JEWISH SEASON I HER TRIBE MAGAZINE 5786
Tishrei! A month of newness, filled with light, prayer, and potential, inspires us all to focus on our spiritual work and presence in the world with greater intensity and spirit. With each prayer, each hope, thought, and musing of return, we bring new light to this world. Recognizing that we each have a piece of infinity in us allows us to realize our unique light that we can share with the world. In essence, we are given the opportunity to shine HaShem’s light through our lives. What a gift!
Rav Kook says in Orot haTeshuva that teshuva is revealed through new spiritual enlightenment. As we pour out our hearts in prayer, asking for a year filled with blessings, the very hope for newness inspires us to return to our authentic selves. Tishrei, the head of the year, is the launchpad for the blessings to come for the entire year. Every spark of recognition of HaShem, pronouncing HaShem the King of the world, paves the path for more of HaShem’s light to be revealed in the coming year in our personal lives in the collective life of Am Yisrael, and for the whole world.
Rav Kook continues to explain that the light of teshuvah brings recognition of HaShem’s malchut in the world. Just yearning to be our true selves crowns HaShem the King of the world.
Here is a taste of a teshuvah-Tishrei life story from our dear Rebbetzin Judy Brodt (of Shevach Torah and Art program):
How do we translate the vastness of tefillot, blessings, and thoughts that come into this month of Tishrei?
How do we make use of our understanding of each moment, packed full of everything that will
be coming down into the world the whole year?
My particular soul had its beginnings on י׳ב תשרי, the 11 of Tishrei, the day after Yom Kippur, in 1944, in Budapest, Hungary. For some hidden (from me) reason Hashem “thought” that it should continue in this world, with its many “adventures” ahead. The complex energy of the month, the elegance of Efraim, the high reaching ״ל״ (by the way two lameds facing each other create a heart), seeking truth, balance, arrangement of the letters of the holy name of Hashem, vav-hei-yud-hey, knowingly or not, have been shaping my life, seeking its truth.
In retrospect, the myriad of flowers, beautiful shining brown beetles with their big horns, the sparkling rocks, and the slippery mud on the banks of the fast flowing river, are all part of the honing of this neshama, dizzy being in love with Hashem’s constant production. Each rung of my life has been a step that constitutes our escaping from Hungary on foot, continuing our journey to America with trains, a US Navy ship, buses, an airplane, and finally a car.
Through the years this soul has collected transformational experiences, filled with the sound of horse hair drawn on gut strings (playing violin), producing melodious harmony, competing in swimming and gymnastics, dancing prayers, designing buildings, melting in the beauty of the texture of textiles, the grain of wood, the smoothness of clear glass, and birds flying in the sky of Yerushalayim.
The myriads of moments bursting with the example of holy beings, special shining souls, many to be thanked and to be grateful for their gifts.
I must mention the two beings who radically and exponentially changed the course of my life, who saw what it needed, from the devastation of the Shoa and what it yearned for, the light of Yerushalayim. Since I met Rebbe Shlomo Carlebach ztz’l and Reb Zalman Schechter Shalomi ztz’l, who were sharing the essence of their soul. B”H, my life from 1977 has been filled with utmost joy and light, including my most, most precious husband Sholom z’l and our incredible gifts, our children, friends, and students who are also family.
On the way of this journey a wide and welcoming gate opened to a place of helping each other with the footprints fitting time, space, soul -Yeshivat Simcha Shlomo.
All of us are preparing each other, inside and outside, continuing on the road toward…… the imaginable and the unimaginable, toward the light from the primordial light of the future.
It is all in Tishrei, my Tishrei, your Tishrei our Tishrei together, because it is ONE.
Does all this need an explanation that can’t be explained? This month, expanding with newness, prayer and potential of our collective breath, the warmth of our love……. L’chaim!
L’chaim! L’chaim!
The inspiration woven into this essay has come directly from The Master of Creation, Hashem, and a couple of Hashem’s creative messengers Sheva Chaya Shaiman and Yehudit Raizel Sukkat Shaleym Brodt
Sheva Chaya Shaiman
Originally from Denver, Sheva Chaya made Aliyah to Tzfat in 2005. That same year she began to learn glassblowing which has become her passion. Ever since, the land, the people, and the rich tradition of spiritual teachings infused a greater depth in her work which she shares from her gallery in Tzfat and worldwide.
Yehudit Raizel Sukkat Shaleym Brodt
A beloved figure in Nachlaot. She and her husband Reb Sholom z”l founded Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo of which Shevach is the women’s Torah and the Arts program. She is an interior designer, labor assistant, massage therapist, a kallah teacher, plus…..
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This article originally appeared in Her Tribe Magazine Elu/Tishrei 5786.
Continue reading inspiring stories, Jewish wisdom, personal journeys and meaningful conversations in the complete edition.
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