Art by Sefira Lightstone
A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT FROM RABBI MORDY
In keeping with the time of year we’re in, I’m going to keep it short and sweet. This week’s Parsha, Netzavim, the fourth to last in the Torah, is the last Parsha of the year; Rosh Hashana is this coming Wednesday night. According to Jewish tradition, we make a blessing on the upcoming new Hebrew month on the Shabbat preceding the start of the month that’s about to begin. Except this month. This last Shabbat of the year, the Shabbat preceding the first month of the new year, does not include the classical blessing. Why not, you ask? Because, our Sages tell us, G-d himself blesses this month and through this, gives us the ability to bless all the subsequent months.
This axiom should empower us in our Jewish mission for the year to come: May we be blessed to utilize our increased, G-d-given ability to bring the blessings of goodness and kindness into the world, and may we merit this year to see the ultimate revealed goodness, the true and complete Redemption G-d promised! Good Shabbos and Shanah Tova!