AGONISING ???

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

Mazal Tov Penina on your upcoming birthday on Shabbos! Wishing you a wonderful year in all areas, with your wonderful Family!

Mazal Tov to Reuven whose birthday is thereafter. Wishing you much continued success and happiness Reuven.

And Mazal Tov Perry on your birthday one day apart from your father. Hope you will all be celebrating together, and for many happy occasions. Missing you all.

Last week week we met that interesting musical note called the SHALSHELES and found out that it only occurs 4 times in Chumash.

We heard it in last week's sedra Vayera, and funnily enough, it also occurs in this week's sedra Chaye Sarah! (24:12)

This week it was connected to the decision making of Avraham's servant Eliezer who was given the task to go to Charan and find a wife for Yitzchak from Avraham's family who dwelled there.

Basically the sound of the Shalsheles, in all 4 places, represents a person caught in the middle of difficult life decisions.

And so, in relation to the above, I found it interesting, this week, reading an article about 2 members of our community, Dr Tali Loewenthal and his wife Professor Kate Loewenthal.

Part of their story, was that in their early years when they were making their approach to Judaism, they were both faced with dilemmas of whether they should continue their secular studies, in an environment which they perceived as being difficult, or to involve themselves more fully in Judaism.

Tali was studying Jewish History and Literature, and was worried about the many 'heretical' texts that he was being forced to read.

The Rebbe advised him to finish his Doctorate, and advised him, in a 9 minute private audience, on certain aspects of his studies and his life in general.

Kate also came to seek The Rebbe's advice, feeling guilty that she was not giving her full attention to her family as other Chassidic wives did. Also she was concerned that perhaps psychology was not an acceptable pursuit for a religious woman. She was suggesting to The Rebbe that she should give up her position of University lecturer in psychology.

The Rebbe told her 'There is no conflict between psychology and Torah...You should use your psychology to have a positive effect on your students.'

Years later, Tali was visiting The Rebbe, while the Rebbe was giving out dollars. (bear in mind by the way that thousands of people would be walking past the Rebbe for a 20 second contact). The Rebbe began speaking about his wife, who was by then a mother of 11 children and a full Professor of the psychology department.

He said 'Your wife is a religious woman, who covers her hair, who teaches in the academic world.

SHE IS SHOWING EVERYONE THAT YIDDISHKEIT IS NOT DIFFICULT!, NOT DIFFICULT!, NOT DIFFICULT!' (emphasising 'not difficult' 3 times, with much intensity)

Anyone who knows Tali and Kate will verify the tremendous Torah knowledge they have achieved, their dedication, and how many hundreds (could be thousands) of people they have reached out to, and helped.

Wishing all a Gut Shabbos