Shalom to all,

As we speedily approach the New Year so many questions and thoughts come to mind. We pray for our spouses, children and friends, we hope this

year will be special. It is said in our holy Torah that one must ask forgiveness from his fellow in order to be forgiven from above; this story illustrates the importance of forgiveness.

The Mishna in the tractate of Yoma (8:9) tells us that "Sins between one man and his friend, Yom Kippur does not atone for until one appeases his fellow man."

TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT. DURING SOME POINT OF THE JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT; ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE IN THE FACE, THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING, WROTE IN THE SAND, TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE. THEY KEPT ON WALKING, UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS, WHERE THEY DECIDED TO TAKE A BATH. THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING, BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM. AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM THE NEARLY DROWNING, HE WROTE ON A STONE: 'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE' THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND ASKED HIM, 'AFTER I HURT YOU, YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW, YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?' THE FRIEND REPLIED 'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY. BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US, WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE WHERE NO WIND CAN EVER ERASE IT.

‘LEARN TO WRITE YOU'RE HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE. THEY SAY IT TAKES A MINUTE TO FIND A SPECIAL PERSON, AN HOUR TO APPRECIATE THEM, A DAY TO LOVE THEM, BUT THEN, AN ENTIRE LIFE TO FORGET THEM. TAKE THE TIME TO LIVE! DO NOT VALUE THE THINGS YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE, BUT VALUE WHO YOU HAVE KNOWN IN YOUR LIFE!

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

If we can apply this lesson surely G-d almighty will sign and seal us for a healthy and prosperous year Amen,

Leshana Tovah Oumetouka,
Rabbi Jacob Benaroch