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מחשבה יומית Think and consider that every place was, at the beginning, full with the light of Ein Sof (the Eternal). So it was necessary for G-d to contract Himself to make a space to create the worlds. Nevertheless, there still remains an impression of that original, all-encompassing holiness. Everything in the world, in the beginning, was all within G-d. Hanhagos Tzadikim, Rebbe Mordechai miTchernobyl The Month of MarCheshvan Cheshvan is the second month of the Jewish calendar counting from Rosh Cheshvan is the only month that does not have any holidays or special mitzvot. We are taught that it is “reserved” for the time of Moshiach, who will inaugurate the Third Temple in the month of Cheshvan. The great flood in the days of Noach began in this month, and it was a year later, also in the month of Cheshvan, that Noach left the ark. In the month of Cheshvan we commemorate the yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) of our matriarch Rachel. She is buried on the road to Beit Lechem, where throughout the ages, and still today, Jews of all walks of life go to pray and beseech that she intercede on their behalf as a mother does for her child. This month is the anticlimax of the previous month of Tishrei. With so many holidays and spiritual experiences, it was a feast for the soul—a vacation of sorts. Now, as we enter the month of Cheshvan, real life begins, back to the daily “mundane” grind. This is the time to take the inspiration and all that we gained in the month of Tishrei and integrate it into our lives, learning how to balance the spiritual and the physical elements of our life in unison and harmony. |
| ![]() ZAYIN z'chut (privilege, merit) זכות Zehirut and zrizut are two qualities that we are enjoined to cultivate in our Torah study and our performance of mitzvot. Awareness for the Letter ZAYIN How careful are we with a mitzvah? How eager are we to perform it? These two qualities reflect our love and appreciation for the Torah. When we deeply and honestly view each mitzvah as an opportunity to connect to the Infinite (Ain Sof), we will naturally take extra care with each one. It is a privilege, a z'chut, to be able to perform each mitzvah—and even more so when we have the opportunity to engage others as well. These original meditations are inspired by and based on the teachings of Rabbi Dovid Laida, who delved into the aleph-bet and found meaning and a spiritual service for each letter. Art by Martin Mendelsberg. Kabbalah artwork, including tiles with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, are available at Alef Bet Designs. |
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