In these times which have held so much darkness, I am humbled and very deeply grateful to share a spot of light.
Our youngest son got engaged recently.
I wanted to share this news with you my dear friends and pray there will be many many more joyous occasions and uplifting news we can share.
We certainly need it.
I shared with my daughter that in light of all the events that are transpiring around us, in Israel and here in America, that I resolve to be very easy going about the upcoming nuptials and go with the flow regarding what the future in laws would like.
(Praying this does not go the way of best intentions and resolutions.)
But there is one thing that I would really love.
(See it didn’t last long, like barely a minute!)
I told my daughter that I would really, really love a family picture.
All of us in one frame.
Just for a moment.
My daughter kindly validated my wish, and then shared a beautiful thought which I would like to share with you.
Rabbi Mattisyahu Solomon, Torah leader of this generation addressed the issue of family pictures.
He said that gathering the entire family for the prescribed photograph can actually be quite painful.
If the family has many children and grandchildren, it can actually be quite traumatic for the kids as we beg, bribe and threaten them to behave and smile for the flash.
Up until that very moment that is frozen in time there may be fighting, crying, and unfortunate behavior.
And the moment after all those cute smiling faces are captured, the bickering resumes apace. Who are we fooling with this family picture?
It may look like we are the perfect family, but we know the truth.
It’s just a snapshot in time.
A brief moment captured for eternity, chronicling something not so real.
Yet we hang the picture up.
We eagerly display it on our etagere and in our breakfront.
Why?
Because this is the family we truly are indeed.
This is the family we want to be.

Yom Kippur is a snapshot.
We are on our best behavior.
We acknowledge and confess our sins, but we might feel hypocritical.
Is that who I really am?
Rabbi Solomon says
Yes!
You are taking a snapshot of yourself, of your true self, of your Neshama (soul) self.
Our truest self is our soul self and on Yom Kippur that is what we identify with most.
We don’t engage in eating, drinking, anointing ourselves with lotions, engaging in intimacy or even wearing leather shoes, all things that are manifestations of our physical beings.
We get in touch with our spiritual dimension and for the hours of Yom Kippur, through prayer, meditation, soul searching, we get in touch with who we really are.
A snapshot of ourselves.
Rabbi David Kronglas used to say every minute of Yom Kippur is as sweeet as honey.
It’s enjoyable to remove the barriers and get in touch with that true self.
And, Rabbi Joseph Soliveitchik shared that he once went to a synagogue in Berlin where they sang an uplifting and happy tune when they enumerated all the sins while beating their breast.
This is not a typical custom, but Rabbi Soloveitchik explained that when we accept our sins and atone for them it’s comparable to a beautiful home which was flooded with sewage. Getting rid of all the mess and bringing the home back to its original splendor is magnificent.
It’s joyous.
And it’s happy because I can get back to the real me.
Today is Day 370. We can never feel a complete joy until our hostages come home.
Tomorrow is Yom Kippur.
Let us use the day wisely for because more than ever, we know that every day is precious, every simcha is precious, and there is no greater joy than being in touch with our truest selves.
A sign of love is when someone calls you Neshamale, little Neshama, little Soul.
Because that person loves you for the Soul you are!
Good Yomtov my dear Neshamales.
Have an easy and meaningful fast.
Shabbat Shalom and so much love!