SPLITTING WATER

Dear Family,

Hope everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Baty for her birthday tonight. Wishing you a year of much success and happiness.

The main event of the past week in relation to the Family, was Penina and Avi engagement in New York.

BH lots of members of the Family flew in, and it was a most memorable pre Shabbos, Shabbos and post Shabbos few days.

We met many members of Avi's Family ie his parents Rabbi and Mrs Vogel, Savta, and brothers Aaron, Binyomin (Ben), Yossi, Yechezkel (Chezi) - who surprised everyone by flying in from LA, and David.

Look forward to meeting the rest of the Family IYrH.

And then from Boston, Chanan, Talya and Ariele, Reuven and Chana Lieba.

And of course Rivky and Hirshy from LA and Pesach and Zalmy from London.

Hope I have not missed anyone out.

Mazal Tov to Penina and Avi.

It was all really beautiful.

This weeks Dvar Torah is connected to your engagement, and besides all good wishes to you, we wish all those who still need shidduchim brochos for this to happen.

In this weeks Sedra Beshallach, one of the themes is Krias Yam Suf (THE SPLITTING OF THE RED SEA)

This is very much connected to the theme of SHIDDUCHIM and to the events of this last week.

And so we came across, this week an Essay and Video in relation to:

1. SHIDUCHIM

2. Interface of Science and Torah
<http://www.inner.org/parshah/exodus/beshalach/mathematical-scientific-paral lels-splitting-waters.php> http://www.inner.org/parshah/exodus/beshalach/mathematical-scientific-parall els-splitting-waters.php

I am attaching this very interesting 10 minute video in relation to the Science interface for anyone who is interested , and am summarising below the essay which we saw from R. Simon Jacobson on SHIDDUCHIM entitled 'Marriage: Destiny or Chance' as follows:

'How is MARRIAGE connected to KRIAS YAM SUF?

There is a discussion in Midrash about the mystery of matching couples, and it comes up here that, for G-d's role in the making of a Shidduch 'IT IS AS DIFFICULT AS THE PARTING OF THE RED SEA'.

The Talmud echoes this belief by stating that before a person is born G-d designates his or her mate: 'A heavenly voice calls out - this woman to this man.'

On the other hand the Talmud also states 'that a man and a woman are paired to each other based on their merits.'

It is therefore also indeed as difficult as Krias Yam Suf for the couple to find each other.

As far as the future is concerned, Rabbi Jacobson concludes as follows:

'Today we do not need to be reminded how difficult it is to create and maintain healthy marriages.

SOME FEEL IT IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT THAN THE PARTING OF THE RED SEA!

Yet we have in the marriage of Yaakov Avinu, a formidable lesson in overcoming the challenge of building lasting relationships

Despite Yaakovs harsh challenges of dealing with his cheating, corrupt and cruel uncle and father in law for 20 years!! LABOURING DAY AND NIGHT THROUGH HEAT AND COLD WITH LITTLE SLEEP, Yaakov managed to build the best Family that ever existed ie the 12 Shevatim (Tribes), which would give birth to the Jewish Nation, and which is forever changing History till this very day!

Yaakov's journey inspires and empowers us, each in our own journey to find our soul mate, especially when we know that Hashem is also primarily involved in 'MAKING SHIDDUCHIM' which He continues to busy himself with today, and is therefore by our side.

But Hashems efforts require our partnership.

Through our virtue and prayer, by being better people, we engage Hashem in the mysterious - and arduous (KRIAS YAM SUF) - process, of joining souls together, in one beautiful dance that ripples through the cosmos, and transforms the world and all those around us.'

Gut Shabbos to all.