'Crazy', 'insane' or 'irrational' are all words normally associated with something negative. If someone acts crazy we encourage them to be normal. Calling someone insane would be an insult, not a compliment, and for those that behave irrationally we always hope that the world of the rational will prevail.

This coming Tuesday is the tenth of Shevat, which marks the passing of the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe o.b.m. - Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson. In an essay which he published just before his passing he shares an interesting perspective on irrationality.

As humans we glorify intellect and are led to believe that there is nothing superior to the rational mind. But this is untrue. Like the physical body, the human intellect and logic is finite. To live life only by what makes rational sense is limiting. To subscribe only to the logical is to trap ourselves in the finiteness of the human being.

Every soul possesses a Divine spark that transcends logic and rationale. This energy opens up for us the infinite world of the supra-rational and the intangible. Connecting to this part of our soul allows us to explore a greater and deeper reality, achieving that which we never thought possible.

Insanity or irrationality is a deviation from the logical mind. Negative insanity is a downward deviation. But positive insanity is when we extend beyond the logical mind and move upwards, above the world of logic.

The antidote to being irrational is not rationality - its positive insanity. Do a good deed today that you always thought was impossible for you to do or explore a Jewish topic that you always thought was beyond your skill level. Reach higher that you think you can.

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