My precious child,
I want to wish you a shana tova, a sweet new year, and share with you a few things that I think you need you to know.
When I look at you I see something very different than what you see when you look in the mirror. You see yourself as you are now. But when I look at you I see who you can become. My primary goal is to help you grow from where you are now to where I know you can be.
Sometimes you are already challenging yourself and pushing yourself to become that person that I created you to become. So I just watch, with great nachas, and gently guide you in that direction. I orchestrate the events and experiences of your day-to-day life to ensure the maximum possibility of your achievement of that goal.
Other times, I have to present you with challenges and hurdles in order to convert your potential greatness into actualized excellence. I know that those moments are sometime painful, but if I don’t challenge you then you will never actualize your potential. Please remember that I am closer to you during those moments than I am at any other time.
I want to tell you about one of my most important employees. He is the V.P. of Human Development. His name is Yetzer hara, the evil inclination, and he works for me 365 days a year, 24/7. The Yetzer hara gets a bad rap, but he is really your best friend. If it weren’t for him, you would remain a nobody forever. I have empowered him to provide you with constant assaults and to approach you with a never ending barrage of creative tactics, but they only come to challenge you to grow and improve yourself. The Yetzer hara and I have only one goal for each encounter you have with him: we both want you to overpower him and show him what you are made of. Of course, once you do that I send him back with a more difficult obstacle to overcome, because that’s how you really become great.
Here’s some good advice: Speak to me. Often. And don’t think I only understand Hebrew. I understand every language there is. So speak to me in your own language. And you don’t have to wait to be in a synagogue; speak to me any time of day, no matter what you’re doing – when you’re driving your car, when you’re taking a walk. Speak to me before you go to sleep. And most of all, speak to me on Shabbos. I am always available and I really am a good listener. In fact, I understand you better than anyone else (even yourself) because you are mine and I made you. So don’t be shy, don’t feel awkward; just pour your heart out to me and I promise I will respond.
And take advantage of Shabbat; it’s My special gift for you. Turn off your phone, computer, iPad and all those other gadgets and use the quiet time to celebrate your most important relationships: your relationship with Me, your relationship with yourself and your relationships with those special people that you are closest to. Even if you can’t carve out the whole 25 hours for this purpose, at least use some of the day to connect to me.
I will let you in on a secret: I am talking to you all the time but I speak in a faint whisper. You have so many competing sounds, a cacophony of noises going on around you that drown me out. Find some quiet time and Shabbos and listen. You will be amazed what you hear.
Don’t try to go through the journey of life on your own. I want you to find a mentor who can guide you and teach you and show you how to find Me and connect to Me. When you find that person, cling to him or her and don’t let go. Make them teach you and guide you and take their advice to heart.
In addition, find someone to take this journey with. It is a lot easier to make this trek if you have someone with whom to share the journey. You can both make sure you are staying on target and heading toward your goals.
If you can, make the effort to come to the place on earth where My presence can most be felt. Spend some time in My city Jerusalem and imbibe the wisdom that oozes from the ancient walls there.
Rosh Hashanah is coming up. It’s the birthday of mankind when I revise the plan of human history and write the next act for the year to come. Think about what major role you want to take. I am willing to let you play any role that you are committed to play. So think big and create a passionate vision of who you want to be this coming year. And on Rosh Hashanah, instead of counting the number of pages left in the machzor, talk to Me and tell Me what role you want to play.
The Book of Life will be open on that day and I am putting the pen in your hands. Choose life.
Love,
Your Father in Heaven who believes in you and loves you unconditionally.
(25) katia onody, September 19, 2020 6:05 PM
Urgente tras meu filho
De volta ao normal que volte a casa nos entena amem
(24) Steve Kaufman, September 17, 2020 5:46 PM
A masterpiece!
A masterpiece! Combines the best of Carlbach , Yitz. Greenberg and Lookstein
(23) Rachel Shillingford, September 17, 2020 3:38 PM
No words to describe the beauty of this article
tears. no words
(22) Daniel Meister, September 14, 2020 4:56 PM
I'm moved!
Your perspectives are so deep and full of love...
(21) Anonymous, September 29, 2019 11:44 PM
Answering Rosh Hashanah's call..
