On Sunday evening, September 14, Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser, well-known speaker and author, shared a beautiful shiur on behalf of Chazaq at Kehilat Ohr Ve’achdut in Jamaica Estates.
Rabbi Goldwasser began by stating that reciting S’lichos can change our entire life. In the month of Elul, our main goal each day is to change. Everyone is involved with t’shuvah. Every day, a Heavenly voice goes out into the world, telling us to remember our obligation to learn Torah and to be kind to our fellow man. Torah is our connection; it keeps us strong.
He shared the idea that Elul is compared to a lion. When we go to the zoo, we aren’t afraid of the lion because it is behind a cage. In the same way, we have built walls between us and Hashem. In Elul, that m’chitzah – the walls – comes down. We begin to grow nervous. We ask ourselves what our purpose is in this world. What is my tafkid? Why did Hashem put me here?
Rabbi Goldwasser said we have to be stronger with our t’filah. He shared how Sarah Imeinu was upset with Avraham that he didn’t daven enough for her to have a baby. Rabbi Goldwasser pointed out that it was naturally impossible for her to conceive, yet she was upset that he didn’t daven for her. So why was she upset when it was impossible? The answer is that nothing is impossible in this world—no matter what a scientist claims. It was possible for Sarah to have a baby. Everything is possible, even things we think are impossible.
He taught that a person should never say “never.”
Every prayer has the power to change the world. Hashem created the power of reciting Y’hei Sh’mei Rabbah. “Our prayers are so high it is unbelievable.”
He shared a story of a young woman who took a long time to find her zivug, and finally she found him. Then, on the night of the engagement party, the shadchan called and said the engagement was off.
The parents were distraught and cried and cried. Then the father said that they weren’t looking at this properly. Everything we do is from Shamayim. Hashem establishes our every step: We recite that in the morning Brachos. He said they should thank Hashem for all the good things they have and then enumerated their blessings. They thanked Hashem for all the good and cried tears of joy. That night, they received another call from the shadchan. She said that the other side was extremely upset. The father interrupted that they had already accepted the break-up and that it was gam zo l’tovah.
The shadchan explained that something had happened, they re-evaluated, and now they wanted to go through with the shidduch. In the end, the shidduch went through.
Rabbi Goldwasser said that our job is to pray. Everyone has a special kesher to Hashem. Hashem waits for each and every one of us. It’s like Hashem has a guest list that we are on, and He receives tremendous nachas when we come close to Him.
It could be that yesterday someone did something wrong, so he was despised by Hashem. Today he did t’shuvah. Hashem says that today he is not despised; he is precious. You are a relative of Hashem. Yesterday the person was crying out and was not answered. Today he is one with the Shechinah, and Hashem accepts every mitzvah he did.
Rav Chaim Volozhin taught that a person should never give up, even if he sinks very low. There is no such thing as giving up for a Jew. Hashem can help – no matter what – in any area of life.
Rabbi Goldwasser taught that we need to know that Hashem listens to every t’filah. We need to know that the opportunity is now for us to do t’shuvah. “Hashem opens the door wide for anyone who wants to do t’shuvah.” Each of us has the power to do t’shuvah. Every step we take should bring us closer to the Shechinah.
He concluded by wishing the audience beautiful blessings for the upcoming year.
By Susie Garber
