RECOVERY AND CORRECTION

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well and have had an inspiring Rosh Hashanah!

Refuah shleimah to Yechezkiel ben Ester.

We have 2 important Yohrtzeits coming up this week.

The first is Renee this coming Sunday. This is also the Yohrtzeit of the Rebbes mother and is a well known date in the Chassidic calendar. I always feel so impressed that Renes yohrtzeit is on the same day. Renee was always so conscious of Family and extended Family, and we also remember how well she looked after Aunty Lottie. She is much missed by all of us. We wish all of her Family, and Roy, long life. Her neshamah should have an Aliyah.

One day later, on Monday, is the yohrtzeit of Uncle Maika, which I only found out about recently through Selma. I believe that he passed away on Friday, and Kol Nidrei was that Sunday night.

I am also wondering if anyone says kadish for him. Please let me know. Wishing all his Family long life and also wishing his neshamah an Aliyah.

Mazal Tov to Ariel Bassin on his graduation from High School. Wishing you much continued success for your future Ariel!

At the end of this week’s Parshah Vayelech, Mosheh makes a ‘disturbing’ comment about our Nation at the conclusion of his leadership and life, as follows:

“For I know your rebelliousness and stiff neck. Even while I am yet alive with you today you have been rebellious against G-d. How much more so will it be after my death?” (31:27)

Could it be that Moses is speaking with pessimism and despair on the last day of his 40 years of leadership!?

In an article that I saw this week by Rabbi Steinsaltz, he gives the explaination.

Really Mosheh’s words, far from being despairing and pessimistic, were having the intention to strengthen the Jewish People – ie instead of providing them with a false comfort, he was giving them the strength to endure reality

Torah does not encourage us to live in a sheltered world of naïve optimism.

Instead it begins with the acknowledgement that “the inclination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 8:21). It prepares us for the inevitable descents, among the ascents of life.

And this is connected to the Command we find in this weeks Sedra, and also in Psalm 27 which we say every day throughout Elul and part of Tishrei ie “BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE” – “Chazak veematz”

It is said by our Sages that the righteous fall 7 times, and keep rising up, while the wicked ….(Prov 24:16)

The difference lies not in avoiding failure, BUT IN THE CAPACITY TO RECOVER, OVERCOME AND CORRECT. We possess the sacred ability, and have been given free choice, to rise again!

Gut Shabbos and gmar chasima tovah to all. Wishing everyone an inspiring Yom Kippur