Rabbi Weill's Blog

Dear Friends:

This touching letter was written by Rabbi Natan to his son Isaac, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur in 5591,185 years ago. Rabbi Natan was a disciple of Rabbi Nachman, the founder of Bratzlaver Hasidism.

    To my beloved son, Rabbi Isaac, may his light shine bright:

    I have this hour received your letter and there is no time to reply to it as it deserves. May God strengthen your heart and waken you on the great and awesome day approaching in peace, that one day of the year, that you may merit to be renewed from that time on. And do not let a day be lost without secluding yourself and thinking of the meaning of your life. Into every day get as much of Torah and prayer and good deeds as you can, as much as you can steal from this passing shadow, this vanity of vanities, this vanishing cloud....Remember well that all our days are vanity, yet every man on whatever level he may stand can attain eternal life. There is no time now for any more.

    The words of your father, who seeks your welfare and prays on your behalf, Natan of Bratzlav

So much in this letter deserves our attention, so many profound details. But, for now, note how Rabbi Natan lovingly encourages his son to imbue his life -- "a passing shadow" -- with real meaning through self-reflection, Torah learning, and deeds of kindness. I am also struck by Rabbi Natan's faith that each one of us can achieve redemption -- "eternal life" -- by seeking it with sincerity. 

May your light shine bright as you turn heart and mind toward the process of self-reflection and teshuva, as this season demands.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Jeffrey Weill