In Search of Good Deeds 

Shalom again from Melbourne, Australia.

Orly and I had a couple of hours to write this newsletter just before Shabbat here… 

First, a few highlights from the past week at Ulpan-Or:

• First group of Birthright Israel Plus program participants completed our unique Five-day Hebrew experiential immersion course with a lot of excitement in the air!!! 

Not only did they learn how to say: 

• Hello in Hebrew – שלום 
• Hi in Hebrew – היי 
• Yes in Hebrew – כן 
• No in Hebrew – לא
• Thank you in Hebrew – תודה 

In only five days they spent with us, they actually learned how to read and write in Hebrew.

They learned to orient themselves in Israel, interact with Israelis on the streets, by food, do shopping, ask for directions and much more – all in Modern Hebrew!  

We look forward to having many more Birthright Israel participants extending their stay and experience 5-day Hebrew learning with Ulpan-Or. 

This program was launched thanks to the tremendous help of Taglit Birthright Israel Plus office staff. 

On our end – Lusia, Akiva, Alisa, Sara and Chen made huge effort for the program to become a great success! 

We also extend our thanks to Yehuda, the Madrich from “Jewish Jorney” for the social aspect of this program and “Jewish Jorney” office staff for the logistic support. 

And now to the more spiritual aspect
 

This Shabbat is ROSH KHODESH” – the new moon of the month of ELUL and we wanted to share with you a few thoughts about this month. 

Elul is the last month ending the 12-month cycle that starts with the coming month of Tishrey. 

The name Elul – אלול has the Aramaic root אלל meaning “to search”. 

And the month of Elul is the time for everyone (before the Hebrew New Year – ראש השנה) to search, discover and be empowered by one’s internal good virtues, so that we can go an extra mile and do a lot more good for the others. 

There is a story we wanted to share with you that  demonstrates the spirit of the month of Elul. 

A man was called to the beach to paint a boat. He brought his paint and brushes and began to paint the boat a bright, new red, as he was hired to do. As he painted the boat, he noticed that the paint was seeping through the bottom of the boat. He realized that there was a leak, and he decided to mend it. When the painting was done, he collected his money for the job and went away.

The following day the owner of the boat came to the painter and presented him with a large check. The painter was surprised. “You have already paid me for painting the boat,” he said.

“But this is not for the paint job. It is for mending the leak in the boat.”

“That was so small a thing that I even did not want to charge you for it. Surely you are not paying me this huge amount for so small a thing?”

“My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened.”

“When I asked you to paint the boat I had forgotten to mention to you about the leak. When the boat was nice and dry, my children took the boat and went fishing. When I found that they had gone out in the boat, I was frantic for I remembered that the boat had a leak! Imagine my relief and happiness when I saw them coming back safe and sound. I examined the boat and saw that you had repaired the leak.

Now you see what you have done? You have saved the lives of my children! I haven’t enough money to repay you for your ‘little’ good deed…”.

So, how about collecting a few “little good deeds”? 

מעשים טובים

during the month of Elul? 

Wishing you:

KHODESH TOV – חודש טוב

A good and meaningful month of Elul! 

Our archive of posts and newsletters may be found at:

https://www.ulpanor.com/category/newletter/