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Confidence is spiritual strength and psychological insight into the false protective value we place in our insecurity as an excuse for living. It is knowing that all the same perfection within a Higher Power already exists within us as a gift of love. There is no cause for inferiority if there is an acceptance that my worth exists, awaiting only my recognition. We can act with security, feeling our worthiness, and venture forth with safety, expressing the joy of living. No person or circumstance can defeat us when we understand that the attributes of Wisdom and Love are cosmically endowed with us and will be felt if we open the channels to receive. Confidence is not acquired. You already have it.

Parashat Chayei Sarah #ParashatChayeiSara5780 #TorahCommentary #DvarTorah

https://youtu.be/GhQsYiGfy5c

Love is a feeling which is unique because the receiver and the giver are bound together in the highest fulfillment. When we give love we are re-enacting the primordial act of Creation, for only by love could God fashion humankind. When someone takes the love we offer, it is the greatest act of giving because it gives to the lover his reason for living. But love has vulnerability. Love needs receptivity, even a a seed needs soil, and cannot flourish if tossed in a tin can. - To love wisely we must believe in Love and nurture Love. - To love wisely we mustbe in love with Love. - To love wisely, we must love with Love! If you would be loved, Love.

Peace is spiritual action. It is an awareness that maximum peace comes from a mature ability to cope with frustration in a mature way. Peace comes with wisdom which we foster as we explore, evaluate, adjust and adapt to people, problems and ourselves. Peace is possible in the arena, not on the sidelines, because we have a spiritual ally always at our side. When we open ourselves up to Its power by courageously facing our own self-destructive behavior, inner peace is possible. Peace is accepting challenges while we are in the mainstream of living, whether it be on the "battleground" or in the "rose garden." #InnerPEace

Parashat Lech Lecha 5780 #ParashatLechLecha5780 #DvarTorah #TorahCommentary

https://youtu.be/yniOKB7vKa8

Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan / ראש חודש חשון Tuesday, October 29 & Wednesday, October 30 Beginning of new Hebrew month of Cheshvan

This week's 10-Minute Torah (10/26/2019) "Parashat B'Reishit": https://youtu.be/_M4LxD6QQlY UPCOMING SERVICES: Saturday, November 2 @ 9:30am. More details to follow next week.

D'var Torah for Parashat B'reishit #ParashatBReishit #TorahCommentary #DvarTorah

https://youtu.be/JoLrvAKKfzY

Sermon This upcoming week, we finish up the High Holidays by saying “Good Bye” to the Sukkot. We then finish up reading the Torah, have a big celebration, and then roll it back to the beginning and start reading all over again. Disney isn’t the only entity that honors the “Circle of Life”. Many might ask, “Well, we’ve read the Torah once, twice, maybe three times already. Why read again?” Because every time we read it, we see something new. Every time we read it, it has new information, and new message, something we might not have seen before. It’s not that we missed it for some reason, but rather because having read it before or being a year older and wiser, we now have grown to the point in which we’re ready for that particular insight or understanding. Perhaps even more to the point, we’re more in a position to be able to use that new knowledge appropriately. It’s always nice how the Torah relates to our lives in both specific and general ways. In a very general way, this whole process of the High Holidays/New Year is teaching us not just the tactics of how to live our lives (halacha, morality, mitzvot) but also the strategy. There is a certain process and meaning that connects all the dots. Judaism is not just a circle, but it is an upwards spiral. When we come full circle, we are in the same place and at a higher level. We have grown throughout the previous year. We’ve had new experiences and challenges; as we’ve followed the mitzvot and commandments, we have gained a deeper understanding of how to navigate our lives. So why do we study the same Torah over and over again? Why do we recite the same prayers (read: affirmations) over and over again? Simple: Practice makes perfect. The very positive aspect of all this is that there is always a second chance. We need, however, to qualify this a bit. Everyone makes mistakes; that’s because we’re all human, we have imperfect bodies in general and nervous systems in particular. When we make a mistake, we do two things: we acknowledge the error, and then we take steps to correct it. That’s a very positive process. Remember—and this bears repeating—if we are flawed life forms, then we’re bound to mess up every now and then. It’s endemic. The whole purpose of life is to grow and evolve. If we didn’t, there’d be no need to exist. This is why in Judaism our concept of forgiveness is different that the common perception. Like our correcting an error, correcting sins is a similar process. It’s a tough process, and that’s why we have a three-week process. In order to be forgiven, we must first repent. This is why as in the weekly “Shemonah Esrei” or “Amidah”, the prayer for repentance comes before the prayer for forgiveness. In fact, the prayer asking for greater understanding and knowledge comes even before that. So first we have to understand that we did something not right, want to correct it, and then ask for a second chance. This is our “Circle of Life”. This is why pencils have erasers and word documents have back and delete buttons. Its also why I read over my sermons a few times and even the Rebbetzin to check me. As I do in all things in life. LOL The other concept of the “Circle of Life” is, of course, the circle. A circle has no end and no beginning. It goes on endlessly. But our “circle”, again, is a spiral. Our circle goes up and up and up. Our lives are constantly evolving to a better purpose because we value the commandments. Our lives get better because we have this yearly introspection, the original “New Year’s Resolution”. May this year bring you all prosperity and fulfillment and may you all be sealed in the Book of Life.