Dear Friends,
What is the most lasting, touching blessing of your life?
Is it – or was it - in your marriage or partnership?
Is it found in your relationship with your children or grandchildren?
Is it your health?
How often do we pause to reflect on such a question? Some people commonly sit back and “count their blessings.” And, I do hope that they, and you, need more than ten fingers to enumerate these wonderful joys and sources of fulfillment. I fear that some people will only need one hand, or part of five fingers, in order to list that for which they are blessed.
This week, the name of our Torah portion is “V’zot haBrachah,” which translates as “This is the blessing.” It initiates Moses final words to the Israelite people before he walks off into the hills on the East side of the Jordan River, and dies by the kiss of God. Yet, before he departed from the people whom he had led for four decades, he offers his final words in the form of a Hebrew poem, commencing with V’zot haBrachah.
In his poem, Moses recounted the character of each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and offered them final, personal testimonials. He recognized who they were, and he validated their individuality. Benjamin, the youngest, was lauded for being beloved, and Zebulun, which would dwell along the seashore, was urged safety in its journeys.
Moses was keen to offer blessings which fit the nature of each tribe, and which would adhere to them in the epochs to come. Moreover, his blessings were genuine gifts; there were no strings or commitments attached. They elevated those to whom he spoke.
As we reflect on our blessings, we might see them as achievements, recognitions, or persons who grace our lives. They certainly are blessings, and many may be circumstantial to careers or relationships which filled or complemented our lives. Yet, looking further, can we identify gifts given to us because of who we are? These are more challenging, yet wonderfully fulfilling.
Personally, I look back on the boost to my rabbinic and academic self-identity which my mentor in Rabbinic School gave to me, when he enlisted me to help him write two books. It would be a springboard into my own potential which few other blessings would match, in my professional growth. It is among my blessings.
“This is the blessing…” What are yours?
Mo’adim l’Simcha – for festivals of joy!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
What is the most lasting, touching blessing of your life?
Is it – or was it - in your marriage or partnership?
Is it found in your relationship with your children or grandchildren?
Is it your health?
How often do we pause to reflect on such a question? Some people commonly sit back and “count their blessings.” And, I do hope that they, and you, need more than ten fingers to enumerate these wonderful joys and sources of fulfillment. I fear that some people will only need one hand, or part of five fingers, in order to list that for which they are blessed.
This week, the name of our Torah portion is “V’zot haBrachah,” which translates as “This is the blessing.” It initiates Moses final words to the Israelite people before he walks off into the hills on the East side of the Jordan River, and dies by the kiss of God. Yet, before he departed from the people whom he had led for four decades, he offers his final words in the form of a Hebrew poem, commencing with V’zot haBrachah.
In his poem, Moses recounted the character of each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and offered them final, personal testimonials. He recognized who they were, and he validated their individuality. Benjamin, the youngest, was lauded for being beloved, and Zebulun, which would dwell along the seashore, was urged safety in its journeys.
Moses was keen to offer blessings which fit the nature of each tribe, and which would adhere to them in the epochs to come. Moreover, his blessings were genuine gifts; there were no strings or commitments attached. They elevated those to whom he spoke.
As we reflect on our blessings, we might see them as achievements, recognitions, or persons who grace our lives. They certainly are blessings, and many may be circumstantial to careers or relationships which filled or complemented our lives. Yet, looking further, can we identify gifts given to us because of who we are? These are more challenging, yet wonderfully fulfilling.
Personally, I look back on the boost to my rabbinic and academic self-identity which my mentor in Rabbinic School gave to me, when he enlisted me to help him write two books. It would be a springboard into my own potential which few other blessings would match, in my professional growth. It is among my blessings.
“This is the blessing…” What are yours?
Mo’adim l’Simcha – for festivals of joy!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
