OUR PRECIOUS BODIES

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well, and either fasted well, or are fasting well.

Mazal Tov Hirshy on graduating as a nurse!! What an amazing achievement after so many years of studying, and navigating the American education system. Keep up the good work in all areas. It proves that 'If you work and and you find, you can be believed.'

Mazal Tov Chava who also passed the modules that she has been studying with flying colours! You should go from strength to strength in all areas!

I would like to welcome Sharon Davidoff to our group. Sharon is Brian's wife, and also the sister of a school colleague of mine Lennie Barber. In fact I was just recently in touch with Lennie at a School reunion for the first time in 53 years! So nice to have you with us on the group Sharon!

I saw 2 interesting points this week which were related.

The one was from Tanya in Chap 12 of Igeres Hateshuvah, and the other was from this weeks Sedra Vaeschanan

Tanya

The Alte Rebbe describes the great opportunity we have, by being in this physical world, through a beautiful analogy of the sun and a shadow.

When the sun moves millions of miles in the heavens, this is reflected by a shadow on earth moving just a few inches!

And this works also the other way around - When man (or woman) down below on earth perform small physical acts ie sanctify themselves by doing the small physical Mitzvot which Hashem has commanded us to do, then we become sanctified in huge measure Above. As we say in our brachos '...Who has sanctified us with His Commandments...'

Chumash

It says in Chap 4:15 'ushemartem meod lenafshotechem' - you should guard yourselves (your life) carefully. Ie we should look after our health.

Rambam writes that looking after the body is part of serving Hashem.

And the Magid of Mezeritch stated further 'that a small hole in the body, produces a large hole in the soul'.

Meaning that our physical health affects our spiritual health.

Wishing everyone a very joyous Shabbos!