Beneath the Surface

Tom. night & Saturday, this coming Shabbat, is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar - Yom Kippur.
A day of fasting, lengthy prayer service, and secret day dreams of the break-fast meal... But what is the significance & power of this day really, at its core?

The answer is exactly that: the core. On this day we have the ability to reach into our core, the essence
of who we truly are. For generally we identify ourselves with what we do, not who we are.
Behind every experience, there's an I experiencing it.
And no matter what path we have led so far in life, no matter what negative actions we have done, the true "I" in us
remains unscathed. At our core we are pure and limitless, our essence unscathed through all the mud.
We are not our actions - and must always remember that our inner light can never be extinguished, through thick & thin.
At this time of year we often blow the shofar, for the shofar represents the simple cry of the soul - beyond our usual words & outer expression.

On Yom Kippur, Jewish Mysticism explains, this core of our beings, this essence of our souls known as "Yechidah" - is revealed
throughout the day, but primarily during "ne'ilah" - the 5th & last prayer which corresponds to this 5th level of the soul. Ne'ilah means "closing" - representing the closing of the heavenly gates at the end of Yom Kippur. But our mystics explain, that the gates aren't closing with us on the outside, but we are closed in with G-d on the inside, in the deepest connection and embrace.
Thus, we have the power on this day to not just focus on the break-fast meal of cream cheese & lox, or even just the prayer pages,
but to try and peer past the physical, material world around us - to the deeper core of the world & our inner selves.
For much of the other 364 days of the year, society succeeds in getting our attention diverted from ever thinking about our
personal purpose for existing. From ever trying to realize our fullest potential.

"Teshuvah," often translated as "Repentance," really translates as "Return." While possible throughout the entire year,
in these 24 hrs. G-d Gives us a special, sanctified haven in time to re-connect and return to our true selves, beyond our actions.
And then in turn we connect with G-d on a level beyond our usual relationship - to a place beyond our sins & mistakes, where all can be forgiven.

So Let's take advantage! Have an easy fast :)

-Daniel
S. Diego, CA
P.S. Please forgive me if I have ever wronged you, and may you & yours be blessed & sealed for a sweet yr. materially, physically, & spiritually!

Why the 6th Day?

Tomorrow night (Wed. Night - Fri. Night), Jews worldwide will be celebrating Rosh Hashana, the special holiday which marks the time in which we crown G-d as our King, renewing our desire to connect to and serve Him for another year.

But let's take a closer look at this holiday.
Rosh Hashana literally means "the Beginning of the year," and is a time which marks G-d's Creation of the world.
But the truth is, that the 1st day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, the day in which we observe Rosh Hashana, is marked as the 6th day of creation, not the 1st! If Rosh Hashana marks the creation of the world, Why would G-d not have rather Commanded us to celebrate Rosh Hashana on the day in which marks the 1st day of creation!?

The answer to this question is a very profound one - an answer which actually points out our Raison d'etre (sorry, I just left France) - our very purpose of existence and reason for being. Our Sages explain in the mystical writings, that G-d's Intention for all of creation - from the multitude of spiritual worlds to the innumerable amount of galaxies and creatures that rove our planet - was all for the sake of the human being. All for the 6th day of creation, the 1st day of Tishrei, when Adam and Chava (Eve) were created. That is why we celebrate Rosh Hashanah on this day. Why?
We are told (as quoted in Psalms) that on the 1st day of Creation, Adam brought all created beings together, saying:
"Bo'u Nishtachaveh, V'nichra'ah..." - Come, let us prostrate ourselves and bow down; let us bend the knee before the L-rd, our Maker. (Psalms 95:6)
Man & woman were created in order to perfect creation, the only ones able & entrusted to bring the world to an awareness of G-d and Truth.

