A Beautiful Wedding

Yesterday I was privileged to attend a beautiful wedding. Of course, all weddings are beautiful, but this one stood out in my memory.It was a second marriage for a widow and widower, and was permeated by a palpable sense of simcha.

Mazel tov to Rabbi Yehudah and Esty (nee Kozlovsky) Blesofsky!

A few thoughts have been circling in my head, inspired by the beautiful simplicity of the wedding:

1. It’s never too late;
2. You’re never old. Age is just a number for the passport;
3. Your presence at someone’s simcha is never incidental;
4. Think good and it will be good.

I’m sure there are more, but that’s a start.

* * *
This Shabbat is “Chai Elul” (the 18th day of Elul), which marks the birthdays of the Baal Shem Tov (the founder of the Chassidic movement) and the Alter Rebbe (the first Chabad Rebbe). Of course, “Chai,” means life, and Chai Elul brings life, excitement and vitality into Elul, assisting us with our spiritual preparations for the new year.

With 12 days remaining from Chai Elul until Rosh Hashanah, we are afforded one day to reflect on each month of the past year.

Shabbat Shalom, and may we all be blessed with a sweet new year,