ESHES CHAYIL (WOMAN OF VALOUR)

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Mommy whose birthday is on Shabbos. We all wish you a year of continued success in all the many areas that you are involved with, in both secular and spiritual. And with much joy. BEH many simchos!

Mazal Tov to Penina on her birthday next week. Actually your English birthday is today Penina, the same as Mommy's. Wishing you therefore a wonderful day today, and on your Hebrew birthday next week, and a wonderful year BEH!

I have attached some videos explaining the meaning of HAKHEL, but in brief, the Mitzvah of Hakhel occurred every 7 years, on Sukkot, after the year of Shemita. This last Sukkot was therefore a Hakhel Sukkot. Hakhel means to gather together.

Following in the spirit of Hakhel, for the whole year, we look for opportunities to 'gather together', with family, friends or acquaintances, in a spirit of goodwill and to spread the light of Torah and Mitzvot.

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/5648804/jewish/What-Is-Hakhel .htm

So as mentioned above, it is Mommy's birthday this Shabbos, and she is making this into a HAKHEL GATHERING with friends and family. Of course there will be many courses of delicious food and drinks, and in addition she will prepare a story, Dvar Torah etc in line with the Rebbe's directive to make many such gatherings throughout the year.

And anyone can make these social gatherings in whatever style that is suitable.

And so, in honour of my 'eshes chayil' wife, I saw a short Dvar Torah in this week's Sedra Vayera (21:12).

Sarah saw that the behaviour of Yishmael (Avraham's son from Hagar) was a bad influence and danger for her younger son Yitzchak, and it came to the point where she told Avraham to 'Drive out this maidservant and her son..'

And Hashem then says to Avraham, 'Do not be upset about the boy and your maidservant. EVERYTHING THAT SARAH TELLS YOU, LISTEN TO HER VOICE..'

Rashi says about this that we learn that Avraham was on a lower level of prophecy than Sarah.

And the Alte Rebbe comments as follows:

The Talmud states that 3 Tzadikim (Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov) were shown the prophecy that in The World to Come, 'the female will surround and encompass the male.'

And a WOMAN OF VALOUR (ESHES CHAYIL) IS THE CROWN OF HER HUSBAND, (Proverbs) will be fulfilled.

Avraham was given a glimpse of this when Hashem told him to listen to the words of his wife Sarah.

Thank you for being an Eshes Chayil! And to all the other wives who are an eshes Chayil for their husbands!

Gut Shabbos to all