JOYOUS SERVICE

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Freida on her birthday next week. Wishing you a year of happiness, with nachas from your Family, and much achievement.

Mazal Tov to Chava who also has a birthday next week. Wishing you a happy and exciting year Chava.

Mazal Tov to Joy on your birthday next week. I hope you are well. Wishing you a happy and healthy year.

Our mother's (Nechama bas Chasha) neshamah should have an Aliyah. It is her Yohrtzeit next week, and we all remember her with fond memories. BEH I will be visiting the Beis Olam next week.

I believe that Claude's mother passed away on the same day as my mother, and we wish her neshama to also have an Aliyah.

There are another two important birthdays which we celebrated last week, and these are the Baal Shem Tov and the Alte Rebbe.

The Baal Shem Tov was born in 1698 and the Alte Rebbe in 1745, both on Chai (18th) Elul, and both giants of our People.

The Baal Shem Tov

The world at the time of the Baal Shem Tov was chilled and dreary, and he set it alight.

He taught that even the simplest soul can bond to the Infinite Creator with LOVE AND JOY.

For the Baal Shem Tov, joy was more than just a detail of Jewish Life. It was a path of it's own - a key and central Path

And this joy was not only limited to Prayer, Study and performance of Mitzvos, but could be found under all circumstances.

He taught that every event that befalls a person, and everything he sees or hears, are all opportunities to know the Creator and to serve Him.

The Alte Rebbe

In this week's Sedra Nitzavim- Vayelech, we see the pasuk 'Ki karov elecha hadavar meod, befichah uvilvavechah, laasotah - This thing (which I am commanding you today ie the commandments and statutes), is very near to you, to carry out with your mouth and with your heart (they are not up in the Heavens, or across the sea.)

It was on this pasuk that the Alte Rebbe based his now famous Book called The Tanya, which is the basis of Chabad Chassidus, which derived from the Baal Shem Tov

And an extract from the Baal Shem Tov's sayings in the book 'Tzavaat HaRivash - 46' -Better Happy than Strict:

Don't get carried away with excessive details in everything that you do. Because one's evil impulse can use this to insist that you have not fulfilled your obligations, so as to make you depressed.

And depression is the greatest obstacle to serving the Creator.

Even if you stumble in sin, there is a way out. Be saddened by the sin, ashamed, and plead with Him to absolve the bad you have done.

BUT THEN GET BACK TO REJOICING IN THE CREATOR, since you regret what you did, and have resolved to never do such foolish things again.

Consider that Hashem knows and examines all hearts. He knows that you wanted to do things in the best possible way, but were not able.

Strengthen yourself with JOY.

And isn't it interesting that in the personal events of this week, most of the names referred to JOY and HAPPINESS!

Gut Shabbos to all, and wishing everyone a kesivah vechasimah tovah for a happy and sweet New Year.