APPRECIATING LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS
Dear Family,
I hope that everyone is well, and enjoying the summer.
MAZAL TOV TO FREIDA AND MENDEL ON THE BIRTH OF A BABY GIRL NAMED NECHAMA! This is such beautiful news BH. Wishing you many simchos and much nachas, and to bring up Nechama to Torah, Chuppah and Maasim Tovim BEH.
Mazal Tov to Janine Milner on her birthday next week. Wishing you a wonderful year Janine with much happiness and nachas from your children, and all in good health BEH
Wishing long life to Isanne Ossey on the 10th Yohrtzeit of her mother Mary Heiman ah, which was on Tisha BeAv. Her neshamah should have an aliyah !
So many events this week were related to the Stein side of the Family, in the month of Av
· The naming of the new baby after my mother, Nechama ah (Joyce) – which also means comfort
· Janine’s upcoming birthday
· The yohrtzeit of Isanne’s mother on Tisha BeAv, Mary
· The yohrtzeit of my mother’s mother Chasha ah (Annie) on TU BEAV (15th of Av), yesterday.
See attached Stein Family Tree made by Kevin Ossey
And so I thought that I would share a teaching that I saw this week, in the Editorial of Chayenu, about about the day TU BEAV – 15th OF AV
Our Sages taught that there was no holiday for the Jewish People as JOYOUS as Tu BeAv (Conclusion of Tractate Taanis)
Kabbalah teaches that the 15th day of every month marks its Spiritual Zenith, when the moon is fully revealed and its spiritual energy reaches its peak.
However, this is more so revealed in Av, because it follows on from the darkness of a steep descent of Jewish consciousness with the mourning and destruction of the Holy Temples on the 9th of Av. (The Light which follows a deep darkness)
Interestingly, and connected, we also start learning about the Laws of the New Moon in Rambam this week.
Each month the moon wanes and disappears, yet it always returns.
In the same way, every descent contains the potential for renewal.
Our task is to remain devoted to Hashem and His Torah even during our periods of darkness.
Through this dedication we will merit the ultimate light, speedily in our days .
Gut Shabbos to all, with much light, joy and comfort!