Dear Friends,
Something struck me when I was at the Conference of Shluchim, the annual meeting of Chabad Shluchim, who, once a year, gather from all over the world in New York. David learned with me in the Yeshiva in Brooklyn twenty years ago, and today lives in California. Asher, a very close friend for many years, lives in Omsk; Moishe and Davidi are two brothers who grew up with me in Kfar Chabad and live in Bangkok; A few years ago I connected with Shaul thanks to WhatsApp; he lives in Oslo.
Today I met them and many, many others, and they all – all – had something in common: their faces were lit up with inner joy, the type of joy that radiates outward.
Now, when I am sitting for a moment and reconstructing the past few days, I think I know the source of this light and joy: giving. Yes, it’s the giving that does it. Most of the time, these people are busy giving of their time, knowledge, energy and even their money to others. They are giving of themselves all the time. Giving has a knack of repaying the giver with light and inner joy. It is not for nothing that the Hebrew word for “gave” – Natan – can be read in both directions, because when we give we actually receive.
Do try this at home! It works!
Shabbat Shalom and regards from the world over,
Rabbi Zalmen Wishedski