THE ENLIGHTENED HEEL

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

We wish long life to the Levy - Gollub Family on the passing of David Gollub ah, a much loved and kind man. Wishing the Family only happy occasions in the future.

Mazal Tov to Mendel Kehaty on his birthday next week. Wishing you much success in both gasmius and ruchnius and continued achievement with your many activities Mendel.

Mazal Tov to Aaron on his birthday next week. Wishing you continued success with your music Aaron, and all your other activities.

Mazal Tov to Adam Frankel on his birthday next week. I hope all is well Adam. Wishing you a great year!

Mazal Tov to Pesach Yeshayah on your birthday tomorrow. Keep up all your beautiful achievements Yeshayah!

Mazal Tov to Shneur Zalman (Junior) on your birthday on Shabbos. Keep growing nicely and giving your parents much nachas.

I started using a Siddur this week, which Shmuly had given me as a present a while back. It is a beautiful Siddur, and it illuminates parts of the davening with teachings from the Rebbeim.

I decided to slowly improve my davening this way and would like to share one of the teachings that I saw this week.

It also had a connection to this week's Parshah Acharei Mos - Kedoshim, and an interesting life story which I saw on Chabad,org, which I think is also connected (see below)

The verse in the davening was "Bes YAAKOV (House of Jacob) go, and we will walk in the light of Hashem..."

The Hebrew word YAAKOV is made up of yud plus ekev. EKEV is a HEEL and Yud refers to the light of G-dliness ie the light shining in the heel.

That is to say, Yaakov is referring to the lowest level of the Jewish People (us) who are the HEEL

We are beset by manifold challenges, because it is extremely difficult to overcome the natural desires stemming from our bodies and animal souls.

And even when we understand the Truth of Hashem, this is usually not strong enough to motivate sincere change!

However, even in such a state, we can go in the "light of G-d" when we cry out to Hashem, beseeching His Mercy, and humbling ourselves, (like a child to a father), we can call forth abundant Divine compassion.

And Yaakov is the attribute of Mercy (being the third of the forefathers) - also see Tanya from this Tuesday.

And in the parshah 16:16, when the Kohen Gadol is making atonement for the Jewish People on Yom Kippur, it says "He shall carry out the same procedure, where the Divine Presence dwells with the Children of Israel in their impurities" and Rashi says "Even although they are impure, the Divine Presence is with them."

<https://www.chabad.org/multimedia/video_cdo/aid/5094127/jewish/My-Journey-o f-Transformation.htm> https://www.chabad.org/multimedia/video_cdo/aid/5094127/jewish/My-Journey-of -Transformation.htm - Heart warming story of Mollie Resnik

Wishing everyone a wonderful Shabbos.