BEBY NEXTgen NEWS - VAYERA

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BEBY NEXTgen NEWS - VAYERA - Keep Laughing

22/10/2021 10:55:06 AM

Oct22

Shalom Everyone,

I hope you all had a great week. Shira Rachel recently posted a meme on Facebook with a quote from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendl Shneerson, of righteous and blessed memory, that really resonated with me and I want to share:

"Today's children do not need to be overly criticized or lectured about their shortcomings. They are their own biggest critics. Instead, they need to hear more about their strengths and incredible potential."

The truth is, I think todays adults need the same. It is very easy to criticize ourselves for our shortcomings and challenges in life. It is very easy to see a messy house that can't seem to get clean, no matter how many times we try to organize, and become overwhelmed. And so, I want to bless us all with a lot of self-compassion and joy in life, and the ability to smile and even laugh, even in the midst of the chaos, even laughing at the chaos itself.

Let's focus on and remind ourselves about our unique "strengths and incredible potential" as we move into this Shabbat and week ahead.

I'm really excited to join this year's B'nai Mitzvah Experience cohort, starting this Sunday morning. It's not too late to register. See the flyer below.

SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE PROGRAMMING INFORMATION!

Parshat Vayera - Keep Laughing

This week's parshah is full of laughter. When HaShem tells Avraham that he will have a son with Sarah, Avraham laughs out of pure joy and elation. When Sarah hears the news, she laughs out of disbelief, because Avraham was 99 years old and she was 89 years old. A year later, they have the son, Yitzchak, whose name means "I will laugh".

While the parshah deals with many challenging stories - the destruction of S'dom, sending away Hagar and Yishma'el, Avraham being threatended by the Philistine King, and the binding of Isaac (Akeidat Yitzchak), throughout the Torah reading there is a underlying sense of joy that Avraham has when serving HaShem.

As we go through our lives and face challenging times, we can laugh and recognize that those challenges are opportunities to bring more joy and healing into the world. Afterall, laughter IS the best medicine.

Discussion Questions:
1. What is a challenge that you faced and were scared about, but later succeeded at?
2. How did you feel after you were successful?
3. Why do you think laughing makes it easier to handle challenges?

Rabbi David's Answers (from last week):
1. How many offspring does HaShem promise Avraham?
- As many stars in the sky and grains of sand on the beach. So, a lot. A lot a lot, and then even more than that.
2. Why does HaShem tell Avraham to count the stars?
- To see if Avraham was willing to do something that seemed impossible, because it is that attitude that made Avraham special and unique.
3. What is a way that we can continue to spread the teachings of Avraham around the world?
- Every great invention seemed impossible until someone kept trying and eventually made it work. By living knowing that everyting is possible, even if we don't know how yet, we can show the world what it means to be like Avraham.