FINDING LIGHT AND JOY IN THE BROKEN PIECES

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well and enjoying the summer (or winter) holidays

Refuah shleimah for Yechezkiel ben Ester

Rahel and I have just come back from a 2 week trip to Sydney Australia to visit Baty and her Family.

While in Australia we went to visit Zelda, and also met her daughter Gaby Cass. We spent a beautiful time together. Greta was also supposed to join us, but she couldn't make it.

'Coincidentally' I also noticed that Zelda's birthday is upcoming on the 25th of August, and so I would like to wish her a big Mazal Tov. Wishing you many more years of good health and happiness, with much continued nachas from all of your children and grandchildren!

Selma also mentioned that 2 of her children are also living in Sydney, but we did not manage to meet them.

I also contacted Sid Davidoff and Adrian Sacks by phone, who are living in Melbourne, and this was also so nice to be in contact BH.

In this weeks Sedra, Eikev, I saw an interesting article from Rabbi JJ Jacobson, about Mosheh's smashing of the stone Tablets, which I would like to summarise and share.

The following points occurred:

• Mosheh comes down from Har Sinai, sees misbehaviour, and smashes the 2 Tablets with the 10 Commandments
• After a period of repentance, Hashem gives us a second chance , and Mosheh hews a second set of Tablets which Hashem engraves again with the 10 Commandments, and Mosheh delivers these to the People
• Later in history we placed the BROKEN PIECES together with the whole Tablets in the Ark of the Holy Temple - in the Holy of Holies.
• In the closing verses of the whole book of Deuteronomy, at the zenith of Mosheh's life, he is praised for the action he took in smashing the first Tablets?!

It is explained as follows:

Mosheh did not smash the Tablets in anger.

At the time when the Jews were in a state of failure and shatteredness, Mosheh was guiding us on how to start the healing process.

Both the shattered and whole Tablets were both placed together in the Holy of Holies in the Bet HaMikdash!

This conveyed one of Judaism's greatest messages - Truth is not only found in Spiritual perfection. It is also found in the broken pieces of the human psyche.

The broken Tablets, like a broken heart, still contain the light of G-d.

We hope for wholeness. But when we encounter brokenness, we shouldn't run from it.

We should embrace it bringing our broken pieces into our own 'Holy of Holies.'

As one of the Rebbeim stated, "There is nothing more whole than a broken heart."

Mosheh taught us that hope isn't lost. We can find Hashem and holiness in the shattered pieces of broken dreams.

And Hashem said to Mosheh, "Thank you for breaking them (the tablets)"

Gut Shabbos to all