Learning is a vital part of our ethos and vision and we would like to respond to our members needs and requirements. Initially the Dayan has established a programme offering weekly sessions for both men and women but please do let us know if you would like any additional learning sessions and we will do our best to find you a suitable chavruta.
Shiurim & Adult Education
THOUGHTS ON YITRO BY RUTH WILKINSON
וְעֹ֤שֶׂה חֶ֨סֶד֙ לַֽאֲלָפִ֔ים לְאֹֽהֲבַ֖י וּלְשֹֽׁמְרֵ֥י מִצְוֹתָֽי
Shemot 20.6: “and I perform loving kindness to thousands [of generations], to those who love Me and to those who keep My commandments.”
Rashi explains that when the Torah refers to Hashem paying back the wicked for four generations and the righteous for two thousand generations, this teaches us one of the principles of the operation of creation, the measure of good versus the measure of bad in this world.
The ratio of 2000 generations to four = 500:1. From this we see that there is 500 times more good in this world than negative and bad things. An alternative way to understand this concept is to acknowledge that for any single discomfort or lack of pleasure, there will be 500 pleasurable and good events.
In his book,” Three Steps Forward”, Rabbi Menachem Tenenbaum illustrates this concept. When his family moved into their new apartment, they met their upstairs neighbours who had recently moved into a small apartment in the block as they were in transition for a few months whilst waiting to move to a new larger house. This neighbour explained, “Yes, the two-room apartment is certainly small for our family but having to put our things in a storage unit has made us appreciate them even more and we now see it not as a downsize but as an opportunity to have a better appreciation of lives.” This is a living example of Rashi’s teaching from this pasuk in Yitro.
The ratio of 500:1 exists, we just need to become more aware of it. We can easily forget the importance of the everyday blessings in life; the food in the fridge, our ability to open our eyes when waking in the morning, our sense of taste and smell, as well as the people around us who make our world special.
The Shemoneh Esrei gives us plenty of opportunity to focus on being grateful and appreciating what we have, for example: Blessed are you Hashem who heals the sick of Israel; Who desires repentance; The gracious one who abundantly forgives; Who blesses the years.
In the morning brachot we also have a focus on a list of things that we are blessed with: Blessed are you Hashem …….. Who did not make me a slave; …Who gives sight to the blind;……Who straightens the bent….. Who has provided me with all my needs;….. Who gives strength to the weary…….
May we all warrant these blessings and appreciate what we have in our lives.
Shabbat shalom
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