Having a Bad Day?! Don't worry you are still my son.

At this week’s  Shabbat Assembly I discussed the following aspect of Teshuva with the students: How can we ask Hashem for forgiveness if we know that we are human and are going to make mistakes and sin again? It sounds so disingenuous.

I told the children a story about a boy who was having a very bad day.  In the morning, he woke up late and missed the school  bus. His parents were very angry.  At school, the boy was doing a math problem and  he pushed too hard on his pencil, which broke.  When he looked in his backpack for another pencil, the backpack fell and all of its contents emptied  onto the floor, causing a commotion.  The teacher did not yell, but looked at the boy angrily.  His horrible day continued at lunch.  He took school lunch from the counter and was holding the tray with one hand when he lost his balance and all his food fell on the floor.  It was a big mess!  Recess should have been a safe place for the boy.  He scored a touchdown in his football game.  Great!! But when he went to spike the ball, it hit something and deflated.  All of his friends were angry with him.

When the boy returned home from school his Mom asked him about his day.  He told her how bad his day was and he began to cry.  His Mom said “I know you make mistakes and sometimes you are careless, but you are my son, always and forever.  I love you and always will.”  A smile appeared on the boy’s face and he started his homework.

This story is synonymous with our relationship to Hashem.  Hashem knows that we will make mistakes and do the wrong thing at times, but we are always His children.  Hashem will always love us.  Hashem will always hear our sincere words and our Teshuva.  As Rashi explains  in the story of the beracha from the angel to Yaakov, even if a member of Bnai Yisrael sins, he is still a part of Bnai Yisrael.  

This dvar Torah is based on an article I read in Ohel Avraham 5773.

Shababt Nitzavim - New Beginings

The topic of this week’s Shabbat Assembly was “New Beginnings”.  Some new beginnings  that we discussed include the start of a new school year, being in a new class with new classmates, having a new teacher, and the new Jewish Year, Rosh Hashana, 5773.  This is a time when we can, and should, look back on all that we have accomplished over the past year.  I asked the students to think about two or three things that they accomplished during  the year, either at home or in school, of which they were proud.  I told them that they should  feel good about reaching their goals.  I then suggested that they think of two or three new  goals for this coming year.  At your Rosh Hashana table, ask your children about their goals, and listen to what they want for themselves this year. (It is a great exercise for adults, too).

I told the students that I would remind them on each  Rosh Chodesh throughout the year to think about the goals they selected for themselves.  Hopefully, this will encourage the children to remain on the path to fulfilling their aspirations.

I also introduced another “NEW” at Assembly.  The new Banot Sherut who are working at Yavneh  this year are Rany Zeman and Chen Yechye.  They shared a video about themselves with  the students.  We are excited that Rany and Chen are devoting  their year of service to our students and our school.   Please join me in welcoming them to the Yavneh family!

Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova,

Rabbi Steven Penn

Here is the video that they showed the students  ( i know the sound does not work Sorry)

Giving People the Benefit of the Doubt

 At the Shabbat Assembly for Parshat Ki Tavo we discussed the idea of giving people the benefit of the doubt. A student in one of the class in answering the teachers question "What does the sound of the shofar remind us?"  One student said it reminds him of "apple and honey", another student said it reminds him of the "white covering to the Aron Kodesh and the Shulchan".  The last student said it reminds me of what my mothers told me, that at this time of year we need to be "extra good". 
That is actually the Halacha. At this time of year Hashem tells us do things a little better than you have been doing. Give people the benefit of the doubt more.

I shared with the students my personal story from a few weeks ago.  When I was driving to Yavneh one day,  the car behind me starting honking their horn and I did not know what I was doing wrong. So I went a little faster. Still honking from behind. I went a little slower (ok a lot slower) and still honking. I was getting very annoyed at this driver, what was wrong with him.!!

I move over the far right lane to allow him to pass. He drove past me and slowed to talk to me through the window. Now I was nervous.  He said something about my trunk??. When I pulled into Yavneh a few minutes later I went to check and I saw that my trunk was ajar and a strap was hanging out. He was just trying to help me.   

I told the students that situation like this happen daily to each of us.  It could happen at school, at home, or at a friends house. It could happen with your brother, sister, your parents, your friends and your teachers. We need to remember to give everyone the benefit of the doubt דן לכף זכות.   Especially during the days of Elul and leading up to Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.  

We also watched the great video from Aish Hatorah about How Beautiful Rosh Hashana can be.

http://www.aish.com/h/hh/video/What-Makes-Rosh-Hashanah-Beautiful.html