Castles in the Sky and Shadows in the Mind - Ki Sisa

I have what I call an overactive imagination. When things are going well, I build castles in the sky and create plans for years ahead. When things are not going well, that same imagination turns on me and starts playing out worst case scenarios. It can turn into a kind of anxiety that almost makes me feel physically sick. It is interesting because my mind does not change, just my mindset.

With everything happening in the world right now, especially in Israel, I can feel that imagination wanting to run. Even from far away there is tension. I find myself checking for updates. The uncertainty feeds the mind, and the mind can be a dangerous place when it is left unchecked.

In this week’s parsha, Ki Sisa, the Jewish people miscalculate when Moshe is supposed to return from Har Sinai. They think he is not coming back. That gap between expectation and reality creates panic. They grasp for something tangible because uncertainty is uncomfortable. That part feels familiar. The same imagination that allows us to dream big can also drag us into anxiety.

Being human means living with both castles in the sky and shadows in the mind. The question is what we build out of those moments. Do we let fear push us into impulsive decisions, or can we slow down long enough to remember that silence is not abandonment and uncertainty is not proof of disaster?

Maybe this week is an opportunity to notice where your own mind is running and gently bring it back. One thought. One small action. Trusting that there is a divine plan even when it is not obvious, and taking whatever comes one step at a time.

Good Shabbos

All the best

Avroham Yehudah Ross