“Castles in the Air” was a smashing success, but the long-lasting achievement of that year’s event was definitely the creation of this musical masterpiece. ‘Even if we’ve heard the song ten thousand times before,’ it never fails to decorate our imaginations with the many miracles and marvels of Hashem and of the world that He created.
The Navi Yeshaya is telling us that very soon, yachid v’rabim – every one of us, together – will find our way back to Hashem’s Torah. Very soon, the time will come when we will ALL return to Hashem.
Oh, around the fire, dancing free,
Ashkenazi, Sefardi,
Chossid, Litvak, arm in arm,
Swaying together.
Women, children, taking part,
The youth, the old; yet, young at heart.
It’s thanks to you, Rabbeinu Bar Yochai,
One big family,
On Har Meron.
It shouldn’t take the loss of a loved one or a prominent figure to shake us back into this Godly reality, but sometimes we are given just that to remind us that we are only here for a limited amount of time and need to be making every day count.
In Jewish households around the globe, many have the custom of bentching their children on leil Shabbos – giving brachos to our precious girls and boys as Shabbos enters the world.
How can we ever repay Him for all the goodness that He bestows? I believe this is a question that is somewhat rhetorical, for it really has no answer. However, this does not mean that the question shouldn’t be asked.
When Shabbos arrived, “Zaidy Schechter” would transform his humble home into an atmosphere that was undeniably Me’eyn Olam Haboh. The warmth, the kedushah, the stories, the niggunim – it was impossible not to walk away from the whole experience a more proud and elevated Jew.
Outside, darkness is setting in and the workweek is coming to a close – a week of activity, a week of growth… a tiring week. But as the sun goes down, a new day is being ushered in – the day for which we toiled the entire week, a day of rest and serenity – Shabbos Kodesh has arrived.
You know that feeling when you’re out of juice, with nothing left in the tank and you’re running on fumes? When try as you might, your mind and heart just don’t seem to be on the same page – maybe not even be in the same book?