Dear Alumni and Friends,

An unscheduled, but very much necessary, trip to the States this past week is the reason why I was unable to send out an email for a week or two.  My apologies.  We all know that there are two mountains near each other on each side of Shechem, Har Grissim and Har Evel.  Har Grissim is also known as Har HaBracha, the Mt of Blessing.  Even today, Har Grissim is covered with forest while Har Evel is mostly barren.  It was towards Har Evel that the Leviim turned when they pronounced the curses of this week’s parsha.  But we are also commanded to build a mizbayach of stone on Har Evel and to offer sacrifices there as the passuk says, (27:1) “and you will bring sh’lomim and you will eat there and you will rejoice before Hashem…”  Rav Moshe Feinstein ztz”l asks the obvious question.  Would it not be more appropriate to rejoice, to be happy on Har HaGrissim, the Mt of Blessing?

Some parents are consistently, but reasonably strict while others are consistently lenient.  Rav Yaakov Weinberg, ztz”l has said that either approach could be successful but it’s most important to be consistent.  It is when we are arbitrary and fluctuate that our children get mixed messages and resent it.  Is there anything worse than inconsistency?  I believe that there is and it is just not to care.  The fact that we care and respond to our children’s behavior is evidence that we love them.  Don’t think for a moment that their sensitive souls will not realize or recognize our lack of caring. 

Rav Moshe, ztz”l answers that it is the threat of punishment which the curses represent that enable us to overcome the yetzer hara and make the right choices.  Therefore, it is appropriate to be happy on Har Evel.  I would also add that the very fact that our actions make a difference and that there are consequences both in this world and the next, shows Hashem’s love for us.  For this you should be very much b’simcha. 

As the daily shofar and perhaps last night’s full moon that will soon ebb, reminds us, Yom HaDin, the Day of Judgment will soon be upon us.  We should think about this amazing phenomenon.  Each and every one of us will stand in judgment before the Infinite, the Creator of the cosmos.  Our actions, speech and thoughts make a difference.  We may be but a speck in the cosmos, but we are important enough to be judged individually before the Al-mighty. 

Appreciating our own self worth is the pre-requisite to teshuva.  May we together with all of Klal Yisrael be worthy of utilizing the precious days of Elul that remain to do both. 

Please keep Neveh in mind as our talmidim, bezras Hashem arrive today.  We’ll let you know our first impressions next week, with Hashem’s help.

Best wishes for a great Shabbos,

Best regards,

Mash