ALL OF ISRAEL HAVE A SHARE IN THE WORLD TO COME

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well and has had a good and inspiring Pesach!

Wishing a refuah shleimah for Yechezkiel ben Ester.

Mazal Tov to Batsheva, whose birthday is coming up next week. We are so happy that you are in London with us for Pesach and for your birthday, having managed to get out of EYisrael through Egypt. Wishing you a wonderful year with much peace and happiness BEH!

Every year on the 15th of April, I also remember the birthday of my cousin Alden Sacks ah. Wishing his Family only simchos and growth in all areas.

From the first Shabbos after Pesach, which is this Shabbos, we start reading one chapter per Shabbos of Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), up until Shavuos.

Pirkei Avot (called Avot) is a section of the Mishnah, and whereas the other sections of Mishnah deal with Torah Law, Pirkei Avot deals with the moral Principles upon which Torah Law is based (this is one of the reasons why they are called” avot - fathers”). Avot is a general tractate which sheds light on the rest of the Mishnah.

In case we think that Pirkei Avot is just for the learned, each chapter is introduced with praise for every Jew, implying that *every Jew can and must fulfil the words of Avot*, as follows (Gemorra Sanhedrin (11:1) :

“*All of Israel have a share in the World to Come, as it says (Isaiah 60:21), Your people are all righteous. They will inherit the Land forever. They are a branch of My planting, the work of My Hands in which I take pride.”*

Some explanations:

The Rebbe explains in Biurim that Avot is read in preparation to receive the Torah on Shavuos.

The first step in this preparation must be to engage in *acts of love* *towards one’s fellow*.

The above understanding of the loftiness of every Jew, helps us to better appreciate our fellow, and overcome natural biases.

Another point about the above introduction (from The Bartenura) is that ‘the planting’ mentioned above implies nurturing and taking care ie even although every Jew will inherit the World to Come, the quality of that share is dependent on our efforts.

Gut Shabbos to all