Tuning in

I had one of those unique encounters that left me thinking the other day.  It was at a wedding during the pre-reception reception.  The Shmoozing time.  Anyway, the brides grandparents were introduced to me and we got to schmoozing.  Bubby who had heard about Chabad Intown wanted to know who supports us.  So I told her with a smile that G-d provides for us.  With that she and her husband both at the same time – she to me and he to the people standing to my side – launched into the same joke.  “A man comes to ask his girlfriends father permission for his daughters hand in marriage.  The father takes the young man into the parlor to shmooze.  He says, so my son what do you do for a living?  Well I study all day.  And how do you plan to provide for your new bride to be? Well, G-d will provide.  And how do you plan to provide for your future children.  Well, G-d will provide.  With a smile the father leaves the room and turns to his wife and daughter and says, I like this guy, he’s great. He thinks I am G-d!”

The joke was good, but what really struck me was how both of these sweet elderly people were so in sync that they both simultaneously thought about the exact same joke!  To be so in sync is such a blessing.  To get there is a journey that can take a life time.

During this month of Elul in preparation for the New Year, we reassess our relationship with our Creator.  King Solomon compares the relationship between the Jewish people and our Creator to the love between husband and wife.  The above story exemplifies an ideal in relationships; to be so in tune with G-d that we know what he wants, that we speak the same language, that all of our actions speak to His will, etc.

As Rosh Hashanah the anniversary of our relationship with the Almighty approaches, it is time for us to think about how far along we are in our journey of getting in sync with G-d and what more we can do during the coming year to accomplish this depth of relationship.

With blessing.

Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman

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