As we approach Yom Kippur, I'd like to share a few thoughts with you.
G‑d gave each and every one of us gifts - many, many gifts. Gifts of life, of sunshine, of daylight, eyesight, hearing, food, children, spouses and many more. We all have challenges, ups and downs, good days and better days and hard days. There are truly immense challenges which our world faces today.
Yet we're also often surrounded by blessings which we sometimes overlook.
As we approach Yom Kippur, a day of introspection and reconnection to what really matters in life, let's take a moment to place ourselves on a path of appreciation, positivity and thankfulness. Thankful for every breath. For sunlight. For family. For health. Thankful for being blessed with being Jewish.
We should not minimize our challenges, and certainly not the challenges of others, but rather try our best to use positivity and thankfulness to overcome the challenges we face.
We can use this time to make even one small good resolution, to add one more Mitzvah in our daily lives.
We can use this once-a-year moment to recommit ourselves to being the best us that we can, savoring the wonderful blessings in life, being proud of our Jewish heritage, and taking joy from the fact that we know that our Creator has blessed each and every one of us with a truly sweet, happy and healthy new year.
Wishing you and yours Shana Tova,
Rabbi Avrohom