This time, I decided to surprise you with something different. (Actually, I try to do this every time). It’s not easy to write the introductory remarks for every newsletter. It demands hard work and dedication. I need to think of an idea, to find sources, to write it up in an interesting, captivating way, and to give the material a professional editing. Even after all this, I can never be sure that the article is perfect. There will always remain a doubt as to whether our esteemed readers will appreciate a particular sentence or word.
I get feedback each time – some enthusiastic reactions that warm the heart, and some critique that helps me for future articles. This time, however, I am presenting an “empty page.” I want you to stop and think about all the work and devotion that is required in order to bring you this content. Each word here is written after much thought, so that you gain new knowledge along with true stories.
I know what you’re thinking. “An empty page? What is that supposed to be?”
And so, consider this:
People desire, plan, anticipate, and hope; but things might not go the way they want, and they’ll feel that their lives are empty. But if we delve into this a bit we can see that it isn’t true. From a different perspective we can see that life is full. Did you daven today? Did you learn today? Did you say a good word to a friend or a family member? Know that with these seemingly small acts you have created an entire world.
An old man complained about his ailing health and difficult life, and he asked the holy Reb Avraham from Kalisch zy”a to daven for him to pass away. The holy Rebbe told him: It is worthwhile for a person to live for eighty years just to don tefillin once, even in the way that you put on your tefillin!
Think about how many mitzvos you’ve done today, how many good things Hakadosh Baruch Hu has given us.
Sometimes we think life is empty and boring. But I want you to know that even within the emptiness, there is content. Proof of this is the article you just read. I told you I was presenting you with an empty page, but in the end, the words written here teach us something as well.
Life is never, ever empty. Life itself is an eternal “filler” – filled with content. We need only to find it, and to thank Hakadosh Baruch Hu for all the good that He has given and continues to give us.
Good Shabbos, Pinchas Shefer
Parshs Shoftim 5783 ■ Issue 120
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