As a parent, one of the most important things to me is to see my children playing nicely together. Or at the very least, getting along.
In fact, there are times when they are technically misbehaving, and yet I can't help but feel proud and smile. Like when they bring their blankets downstairs on Shabbat morning and build a fort together.
They are working as a unit, and the harmony that is the result is truly beautiful. Their distinct personalities seamlessly join together to compliment each other and form an energy uncomparable to that of one single child.
The same is true in the classroom, the workplace, and any other environment. And the same is true with the Jewish community.
We always read the following verse the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah: Moses tells the Jewish people "You are all standing this day before God". From the elders to the water carriers. Just as we are not complete without all the limbs of our body, so too each and every individual is precious to the full picture.
What's the key to being inscribed for a good and sweet new year? Unity. That we all stand together. When we do, our Father in heaven cannot help but look down and smile. Regardless of any particular misstep that we may have taken, the sum total is a gravity-defying force, a heart-melting harmonious community.
May we all be blessed with a Shana Tova!
From the Rabbi's Desk
Siblings
Irma hit home
A major relief effort has been ongoing. 50 Chabad Rabbis flew to Houston from around the country to help; offering counsel, bringing supplies and donations from their communities, and rolling up their sleeves to physically help with the cleanup.
The nation barely caught its breath from Houston when Hurricane Irma arrived. Personally, this one hit home. A close friend of mine and his family run the Chabad in S. Martin. The Island has reportedly
been devastated. My friend had to take shelter in an inner room - the Mikva - within the "hurricane proof" Chabad center after the door was shattered by the 185mph gale-force winds.
With 95% of the Island sustaining damage, the airport destroyed, and surrounded by ocean waters that have still not calmed, the island is isolated. There is no possibility yet for evacuation. Shabbat will take place in one of the remaining secure buildings. And with more storms on the way, help is yet to arrive.
While I am still processing all of this, here are a couple of thoughts:
1) Every tragedy affects someone's close friend. Every catastrophe is drastically affecting someone's family. That woman in the doctor's office is someone's mom. It's a matter of empathy to put ourselves in their shoes and feel their reality.
2) For someone going through hardship, the emotional support offered by friends, family, and random strangers is often just as meaningful as physical supplies. It lets them know that they are not completely alone on an Island.
3) A birthday is like a personal Rosh Hashanah, a time of growth, renewal, and reflection. As I celebrate my birthday this week as well as 2 of my sons' birthdays, I reflect and appreciate all of the blessings in my life, and am super thankful for what we have. Water, electricity, a roof over our heads. Health, safety, and even toys to quarrel over.
A woman arrives at the Western Wall to pray for her sick brother. A friend who accompanied her wishes her "May you have many worries".
Taken aback she asks to explain what kind of blessing that is.
Right now, the friend explained, you are so consumed by your brother's illness, that nothing else registers on your radar, everything else pales in comparison. When life is running smoothly, all of a sudden you notice the ripped shoelace, the overcooked eggs and the mess in the playroom.
May we all have many worries. And many many happy occasions to share together.
Who is Harvey?
Simply incredible. A catastrophe beyond the capabilities of any movie set. The power of nature unleashed. Thousands displaced. Lives turned upside down. Property damage galore (if you can even see your property underneath the floodwaters wreaked by Hurricane Harvey).
But what I really found incredible was the response. Regular folks joined rescue teams and first responders in doing anything and everything to save and help people in trouble. Communities around the nation took up the cause, sending 
goods and supplies to Houston. Chabad in Houston, though themselves affected by the storm, immediately set up a "boots on the ground" relief effort with hundreds of volunteers. Celebrities and regular people donated to the cause. The selflessness and outpouring of kindness. That's what was incredible.
Which got me thinking: Where were these heroes before? Where were all these do-gooders last week? Where did they appear from?
When our oven stopped working this morning (in the midst of getting ready for First Fridays), I got my answer. The gas is there in the pipes, it even seeps out when you turn the knobs. But it still won't start without a spark to ignite it; to turn unchannelled energy into focused passion.
The kindness of these responders is real. Their devotion and tireless efforts are from the heart. Hurricane Harvey was merely the (gigantic) spark that set it aflame. That let their true selves, their care for another human being, shine forth.
May we find ways of igniting our sparks, of unearthing our treasures of energy, love, and goodness, without the need for tragedies and devastation, but also, and perhaps with even greater enthusiasm, in times of peace and happiness.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted by Hurricane Harvey, and we wish them all an easy path to recovery, rebuilding, and growth.