An
Inspiring Message from Rabbi Shepherd
Yesterday, on erev Rosh Chodesh, I visited various holy sites to pray. Some of these places were new to me, like the tomb
of Habakkuk HaNavi, a special prophet. He is one of the prophets whose teachings are part of the Tanach. The prophets that are on the Tanach were understood by our sages to be relevant to us; we can learn important lessons and strengthen our connection to Hashem and our service to Him through their teachings.
When I go to the grave of a tzadik, in addition to saying my prayers, I also pray to Hashem for help through the merit of that righteous person. I ask for all my needs, for my family, the people I'm connected with, my students, and those who support my projects. Beyond these requests, there's something that might be even more important than those prayers:
the meditation of connecting my soul to the soul of the tzadik, so I can receive the benefit of the good things he did while he was in this world.
Every individual soul
entering this world has a unique purpose of mending, a particular aspect that each righteous person brings forth in revealing Hashem's attributes. In my case, this is what I strive to uncover through the teachings of the sages, found within the Tanach, Mishna, Gemara, the Zohar, and other texts. To understand what was the main revelation a tzadik did while alive.
I'd like to share that as I was on my way to the tomb of Habakkuk HaNavi, I found myself meditating on these inquiries. It came to me that, as per the teachings in the Gemara in Masechet Makot, Habakkuk HaNavi laid the cornerstone for each person's connection with Hashem, simplifying
it to one crucial element. While the tzadikim before him had multiple pillars, Habakkuk HaNavi distilled it down to a single essence: FAITH.
Habakkuk said: "צַדִּיק
בֶּאֱמוּנָת֥וֹ יִֽחְיֶֽה" - "The righteous shall live by his faith." In simpler terms, this means that the righteous person receives blessings from above based on their unwavering faith. This holds a significant lesson for all of us. While we might believe in Hashem and the Torah, it's crucial to possess a profound and unshakable faith—a faith so steadfast that it remains firm no matter the circumstances, no matter what you're seeking or hearing. This steadfast faith becomes an unwavering
pillar. When you possess it, you build the strongest foundation.
This is the insight I gained during my visit to the grave of Habakkuk HaNavi, and I wanted to share it
with you, especially today on Rosh Chodesh Elul. I believe it holds great significance for us to center our reflections, both generally and during the days of Elul, as we prepare ourselves for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah. What key lesson should we carry from today into the entire year? For me, it's dedicating effort to nurture this foundation of faith. This pursuit holds the potential to be our greatest accomplishment, granting us the merit to follow Hashem at the
highest levels. With a robust faith, challenges lose their power to threaten us; we rest assured knowing Hashem is our protector, freeing us from worry or fear.
I send you all a big hug and a big blessing, and may Hashem grant us the merit of hearing the Shofar of Mashiach soon in our days.
