JEWISH HOME LA

Dear Readers,

In this week’s Parsha we have the eternal lesson of forgiveness. As viceroy of Egypt Yosef Hatzadik could have easily gotten back at his brothers for doing the unimaginable and selling him to complete strangers. Yet, from the moment he sees them his heart longs to embrace them and be reunited with his family. Time and a process were needed for them to sincerely repent but from his part he was ready to put it in the past.

He was able to do this because he saw all that happens in this world as coming directly from Hashem. Even events that happened due to bad choices made by other people was seen as Hashgacha Protis. They would have to Teshuvah for it but as far as he was concerned it was meant to be.

All of us have times when we are hurt or disappointed by those around us. We need to learn from Yosef’s attitude toward his brothers and realize that all that happens to us is from Hashem and that nothing happens with His direct involvement.

By Yosef the benefit of his being in Egypt was obvious. We need to search within our own challenges to find the point or at least a benefit from having gone through the experience.

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Rebbetzin Mira Labkowsky, long time Chabad Shlucha and resident of LA passed away Tuesday night. A wise and special woman who had much pain in her life yet maintained an open home and ran a highly successful pre school with an abundance of positivity and laughter. She will be sorely missed by those who knew her.

May G-d put an end to pain and suffering with the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days.

Wishing you a wonderful Shabbos,

Shalom