B"H

Thursday, Elul 26, 5779 / September 26, 2019

From Rosh Hashana until Yom Kippur, we recite four extra passages during the Amidah prayers, asking G-d to inscribe us in the Book of Life. 

In the world we live today, some are, unfortunately, more occupied with "wealth" than with "health."  In the hustle bustle of day-to-day life our priorities may become distorted and we tend to forget to appreciate and be thankful for the miracle called "life" which G-d grants us every second of the every day.

A chassid once came to his rebbe complaining that he had a bad year financially.  The rebbe asked him, "How is your health and the health of your family?"  The chassid replied that health was, thank

G-d, good.  The Rebbe told him to have trust in G-d and quoted him the words of the Talmud, "He Who gives life  will surely give sustenance!"

The rebbe went on to explain the words of the Talmud with the following parable, "A wealthy businessman was traveling home from the fair and had with him a large sum of money.  The way home was long and for Shabbat he stopped at an inn run by a Jewish innkeeper.

"As it is not permitted to carry money on Shabbat, the businessman had no choice but to give his wallet of money to the innkeeper for safekeeping until after Shabbat.  The wallet contained 5,000 rubles plus 5 kopikes (pennies).

"As he didn't know the innkeeper the businessman was worried all Shabbat whether the innkeeper was trustworthy and will he ever see his money again.  Immediately after Shabbat he asked for his wallet which the innkeeper returned.

"The merchant quickly went back to his room to count the money.  He counted the rubles and found all the 5,000 rubles intact." 

The rebbe now turned to his chassid and said, "Do you think that after realizing that the innkeeper returned the 5000 rubles, would the businessman still be worried whether the five pennies-kopikes were also returned?  Only a fool would suspect the innkeeper in not giving back the five kopikes when he was trustworthy with the large sum of 5000 rubles!"

"The same is with you," concluded the rebbe.  "G-d gave you and your family life which is worth far more than anything else in the world.  Don't you think that you can trust Him to give you your livelihood?  If you have true faith that G-d gives you health, you will automatically have faith that He will bless you in your dealings and will provide you with your livelihood as well.  For, "He Who gives life will surely give sustenance!"

HAVE A GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & A SWEET NEW YEAR