CHILDREN OF G-D

    In life, we are called upon to play many parts. Whatever part we are called  upon to play, be it a mother , a father , doctor , lawyer, teacher, one never need compromise with his own conscience.  I spoke to a youngster this past week who found himself in a dilemma and was unsure how to act. I told him,"Be who you are, don't be someone else. You are who you are. Be proud of who you are."

  It is a sorrowful affair that so many play their part in life, but are not true to themselves, because self aggrandizement or social success are more meaningful and real to them than self respect and truth. To play the part and to be true to yourself, requires real courage. 

    The Gemorah Chagigah states, אכל תחלא ושדא שחלה לברא, "He found a fruit, he ate the core and threw away the rind." The point of the parable is that in each situation of life we must learn to extract that which is essential and meaningful and to discard that which is unnecessary or harmful. What is good , we should  accept and enjoy and  that which is wrong, we should reject and discard. 

   This philosophy reflects an important part of Jewish Hashkafah, which is the essence of 

בחירה חפשית, free choice and free will. 

   The words of the opening sentence in this week's Sedrah, Reeh,  ראה אנכי נותן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה, "See," says Hashem, "I have placed before you today a Blessing and a curse. Do with your life as you see fit. Create with it. Grow with it, or destroy with it.  Build  with it or demolish with it. Sanctify it, or profane with it. It is all in your hands. It is all in your control, בחירה.  Remember, you and you alone are responsible." With proper use of this בחירה, it will lead to a life of ברכה, and the fulfillment of בנים אתם להי אלוקיכם, we are children of G-D. 

        Chazal says ,בזמן שאתם נוהגים מנהג בנים אתם נקראים בנים, "We are only considered children of G-D, when we are fulfilling the will of G-D."

        If we maintain ourselves as בנים להי , then we are Blessed. We can then influence others so that they can carry forth the banner of Judaism. 

  This Shabbat we will Bless the New Month of Elul, and recite , שימלאו משאלות לבנו, "Our requests shall be fulfilled." With some leeway in our interpretation, I suggest that the word לבנו, may mean בנים, our children. The reason is quite simple. With proper nurturing and spiritual nourishment of our children they will become our Nachas and our Blessing. 

   When Yaakov blessed his children, he placed them on his knees. In Hebrew the word for knee is ברך, a word very close to the word ברכה, Blessing. What does knee have to do with Bracha?

      The knee is the point of the leg that permits us to stand up, to jump, and to move forward and when our  children walk in their parents and grandparents footsteps, by emulating them, they are truly a Blessing for their family and for כלל ישראל.  

   The choice is ours.  We can use our ברכים, to jump forward in Judaism, to spring to our responsibilities, and to teach our children, how to truly act in a Torah oriented way. 

 Indeed  בחירה, Free Will leads to ברכה.  A ברכה that encompasses our families and the Jewish People, when we maintain our identity as בנים להי.  

    The message is simple.  We hold our future in our hands, so let us take hold of this great opportunity to guarantee our  blessings.

    This new month of Elul spells out for all to experience,   אני לדודי ודודי לי, "I am my beloved and my beloved is mine."  

    As children of Hashem, and as we act continuously with the love for Hashem, we will, become the vessels that will forever receive the Blessings of G-D. 

   With this attitude we proceed to enjoy the month of Elul, and sing our praises to Hashem and affirm 

     אני לדודי ודודי לי. 

 

                                       שבת שלום ומבורך וחדש טוב