COMFORT ZONE VERSUS THE YOKE OF TOIL

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

There were a number of points of interest that came up this week which were linked, which I would like to share, and to conclude with a practical point.

As you know, we are in the month of Elul which is linked to Teshuvah, and making good resolutions for the New Year.

And we just started learning the Laws of Teshuvah in Rambam today (for those learning 1 chapter a day).

In chapter 3 which we will read on Shabbos, the Rambam explains the power of Teshuvah and the POWER OF A MITZVAH.

He explains that a person should see himself as balanced equally been good and not-good, (we don't know what adds up to be good and not-good), and that doing EVEN ONLY ONE mitzva or good deed, this will tip his whole balance towards good. (And the opposite is also true)

Similarly his one good act can tip the whole balance in the world to good!

On Rosh Hashanah Hashem assesses the balance within each individual, and the sounding of the shofar is to awake us from our slumber (our involvement with the vanities of the world), and to remember our Creator.

To supplement this, we heard a cute story from Pirkei Avot of last week (6:4,5,6).

The Mishneh speaks about the 48 ways in which Torah is acquired, and this is THROUGH TOIL AND HARDSHIP, but the Mishnah promises that if we do toil, '..you shall be happy and it shall be well with you - You shall be happy in this world, and it shall be well with you in The World To Come.'

The Ben Ish Chai offers a wonderful analogy showing how this battle between the comfort zone of life, and the toil of Torah plays out, as follows:

'2 donkeys were carrying their loads.

One was carrying a heavy load of salt and suffering under its weight, and the other was carrying large but weightless sponges.

The one carrying the sponges was joyfully leaping over the mountains and skipping over the hills.

After a few hours the donkeys reached a river which they had to cross.

When the first donkey entered, his load of salt began to melt and soon disappeared completely. He then walked joyfully and lightly through the river.

When the second donkey entered, his sponges became full of water and became very heavy. The sponges that had formerly been his friend, became his enemy (Chasdei Avot).'

And to compromise between these views, todays Tanya (Letter 11), says that we have to be happy with both the 'good' and the 'difficult' situations that we are faced with in life. Because really they are both tests from Hashem to see how we will react!

Bottom line, it would be good if we could all make a resolution to take on ONE new, practical mitzva to do for the coming year!

Gut Shabbos and a kesiva vechasima tovah for a good, sweet and happy year in both the physical and spiritual!