ADDRESSING DIFFICULTY WITH JOY

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Penina on her birthday this coming week. Wishing you a wonderful year with much happiness, and much nachas from your Family Penina, together with Avi. And continued success in all areas!

Mazal Tov to Mark Koval on his upcoming birthday. I hope all is well with you and your Family Mark, and wishing you a happy and successful year! For those who have not met Mark, he is the father-in-law of Perry, and father of Mikayla.

Mazal Tov to Chanie Davidoff on the birth of a nephew, to her sister Mariasha. Only continued simchos.

I saw an editorial this week on how the Rebbe reacted to the Yom Kippur war, and how this can guide us on how we can respond to the current difficult times that we are all facing.

When the Yom Kippur war broke out, there was much fear, and calls for prayer and fasting.

Yet the Rebbe called for a farbreng.

A farbreng is a gathering together of many Jews listening to Chassidic Discourses, in a spirit of joy, unity and sharing.

The Rebbe explained this action on the basis of a teaching from the Baal Shem Tov on the verse "G-d is your shadow at your right hand."

Just as a shadow follows the movements of a person's limbs, so too G-d follows the actions of the Jewish People.

Similarly the Zohar teaches,

"The higher realms impart influence to the lower realms according to their state. If on this earthly plane a person's state is luminous, Divine light shines to him from above.

If his state is one of sadness, a comparable influence is granted to him.

Therefore we are taught, "Serve G-d with joy", because a person's joy draws down joy from Above.

How much more so when many Jews gather together in one place, they evoke the Divine presence, as our Sages taught, "The Divine Presence rests on every congregation of 10 Jews."

And how much more so is this true when the gathering is connected with the teachings of Torah, arousal to the fear of Heaven, and the giving of Tzedakah.

Accordingly, the way in which we can positively influence our current situation, IS THROUGH JOY, because "Joy breaks through barriers, including the geographic barriers separating us from those in danger.

Soon after the Yom Kippur war the Rebbe started the campaign for Jewish women and girls to light candles for Shabbat.

The Rebbe called women, Ambassadors of Light.

Our souls are like candles, and like candles we can give to others without being diminished or extinguished, sharing our light and our love, which transcends age, location and abilities.

Gut Shabbos, with much light, and may Hashem protect our soldiers, the hostages, and all who are suffering in this war, and generally.