Couragement, or worse, despair, an honest evaluation of ones achievements might lead to complacency and to the conclusion that one has already attained a state of perfection.
However, the sign and effectiveness of vitality is in growth, and not the growth of a vegetable, which remains in the same place (and situation), but of a living creature–moving from one place to a better place. Growth is indicated not only by changing location, but also by growing through personal change, a change in one’s nature, habits and entire being from good to better and better still.
This is the true vitality of Jew who has been commanded to refine and change his character attributes.
The capacity to attain all the above has been given to every Jew, or, using the quotation above, to “all of you,” from “the heads of your tribes” to “the hewer of your wood and the drawer of your water.”
For the vitality of every Jew derives from, and is bound up with, the Source of Life, as is written, “And you who are attached to G-d, your G-d, are all of you living this day--by virtue of your attachment to G-dliness, the Source of life and vitality, through the Torah, the Torah of Life, and the Mitzvoth (commandments) whereby Jews live.
Moreover, it is a matter of common experience that everything done with vivacity can be achieved with greater success and more completeness. And–what is no less important–such activity makes the proper impact on others inspiring them with the same spirit, for the best influence is a living example.
May G-d grant, that everyone, man and woman, take full advantage of the great opportunity of the last days of the year and those following, all the days of the coming year–to act with true vitality in fullest measure, as above.
And in the merit of it everyone, in the midst of all our Jewish people, should be inscribed for a good and sweet year, for good life and for peace, Unto the coming of our Righteous Moshiach, and the fulfillment of the divine prophecy: “The strength and glory of the Righteous shall be uplifted,” very soon indeed.