Answering Rosh Hashanah 's call for me & my 3 children Kathleen, Gwedeline & Malcolm.
(20) JAIME ARANGO HURTADO, September 29, 2019 10:19 PM
G-D BE BLESSED
(19) Andrea Chester, September 22, 2019 6:01 PM
Wow!
Simple, straight to the point. Beautiful article.
(18) Anonymous, September 21, 2018 3:51 PM
Pass MBBS
Thanking you for everything you have given me up to now... Please help me to pass my Final MBBS THANK YOU VERY MUCH
(17) Rochel Chana, September 7, 2018 1:13 PM
Letter From G-d
Hi. Loved the video but it was too fast. I couldn't read all the words. Hope you can fix this. Thanks.
(16) janet smith, September 6, 2018 3:06 PM
Very inspiring.Illuminating.
Valuable information and a beautiful format.
Thank you,Janet Smith
Shana Tova !
(15) Maria Dodoc, September 6, 2018 11:14 AM
Thank You!Shana Tova Ysrael!
(14) Anonymous, December 12, 2017 8:05 AM
Going through a tough time...and my heart is pretty much broken. I wish I can feel Hashem's unconditional love but I feel reproof, judgment perhaps even some disdain. I also feel very guilty for feeling this way, but I feel hurt and angry. I just wish the challenge went away. It's too hard.
Bunny Shuch, September 6, 2018 3:23 PM
Hope things are better now
My heart goes out to you, with prayers that things have taken a turn for the better by now. It's natural to feel hurt and angry when things go wrong, and that's OK. Hopefully, now you've moved into happier times.
(13) Charlene McCarthy, October 12, 2016 1:41 PM
Beautiful I read this every morning I can. It is like a sweet kiss from God. I am catholic and so proud of my roots. Thank you.
See summary.
(12) jim, October 3, 2016 3:39 AM
2014 good year, best comments yet
yes, a special reminder for us to move much closer, be still, listen, pray at length many times and then, being close, reach out and respond to Him, try it.
(11) Chani, October 9, 2014 3:16 AM
Made me cry! Oh how Hashem loves us! Hashem is amazing! Its so amazing How He uses people to write things like this so we can see His love! Hashem 1st loved us ( even before we were born)!
(10) Anonymous, September 28, 2014 11:25 AM
changing
thank you
it changed my prospective, about our relationship with Hashem!!!
It encouraged me to wanting to to have a relationship with Him And that He just sends us the yetza hara or any other messengers or struggles to help us grow and become the amazing person that we could become. Thank you again. I bless you that Hashem should listen to all your prayers.
(9) Levi Ndau, September 26, 2014 12:13 PM
Amazing letter
This is an amazing letter. It shows loving kindness of God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is a must read for the entire believers of YHWH.
(8) e, September 24, 2014 11:24 PM
To-Dah
To-Dah, I've never had a letter from Hashem before. Have a good Rosh Hashana.
(7) Anonymous, September 24, 2014 7:25 PM
God does use Yetzer hara, but isn't Yetzer hara's own independent goal to win our heart so that we turn away from God forever and lose His eternal friendship? Happy new year! May your Love for God remain higher than Yetzer hara for a year full of blessings.
Chani, October 9, 2014 3:17 AM
True
Ian Cannon, September 29, 2019 6:56 AM
NO,NO,NO AND NO!!!!!!
Yetzer Hara is the Angel/Spirit sent by GOD to Test us!!!! The evil that HE sends us is meant to be Rejected by us,so that we become Stronger and Better people!!! We Must reject,fight and destroy evil at Every opportunity and chance that we get!!! Yetzer Hara pretends that He wants us to follow Him,but secretly,He does NOT want us to follow Him!!! He secretly wants us to follow,believe in and worship GOD and GOD Only!!!!!!!...These tests from GOD are kind of like us being trees! Sometimes HE sends us a strong wind (challenges, problems, temptations,etc) to Test us!!! If we (the tree) blow over,then we have failed,given in to temptation,break down and become a useless mess (but even if we do,...we can STILL! get back up again!!!)...but if we survive the wind/tests,then we become Stronger and Better people!!!...That's the analogy that I always use,anyways! It makes sense to me! Shalom from Australia! ... Oh,and a Happy Shana Tova for 2019/5780!!! May GOD Bless you and all of us!!! Best wishes,Ian.
