GET YOURSELF A HAVER

I didn’t have very many friends in college. Even though I was part of different groups and organizations, I just never felt like I really clicked with anyone at my university. It wasn’t until after college that I met some people who would eventually become some of my closest friends who I am still friends with to this day.

The Hebrew word haver means, “friend, comrade or companion.” You and I need a few havers in our life in ministry. One good way I’ve found to find them is by getting connected with a local youth pastors network in your area.

One of the 48 virtues the rabbis say someone must have to truly live Torah is something called, “cleaving to close friends.” The rabbis say that a good friend serves three functions. The first is someone who increases your love for the study of Torah.. The second is to insure one's fulfillment of the commandments, for good friends have the ability and freedom to offer constructive criticism. The third function is to provide wise council in all areas and to act as a confidant who does not reveal secrets to others.

Think about that with me for a moment, won’t you? Who do you have in your life that offers those things for you in friendship? We’re all kidding ourselves if we try to work in ministry without friends. Friends help us stay the course when ministry gets hard. They help us shake the dust off and get ourselves back in the game. A friend doesn’t just let us fall, they walk us through our struggles and help us get to the other side.

Be encouraged, and find inspiration in the words of Rabbi Mordechai of Lechovitz who said: "Friendship is like a stone. A stone has no value, but when you rub two stones together properly, sparks of fire emerge.”

Go find a friend who helps you set the world on fire and make a difference in the lives of youth around the globe.

Shalom,

Heather

Resources- https://reformjudaism.org/learning/sacred-texts/learn-about-middot/cleaving-friends-middah-dibuk-chaverim