WILL POWER

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well.

I saw two interesting Dvar Torah this week which are connected.

Hayom Yom 2nd Elul (Summarised)

It is clear that throughout the earth are wellsprings of living water.

The difference between them is only that some are near the surface, others far.

Everything therefore depends on the 'well-digger', his patience, perseverance and will-power to reach the water.

Every Jew possess precious qualities in:

• Love of G-d
• Fear of G-d
• Fine character traits

Bringing these traits to the surface depends entirely on the individual tapping deep into his resources.

The tools are PATIENCE, PERSEVERENCE, AND WILL POWER, and the work is to EXERCISE THIS WILL on himself and upon others.

Sedra

One way this can be done practically came up in this week's Sedra Shoftim 16:18:

"You shall appoint for yourselves Judges and (Enforcing) Officers in each and every City.

The Talmud explains that 'city' also refers to each individual.

Our 'Judges' are those parts of our Spiritual make-up which checks into Torah and Shulchan Aruch, to see what acts are permissible, and which are not.

If then, against one's judgement, the Evil Inclination does not want to fulfil G-d's Command, then our own 'Officers' come to the rescue, to force compliance.

As the Talmud states "Man's Good Inclination must always be in a state of powerful dominance over one's Evil Inclination." (Lubavitcher Rebbe)

Wishing all a Gut Shabbos and a Kesivah Vechasimah Tovah for a Good and Sweet New Year