A GENTLE INNER VOICE

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the summer, and now starting to prepare for the new year

Mazal Tov to Shmuly and Devorah Leah on their Anniversary next week. Wishing you much continued happiness together, with many more achievements and growth. Enjoy your parents visit Devorah Leah.

We are now approaching Rosh Chodesh Elul, and heading towards Rosh Hashanah, and I saw a beautiful piece from Rabbi Tzvi Freeman, who poetically, captures this atmosphere well. It is based on a Maamer, Ani Ledodi 5726 Chap 5, as follows:

"In the Hebrew month of Elul, the month before Rosh Hashanah, a voice inside whispers that it is time to return home.

Some return, even from the most distant places.

Some want to return, but cannot overcome their ways.

So the voice inside whispers, "I know that you want to return. I appreciate that."

And some more return.

Some try, but are just too tied down.

So the voice inside whispers again, "Even if you don't return now, I want you to know that you are deeply loved."

Upon feeling such love, an unbounded love that comes from the very essence of being, who could not return?

In the month before Rosh Hashanah, listen for that that voice.

Listen deeply."

Gut Shabbos and Gut Chodesh to all, and wishing everyone a Kesivah Vechasimah Tovah.