Page 21 - HaMizrachi #32 RH-YK 2021 USA

teshuvah down into several gateways, positive obligation or commitment
and making it closer and more accessi- regarding ourselves, our family, our
ble. But perhaps there is an additional community, tzedakah, surfing the Inter-
message here that: there are different net, prayer, learning or something else.
ways to achieve change. We do not In this way, we assure ourselves that
have to panic at what initially seems all the promises and thoughts for the
a daunting amount of work needed to new year will not disappear. A little
do teshuvah. We can and should find something will remain and continue
different gateways and paths which to accompany us.
speak to each one of us. Some commentators explain that this
In the same spirit, Rabbi Zusha is said new commitment for the new year is
to have taught: “I am not afraid of like a new garment that a person buys
Everyone needs being asked after my death, in Heaven, – not for the body, but for the soul.
why I was not Moshe Rabbeinu. I am The commitment needs to be modest,
to find their not scared of being asked why I was doable, and within reach.
not Rambam. I’m just afraid they’ll ask Rabbi Elimelech Biederman tells of
path and try me why I wasn’t a Zusha. “ when he was a student and approached
Everyone needs to find their path his rabbi at the beginning of the year
to become the and try to become the best version of and asked for a worthwhile commit-
themselves. ment to take upon himself. His rabbi
answered: think about, contemplate,
best version of and then choose an easy commit-
ment that you are confident you can
themselves. A small commitment live up to throughout the year. Rabbi
Biederman returned to his rabbi with
bit of practical advice: a promise to undertake a specific com-
during the Aseret Yemei mitment. His rabbi then told him: now
Teshuvah, between Rosh cut that commitment in half so that
A Hashanah and Yom Kippur, you will be sure to fulfill it.
it is customary for us to take upon our-
selves a new commitment. To make Members of
one commitment regarding improve- Sivan Rahav Meir and Yedidya Meir are the Mizrachi
Speakers Bureau
ment in one area of life – and to persist popular Israeli media personalities and World
in living up to it. It could be any little Mizrachi’s Scholars-in-Residence. mizrachi.org/
speakers

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