A WAKEUP CALL

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well.

We are now getting close to the month of Elul which leads to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Ie Elul is a month of Teshuvah, in preparation for Rosh Hashanah, where we can sense a distinct change in atmosphere. And then the 10 days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur are similarly days of Teshuvah,.

And this week’s Parshah *Reeh*, where it speaks much about the Mitzvah of Tzedakah, often coincides with the beginning of Elul, and must surely have a deeper connection to Elul as explained by the Rebbe in Vol 34 in Likutei Sichos this week.

The Rebbe quotes the Rambam from his Laws of Teshuvah as follows:

“Even though the sounding of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah is a decree, it is also sharing a hidden message.

It is as if the shofar’s call is saying: Wake up you sleepy ones from your sleep, and you who slumber, arise.

Inspect your deeds, repent, remember your Creator.

For these reasons, it is customary for all of Israel to

· give profusely to charity,

· perform many good deeds

· and be occupied with Mitzvot………”

And the Rebbe concludes that, the fact that we increase in good deeds and are occupied with Mitzvot, betters our position before G-d’s judgement (because we have rightly earned this through our service)

But the fact that we give profusely to charity (because we also tend to call out for G-d’s limitless kindness for ourselves, even though we are undeserving), this arouses Hashem to descend into our world and be King of the Universe.

Connected to the above is a short Dvar Torah from Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe’s father, whose yohrtzeit was this week, which I saw, as follows:

In the event in Chumash, where Eliezer is trying to arrange a marriage for Yitzchak (his master’s son) with Rivkah (Bereishis 24:55), her brother and mother are trying to delay Rivkah leaving home, and ask that she stay with us “*for 2 days or 10 .”*

The Sages interpret their request as being 1 year or 10 months to prepare her wedding trousseau.

But Reb Levi Yitzchak explains that the simple text also has meaning, and is referring to the 2 days of Rosh Hashanah, and the 10th day of Tishrei which is Yom Kippur.

And the “or” in the text, in Hebrew, has the numerical value of 7, referring to the 7 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Thus revealing an underlying connection between Yitzchak and Rivkah to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (and also in another place, to Sukkot)

Wishing everyone a Gut Shabbos, Gut Chodesh, and a Kesivah Vechasimah Tovah for a Good and Sweet New Year!