Dear SHA Community,
Every year, these days after Pesach are so busy! Each week has a commemoration, special day or celebratory occasion. In recent weeks, we marked Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut. This coming week will be Lag B’Omer - a special day that we will celebrate with a Field Day together with the other Jewish schools in the Seattle area. Later this month, we will commemorate Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem Day. Furthermore, we now have the end of school in view. We realize that there are only a precious handful of days left of this school year.
Our awareness of the uniqueness and preciousness of each day during this time should not be surprising. The seven weeks between Pesach and Shavuot are called the “Omer” - a reference to the mitzvah to count each of these 49 days. On each successive night, we count “today is one day of the Omer”, “today is two days of the Omer”, etc. By counting each day, we powerfully reinforce the idea that each day counts.
Please read below about all of the special things that are happening at SHA!
A thought of Pirke Avot - Ethics of Our Fathers
Rabban Gamliel teaches
Aseh retzono kirtzoncha - Make His will like your will
Tosfot Yom Tov - Comment on this teaching
There is another authentic version teaching which contains a small nuance. That version reads: Aseh retzono birtzoncha - Do His will with your will.
This version means that one should not perform a mitzvah in irritation, anger and frustration. Rather, commandments should be performed willingly and with a happy heart.
Lesson from this teaching
Showing our children an example of learning Torah and performing mitzvot is certainly important. However, this mishnah teaches that this example of performance is not sufficient. One’s attitude towards Torah and mitzvot is also a form of modeling. Having a willing and happy attitude towards Torah and mitzvot makes an indelible positive impression and is incredibly important when influencing children.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Owen
