Liluei Nishmat Rebbetzin Henny Machlis
In the beginning of this week’s
parsha the story of our people begins when God commands our forefather Avraham
to leave his homeland behind and go to “ the land which I will show you”
(Bereisheit 12:1). Our sages teach (see Pirkei Avot 4:3) that Avraham was
tested by God ten times and this was one of those tests (the first or second of
his tests there is a disagreement between Rashi and Rambam). Many commentators
(especially Chasidish ones such as the Nesivos Shalom) explain that just like
Avraham we to are tested by God at different points in our lives. These tests are
both similar to Avraham or just tests we face in general from day to day.
According
to many Chasidish commentators God telling Avraham Lech Lecha at the beginning
of this week’s parsha can also symbolize not just Avraham leaving everything he
has behind but a message to us go away
from yourself or to improve yourself.
It is
this deeper meaning of Lech Lecha which I feel is the one we should concentrate
on during the times we are in and how we should approach the current situation
in Israel. How should we put this into action? I feel it is best to concentrate
our efforts on going beyond oneself by doing Chesed (acts of kindness for those
around us). Not only is acting with kindness and love the act opposite of the
stabbing and pain our enemies our causing our holy people but also Chesed is
the main midda (or character trait) of Avraham Avinu.
Additionally,
last Friday shortly before Shabbat, Rebbetzin Henny Machlis Z’’TL left this
world. It was her, along with her husband that would have 100’s of guests over
in their tiny apartment in Yerushalayim from all different parts of the Jewish
world and even non-Jews every Shabbat (see http://www.aish.com/sp/so/Henny-Machlis-A-Truly-Great-Jewish-Woman.html
just to get a better idea about how incredible this Tzaddeket was). It would
therefore, each according to their own ability, be a beautiful thing to work to
improve the chesed we show towards others in her memory.
There
are many ways which we can show more chesed towards others. These acts of
Chesed can be more directly related to the current situation (e.g. Davening for
one of those recovering from being attacked), saying Tehillim for others,
inviting guests for Shabbat if we don’t do so as regularly etc. May the Chesed
we demonstrate strengthen ourselves and the entire Jewish people, may we go
into a Shabbat of literal Shalom for all Jews in Israel and the world over and
may we usher in the era of the Moschiach and the final redemption.
Good Shabbos, Shabbat Shalom, Gut Shabbes-Gidon Herschander
Mar Cheshvan,5776 Yerushalayim Ir Hakodesh (the holy city of Jerusalem)!
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