Reb Yisrael, his wife and children left the warm comforts of their beautiful home and entered the sukkah with the knowledge that by taking up temporary residence therein, they would be absolved of any galut-related sins. They did not anticipate the consequences of their decisions.
Moshe possessed great expectations. Moshe suffered great disappointments – as did HaShem!
The existential dilemma that faces Am Yisrael is to restore HaShem’s great expectations from His nation Yisrael. How can we do it?
The Torah proclaims that the Jewish nation will be a blessing for all mankind. Our agenda during the Days of Awe is to convince the Creator of our sincere intentions to repent and improve the religious quality of our lives. What if we fail?
On Rosh HaShana HaShem judges individuals and nations. Each individual has an intimate connection with the Creator, so, there are people who have what to be worried about, while others can feel assured of another great year.
It was common knowledge that these were the final days on earth of the greatest Rav who would ever live, of the only human being to achieve such an intense degree of closeness to the ultimate first cause of all that exists. The feelings of love and longing for the beloved Moshe swelled in the hearts of all the nation.
A woman asked, are you Jewish? I was flustered for a moment; what gave her the idea that I was Jewish? I replied, “No, I am not Jewish”. Let me explain.
