A Soulful Journey

During the first Kneisiah Hagedolah in Marienbad, the Hafetz Hayim was asked to lead the assemblage of rabbis and rebbeim in Birkat Hamazon.  He asked himself: “Why do I merit this honor?  It cannot be because of my great scholarship," he mused.  “It cannot be because of my piety,” he continued.  “It must be because I am a kohen, which of course is not due to any personal merit.  I inherited it from my ancestors.”   - Rabbi Morris Shapiro It behooves us to be be modest.  If we have any claim to merit it is because we have been brought to this place on the  shoulders  of giants.

Before Kol Nidre, the Koshnitzer Maggid stood before the holy Ark.  he said,  "Lord of the Universe! Had I known that the Messiah would not come in my days, I would have long ago surrendered my soul to Thee. All my life was the hope that the Messiah would come soon.  Now I ask You, dear God, is it nice to make a fool out of an old man like me?" -Rabbi Morris Shapiro When each of us comes to terms with a personal God, one whom we know and adore, will we be able to speak intimately like the Koshnitzer.