PEOPLE

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

This coming week is the yohrtzeit of my first cousin, Alden ah'. Alden was Froma's husband, and Kerry Lee's father, and he was the son of Aunty Girlie, who was my mother's sister. Alden and I were good friends and I remember him often with fond memories. We wish the Family many simchos in the future.

Most of our lives we are dealing with PEOPLE.

Sometimes we have good experiences, and good feelings, sometimes the opposite. Sometimes we trust and sometimes we judge unfavourably. Sometimes we need people and other times we are helping. Etc.

In this weeks sedra, Chayei Sarah, we see aspects of this:

Avraham comes to Chevron and addresses the bnei Ches to purchase maaras hamachpela to bury Sara, and how Efron was scheming, to give it for free, and then scheming with the price. But Avraham did not trust and he insisted to pay the full price in front of the whole city as witnesses.

Then we see the faithful servant Eliezer, going out to find a wife for his master Avraham's son Yitzchak, faithfully carrying out his instructions, and even putting his own interests aside. And he finds Rivka for Yitzchak with Hashem's help.

Then there is Lavan, Rivka's brother, who is greedy, and shows disrespect for his father

And then we see Avraham dividing his wealth and giving everything to Yitzchak and 'presents' to his concubines.

And the passing of Sarah, Avraham etc.

This week, I have been much more aware of the first Prayer that we say before going to sleep at night on week days. (Interestingly we do not say it on Shabbos and Yom Tov)

I think the reason it has been more prominently understood by me, is because I have been reading The Gate of Trust by Rabeinu Bachya, and it just seemed to ring true and harmonise with those Teachings.

Anyway whatever it is I want to share this very beautiful tefilah for those who don't know it, and to refresh, for those who do.

'Master of the Universe. I hereby forgive anyone who has angered or vexed me, or sinned against me, either physically or financially, against my honour, or anything else that is mine, whether accidentally or intentionally, inadvertently or deliberately, by speech or by deed, in this incarnation or in any other, (!!!) ANY ISRAELITE.

May no man be punished on my account.

May it be Your Will Hashem my G-d, and G-d of my fathers, that I will no longer sin, and neither shall I again anger You, nor do what is wrong in Your eyes.

The sins I have committed, erase with Your abundant mercies, but not through suffering or severe illnesses.

May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, Hashem, my Strength and my Redeemer.'

What potential, this one Prayer alone holds for the world!

Gut Shabbos to all.