THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

Dear Family,

Hope everyone is well and had a nice Shavuos.

Mazal Tov to Esther Miriam on her birthday today.

Mazal Tov to Shmuly and Devorah Leah for their upcoming Anniversary of their engagement at the Ohel

We wish Mommy long life for Meme's Yohrtzeit today.

Mazal Tov to Chanan and Naomi on their upcoming Anniversary on Shabbos.

Mazal Tov to Chava on graduating from her first year in Seminary. Well done!

I also heard that Rivky and Hirshy got good marks in their exams. BH and well done!

Last week and this week the theme of FORGIVENESS came up a number of times.

There is a very nice weekly publication which I get called Lemaan Yishmeu which featured Forgiveness, and it also came up in this weeks Hayom Yom.

Hayom Yom

'My father (I presume this means the Rebbe Rashab) wrote in a letter - Cherish criticism, for it will place you on the true heights.'

Leman Yishmeu

Rava said: 'If someone is forgiving, all his aveiros are forgiven.'

Rashi explains that since a person is not so particular with the faults of others, Hashem is not so particular with him. - Talmud Rosh Hashana p17.

The Ramak would say that suffering from insult provides the most effective atonement, more than can be attained by all other kinds of Teshuva. If people would realize this, they would even ask others to insult and embarrass them!' - Kol Bochim.

Our Chachamim teach: 'Those who are insulted but do not insult in return, who bear their disgrace but do not retort, who act with love and who rejoice in their own suffering, - concerning them it is written 'Those who love Him shall be as the sun when it comes out in its might.' That is they will merit the revelation of the Shechina.' - Talmud Shabbos p 88.

The Rebbe writes in a letter that the appropriate way to respond to a verbal attack is by acting as if it was not noticed.

And even more, the Rebbe says in another letter, that the one who has been embarrassed should realise that it is he who has caused his friend to do an aveira!! And he should therefore take on additional measures of observance to prevent this happening again! (besides not attacking back)

Wishing everyone a Gut Shabbos, and to forgive at least one person in our hearts.