ROSH HASHANA MESSAGE FROM CHAIRMAN SSSFF…………..

Dearest Brothers and Sisters,

My father's greatest nightmare happens after he passes, and he watches from above as his five children claw each others eyes out, fighting over ownership of the crystal chandeliers that hang in his house.

Many of the older generation have made the (?wise) decision to spend their time going on ski holidays - that is Spend the Kids Inheritance. And many of us, the 'middle' generation, are bemoaning that loss of (potential) inheritance.

There is however, something for us all as we 'travel' through this very spiritual month of Elul, preparing for the great and holy Days of Awe, Judgement, and Atonement - Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur…………………….

The Zohar opens…."What is the rose? It is the collective soul of Israel. For there is a rose(above) and a rose (below)…Just as a rose has thirteen petals, so does the collective soul of Israel have thirteen measures of compassion encompassing it on all sides"

We, the sons and daughters of the thirteen offspring of Selig and Sarah Saffer, are representative of this very soul. We must remember that we stand on the shoulders of past generations - the good that our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents did lives on forever, and accumulates, AND IS OUR INHERITANCE!

The energy that surrounds and engulfs us during this month of Elul connects us with our inner essence, which is good and holy. We are challenged to recognize this holy part of ourselves, and allow it to shine on the outside.

Brethren, whether you work in a profession, as a teacher, healer, financier, or in a trade, or devote your time exclusively to your family and home, YOUR MISSION IS TO REVEAL YOUR SOUL in that environment. The soul's mission is to reveal your inner dimension, and integrate it into your life in order to elevate it, and to bring out the best in both your body and your soul.

I encourage us all to use this time to acknowledge and appreciate the spiritual strivings of our ancestors, and to try integrate simple acts of holiness into our daily lives……. - If we choose to emulate G-d's compassionate ways, He will treat us compassionately in return.

I challenge you all! Consciously do one deed today which expresses compassion, and in this way be part of sowing the seeds, or Mitzvot, for the younger generations of Saffers to reap.

CRYSTAL CHANDELIERS ARE SOOOOOOOOO 'OUT' , ANYWAY!

Wishing you all Ketiva veChatima Tova, a Happy and Healthy New Year, and well over the Fast.

Brotherhood Endureth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shoshana (Saffer) Furman
Chairman 2011/12