יד וְכָל-הָעָם רֹאִים אֶת-הַקּוֹלֹת וְאֶת-הַלַּפִּידִם, וְאֵת קוֹל הַשֹּׁפָר, וְאֶת-הָהָר, עָשֵׁן; וַיַּרְא הָעָם וַיָּנֻעוּ, וַיַּעַמְדוּ מֵרָחֹק.  טו וַיֹּאמְרוּ, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, דַּבֵּר-אַתָּה עִמָּנוּ, וְנִשְׁמָעָה; וְאַל-יְדַבֵּר עִמָּנוּ אֱלֹקִים, פֶּן-נָמוּת.  טז וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-הָעָם, אַל-תִּירָאוּ, כִּי לְבַעֲבוּר נַסּוֹת אֶתְכֶם, בָּא הָאֱלֹקִים; וּבַעֲבוּר, תִּהְיֶה יִרְאָתוֹ עַל-פְּנֵיכֶם–לְבִלְתִּי תֶחֱטָאו  (שמות כ:יד-טז)

“All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning…Fear not, for God has come in order to exalt you, and in order that His awe shall be upon your faces, so that you shall not sin.” (Shemos 20:15,17)

On these verses, the Chasam Sofer (Rav Moshe Sofer 1762–1839) teaches us a fascinating idea. The people asked Moshe to speak with them, as they were afraid to continue having Hashem speak directly to them. Moshe responds, “Don’t be afraid, as this is Hashem testing you, and to see if fear will be on your face preventing you from sinning.” Chazal teach us, “What ‘fear’ is apparent on someone’s face? Shame!”  In the haftara (Yeshaya 6:5) Yeshaya expressed his shame that he was “an impure person dwelling amongst an impure Nation”. The Chasam Sofer explains that the prophet understood that he was the greatest man in his generation, but that he also understood that he had not reached his potential, just as everyone around him had not reached their potential. This ‘underperforming’ was the tumah to which the Navi was referring.

Chazal tell us that in the next world, each Tzaddik will be ‘burned’ by the chupah (canopy) of his friend. This means that each person will see in his friends attributes that he is lacking, and will look at them longingly because they have attained something he has not.

I believe that there is a way to overcome this lack and that is by joining together as a group. When individuals form a group, by pooling their resources, each and every person in the group has a connection to the positive attributes that the others have.

In Ahavas Shalom, a shul made up of diverse people from diverse backgrounds, we have indeed formed a cohesive group, representing a myriad of different kinds of positive traits. Yes, each on their own can see beautiful characteristics in their friends that they do not possess. But by being part of the group, we have a connection to all that which we are personally lacking, and we have the ability to give to others that which they are lacking. This ability to share is what makes a group become a community, and a shul become a kehilla.

I would like to thank each and every member of our kehilla, for contributing in their own personal way, to make our kehilla as great as it is. May we merit to take it to the next level very soon in our new building at 33 Nachal Lachish.