Do-overs: Netzach Means Learning From Mistakes

"The broken tablets were put with the new ones into the Ark." --Talmud, Menachot 99a

What can we learn from the fact that Moses put the broken tablets into the Ark along with the new tablets? We move on from our mistakes, but we also take the lessons along with us.

In helping to form a new nation, Moses made many mistakes. He overreacted when he saw the people sinning before God by dancing around the Golden Calf, and he threw the tablets to the ground. Forty days of hard work were lost.

As a leader, Moses owned his inability to handle the situation calmly. He did a "do-over" and received new commandments, but the experience of breaking the tablets wouldn't be erased from memory. It was part of his narrative as a leader and part of the historical record of the Israelites. The broken tablets would endure alongside the new ones.

We all make mistakes on the way toward our goal. As a business owner and entrepreneur, there is a story upon which I often reflect. Everyone is familiar with WD-40, the water-displacing spray that was originally designed to repel water and prevent corrosion, but was later found to have numerous household uses. Many people, however, don't realize that WD-40 stands for "water displacement 40th attempt." It was the inventor's 40th attempt at a successful product. Norm Larsen had 39 do-overs before finding success. By naming his product WD-40 he kept the first 39 attempts with him as a lesson, just as Moses preserved the broken tablets as a reminder.

May we all make mistakes and then remember those mistakes as lessons as we achieve our goals.

This is a reflection on the fourth day of the Omer. Join the conversation by visiting the Omer liveblog on HuffPost Religion, which features blogs, prayers, art and reflections for all 49 days of spiritual reflection between Passover and Shavuot.

 

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Comments

[az0th]

03:52 AM on 04/12/2012

The sefira Netzach isn't about learning from mistakes. While it means 'eternity or glory', it is force in opposition to form (Hod), Netzach representing disorganization and impulsiveness. Where did you get it's about learning from mistakes?

[Levi Ben-Shmuel]

11:05 AM on 04/12/2012

Az0th, Netzach is also associated with endurance and moving forward. The Rabbi's example of the inventor taking 40 attempts before finding success is a good one for these aspects of Netzach. Best, Levi