DEEP REFLECTION

Dear Family,

BH we have good news that both Renee and Brian have made good improvement in their health. Renee still has a long road to full recovery but her treatment is proving successful BH!

Mazal Tov to Talya Davidoff for her upcoming birthday on Sunday. Wishing you a wonderful year, and hopefully more celebrations in the Family Talya!

Thereafter is Freida's birthday. Mazal Tov Freida. Wishing you continued growth and happiness, and much nachas from your whole Family, and with much joy!

And at the end of the week is Chava's birthday. Mazal Tov Chava. Wishing you continued successes in everything that you are doing, and with much happiness!

This week's inspiration came as a combination from the Sedra, and the Chassidic holiday of Chai Elul (18th of Elul), which is the birthday of both The Baal Shem Tov, and The Alte Rebbe

Our Sedra Ki Savo, starts - Vehayah ki savo - "It shall come to pass, when you come to the land.(26:1)

(The Rebbe - abridged from a correspondence 10th Kislev 1953, discusses this as follows)

The Jews' entrance into the land of Israel is symbolic of the soul's descent into the body, and it's being forced to live in the physical world. The Midrash teaches that the words "and it shall come to pass" are always used to denote something of great joy. Though the G-dly soul is saddened when it temporarily leaves its place under G-d's throne, to dwell in a Jewish body for a certain number of years, it is a joyous occurrence, since the descent is to elevate the corporeal world through doing Mitzvot.

When the soul fulfils this mission, all the transient pain and suffering connected with the soul's descent and life on this earth are not only justified, but infinitely outweighed by the great reward and everlasting bliss which the soul enjoys thereafter...

From the above one can easily appreciate the extent of the tragedy of disregarding the soul's mission on earth. For in doing so one condemns the soul to a term of useless suffering not compensated for, nor nullified by that everlasting happiness which G-d had intended for it..

REFLECTING upon the greatness of the Torah and Mitzvot, specifically pertaining to this life, and reflecting also that the Torah and Mitzvot are the only means to attain the soul's perfection and the fulfilment of the Divine purpose, one will experience a sense of real joy at our fate and destiny, despite the many difficulties and handicaps, from within and without, which are inevitable on this earth...

Only in this way can one live up to the injunction: "Serve G-d with joy," (this week's Sedra 28:47) which the Baal Shem Tov made one of the foundations of his teachings, and which is expounded at length in Chabad, as stressed by its founder, The Alte Rebbe, in his monumental work, the Tanya (chapters 26 seq., 31 seq.)...."

Wishing everyone a Gut Shabbos and to use the last 12 days of Elul to do our own reflection on the previous year (one day for each month) and to make new good resolutions.

Kesivah vechasimah tovah for a Good and Happy New Year to all.