Shalom and Bracha!
May Hashem send forth the inscription for you, your entire
family, and all those who are dear to you for a peaceful,
healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year and may we see the
redemption through Moshiach immediately!
There are always four days between Yom Kippur and Sukkot,
corresponding to the four letters of Hashem’s name. When a
Shabbat falls in these four days, as it does this year, we
always read the portion of Ha’azinu. One of the verses in the
portion describes the bond between Hashem and the Jewish people:
“His people are a part of Hashem; Yaakov is the portion of His
inheritance.
The verse describes a twofold connection. The first part of the
verse refers to Israel as “His people.” This refers to the
loftiness of the soul. Thus the verse describes us as a “part”
of Hashem. Each of the aspects of our soul is connected with the
letters of Hashem’s name. Each soul is rooted in the letters of
Hashem’s name. The essence of our soul is the spark of the
Divine that is within each of us. Kabbalah teaches that the body
itself is an n expression of the letters of Hashem’s name. After
the cleansing of the soul on Yom Kippur, we are capable of
feeling the Divine spark that dwells within each of us and of
recognizing the reflection of Hashem in every aspect.
Thereafter the verse continues, “Yaakov is the portion of His
inheritance.” The name Yaakov refers to the soul as it is
enclothed in the body and active in mundane affairs. The verse
uses the term inheritance to teach us that even when we are
involved in activities that seem unrelated to Hashem, just as an
heir is a distinct entity, we have an innate bond with Hashem as
just as the connection of an heir is by his very being. The
Hebrew word in the verse “portion of His inheritance” is Chevel,
which also means rope. This teaches us that we have the power to
draw divine energy into whatever we do. Further, the term Chevel
teaches us a deeper understanding of Mitzvot and Teshuvah. Our
bond to Hashem is through the Mitzvot. Each Mitzvah is like a
string, and together they form a rope. Any torn string weakens
the rope. The power of Teshuvah is to tie the string back
together. When we tie strings back together, the place of the
knot is thicker than the original string. When we return to
Hashem, our bond is more intense than it was in the first place.
The word Ha’azinu means listen. May Hashem listen to and grant
our greatest request with the coming of Moshiach.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Biggs
Dedicated to Alan Philips and Gelareh Mizrahi on the occasion of
their engagement. May Hashem bless their union in every manner
and may the warmth of Torah be the inspiration of their lives.
A Project of Chabad of Great Neck
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