But have we done the job?
A quick glance at history might suggest the opposite.
Human beings have done great things, but they've also messed the world up quite badly. Man is capable of the most amazingly great things, but is also capable of the very worst evil.
G-d Had this in mind when he gave Abraham's descendants the Torah. Torah means "Lesson", a guidebook for the journey
of life, showing us the way in which we can perfect the world.
Through adhering to the Torah, the Jewish People would help all to perfect the world - to be a 'Light onto the Nations'.
And we have. As bad as history has been, much growth and progress has occurred. So much goodness and light have shone in the world.
From Ethical Monotheism to equal rights, charity to education, freedom & valueing loving-kindness, the Torah & the Jewish People have reshaped the world.
As the 2nd President of the U.S., John Adams, said in 1808:
“I will insist the Hebrews have [contributed] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations. They have given religion to three-quarters of the globe and have influenced the affairs of mankind more and more happily than any other nation, ancient or modern.”



But there is so much more to do. Moshiach hasn't come yet, the world is still entrenched in hate, serenity escapes us.
The other day I was in Pompeii, Italy, perusing through the ruins of this once glorious city of Roman life. Great pillars and gardens, mosaics and statues.
The greatest dominance & brilliance the world had ever seen. But all that was left from this hedonistic culture were ruins.
Rome's dynasty is no more.
What has remained though are the Jews, bearers of the Torah and proclaimers of G-d's Unity. We have remained for a reason. G-d's Desire for Creating a world wasn't merely for us to indulge in material pleasures and ignore a higher purpose, but to lead the world to a recognition of G-d & a higher Intention.

Rosh Hashana is an opportune, special time for us to re-direct ourselves to this sacred mission of man, entrusted to us from the beginning of creation.

May you have a Chag Sameach! And may you & yours be written & sealed for a sweet year both materially & spiritually!

-Daniel
Venice, Italy

P.S. To see a guide to Rosh Hashana and stories, click here
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May you be written & sealed for a good & sweet year!

A Lesson in Warmth

This e-mail is dedicated to my special cousin Danell, on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah. Mazal Tov!!

~~~
On this coming Shabbat, the Hebrew date of the 18th of Elul,
we commemorate the birth date of the holy Baal Shem Tov, in 1698.
The Baal Shem Tov emerged following a very difficult time in Jewish History in Eastern Europe, primarily with the Chmielnicki massacres of 1648-1657, that killed between 100-500,000 Jews!
Still reeling from these massacres, Jews felt colder toward Judaism, G-d, and life itself.
The Baal Shem Tov arrived - emphasizing joy, pure faith, and trust in Hashem. He revitalized the importance of loving every fellow Jew like yourself, and how much G-d Loves us & how dear he beholds every Jew: "Like an only child born to an elderly couple in their old age, except much more so!" (not exactly the classic image of a powerful king in the sky with lightning bolts :)

There is one story of the Baal Shem Tov that I've always loved, and which I think best shows 2 things he focused on so much: Serving G-d with joy & vitality, and learning from everything 1 sees.

Once, the Baal Shem Tov and his many students were journeying through a forest. As they entered a clearing, they saw a vast, frozen lake. That wouldn't have been too bad, except for the cross that was carved into it. "Rabbi!" Exclaimed his students, "You've always taught us that everything we see and experience is a lesson in life and in the service of G-d. But what in the world could be the purpose of G-d Showing us this!?"

The Baal Shem Tov paused for a moment, and then turned to his students. "Why are you able to see such an image?"
"Because the water is frozen," they answered.
"But if the water were to be warmed up, this image would not be able to exist, correct...?"
The students understood the message.
When one's relationship with G-d is a cold one, lacking joy and excitement, it can lead to the worst of things for a Jew.

We must always remember how lucky we are, the children of the King, who loves us and cherishes His Relationship with us, every moment of our lives. Like a young child whose every movement and motion is cherished by his parents, we must always remember how beloved we are, and how every effort we make to connect to our Father is beloved to Him.
We may fall down from time to time, but like a child beginning to learn how to walk, surely the child's father smiles the entire way, as long as the child is trying his best to stand up.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel
Nice, France
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May you be written & sealed for a good & sweet year!
Remember: Your next deed will change the world.So make it a good 1!