THE CURE FOR SPIRITUAL FRUSTRATION

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well and getting ready for Pesach.

Mazal Tov to Brian on his birthday next week. Wishing you a healthy and happy year Brian, with much achievement!

Mazal Tov to Shlomo Levy whose birthday is on the Second Seder night. Wishing you much continued success at Yeshiva, Shlomo, with much happiness and growth!

Mazal Tov to Nechama Dina Davidoff whose birthday is tonight, on the very special day of Yud Aleph Nissan, which is also the Rebbe's birthday. Wishing you a wonderful year and to give much nachas to your parents!

Next week is the yohrtzeit of Aunty Girlie Sacks. We were honoured to have one of her grandchildren Bronwyn Grossberg and her Family, from Melbourne, spend Shabbos with us this last week. They are touring through Europe and will also be visiting Benjy Grossberg and the Dahans in California (such an interesting link between our Families!) Wishing Aunty Girlie's Neshamah an Aliyah!

Based on the passage 14:32 - "This is the law (literally 'The Torah') regarding someone suffering from a lesion of tzaraat.. :

In last week's Sedra (Tazria) and this week's Sedra (Metzora) we learn about the eventful journey of an individual afflicted with the SPIRITUAL DISEASE of tzaraat (loosely translated as 'leprosy') and the process of his or her's redemption and purification from social isolation (Exile)

This can translate out as both our personal life journeys through crises and exile to Redemption, and also the collective journey of our Jewish Nation through Exile towards Redemption.

(In fact in Sanhedrin 98b it describes Mashiach as one with tzaraas, because he is with us (unrevealed) bearing the suffering of the Jewish People in exile)

In an extract from a Sicha of the Rebbe (Sefer HaSichos 5751 Vol 2) the Rebbe explains the positive value of our own inner sufferings.

The 'tzaraat' that we personally experience is the feeling of our unfulfilled potential. (Similarly there is the general unfulfilled potential of humanity)

However, this 'sickness', which is a wholesome sense of dissatisfaction with the status quo of the world, gives us the potential for growth. In fact it is a pre-requisite for growth.

It inspires us to renew our dedication to humbly fulfil the Will of our Creator, and to make the world a better place to live in.

When we move in this direction, the way to preserve the intensity of our inspiration, while still living our lives cheerfully and productively, is through the study of Torah. (As the above verse 14:32 mentions)

Because Torah is above the limitations of nature, and enables us to harmonise the opposing pulls of inspired urgency, and calm persistent dedication.

Wishing everyone a gut Shabbos, a kosher and happy Pesach, with experiencing of our own, and National Redemption.