JOY CONTINUED

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well and that all had an joyous and inspiring Yom Tov.

Mazal Tov to Avi on his upcoming birthday this week. Wishing you a successful year in all your pursuits Avi and all of it with much joy!

Mazal Tov to Hirshy on passing the next stage of his Nursing Course. Michayil el chayil with continued successes!

BH we had a very joyous 48 hours of Yom Tov in London. (but we did miss the Family from abroad who often visit at this time of the year)

Our job is to now carry all our joy and inspiration with us into the New Year, and into our mundane lives.

This is especially important for the coming Shabbos, Shabbos Bereishis, where there is a saying, 'The way we conduct ourselves on Shabbos Bereishis, is the way we will tend to conduct our whole Year.'

I saw an interesting article from this week's Parsha regarding the JOY EXPRESSED BY THE TRIBE OF LEVI, from the Teachings of the Rebbe.

The Levites infused the Temple service with the joy of their MUSIC and SONGS OF PRAISE to Hashem

In this week's Sedra we see also how the Levites also infused their STUDY OF TORAH with joy, and by rendering CLEAR LEGAL JUDGEMENTS, and clearly instructing the people how to act and fulfil their obligations.

This clarity dispelled doubt and filled the people with joy and confidence in their Path of Life.

How did Levi achieve this joy?

It was their selfless devotion to Hashem, which freed them from their own personal agendas and predispositions.

This also reflects in the story of Adam and Chava in this week's Sedra.

They were meant to live a joyous life in Gan Eden, enhancing their awareness of Hashem and His Goodness.

And then along came the serpent to seduce them with temptation to do something that Hashem had forbidden.

And we are still trying to correct this error until today.

Wishing everyone a Gut Shabbos Bereishis, whereby we CONTINUE with the true pure JOY of Yom Tov and the Leviim.