Dear Friends, 
One of the most deceptive words we tell ourselves is “tomorrow.” It sounds harmless, even hopeful. But tomorrow has a way of becoming next week, next year, never. Still, most of us live as though there will always be more time to make the call, repair the relationship, enjoy the people we love, begin that mitzvah, or make the change we know we need to make.
In this week’s Torah portion, Re’eh, Moses tells the Jewish people: רְאֵה אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם בְּרָכָה וּקְלָלָה
“See, I place before you today a blessing and a curse.”
On the simplest level, Moses is speaking about free will. G d gives us the choice between blessing and curse, between right and wrong. But there is a beautiful insight hidden in one small word: הַיּוֹם, “today.”
What if “today” itself can become either a blessing or a curse?
Life is fragile, and our time in this world is limited. That awareness can become a curse if it leaves us asking, “If everything eventually passes, what is the point?” Or it can become a blessing, awakening us to the value of every day, every relationship, and every opportunity to grow, give, forgive, and bring more goodness into the world.
Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who spent much of her life helping people confront mortality, saw this again and again. When we imagine we have forever, we become distracted by small irritations and unnecessary nonsense. We postpone what matters because we assume there will always be another day.
But when you truly understand that each day you awaken could be your last, everything changes. You stop merely existing and start truly living. You stop postponing growth and begin becoming the person you were created to be. You stop turning inward and start reaching outward to other human beings. Every day becomes precious because you realize it is not guaranteed.
As Hillel teaches in Pirkei Avot, Ethics of Our Fathers:
“If not now, when?”
With the Jewish New Year approaching, many of us are thinking about the changes we want to make. But we do not have to wait for Rosh Hashanah to begin. Make the call. Repair the relationship. Begin the mitzvah. Spend the time. Whatever you have been postponing, do it today.
We are excited and blessed that so many people choose to celebrate the High Holidays at Chabad Naples, and we are expecting a wonderful crowd. Please take a moment to make your reservation today so that we can plan accordingly and welcome everyone properly. You and your family are always welcome at the world-famous Chabad Naples. www.chabadnaples.com/highholidays.
And you do not even have to wait until Rosh Hashanah. Come join us this Shabbat. We cannot wait to see you all in shul tomorrow.
What are we waiting for? Today is the blessing.
Wishing you and your family a peaceful and meaningful Shabbat,
Rabbi Fishel and Ettie Zaklos