ימין ושמאל תפרצי
Yamin u’semol tifrotzi
For you shall spread out to the right and to the left.
The tefillah (whose source is Yeshayah 54:2) is addressing the collective nation of Klal Yisrael and their obligation to expand, to reach out, to focus on positive growth after first purging the negativity that has impeded them as a result of the long galus, exile. I think we would be remiss not to apply the enjoinment to the nation to each and every one of us. Every Jew has an obligation to be inclusive, to reach out to the many who, sadly, have moved on beyond alienation, and have become completely disenfranchised from Judaism as a religion and from Hashem as the only Source of our existence. Clearly Jews are very giving, both with their largesse and with their time. Sometimes, these same good people, however, ignore (either intentionally or subconsciously) their own needs. True growth is achieved when these two critical dimensions coaslesce: giving freely to others, while also holding oneself accountable. Kindness and generosity must go hand-in-hand with discipline and self-control, so that one is able to achieve true shleimus, perfection/completion.
