Wishing you a meaningful fast...

IY'H we will be starting two different tracks of Bilvavi this Monday.
12-1230 ny time: Da Es Atzmecha and Bilvavi book 1
1230-1 ny time: Bilvavi book 6.

Stay tuned for outlines and phone numbers to be posted on Sunday.

We are in the month of Tevet and may feel the intense darkness inherent in this month.

Good.

If we feel the darkness, then we will do something to bring in more light.  

In other words, something that will bring us closer to Hashem.

If you find yourself cowering from the dark,  do something, anything, that makes you feel inspired.  DO NOT GIVE UP.

Rav Schwartz says face your fears this month and inside each fear place emunah.  The fear vanishes over time when you know and sense that Hashem is within it.  

If you want to "become the change you wish to see in the world" and bring the ultimate change, geulah, it is going to take discipline and perseverence.  Please don't be thrown off by not being able to see in the dark.

 "The tenth of Tevet is meant to nullify future troubles, (so) is considered a pleasure and supersedes Shabbos" (Rav Moshe Feinstein quoted in Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi parsha shiur)


Let's use the day to daven for all of klal Yisrael. 

Below is a link to a video of Batya Burd speaking of her late husband Gershon. (there is a speaker before her so around 1:20 if you want to go directly to her speech)

She is the living embodiment of Da es Atzmecha and Bilvavi. (thank you Reitza Sarah for the link)
 
http://vimeo.com/81488497

Good Shabbos!