Trying To Find Meaning During A Health Crisis

I am not Jewish, but have always found a lot of wisdom in the Jewish faith. I hope you don't mind my reaching out. Back on June 8th I had a nasty fall and badly injured my right foot. Unfortunately according to my test results it looks like I will require surgery. Worse yet it seems this type of orthopedic surgery is not easy to recover from. I am quite frightened, especially since I don't have much help available to me. However, I touched base with my family doctor and he recommended that I tell whatever surgeon I wind up using about my needing home health care post surgery and the surgeon will put me in touch with a social worker from the hospital where I am having the operation. However, I am also struggling emotionally. I feel guilty and ashamed that the accident happened to begin because I had been warned by my foot doctor to wear sturdier shoes when going walking for exercise and I didn't listen to him. I also feel this accident was sort of a "wake-up call" for me. I now realize how many things about my life are not as they should be and how much time I have wasted by not working up to my full potential. In a nutshell I guess I was wondering if you had any suggestions as to how I can make this difficult time in my life lead me to become a better person. I am 51 years old and feel that most people have written me off as a "waste of time", but I believe that G-d put each of us here on this earth for a reason. As a child I was taught that G-d never gives up on us.

Shalom!

Thank you for your question!

Yes, Judaism believes that God loves all mankind and, as you say, God never gives up on anyone!

The key to a meaningful life and a relationship with God is to perform good deeds. So too, one does not need to become Jewish to have a relationship with God or to go to heaven.

All that God wants from the Non-Jewish world is that they observe 7 precepts, or commandments. They are known as the “Noahide Laws” because the requirement to observe these seven laws was given Noah, a righteous non-Jew (yes, the fellow from the story with the flood).

The 7 laws are:

1. Don’t murder.

2. Don’t steal.

3. Don’t worship false gods.

4. Don’t be sexually immoral.

5. Don’t eat a limb from an animal that is still alive.

6. Don’t curse God.

7. Establish a system of justice.

Any human being who observes these laws goes to heaven. I encourage you to engage in prayer and reach out to God. Speak to Him, tell Him what’s on your mind. Pray for your concerns. At the same time, perform good deeds as often as you can.

I believe that you will then find a positive change in your life.

Take a look at the website https://www.netivonline.org/ which specializes in helping non-Jews with religious beliefs. There is a wealth of information there that you will find useful and inspiring. It is also worth looking up the “Noahide” or "B'nai Noach" movement and consider joining them!

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