Wishing you and your loved ones a sweet and fruitful New Year filled with joy, health and peace.
Rabbi's Weekly Teaching
September 27, 2019
This past week was physically challenging.
I was stricken with a very aggressive virus, ultimately sent by my own to doctor to the E.R. so as to best address.
{I would like to reiterate something that I have noted many times before; we are truly blessed to have Greenwich Hospital serving our local community.}
After several days, the high fever permanently broke. Roughly 48 hours being fever free, I feel almost "back to myself".
But, the experience was a "gentle" reminder that I am mortal.
It didn't matter that I had critical work that had to be completed before the holidays; I had no control over the situation.
I note "gentle" reminder because I know that there can be many, many more extreme reminders; all of which I pray stay far away from all of us.
As we head into our New Year, we are mindful of our mortality, and the need to re-adjust the trajectory of our lives as needed.
For me, I want to start by simply thanking God for life itself.
This past year, our oldest daughter was married, as well as my younger brother. I had two major joyous simchas to celebrate with my family.
I enter my 25th year as Rabbi at Temple Sholom, and I am especially grateful for the treasure trove of simchas that I am able to share with my Congregational family.
My personal desire to re-adjust the trajectory of my life is to try and really take more notice of all the blessings that I routinely experience.
First, I am here. I am alive.
I am blessed with my wife, Roseanne, for whom I have been married now for more than 32 years.
We are blessed with four beautiful children; inside and out; each having entered their adulthood by exemplifying the menschlekeit we always had hoped they would possess.
We have our new addition, our son-in-law Cody, who brings into our lives his own dear family.
On my calendar there are multiple Congregational simchas scheduled; practically every week will bring the extra gift of joy into my life.
This is just the beginning of an itemization of all that is good, and the list we could all create would be large.
We are here. We are alive.
We have the opportunity to love and be loved.
We can continue to learn and grow.
The rabbis teach that each and every day we should recite out loud at least 100 b'rachot - 100 expressions of gratitude for the different blessings in our lives.
I think my first blessing for the New Year will be: Blessed are You, 0 Lord, Our God, who each day renews the work of creation.
May we welcome our new year with newfound gratitude in our hearts and minds, and may God grant us and our loved ones a very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year!
