I can sense the young boy's desire for that pie. He is probably dreaming of a way to climb up there, with his friend's help, of course, and taste the pie that was so cruelly placed beyond his reach.  

I can smell the pie and imagine its taste. I know the feeling of wanting something physical or spiritual, and having it just beyond me reach.

There are times I feel that the pie is easier to reach than some of the things I desire: Wisdom, Spiritual Integrity, Attachment to God, a world of justice and the Messiah, to name a few. There is also the financial freedom to learn, teach and write all day, a Lamborghini, a home in Israel, and better health (not necessarily in that order). I can peek at them, but they are further from my reach than a pie on top of a cabinet above a refrigerator.

And then Elul comes: "Seek God when He can be found." (Isaiah 55:6) When can He be found? During Elul as He prepares to express His love and care by considering and evaluating all we do, think, and say. Elul is the month when all of my "pies" are closer and within reach. It is a month of possibilities and promise.

The Foundation Stone and The Foundation Stone Blog are proud to present Tools to Prepare For The High Holydays: Sound Bites: Shofarot, Royal Messages: Malchuyot, Timeless: Zichronot, Elul: Days of Preparation and Psalm 27: Soul Works. You can look for new postings every day until after Rosh Hashana. We hope that they will enhance your Elul and allow all of us to climb all the way up and grab our pies.

We invite you to read The Fourth Haftarah of Consolation, Table Talk, Mishlei: Reflections of Reality, El Ad's Na'aseh V'Nishma, Rabbi Yaakov Shlomo Weinberg's The Torah Connection, Rabbi Chaim Goldberger's The Voice of Torah, Bentzion of Medziboz's Stories of the Baal Shem Tov and Keter Shem Tov, the Heileger Chana Chaya's Life Lessons, Rabbi Shmuel Brazil's From the Rebbe's Tish, and the numerous postings on the Foundation Stone Blog, especially Yaacov Dovid Shulman's presentation of Rav Kook's Torah.

We also have special articles on Rosh Chodesh and Ya'aleh ViYavo.

Take a look. It's better than any pie and it's easily within reach.

We wish you a Chodesh Tov and a Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Simcha L. Weinberg
President          
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