Page 3 - The Jewish Voice - October '21

The Jewish Voice, Page 3

From the Rabbis from page 2 So while the passion of Yom Kippur is still fresh in your “A light burns above its head and it looks and sees from
soul, think of one thing that you can change in your life this one end of the world to the other … and there is no time in
This same sentiment is echoed in the Torah itself: year. Identify it, apply it, and keep it up consistently. which a man enjoys greater happiness than in those days,
The Torah tells us that the Land of Israel is the safest place Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up for it is said … it is also taught all the Torah from beginning
on Earth because “G-d watches over her from the beginning being the biggest step in your life. One good decision turns to end.”
of the year until the end of year.” The unusual syntax in this into two and turns into three, until eventually it turns into Most people sleep in the fetal position because they
verse explicitly speaks of the beginning of “the year” and the victory! subconsciously yearn for the experience in their lives that
“end of year.” Wishing you a month of tip-toeing your way to your was most sublime, most transcendent — when they were in
What the Torah is trying to hint to us is that we all begin the dreams. their mother’s stomach.
New Year having every intention of making this year the very Rabbi Dovid Vigler is spiritual leader at Chabad of Palm The great mystic, the Arizal, explains the process of life
best year. This year will be the year! And then life happens: Beach Gardens and host of the Jewish Schmooze Radio Show. coming into this world as occurring in four stages, each
We get busy, distracted, and tired, and it ends up being just Email him at rabbi@jewishgardens.com. of which corresponds to one of the four letters in God’s
another year, nothing special, just plain “year.” name and the four elements of life. By the third day from
How can we overcome this challenge and successfully The Formation of a Fetus conception, 18 sparks have entered into the process. In
channel our inspiration into our daily routine? Hebrew, the word for “eighteen” means “alive.” At the third
In his inimitable wisdom, the Rebbe points out to us that By Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui day, there is already the identity and the soul of a brand-new
the secret lies in the anti-climatic apex of the Yom Kippur After being barren living person in the mother’s womb. It has the full spectrum
service. It appears at the very end of Yom Kippur, the much- for many years, Rivkah of human life. This is step number one.
anticipated climax that bridges the divide between the sanctity conceived and was now As many of us know, we are a spirit dressed in a body.
of the Holy Day and the ordinary days that follow: expecting. The children Now comes the building of this garment for the soul, the
Though all mitzvahs come in bundles, only the mitzvah struggled within her, and exterior tool, the body, through which the person will
at the conclusion of Yom Kippur stands alone: four species she did not yet know she relate to the physical world. At 40 days — which, by the
that we shake on Sukkos; eight lights of Chanukah, two gifts was carrying twins. Rivkah way, medical science records as the stage when brain
that we give away on Purim, three matzahs and four cups of went to ask God why her waves can be detected in the fetus — the body is already
wine at the seder, two kinds of tefillin and 100 blasts of shofar pregnancy was so difficult formed in its entirety.
on Rosh Hashana. And so the list goes on with one glaring by turning to the priest of According to the Talmud, even the gender of a fetus is
exception: the shofar blast of Yom Kippur. On this day, we God at that time, Sheim. already determined by the 40th day.
blow just one humble blast. No more. Through Divine inspiration, Sheim revealed to her she In Hebrew the word for mother is eim, the numerical
Why? was carrying twins. Every time she would pass a house value of 41, because on the 41st day, in every sense, we have
The Rebbe explains that herein lies the key to self- of God, one of the twins, Jacob, pushed to get out. When a mother of a completely formed child. Soul and body.
improvement and making this year the year: Far from the she would pass an idol-worshiping temple, the other twin, The third stage is at three months when the baby can be
erroneous attitude that change has to be of a colossal nature, Esau, pushed to get out. noticed from the outside and the body develops in greater
the humble Yom Kippur shofar reminds us to change just one Even in the womb of their mother, babies have their own detail. The fourth stage is when the baby is finally born and
thing. If we can make just a single change and keep it up, we individual personalities. They are distinct entities. there are over 60,000 miles of vessels. A truly Divine and
will gain the momentum and the confidence to change. The Talmud, written over 2,000 years ago, describes how miraculous creation, starting from the very beginning.
You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just the first step. R. Simlai delivered the following discourse: “What does It is a known fact that not only will the fetus be affected
Like the drops of water that shape the rock, every an embryo resemble when it is in the bowels of its mother? by the atmosphere while in its mother’s womb — music and
insignificant drop of water makes a meaningful impact. It’s Folded writing tablets. Its hands rest on its two temples so forth in the environment — but that even later on in life,
not the millionth drop of water or the ten-millionth drop of respectively, its two elbows on its two legs and its two heels it will show signs of that memory.
water that shapes the hard rock. It’s the first drop and the against its buttocks. Its head lies between its knees, its mouth A child in its mother’s womb, especially from day three,
second drop and the third one, the succession of which alters is closed, its navel is open, and it eats what its mother eats is already a fully individualized and distinct person, living
even the most implausible odds! and drinks what its mother drinks but produces no excrement its own very transcendent life.
Whether it’s a weekly date night for your relationship, a because otherwise it might kill its mother. As soon as it sees Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui is spiritual leader of Chabad
regular Torah lesson, or coming home early to your family one the light, however, the closed organ opens and the open one House Lubavitch of Palm Beach. Contact him at
night a week, all it takes is one consistent change to change closes, for if that had not happened the embryo could not Rabbi@chabadpalmbeach.org, 624-7004, or www.
you for good. live even one single hour. chabadpalmbeach.org.