Parshat Acharei Mot- Environmental Pollution

      At the end of this weeks parsha there is a passuk which writes " do not perform the practice of the land of Egypt in which you dwelled; and do not perform the practice if the land of Cna'an to which I bring you, and do not follow their traditions"...the passuk continues "carry out My laws and safeguard My decrees to follow them... Which a man shall do and by which he shall live."(18:3,4,5)

The Torah is giving us a formula for life. The Torah May seem to be so restricting however, it's not it's all for our benefit. Every generation becomes more impure by the second. In Egypt, the Israelites didn't change their names, clothing and language. This was the merit why we were saved from exile. If we were there for another second we would become so impure that it would have been to late for us to come out of Egypt so Hashem did us a favor he "proposed" to us and eventually we have 49 days to work on ourselves to deserve to marry Hashem. It is a privilege and honor to be Jewish so we have from pesach until Shavuot the day which we receive the Torah from Hashem as our ring and commitment to G-d. Living in America can be difficult to embrace our Jewish heritage especially with the fashion, language and American names that are around us. Unfortunately, we want to fit in with the wrong people. If only we would realize what the meaning to be Jewish is we would be proud to act like a Jewish boy or girl and be proud of how we dress and our identity. May this Shabbat bring each and everyone of you closer to Hashem and closer to yourself and feel proud to be who you are.