INFINITE LIGHT, ERETZ YISRAEL AND ROSH HASHANAH

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well.

Refuah shleimah to Yechezkiel ben Ester.

We wish enjoyable flights to all who are travelling for the Yomtovim!

Mazal Tov to Chava, whose birthday is tonight, and we just celebrated with her this evening BH. It was beautiful, and we all wish you a beautiful year Chava in both gashmius and ruchnius!

Mazal Tov to Daniel whose birthday is on Rosh Hashanah itself (on the first night). What a great day to have a birthday Daniel, and wishing you a very special year.

Last but not least is the upcoming yohrtzeit of our dear mother on Shabbos. Through all her suffering just before her passing, she held on until her 3 boys were all by her side. Her last words were, as I remember, "It is Erev Rosh Hashanah." She wated there to be the unity amongst her children, and she was tuned into spirituality. Her neshamah should have an Aliyah. We all miss you very much!

Recently in our Tanya learning (Igeres HaKodesh 14), the Alte Rebbe gave a very beautiful and deep explanation about Eretz HaKodesh (The Holy Land) and Rosh Hashanah which I would like to share, with Rosh Hashanah coming up in a few days.

I will try and summarise, and keep it as simple as possible.

There is the concept of Eretz Haelyonah, the Higher Land (which is the heavenly model of the terrestrial Holy Land), and THE LAND OF ISRAEL itself, which truly corresponds to its Heavenly counterpart

From the verse "G-d by Chochma established the earth " it has been derived that Chochma effuses it's creative light upon the Higher Land and from there to The Land of Israel.

Hashem and His Chochmah are one in an absolute unity, which is called the (INFINITE LIGHT) - OR EIN SOF.

This radiation to both the lands is renewed annually

And every year on ROSH HASHANAH, there descends and radiates A NEW LIGHT which has never yet shone to the Higher Land

On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, there is a withdrawal of the light of the past year when the moon is covered.

Afterwards, by means of the sounding of the shofar, and by means of the prayers, a new and superior light is elicited, a light of a yet higher rank in the sphere of the supreme Chochma, to radiate to the Higher Land, and to all the higher and lower worlds which receive their vitality from it...(I presume that the rest of the world receives this light thereafter)

The manifestation of this light, however depends on the actions of us below, on our merits and our teshuvah (returning to Hashem) during the 10 Days of Teshuvah between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

In this respect the Alte Rebbe hints about the power of giving charity, and especially charity to the Land of Israel.

Gut Shabbos, and wishing all a kesivah vechasimah tovah for a Good and Sweet New Year, with much light.