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To
My Dear Students,
The
Torah Portion for this week is titled Behar,
"On the mountain," referring to Mount
Sinai.
The story is told of a man who climbed Mount Sinai,
accompanied by a guide. At the half-way
point, the guide offered the climber a moment
to rest and said something peculiar: K'she'atah
yoshev, habeet l'matah, "When you sit
down, look back to the base of the mountain."
We would expect the guide to have said:
"Keep looking upward to the summit and see
how close we are getting to the top."
But as the climber followed the guide's advice
and looked back, he saw how far he had come and
was inspired to continue to climb.
As you ascend through life, as you climb mountains
toward the achievement of your goals, I would
offer the same advice: "Look back to
where you came from." Look to parents
who love you unconditionally and implanted values
within your heart and spirit; look to your People
that ennobled and strengthened you; look to your
faith that has inspired and challenged you; look
to your G-d who created you and sustains you.
There is an old expression: "We cannot
know where we are going unless we know where we
come from." Make sure to pause every
now and then and reflect on all that is behind
you, so you can be encouraged to go forward.
May
your family, your People, your faith, and your
G-d be with you as you climb through life to the
summit of your dreams.
Shabbat
Shalom,
Your
Rabbi
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