It’s All the Same to Me
Rabbi Moshe
Gersht
Travel size
/ 145 pp
As readers
of this blog know, “self-help” books are not my genre. Nevertheless, I was very
intrigued by Rabbi Moshe Gersht’s recent release for a number of reasons. First
of all, it’s a self-help book written by a talmid chacham based largely, (but
not exclusively!) on Torah sources. Indeed, the weave between the secular sources
with the Torah ones is very impressive. Most orthodox rabbis probably wouldn't even attempt a book of that nature due to the apparent, though non-existent, taboo on combining Torah and secular sources into a single book. Second, it is a drastic genre change
from his first book (see here for more about that: http://torahbookreviews.blogspot.com/2015/09/succos-inspired-rabbi-moshe-gersht.html).
As such, I wanted to give it a shot and requested a review copy.
It’s all
the Same to Me is a work on finding internal peace and tranquility. The book
opens and spends a few chapters on the concept of “hishtavus”, meaning “equality”
using it as the key to solving most of our problems, a mostly unknown concept
for those unfamiliar with Chassidic texts. Hishtavus is developed and expanded
upon and shown how to apply to various life scenarios. While many will value the
book for showing how ancient Chassidic concepts can be applied to modern day
thinking, it’s not what gives the books its most practical value, in my opinion.
Regardless
of the source, concept, or explanation, what impressed me the most was how the
author “nails it on the head” when giving advice on dealing with difficulties
in life. The examples he gives are real and are relevant to everyone. Take
this excerpt, for example:
Let go of being Right: ….let go of your need to be right or win…There are no losers in a world where we all come and return to the same Source…You can still maintain your opinions, be happy about them, and be peaceful even if someone disagrees…Choose the path of least resistance..Practice asking yourself “Would I rather win or be at peace?”
This is a
perfect of example of something we all face: dealing with toxic and explosive
people. Just give in to them. Walk away. Let them think they’re right. It doesn’t
make you any less of a person.
It is
passages such as these, with examples of real life scenarios that are so relevant, and filled with such good advice on how to move forward and be
happy even when things seems to be down, that makes this book so worthwhile. This is the book you’ll want to read a
second time, and while doing so, highlight the passages and pieces of advice
that are most relevant to your life.
Short,
sweet, and practical. Let’s try to internalize it’s teachings.
