A REFUGE FROM DIFFICULTY

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Shmuly and Devorah Leah on their Anniversary which is today. Wishing you many more happy and healthy one’s together with much achievement in both gashmius and ruchnius.

Mazal Tov to Alisa and Juan who also have an Anniversary next week. I hope that you and the Family are all doing well and wishing you a wonderful year together.

Mazal Tov to Isanne Ossey on her birthday tomorrow. Wishing you a year of much success Isanne, all in good health and happiness.

Mazal Tov again to Mendel and Freida on the birth of Nechama. I heard that the kiddush that you made for her last Shabbos was absolutely beautiful. Wishing you much nachas from her and all of your Family. Kevin Marks has updated his Family Tree accordingly which I am attaching – Thank you Kevin!

In this week’s Sedra Shoftim, we learn about the Cities of Refuge, and I also heard an interesting connection of the Cities of Refuge to the month of Elul, from Rabbi Yehoshua Gordon ah.

The Cities of Refuge were designed to allow someone who had killed another *by accident, *to flee there and be protected from the relatives of the slain person who may be pursuing to take revenge. 3 were set up in Eretz Yisrael proper, 3 in Trans Jordan, and 3 will be set up in the future Greater Israel, when our borders will be extended BEH

There are a number of verses in Torah which have acronyms relating to Elul.

Eg "*E*ni *L*edodi *U*dodi *L*i", (I am to my Beloved, and my Beloved is to me) which reflects the close relationship between the Jew and Hashem in Elul.

Another one , which relates to the Cities of Refuge, is “VeHaElokim *E*na *L*eyado *U*samti *L*echa makom asher yanus shama” (Hashem orchestrates an accident whereby someone dies, and then He makes a place of refuge where the manslaughterer can find refuge) – Exodus 21:13.

So what is the connection of the City of Refuge to Elul?

Chassidus explains that the City of Refuge refers symbolically to a Jew who is caught up with negativity, and desperately needs a Refuge from the situation that he or she has found themselves in.

One may have made mistakes with one’s behaviour and actions and made wrong choices in the past, where one negativity has led to another, and one may have been pulled along in this direction by forces beyond one’s control.

And it then feels like one is being pursued by negativity, and it feels like negativity and habit has taken complete control over oneself, often against one’s true will.

And the guidance is then to flee to a City of Refuge, which refers symbolically to Torah and its Teachings and guidance.

Ie in the month of Elul we can find, through Torah, shelter, repair, teshuvah and strengthening of our bond with Hashem.

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