“The stone that the builders rejected became a cornerstone.” (Psalms 118:22)

When building the Temple in Jerusalem, there was a stone that was initially rejected, it was deemed as not needed for the building. At the end, they were missing a key stone to finish the holy of holies, and that specific overlooked stone, was the perfect fit and became the cornerstone of the Temple.

We read this every Rosh Chodesh, celebrating the renewal of the new moon.

In life, there are parts of ourselves and of our experiences that we try to deny, that we reject and ignore.

As individuals, we seek to disown certain difficulties and struggles. We attempt to disown and discard that which make us uncomfortable, that which may not seem perfect. We avoid the parts of our story and of ourselves that may be unaccepted, different, or painful.

This is our unique mission: to take that which we prefer to deny and reject and to find a way to elevate and turn them into something uniquely positive.

Rabbi Shmulik Yeshayahu

We need to push through this tendency, and do the very opposite. We need to embrace these qualities instead of rejecting them. We need to turn them into our personal cornerstone.

This is our unique mission: to take that which we prefer to deny and reject and to find a way to elevate and turn them into something uniquely positive.

Do not reject or discard the tough parts: turn them into your personal keystone.