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Rabbi Yehuda {Leonard} Blank MS, BC
Vice President of Professional Development and External Affairs
Chair of the Chaplaincy Commission
Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim
917-446-2126 rablenblank@gmail.com
<> <>September 3, 2026, 21 Elul 5768<> <>
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Achdus/ Togetherness is not something we just think about or happening by itself. We all have the opportunity of making it happen in one way or another way. Achdus can occur between two people or many people but it does not happen in a vacuum. Someone has to initiate bringing individuals together.
Showing care and concern for others is important and when wishing another to be inscribe in the “Good Books” or to have a “Good and sweet year, should be said in earnest, with sincere feelings.
We should always reflect on what we say or do and be mispallel not just for ourselves but for others as well with words and actions of kindness and goodness.
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Matzav Inbox: We Talk About Achdus. The Belzer Rebbe Lives It.
August 27, 2026 at 4:45 pm
Dear Matzav Inbox,
“We Americans have a funny way of looking at ourselves. We like to think that we are a little more sophisticated, a little more open-minded, a little more “with it.” Israel is wonderful, of course, but somehow, in the back of our minds, we sometimes imagine that we Americans have figured out certain things that they haven’t. We know how to bridge communities. We know how to be inclusive. We know how to look beyond labels and backgrounds.
And then you see a scene like the one that took place in Belz.
The Belzer Rebbe hosted Sefardic Selichos, with Rav Yitzchok Yosef and Rav Yitzchok Dovid Grossman present.
Think about that for a moment. The Belzer Rebbe. In Belz. Hosting Sefardic Selichos. There was something so beautiful about it, and something that, at least to me, was also a little uncomfortable. Because I found myself wondering: Could I picture this happening here?
Could I picture one of the great American Chassidishe courts or yeshivos hosting a full-blown Sefardic Selichos, with leading Sefardic rabbonim participating? Could I picture everyone simply appreciating the beauty of another community’s mesorah, without worrying whether it was “ours” or “theirs”?
Maybe it could happen. I hope it could. But I have trouble picturing it. And that should make us think.
We talk endlessly in America about achdus. We have dinners about achdus, speeches about achdus, panels about achdus and organizations devoted to achdus. We know all the terminology. We know how important it is.
But sometimes achdus is much simpler than that.
Sometimes it is a Belzer Rebbe opening his doors to Sefardic Selichos.
Sometimes it is recognizing that another mesorah does not threaten yours. You can be completely Belz and still make room for something that comes from a different part of Klal Yisroel. You can be fiercely loyal to your own minhagim and still celebrate somebody else’s.
In fact, perhaps that is what real confidence in your own mesorah looks like.
There is a tendency in America to confuse being “advanced” with being modern. But maybe being advanced has nothing to do with how modern you are. Maybe it means being secure enough in who you are that you can embrace another Yid who looks different, davens differently, pronounces the words differently and comes from a completely different mesorah.
The Belzer Rebbe did not deliver a lecture about unity.
He showed us what it looks like.
So the next time we American Jews congratulate ourselves on how progressive, sophisticated and broad-minded we are, perhaps we should remember that scene in Belz.
Who, exactly, is more advanced?
I say we Americans could learn a few things from the Belzer Rebbe.”
C.B.
From: Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur Secrets. The Mysteries Revealed.
Translated by Rabbi Avraham Y. Finkel. Published by Rabbi Dovid D. Meisels, Distributed by Israel Book Shop. Pages 62-64. “Leshana Tova: The Shulchan Aruch says: Although throughout the year one should say the Shemoneh Shemoneh Esrei in a low voice, on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur one is allowed to raise his voice slightly when reciting the Shemoneh Esrei. The Rema comments that on the first night of Rosh Hashanah it is customary to wish each other, “Leshanah tovah tikasivu, May you be inscribed for a good year.” How does the Rema’s comment relate to the Shulchan Aruch’s statement about raising one’s voice in the Shemoneh Esrei?
A beggar collecting alms for himself mumbles in a low voice because he is embarrassed. But someone collecting tzedakah for a worthy cause speaks up loud and clear. Since he is asking for money to help others, he is not embarrassed.
The Rema wonders, how we can ask H for favors in a raised voice, when we “knock on G’s doors like beggars and paupers,” and the kindness that H bestows on us is considered to be tzedakah? The Rema’s comment explains that since we wish each other “Lehanah tovah tikaseivu,” we are praying for the welfare of others, not just for ourselves. There is no need for us to be embarrassed, and we may therefore raise our voices when davening the Shemoneh Esrei on the Yamim Noraim. (Sifei Shimon, Michtavim)”
(ibid) Inscribed and Sealed. On the night of Rosh Hashanah, after Maariv, we wish one another,” Leshanah tovah tikaseivu veseichaseim, may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.” Why do we say both inscribed and sealed? Isn’t the verdict for in-between people-as we are advised to consider ourselves-only sealed on Yom Kippur?
Our wish veseichaseim, “may you be sealed,” is a special prayer. We wish that when H graciously inscribes us in the book of life, our lives should be guided by the Torah and filled with mitzvos and good deeds, This wish is sealed for everyone on Rosh Hashanah even for the in-between people.” (Amaros Tehoros)”
(ibid) Two Angels. On the night of Rosh Hashanah, two angels accompany a Jew and listen as he wishes his friends, “Leshanah tovah tikaseiv veseichaseim, May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.” Inscribed by the warmhearted friendship and unity among Klal Yisrael, they ascend to Heaven and plead for a good and sweet year for Klal Yisrael.”
From: How Sweet is the Light- Umesukah Haor. Elul and Rosh Hashanah
By Rav Shlomo Levenstein, Tfutza Publications. Pages 19-20. “When Shlomo Hamelech wanted to teach us that other people’s feeling and actions reflect our own, why did he use the analogy of a reflection seen in water? Why didn’t he compare it to a mirror instead? After all, mirrors have existed throughout our history; even when our forefathers were in Egypt, they had mirrors made of polished copper (which were later donated to the Mishkan; see Shemos 38:8). In Shlomo Hamelech’s times, when Yerushalayim was at the height of its glory, the people certainly must have had mirrors. Why, then, did he use a reflection in water as his analogy”
Rav Sholom of Belz explains that when a person looks at his reflection in a mirror, he is able to stand upright while gazing at it. To look at his reflection in a pond, however, he must bend forward. Similarly, in order to see the qualities of other people and to judge them favorably as we would judge ourselves, we cannot allow ourselves to “stand upright” and be haughty. Instead, we must “bend” in humility only then will we be able to see the good in others.
This, too, is part of our task during the month of Elul. If we develop the humility and recognition that we are essentially lo (nothing), if we minimize our sense of self-importance, we will be able to dedicate ourselves to being lo (His) and having the care and concern for others that H desires us to display. By achieving this, we will weave Torah and kindness together, and we will then be rewarded with a good year.”
We just have to stop and take the time to offer our care to each other. During these days in Elul, there are so many things we can and should do to uplift the spirits of others and to be sincere in whatever we do. Nothing happens in a vacuum. Chaplains, Rabbonim and Rebbetzins know the combination to help unlock the difficulties and the challenges many have. They do not have all the answers in life but can offer inspiration when the opportunity arises. May all of Klal Yisrael be zoche to help bring much simchas hachaim into our lives and the lives of others.
Respectfully, Rabbi Yehuda Blank
