It’s been a very challenging time these past days. 

We have heard of our precious brethren in Israel being senselessly murdered in cold blood. 

How are we to move forward in the face of such pain?

Sivan Rahav Meir, Israeli Torah teacher and news correspondent, shared a letter that was written by a third grade student to the family of his murdered teacher, Rabbi Avishai Yechezkel of blessed memory. 

In his letter, the student wrote poignantly about the role model his teacher was and the excitement he brought daily  to the lessons, and the joy he created in the classroom. 

The student mentioned a number of specific lessons that he learned from his teacher:

Always care for the feelings of your friend

Study well

Be nice to your friends

Be careful with your speech. 

The student concludes the long letter by saying his teacher never missed an opportunity to teach his class important life lessons and signs off telling the family

“You were privileged to have a father like this”!

This was written by a third grader. 

What a teacher - and what a student!

This coming Shabbat is called Shabbat HaChodesh as we read from the Torah portion that explains the commandment of sanctifying the new month. 

Our Sages teach us this is an indication that this is a time of renewal, an opportunity to create a fresh start. 

This commandment was given to the Jewish people while they were still in Egypt. 

In Hebrew, Egypt is called Mitzrayim. A maytzar is a strait, a very narrow place. While we were in the darkest hour in the most depraved place, Gd showed us that we can start afresh and move forward. 

Each and every one of us have our own personal Egypt, that narrow place that does not allow us to expand to our fullest  potential, we have to remember  that we are not mired in the old story. 

One falls into routine. 

We feel stuck and unable to move forward. But this time of year has the spiritual energy to propel us forward. 

To renew. 

Every morning when we awaken, we are actually given that new opportunity, but everything looks the same, we think we have to behave as we did the day before, but one can actually  do something different today, it’s a new opportunity. 

Rabbi Meilech Biderman, Torah teacher in Israel illustrates this idea with an interesting tidbit. 

When an elephant is ready to go to sleep at night, the trainer will make sure the elephant doesn’t escape by using a rope to tie the elephant to a small pole which is embedded in the ground. 

The strong and mighty elephant could easily pull the pole from the ground, but does not even try. 

Because, when the elephant was but a calf, small and not very strong, it tried to pull out the stick and could not. 

So it never tried again. 

Even though now he would accomplish feat this with ease, the elephant is still in Egypt, unable to imagine a new reality, despite his new circumstances. 

We cannot let a past failure prevent us from growing and trying again. 

Sivan asked the question, how do we move forward in the face of tragedy such as this?

She quotes a song written by Naomi Shemer (writer of the iconic song,Jerusalem of Gold)which states that a nation’s road to victory is in the small things, such as getting up in the morning to study, build and create. 

This rings a bell. 

How similar these words are to the eternal messages the third grader learned from his beloved teacher. 

This is the answer to the terror. We have no choice but to  continue despite the fearful challenges. 

We have to persevere in the face of challenge, whether personal or communal, and overcome any version of  Egypt which is lurking in our lives. 

Our Sages pose a question:

which is the most significant verse in the Torah? 

Is it the Shma?

Is it Love your neighbor as yourself?

And they conclude that the most important verse is

“You shall offer one lamb in the morning and another in the afternoon” (referring to the daily service which took place in the Temple)

How curious?

This seems so mundane!

But the Sages are speaking to the fact that each and every day, we begin anew and have the opportunity to begin again. 

Each and every day we choose to persevere and continue.

No matter what. 

This perpetuation of life, the living of a meaningful life, is the secret of victory. 

May the new month ahead, which heralds a season renewal and rejuvenation, give us strength. 

Strength to leave Egypt in every form 

Strength to show up even when it’s hard

And the strength to be to take the simple but majestic lessons of living a meaningful life, by recognizing each day is a new day and we don’t have to be stuck in our old ruts!

That Third Grader understood the message. 

And now he has taught it to us!

Shabbat Shalom and so much love!