A broken heart allows us to be vulnerable. It allows us to see clearly that there is nothing more important than our relationship with the Borei Olam. It enables us to reach up to Him from a place of humility, to admit our dependence on Him and to readily accept His Kingship. It is for these reasons and more that a broken heart is extremely dear and precious to Hashem.
There is something so powerful about hearing the sweet, pure voices of children earnestly calling out, expressing out loud what is sometimes left only in our hearts and minds alone. We know now that it is imperative that we join in and do the same.
When we listen and sing along to the entrancing melody let us take to heart the words of the Rambam’s twelfth principle of emunah: that while we don’t know when he will be here, we can believe with a perfect faith that he is most assuredly one day closer… Now let’s do what we can to be ready… today.
Tu B’Shvat is the ideal time to ask Hashem to afford us the ability, mental capacity, and clarity of understanding to reach new heights in our Torah study and to be able to develop and elucidate original Torah thoughts and ideas. For us, the 15th of Shvat is the day on which we can aspire to reach new heights in learning Torah, achieve new levels in understanding the wisdom of Hashem, and embark on a new year of learning. We ask Hashem to provide us the necessary resources to produce beautiful new peiros of our own.
Like the message of the menorah: the Creator of the world has the power to burn vinegar like oil, the ability to turn difficulty into growth, evil into good and darkness into light.
“Ma navu al heharim…” Prophecies such as this one have sustained us throughout millennia more or less filled with much discouragement and suffering. Klal Yisroel’s national existence has always been brightened by the knowledge that Hashem is nearby, longing for us to let Him bring the Mashmia Shalom, the Mevaser Tov, the Mashmia Yeshuah.
At the end of every Shabbos, as we begin Havdalah and prepare ourselves for yet another week of unknown, we do so by symbolically overflowing our cups with the sweet blessing we hope and pray will fill our lives. With the words that we say each Motzei Shabbos, we confirm our belief in this Divine blessing, while at the same time acknowledging our firm trust in its Source.
Imagine if you only had one day a year to express your thanks to Hashem for everything that He does for you. Imagine if you only had one chance to say ‘thank you’ – What would you say? How would you say it?