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To
My Dear Students,
As we observe Simchat Torah, our annual completion
of the Book of Deuteronomy and our annual beginning
of the Book of Genesis, we might think that this
tradition represents a full circle of learning.
In fact, it is not really a circle; rather, it
is a spiral that pushes us higher and higher. Each
year we return to the same words of Genesis, but
we are not the same. We approach the words
not only a bit older than last year, but hopefully
a bit wiser than last year. We do not see it with
the same eyes, or understand it with the same
mind.
In Rabbinical School, each senior must prepare
a sermon to be delivered before the faculty and
student body. One student had a faculty advisor
who, after several drafts, approved the sermon
as fit to deliver. Several weeks later, the Rabbinic
student gave the sermon and awaited comments. His
advisor, who had recently spoken highly of the
sermon, now criticized it. Afterward, the student
approached the professor and inquired, "The sermon
I gave is the same one you approved. Why did
your opinion of it change?" The professor said,
"The words were the same today as weeks ago, but
I am not the same. I have grown a bit since then
and heard it with a different heart."
The "circle of life" is a wonderful metaphor. But
the "spiral of life" is an inspirational challenge! May
our lives soar higher and higher!
Shabbat
Shalom and Chag Sameach!
Your
Rabbi
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