Guilt and Shame Will Not Change The World
This morning, I joined in on a JNF meeting about a project near and dear to my heart. ADI Negev is a world class rehabilitation village in the heart of the Negev desert that provides rehab services, medical care and special education for people of all ages with severe disabilities.
I’ve had the privilege to visit the village many times and each time I am filled with emotion and so inspired. As with all of JNF’s projects for people with special needs - the focus is put on each individuals ABILITIES - while giving them the resources to support their disability.
In today’s meeting, we heard from one of the volunteers at ADI Negev. Anna is a 19 yr old from Germany who decided to give 2 years of her life to live in Israel and work ADI Negev’s kindergarten. As if that wasn’t admirable enough, hearing Anna’s story literally brought chills down my spine.
Like most young Germans, Anna’s parents knew that their grandparents played a role in The Holocaust- but like most, they were told they were “just soldiers who did what they were told.” It was a shameful history that most were not willing to dig deeper into. But Anna’s parents felt that it was important for them to know the full truth.
Through their research they discovered that all of 4 of Anna’s great grandfathers played crucial roles in the systemic murder of 6 million Jews. From engineering the gas chambers at Auschwitz, to pillaging Jewish homes after their inhabitants were sent to the camps - they were not innocent bystanders.
This kind of truth about who and where you come from, can’t be easy to know. But to make change and grow, you have to start by telling the truth- as hard and uncomfortable as it may be.
But that truth does not have to cause guilt and shame.
Anna’s parents understood this and raised her to see that feeling guilt and shame over the actions of her great grandparents was not only unnecessary, but unhelpful. Instead, they instilled in her a sense of responsibility to change the course of history.
It’s because of this personal history that Anna decided to learn more and took a stand to fight against antisemitism that she saw rising once again in Germany. And to go to Israel to immerse herself in Jewish and Israeli culture- and to make a difference by helping EVERYONE feel that they have a place, a purpose and are worthy of this life- regardless of their ethnicity, background or their abilities.
If Anna let guilt and shame over her family’s history be the driving forces - she would not be making the impact she is making now.
The most effective activism and advocacy work does not prey on people’s guilt which just shuts people down, or even worse - leads to the perpetuation of past sins.
The most effective advocacy inspires people to take action and create positive change.
It may be scary to dig deep - into your family history, your own past, or especially into the depths of your own brain. It may be painful and hard to bring uncomfortable truths to light. But it is the necessary work the change directions and create more positive outcomes in the world.
When those things come to light- YOU get to decide what to think, feel, and do about them. You can choose guilt and shame, or you can choose love, responsibility, courage and determination.
If Anna, a young 19 year old, can do it - so can you.
But you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re a mission-driven person in the music biz ready to dig deep, do the work, and consciously choose a new direction… I can help you.
Send me a note and let’s set up a free consult call.