As I pen my blog this week I remember with fond memories our beloved Mother Rae Mehlman, ריבה בת יחיאל ודבורה נעכה זל whose Yarzeit we observed this past week. The observance of Yarzeit conjures up many wonderful memories of a mother's love and dedication to her family. My mother was a true Eshes Chayil , living a life of Kedusha, and a life of yiddishkeit with all the Medot Tovot that our Torah expects from a woman of valor.
Permit me to dedicate this blog of Torah to her Memory and pray that her life continue to inspire her family and her loved ones in the most magnificent way that will glorify her memory for many years to come.
This Shabbat we excitedly begin a new Sefer of the Torah, Sefer Shemot. It is the Sefer described as our Sefer shel Geulah, our Book of Redemption, as the Ramban writes, "The book of Shemot is dedicated to the first Galut, the first Exile and to the redemption from it".
My question has always been, "What does Redemption mean and how do we achieve this redemptive power?"
There is a Yiddishe story, which tells of a Rabbi who meets a man who relates of his feelings of despair at the sad state of the world and in his desperation says, "It is enough to make a person loose his religion". After reflecting on this statement the Rabbi replied, "on the contrary it is enough to make a person use his religion".
The anecdote suggests that everyone thinks of how to change society, but no one thinks of how to change oneself.
To engender this self changing experience on an existential level we need to ask ourselves , "Me Ani, Who am I?" and then the process begins.
This lesson is brought home to everyone as we read in Shemot regarding the first encounter that Moshe has with Hashem. Hashem wishes to send Moshe on a most important Mission, to speak to Pharoah and to eventually redeem Bnai Yisrael. In his reply to Hashem, Moshe utters those critical words, "Me Anochi, Who am I, to be able to take on such an important mission, I am but a lowly shepherd?" To which Hashem answers with those inspiring words that reverberate in all our ears, "E'heyeh Asher E'heyeh, I will be what I will be". Fear not Moshe, you will never have to go alone.
My question has always been, "What does Redemption mean and how do we achieve this redemptive power?"
There is a Yiddishe story, which tells of a Rabbi who meets a man who relates of his feelings of despair at the sad state of the world and in his desperation says, "It is enough to make a person loose his religion". After reflecting on this statement the Rabbi replied, "on the contrary it is enough to make a person use his religion".
The anecdote suggests that everyone thinks of how to change society, but no one thinks of how to change oneself.
To engender this self changing experience on an existential level we need to ask ourselves , "Me Ani, Who am I?" and then the process begins.
This lesson is brought home to everyone as we read in Shemot regarding the first encounter that Moshe has with Hashem. Hashem wishes to send Moshe on a most important Mission, to speak to Pharoah and to eventually redeem Bnai Yisrael. In his reply to Hashem, Moshe utters those critical words, "Me Anochi, Who am I, to be able to take on such an important mission, I am but a lowly shepherd?" To which Hashem answers with those inspiring words that reverberate in all our ears, "E'heyeh Asher E'heyeh, I will be what I will be". Fear not Moshe, you will never have to go alone.
At this junction Hashem assures Moshe that He will accompany him if he will maintain a strong commitment and dedication to all that is good and proper.
Yes, my friends, our quest for our identity as a Jew and as a mensch will be discovered if we walk with the will of G-D and act with the Kedusha that is inherently part of being a Torah oriented person.
Hashem's answer is the answer for everyone seeking his identity and his role in the drama of life and searching for his Tafkid in life. Walk hand in hand with Hashem and you will discover the answer to your question "Who am I"?
My beloved Mother , knew who she was and what was expected of her, for she always walked with Hashem and taught her children by example the richness and the beauty of a life well lived.
Zicronah Levracha, May our Mother's memory be a Blessing to our family and to K'lal Yisrael, and may we speedily be privileged to welcome the ביאת צדק במהרה בימנו.
My beloved Mother , knew who she was and what was expected of her, for she always walked with Hashem and taught her children by example the richness and the beauty of a life well lived.
Zicronah Levracha, May our Mother's memory be a Blessing to our family and to K'lal Yisrael, and may we speedily be privileged to welcome the ביאת צדק במהרה בימנו.
שבת שלום
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