Dear Friends,
Today on 9/11 we stood together in prayer at the Thursday morning Minyan.
We said the mourners Kaddish and prayers for the thousands of victims of the awful attacks, as people remembered co workers, friends and the fateful moments and day that it happened.
We mourned the terrible shocking political murder of Charlie Kirk yesterday which has shaken America, and if I may add, Israel also.
We prayed for people to have moral clarity and to learn to listen or be okay with political debates and difference of opinions, and to never ever celebrate murder.
We prayed for the welfare of Israel.... after the terrible tragedies of the last few days and the safe return of the hostages and for the safety and security of Israel.
I then shared how today on the Jewish Calendar is the 18th of Elul, just 12 days before Rosh Hashanah. In Chassidic tradition, today is considered the LIFE of Elul, especially as it is the day that marks the birth of the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe, the founders of the Chassidic movement and the Chabad Movement.
We spoke of their enduring message of living lives of joy, unity, faith and kindness and always finding a way to add light to the world around us, no matter who we are, or where we come from.
And then.... we sounded the Shofar, with its clarion call and message, of digging deeper, a call to better actions on an individual level and a call to a better society!
May the memories of all those who lost their lives on this day be for a blessing and may the tremendous power of each individual (which was sadly used in a bad way on this day), be the takeaway for just how much good we can each accomplish to make this country, and indeed the world around us, a much better place!
Let us each do an extra Mitzvah today, to light up the world with another act of kindness, with another act of holiness and light, and let us pray that the introspection that this month of Elul brings, usher in better days ahead for everyone.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Yisroel
P.S Please see below about many of the upcoming programs, Hebrew School and High Holiday Events. Please care and share with others!