The Power and Promise

We are honored to dedicate today’s lesson to one of the greatest Torah scholars and rabbis of the last 500 years, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef of saintly and blessed memory, Ovadia Yosef ben Georgia. This lesson is the result of an amazing revelation that Rav Shalom had when Rebbe Ovadia came to him in a dream. In the dream Rav Ovadia told  him that a person who received a salvation in life – a miraculously unexpected solution to a problem that he or she never thought they’d overcome, was fortunate to benefit from an open gate of salvation that leads directly to the Heavenly Throne. If they want that gate to remain open, then they must never stop expressing their gratitude to the Almighty for His compassion and loving kindness. Every “Thank-You” that a person says keeps the gate open. Thus for any success in life, don’t hesitate for a single moment and say “thank-You” immediately. Should a person fails to say “thank-You”, then the gate slams shut.

If you have any success, or happiness, or spiritual gain, say “thank-You” immediately. This will continue your ascent and success. In essence, the only complaint that the Heavenly Court files against a person is that he or she fails to thank Hashem for their blessings in life. Either they take them for granted or else they’re outright ingrates, Heaven forbid, for they have a sense of entitlement and they don’t see all their amenities in life as priceless gifts from Above.

If you read our new book, Say Thank You and See Miracles, you’ll see how so many people from all walks of life merited miraculous salvations to situations and predicaments that they never dreamed of overcoming. If you want to learn the value of gratitude and of saying “thank-You” in depth, learn the Garden of Gratitude and you’ll definitely open up your own gate to salvation.

There’s a tremendous difference between the court system in this world and the Heavenly Court. The court system in this world is concerned with the benefit of society; in other words, it makes sure that the person conforms to the laws and statutes of that particular country, state or jurisdiction. The court system of this world is not concerned with the good of the individual.

Hashem’s Heavenly Court is completely different. It’s concerned entirely with the good of the individual. The Heavenly Court decides how to give a person the conditions that best enable him or her to attain their soul correction. It’s not at all for reward and punishment like so many people think. For that reason, people completely misconstrue the notion of the Day of Judgment. Those who are terrified by the Day of Judgment and Rosh Hashanah are those who are not trying to get close to Hashem. But, a person who wants to get close to Hashem is thrilled by Rosh Hashanah. He says, “I want to get close to You, Hashem. And, I know that You will grant me the conditions during the coming year that enable me to do so in the very best way.”

With this in mind, we can’t fathom the gift of spending Rosh Hashanah in Uman by the holy grave site of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev. Rebbe Nachman promised us that he would be with the holy gathering of his followers in Uman on Rosh Hashanah, and that Hashem gave him the gift of Rosh Hashanah. Do you realize what that means? Rebbe Nachman promised that he will facilitate the soul correction of all who come to him on Rosh Hashanah, not only them but their loved ones as well. That’s why someone who comes to Uman for the Jewish New Year can rightfully be happy all year long.

What’s so special about Rosh Hashanah in Uman? What’s Rebbe Nachman’s unique power? Rebbe Nachman instills us with the desire to rectify ourselves and to get close to Hashem. How does he do that? He gives us the power to believe in ourselves. A person can’t accomplish a thing in life if he doesn’t believe in himself. An important part of believing in himself is believing that Hashem loves him unconditionally and wants the very best for him.

Therefore, probably the most important of Rebbe Nachman’s teachings in Torah 282 in the first section of Likutei Moharan, which teaches that a person must look for the good in himself. He must judge himself fairly. He must believe in himself and believe that Hashem loves him and derives wonderful gratification from him. Such belief in yourself is vital for success in the world both in material and spiritual endeavors.

Belief in oneself is a person’s most important tool and asset. Rebbe Nachman urges us to follow this teaching every single day of our lives and not to budge from this path. This way, a person goes through life with a song in his heart. Rebbe Nachman also promised that anyone who participates in the holy gathering of his followers in Uman on Rosh Hashanah, what we call the “kibbutz”, has a full share in the Geula, the full redemption of our people, may we all be meritorious, amen!