QUESTION:
G-d blesses the 7th month that provides the ability for us to bless the other eleven months. What is the blessing of HaShem?
ANSWER: The blessing is recorded in this week’s Parsha which is always read immediately preceding Rosh HaShana. Atem Nitzavim HaYom – G-d promises that all of the Jews will stand strong and united on the day of Rosh HaShana and enter into the covenant with HaShem.
(377 מ'מנחם התוועדויות ה'תשמ"ז כרך ד, ע-תורת)
QUESTION: What is the lesson for our individual service of the levels of “hewers of wood” & “drawers of water”?
ANSWER: עציך alludes to the word עצה the many thoughts and counsels that are available to a person. Yet the only true path is from HaShem. One must discern the correct path and “chop-out” all the other advices that the world provides. מימיך refers to the waters that nourish all the pleasures of the world, drawing a person away from the path of HaShem. One needs to be a drawer of water (avoiding all the other distractions) going to the true path of holiness.
(114, עמ' ידלקוטי שיחות כרך)
QUESTION: The Jews obtained a covenant at Har Sinai. What is the nature of the additional covenant which Moshe established at the end of the 40 years between G-d and the Jewish people?
ANSWER: At Ha Sinai the Jews entered into a covenant with G-d to be His people. At the end of the time in the Desert, HaShem made the “effort” to establish a covenant that cemented the special connection between the Jews and Himself. This covenant was specially done at Rosh HaShana, so that every Rosh Hashana He renews the covenant with the neshama while in the body.
(188 , עמ'כד לקוטי שיחות כרך)
QUESTION: How is the love of G-d an “easy” thing to do (כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאוד בפיך ולבבך לעשותו)?
ANSWER: Love of G-d emanates from one's knowing Him. One may know G-d through faith, a "short" path in that every Jew naturally believes in G-d; yet, this can be a long path, as faith does not remove obstacles. A person must also toil intellectually to know G-d. And while this is a "long" path, since G-d is not easily "known"; however, once this knowledge is gained, the path is indeed short, for "Know the G-d of your father," leads to "and serve Him with a complete heart.”
(173, עמ' לד לקוטי שיחות כרך)
