B"H

Wednesday, Elul 27, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / September 13, 2023

Parables play a very important role in Jewish literature.  Many Torah concepts have been made simpler by our sages through the medium of parables.  A parable transforms an idea from the abstract to reality.  That is why the Midrash constantly uses parables to explain the Torah.

The following parable, by the Magid of Dubna, gives us food for thought at this time of the year, as we take stock of our accomplishments of the year 5783 and make resolutions for the New Year, 5784.

A poor man sat by the ocean, thinking of his family's sad plight.  A ship arrived at the dock and many jubilant sailors descended from the ship.  He inquired about their excitement.  In reply, one of the sailors pulled out of his pocket a handful of precious stones.  "We found an island where diamonds and precious stones were strewn all over the place.  Each of us collected as many diamonds as we could. This is why we are so happy."

"Please tell me how to get there!" the poor man begged.  The sailor described to him the exact location of this wonderful island.  The poor man ran home, sold everything he had, and bought a ticket to the island.  He bade his family farewell, hoping to return one day with great wealth.

After much hardship on the ocean, he finally arrived at the island.  Indeed, the island was full of diamonds.  He decided to buy a big boat, fill it with diamonds and return home a very wealthy man.

He filled his pockets with diamonds and tried to pay for the boat with them.  "We have so many of these stones," the people laughed.  "These have no value here," he was told.   Someone advised him, "There is a certain fish that is a delicacy to the inhabitants of the island.  If you catch enough of these fish, you will be able to save enough money to buy a boat. So, he went about catching this fish. He mastered the art of fishing and developed a very successful business.

After many years, he decided it was time to go home.  He now had enough money to buy a ship.

However, after so many years on the island, he forgot the reason for his original travel to the island.  He too, like everyone else on the island, forgot the value of diamonds and regarded them as cheap stones.  To him, the fish which made him wealthy was the most valuable commodity he could think of.  He loaded the ship with fish and set sail back home.

After weeks of sailing on the ocean he finally made it home. He docked the ship and ran as fast as he could to his family whom he has not seen for so many years.  His wife and children were so happy to see him. He told them how wealthy they would now be, for he brought with him something so valuable...

(To be continued tomorrow)

SHANA TOVA – WISHING YOU

A VERY GOOD, SWEET, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR.

B"H

Thursday, Elul 28, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / September 14, 2023

(Continued from yesterday): Anxiously, they all went to see the boat full of this precious commodity.  But when they came to the ship, a terrible stench of rotten fish greeted them. 

"This is your wealth?" they asked bitterly.  "To bring back some rotten fish you spent all these years on the Island?"

In great embarrassment and frustration, he realized how he wasted his time and effort all these years. 

Then, reaching into his pocket, he found a diamond which he had completely forgotten about.

"Wow! this is a precious diamond!" they all exclaimed.  "Did you bring any more of these?" they asked.  He searched his pockets and found a few more precious stones.

With the few diamonds that he brought; his family was able to live a comfortable life.  His great regret now was why he forgot the purpose of his journey to the Island.  How could he have forgotten what true value was?  Had he remembered, he would have brought back a ship loaded with diamonds.

Similarly, is the story of our life. Our soul comes to this world to "collect diamonds" -- in the form of mitzvot and good deeds.  In fact, the scriptures tell us that Torah and mitzvot are even more precious than diamonds. Unfortunately, we forget the purpose of our mission in this world.  We forget what true wealth is.  Instead, we become influenced by our environment of material possessions and lose track of our true mission. In the World-to-Come, monetary wealth and financial success have no value. 

Instead, we are asked, "How did you use your wealth?  Where are the true diamonds - the mitzvot and good deeds that you accomplished?"

Like the poor man who wasted his time gathering fish instead of diamonds, we too, must make sure that we do not miss the great opportunity in this world to acquire more and more mitzvot, by utilizing our material blessings for the right purposes.

As we usher in the New Year 5784, it is worthwhile to reflect on our true mission in life.  We must remember that each good deed we accomplish, every time we study Torah and each act of charity we do, we are collecting diamonds for which the reward is enormous and everlasting!

Speaking of real diamonds and true wealth… I dedicate this Torah Fax in honor of my mother’s 100^th birthday, which we celebrated this week. It was attended in person and via zoom, by 600 of her descendants, thank G-d. May Hashem grant her many more years of good health, long life and Nachas.  

May you and your loved ones be inscribed in the Book of Life, Good Health & Nachas.

May we merit the coming of Moshiach NOW.

May the year 5784 usher in an era of peace for Israel and for the entire world.

SHANA TOVA – A VERY GOOD, SWEET, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR

B"H

Tuesday, Tishrei 4, 5784 / September 19, 2023

As we begin the New Year, 5784, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Shana Tova - a wonderful, joyous, healthy, sweet, and successful year in every area.

May G-d answer all our prayers with positive results. May G-d fulfill our prayer for peace in Israel and the world.  May G-d grant strength and protection to the men and women who serve in the IDF and to all who dedicate their lives to protect our Holy Land.  May G-d bless them and watch over them.  Amen.

There are ten days from the first day Rosh Hashana through Yom Kippur.  These days are called "Aseret Yemai Teshuva" - "Ten days of repentance."  Our sages tell us that on Rosh Hashana, the verdict for the New Year is written.  However, it is not sealed until the end of Yom Kippur.  Thus, even a harsh decree, G-d forbid, may still be changed between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

In the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur prayers we recite, "Teshuva (repentance), Tefilla (prayer) and Tzedakah (charity) annul a severe decree."  During these days it is important that we perform more mitzvot, especially the mitzvah of Tzedakah - by giving more charity. By helping others, we too, will be rewarded measure for measure and granted whatever we need for the coming year.

A person who lived all his life in the big city decided one day to become a farmer.  He bought a parcel of land and went to live on the farm.  Knowing that his success depends on rain, he prayed fervently for rain.  His prayers were answered, and much rain descended on the fields.  Now he was sure that his field would yield many fruits and vegetables.  Yet, a while later when he checked his field, to his dismay, he found only weeds. 

His disappointment became even greater when he saw that all his neighbors' fields were indeed filled with beautiful fruits and vegetables.

In despair, he approached one of his neighbors, “My field had the same amount of rain as yours.  My field had the same sunshine as yours.  My field is even the same size as yours, yet mine didn't yield any fruit while yours did.  Can you explain to me what happened?"

"The answer is simple!" explained the neighbor.  "G-d's blessings are only effective when you do what is expected of you. I planted seeds, fertilized the ground, and removed the weeds, so now G-d's blessing of rain has brought forth wonderful fruits.  You, however, didn't do anything in your field.  All you did was pray, but you didn't do anything to cultivate G-d's blessings.  How can you expect His blessings to bear fruit?

The same is true with our prayers.  On Rosh Hashana we ask G-d to grant us everything we need in the coming year, but that is not enough.  We have to do our part. The mitzvot and good deeds we perform are the seeds we sow in order for G-d's blessings to take effect. Between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is the most appropriate time to begin planting…

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY& PRODUCTIVE NEW YEAR