- Gmar Chatima Tova! Today we stand with our readers in England, and Manchester in particular, after the horrific terror attack on the holy day of Yom Kippur. May all our Yom Kippur prayers be accepted, and may we all be sealed in the book of life for a good and sweet new year, a year filled with good news.
- So many people connected with the first Shabbat of the year, and now, on the day after Yom Kippur, we are about to observe the second Shabbat. I invite you to think of ways to honor this special day.
- This week’s parasha is Ha’azinu, the tenth parasha in the book of Devarim, the continuation of Moshe Rabbeinu’s parting speech to the nation of Israel. It is important to note that this parasha contains no mitzvot; at its core it is a moving song about Jewish history— our exile and redemption.
- At the end of the parasha, God tells Moshe Rabbeinu that he will die on the east side of the Jordan River and will not merit to enter the land of Israel. Moshe Rabbeinu did not merit to enter the land; we, on the other hand, have the incredible opportunity of being here today…
- Preparations are underway for the upcoming festival of Sukkot, which will begin this Monday night. We are involved with building our sukkot, obtaining the “Arba Minim” (the Four Species), and observing other laws and customs associated with the holiday known as Z’man Simchateinu — the “Season of our Rejoicing.” Our Sages explain that only after we have undergone the process of change and forgiveness that began before Rosh Hashanah and culminated on Yom Kippur, are we able to experience the true joy of Sukkot.
Shabbat Shalom!
