TAKING CHARGE OF OUR DESTINY
Dear Family,
I hope that everyone is well.
Mazal Tov to Rahel (Mommy) whose Hebrew birthday is next week. This is a decade birthday BH, and we wish you many more, in good health and happiness, together, BEH! And continued success with all your Family, School, and Community work, and more BH.
Mazal Tov to Shmuly whose birthday is next week. Wishing you much continued success in everything that you do Shmuly, begashmius and ruchnius , and it should be with ease and joy BEH.
Mazal Tov to Batsheva for passing her exams with excellent scores to gain access to University in EY to study midwifery, starting next month BEH. Hatzlachah rabbah!
In this week’s Sedra Lech Lecha, (V15:5), it says that “Hashem took Avram outside from his tent and asked him to look towards the heavens and count the stars…. And so will be your descendants.”
This is the simple meaning but Rashi then gives 2 further explanations:
According to the Medrash this means that you should “Leave your astrological calculations (stars)…..” because it seemed decreed that Avram would not have a son. And this was true.
Hashem was saying, never-the-less, *that a Jew can change his destiny*.
Even although it may feel that we are trapped in a situation, or a habitual way of life (good or bad), we have the power to create a new destiny. - "Your descendants will be (uncountable ) like the stars"
And connected, Rashi brings a second explanation: “He (Hashem) took him (Avram) outside the terrestrial atmosphere and lifted him above the stars, (because the word used in the passage is *habet,* looking, but habet really means looking down from above)
Meaning that Avram (and ourselves) are higher than the stars, and we are not controlled by them.
Rather we can create our own destiny.
How?
Through our deeds
In this case Avram and Sarai names were changed to Avraham and Sarah
In Gemorra Rosh Hashanah p16b, it describes 5 ways to annul an adverse decree ie:
· Charity
· Prayer
· Changing one’s name
· Improving one’s actions (especially with Mitzvos and transforming ourselves)
· Relocating to a new place
Gut Shabbos to all!