HARD WORK

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

All indicators are pointing to Reuven and Chana Lieba's Family in Boston this coming week, and many interesting connected Torah teachings from the week BH.

So I would like to share this.

First of all we would like to thank Reuven and Chana Lieba for hosting us for Daniela and Ariel's wedding, and being with you and the rest of your Family. This and the wedding etc was so comfortable and enjoyable, and we bring back many happy memories BH

And now BEH it will be Perry and Mikayla's wedding this Sunday. It should be beshaah tovah umatzlachas - at a good and auspicious time. Mazal Tov! And wishing the choson and kalah to build an everlasting home together with much joy and love, and a wonderful wedding celebration BEH

Then there is Reuven and Chana Lieba's Anniversary next week. Mazal Tov!

And on the same day Sara's birthday. Mazal Tov!

And what came to light more clearly while we were in Boston, was the tremendous honour which Reuven received from the hospital where he works. - See attached. I only saw this for the first time.

Mazal Tov Reuven for such a huge achievement which has come about from HARD WORK AND DEDICATION!

And this links to the Dvar Torah that I would like to share.

Since Pesach we learn one chapter of Pirkei Avot every week, and I saw a beautiful vort from the Rebbe on Chap 2 Mishna 16:

It says, "He used to say: It is not your obligation to complete the WORK, but neither are you free to desist from it.

If you have studied much Torah, they will give you much reward. And your Employer is trustworthy to pay you the reward for your labour......"

Yalkut Shimoni 863 brings a parable: "A king once asked his servant to hire workers to fill an infinitely deep pit.

The foolish workers looked into the pit and said "how will I be able to fill this?"

The wise worker said " I am a day worker. I am happy to have found work"

Ultimately we are day workers (Eruvin 65a) as the Tzemach Tzedek explained "It is our job to illuminate...... And if necessary, when we stretch out our arm, Hashem is capable of stretching our arm even further hundreds of cubits.." (Igrot Kodesh vol 22)

When Batya, the daughter of Pharoah saw a child floating in a basket on the Nile, even though the basket was too far away for her to reach, she still stretched out her arm to try.

Miraculously her arm stretched out many more feet and she reached it (Rashi Exodus 2:5)

Similarly we must do our part, even if chances for success seem bleak, ultimately Hashem stretches our "arms" ten fold and helps our efforts to bear fruit (R Mendel of Kotzk)

This theme also came up in our Sedra Bechukosei, and in today's Hayom Yom.

Wishing all a Gut Shabbos and much success in both material and spiritual work!