People today are broken and depressed. One of three doctors’ visits by a woman in America is for an anti-depressant, and the rate of depression in men is pushing 40 percent. America is riddled with loneliness as the divorce rate hovers at one in two marriages, and more people than ever live alone. All this is curious given that we live in an age, thank G-d, of boundless prosperity. So why are so many people hopeless?Ours is a culture of soulless capitalism that makes human beings into commodities who judge their self-worth by the quantity in their bank accounts rather than the quality of their relationships. Our soulless, capitalist culture whispers to us that money rather than moral virtue is the currency by which we purchase self-esteem. Rather than reaching out to one another in love and compassion, we compete against one another for the largest number of external accoutrements of success.
This cannot continue. We must heal. Depression, unhappiness, and broken relationships should not be an American family heirloom. The month of Elul is a time not only for remission of sin but a reorientation of life. It is a time of limitless hope as we seek to rekindle our relationship with G-d and with all G-d’s children. It is a time when we exchange an attempt to impress the boss and master the office for an opportunity to reconnect with our spouses and inspire our children. Most of all, it is a time when we remember that real human happiness comes from meaning, rather than money, and from purpose, rather than possessions.
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach is the international best-selling author of 19 books, and the host of the TLC show ‘Shalom in the Home.’ www.shmuley.com.
