Shabbat Parashat Nitzavim/Approaching Rosh Hashana

"Think Higher and Feel Deeper"

This past week, the Vancouver Jewish community had the privilege of welcoming Professor Elie Wiesel into our midst as the keynote speaker for the launch of Jewish Federation's Annual Campaign. I personally considered the event a once in a lifetime opportunity and was not disappointed. In his last question to Prof. Wiesel, Dr. Robert Krell asked what message he would convey to the many young people who were in attendance. Prof. Wiesel shared an amazing kernel not just for young people, but for us all: "Think Higher and Feel Deeper." To be able to raise the level of our thinking both on cognitive and social levels and be able to open ourselves to feeling love, compassion and other emotions more deeply are goals which we can all strive to achieve. As we go into the High Holy Days next week on Sunday evening and through Yom Kippur, what an amazing mantra to use as motivation and inspiration for our process of t'shuva/introspection and repentance. I am so grateful for having had the opportunity to hear Prof. Elie Wiesel speak. To have been given the gift of such a powerful message, particularly at this time of the Jewish year, made the experience all the more special. May we all open ourselves to the possibility to "Think Higher and Feel Deeper."

Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova uM'tukah/A Sweet and Good New Year!