Dear friends of Elite Jewish High School,

With Yom Kippur approaching, it is customary to ask for forgiveness of our family members and friends. It is a well-known tradition to say to your friend: “If I did something wrong to you, please, forgive me, and I forgive you”.

However, not everybody knows that according to our sages, the way to ask for forgiveness from people is quite different.

What is the right way to ask for forgiveness?
1. Analyze and realize for yourself what the specific deed(s), word(s) or thought(s) towards this person that might have offended him/her in the past are.
2. Approach that person and explain for what specific deed(s), word(s) or thought(s) you are asking to be forgiven for (even if the person is not aware of the offense).
3. You can ask for forgiveness three times and if the person refuses to forgive you after the third time you are not obligated to attempt anymore.

Evidently now the task does not seem so easy.

There are two types of commandments: between the men and G-d and between the men and men. On Yom Kippur we are praying and pleading for forgiveness from Heaven. However, our human relationships should be settled prior to that moment by ourselves.

May we all merit peace and happiness in the upcoming year by loving, forgiving and caring for the people around us.

Best regards,
Rabbi Asher Altshul

Dear friends of Elite Jewish High School,

The Torah portion of “Ki Tavo” is usually read when we approach Rosh HaShana. It is not a coincidence. As a matter of fact, coincidence does not exist. Everything is happening for a reason.

The reason for reading this chapter in the midst of preparations for Rosh Hashana is a list of the possible curses mentioned in the chapter “Ki Tavo”; that G-d would bestow upon us for disobeying his commandments.

It is a powerful reminder for us of what are we doing here, in this world, during the time that we should be busy with self-evaluation before the judgment days.

But is it really all about rewards and punishments?! Is it so two-dimensional!? Doesn`t it say in the Torah that reason for fulfillment of the Mitzvot is purely based on our love and passion to get closer to the Creator?!

Indeed, it is absolutely not two-dimensional. It is not about reward and punishment. It is one-dimensional. It is about reward only.

There is a Chassidic story about the second Lubavicher Rebbe, Rabbi Dov-Ber. He was twelve years old, when his father Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad movement, was away from home for Shabat of Chapter “Ki Tavo”. It was the custom of Rabbi Schneur Zalman to officiate as the reader of the weekly Torah reading in his synagogue. That Shabat someone else took the Rabbi’s place and officiated the Torah reading. When the part of the curses was read, the young Dov-Ber was so affected by the “curses” that he developed a heart ailment. Three weeks later, when Yom Kippur came around, he was still so weak that his father was hesitant to allow him to fast.

When the young DovBer was asked, “But don’t you hear the Rebuke every year?” he replied: “When father reads, one does not hear curses.”

In every curse a blessing is hidden, in every punishment a reward is installed. It is up to us how we read it, how we listen to it, and what do we do with it.

Best regards,
Rabbi Asher Altshul,
Principal