THINKING OF OTHERS

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well. Wishing Renee and Brian a refuah shleimah!

Mazal Tov to Shmuly and Devorah Leah for their Anniversary on Shabbos. Wishing you many more happy years together with many continued achievements in both the material and spiritual!

In this week's Sedra Reeih, in today's portion chamishi, we read about Charity (TZEDAKAH)

This section is always read also on the days when we say Yizkor for departed parents.

This is to emphasise the importance of Tzedakah.

And The Alte Rebbe has been discussing Charity for many weeks, but also in today's Tanya, (Igeres Hakodesh Letter 9) the Alte Rebbe is begging us to give attention to TZEDAKAH:

" My beloved ones, my brethren and friends, who are unto me like my soul:

I come [herewith] as one who reminds and awakens those who sleep the slumber of "vanities of vanities," and to open the eyes of the blind....I.e., in all mundane matters and in the means by which one earns one's livelihood, one should not be like those who do everything for their own sake, acting only out of their desire to satisfy themselves and their families, rather than for G-d's sake. Let not the House of Israel be like all the gentiles....

Therefore, my beloved ones, my brethren:

Direct your hearts to these words which are expressed very briefly, how in these times, when the approaching footsteps of Mashiach are close upon us, the principal service of G-d is the service of charity.

As our Sages, of blessed memory, said: "Israel will be redeemed only through charity."

And as we move now to Rosh Chodesh Elul, a month of preparation for Rosh Hashanah, with reviewing and reflecting on our past year, and assessing what improvements we can make for the future, we wish everyone a kesivah vechasima tova for a Sweet, Happy and Healthy New Year.

Gut Shabbos and Gut Chodesh to all!