavors. PCK- You were given many skills and talents. It’s now time to work hard and use those skills to the best of your ability and realize your full potential.
I was planning to write a whole column about graduations and money, and then a colleague walked into my office with a cheesecake. That seemed to help me recalibrate and remember that the Shavuot holiday is upon us and maybe I should be focusing on the festive day.
A few years ago I wrote about a Shavuot lecture given by Rabbi Ahron Lichtenstein Z”L, adapted by Dov Karoll, He said, “The time of “katzir” (harvest), when Shavuot falls, is contrasted with the time of “asif” (gathering), indicating the holiday of Sukkot. What is the difference between katzir and asif? Katzir is the first point in the agricultural process at which some sort of usable item emerges from the field. At this stage, the grain has developed to a point where it can begin its humanly controlled processes. However, it is still far from being a finished product. At the time of harvest, much potential has yet to be realized before the time of ingathering.”
Developing the theme that receiving the Oral law was like an unfished gift, R’Ahron continued, “The demand to develop the Torah she-be’al peh ( Oral law) is not placed upon a single generation or a single individual, but rather upon the entire Jewish people for all time. Thus, at Sinai God set before the people both the objective text, the raw material of the grain, and the requirement to develop the oral law to its fullest potential – the obligation of every Jew.”
So we see that two aspects of the holiday, both the giving of the Torah and the agricultural aspect are both about potential.
After 2 years of Corona, this Shavuot more than ever should be a springboard for us to get back on track. In many respects, it’s a new beginning. It’s not just a spiritual recalibration but a financial one as well. If you think that you should be doing better financially, it’s time to look in the mirror and figure out why you aren’t where you should be. It’s time to realize your potential.
Often we get all excited about starting fresh, just think about New Year’s resolutions, and then doubt sets in. Alana Matos of Forbes wrote, “One of the toughest parts about starting something new is getting the courage to take that first step. We’ve all been there– one moment we feel excited, but then the next the voice inside our head creeps up to silence our passions. We tell ourselves things like “I have too many things going on” or “I’d like to start my own business someday– but not now.” These feelings are what often stand in the way of us taking the leap and following our intuition.”
Stay focused and don’t let those little voices get in the way. You can take control of your financial situation. I’ve written numerous times about living within means, budgeting, and investing. Let’s incorporate these principles into our lives. Time flies- it seems like just yesterday you were sitting in one of those little Gan chairs for the end of year party and now they are finishing high school. Before you know it you may have weddings to pay for. Then comes retirement. If you don’t start planning for these milestones, you will be up the creek when they arrive and you have no way of funding them. The government certainly won’t help! If the last 2 years of Corona has taught us anything it’s that we can live without spending money on all kinds of things. And we can still be happy.
Let’s start actualizing our financial potential. Chag Sameach.
The information contained in this article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. or its affiliates.
Aaron Katsman is the author of Retirement GPS: How to Navigate Your Way to A Secure Financial Future with Global Investing (McGraw-Hill), and is a licensed financial professional both in the United States and Israel, and helps people who open investment accounts in the United States. Securities are offered through Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. (www.prginc.net). Member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB, SIFMA, FSI. For more information, call (02) 624-0995 visit www.aaronkatsman.com or email aaron@lighthousecapital.co.il.