(6) Sara, September 24, 2014 1:39 AM
wow
This letter is amazing. how can i contact Rabbi Begoun?
David begoun, September 24, 2014 8:37 PM
thank you
Thanks for the kind words. Please feel free to email me at begoun@sbcglobal.net
(5) Elisheva Rabinowitz, September 24, 2014 1:26 AM
Thank you
I greatly appreciate you taking the time to write this letter. It is very meaningful. I am printing it and keeping it with me over R"H. I'm sharing it with my family and friends too. Thank you. K'Siva V'Chasima Tova!
(4) Anonymous, September 23, 2014 9:23 PM
Great article but I have a question
I really did enjoy your article but something you wrote struck me in particular..."So don’t be shy, don’t feel awkward; just pour your heart out to me and I promise I will respond.". Where in the Torah does it promise that Hashem will respond? I feel like I have callen out to Hashem many times and it could very well be that I don't "see" or don't "feel" it enough, but if it is true that Hashem "promises to respond", why is it that so many times or dare I say almost all the time, I don't feel that He does respond to me and the few times I do talk to him, why does it feel like my words are falling on deaf ears? After many times of this happening, my motivation to "talk" to G-d and to call out to HIm is so low. I feel like to say that Hashem promises is such a bold thing to say. Could it be that maybe he is "responding" by not helping someone and letting them figure things out by themselves? Maybe is that what you mean b/c how could it be that Hashem always responds when there is so much bad in the world and so many people are suffering so tremendously? I would really appreciate if the author could get in touch w/ me or at least answer this question as I am very curious as to what his response will be. Thank you.
Malka, September 24, 2014 10:06 PM
I hope you don't mind if i put my thoughts on this. I like to give encouragement. Sometimes things can be very challenging. We try and try and it feels like there's no success. Hashem might not respond right away but wait for us to do more before responding. It's like a plant that is trying to push through the dirt before reaching the surface, it needs to keep going before reaching it. And sometimes Hashem responds in a different way. We might not get want we want but receive something different, like instead of job A, job B works out. As regards to suffering in the world, it's a very hard thing to comprehend and deal with because we want people to be okay and happy. One thing that G-d asks of people is to take care of each other. When we care about others and help and give, we make a better place for everyone. We become partners with G-d. - As for evil in the world, we don't understand why there is so much, but we should not let it discourage us. We should just continue to do good and spread light and blessing. And trust that even though things are bleak now, there will come a time of redemption and peace
Anonymous, October 5, 2014 7:56 PM
Thank you Malka
for caring enough to write me that letter and for your encouraging words. You have a really good heart...thank you!!!
Tali, March 26, 2015 6:26 PM
Would like to add
I have often felt the same way you do and then I realized something - no is also an answer. sometimes we want something and think that we actually really need it to be happy and Hashem says no - not yet. and we have to learn to be okay with that answer as well. Good things will come - sometimes it seems we have to wait a long time and go through many obstacles but you have to have faith. Faith isn't always an easy thing to feel, I know. But we must remember that Hashem really does love us and wants the very best for us. Life isn't easy or fair - but it's not meant to be. Have faith and stay strong
(3) Ilene Leff, September 23, 2014 6:05 PM
So inspirational
What a unique and special way to convey a most auspicious message. Thank you, Rabbi Begoun.
(2) Anonymous, September 23, 2014 4:09 PM
inspiring
Thank you for this inspiring letter.
(1) Yisraela Dewey, September 22, 2014 11:17 PM
All praise be to G-d.!! Amen
May the new year bring joy and sincere love into everyone's home. Without G-d, present in our lives we become empty...filled with anger, sorrow, and pain. Trust only in G-d. Love is the answer to true happiness. There's nothing that matters most. Not money, power, physical beauty. Without G-d, we're nothing.!! Rosh Hashanna family, friends, and neighbors. ❤️❤️❤️
Mindy, September 26, 2014 7:33 AM
Thanks!
Thank you neighbor! From Orlando, Florida!!