(Courtesy of Bris Avrohom) Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky was invited to give the invocation at the 23rd anniversary commemoration of 9/11 at Newark Airport. He recited chapter 123 in Tehillim and expounded on the powerful meaning of the verses. When King David says, “I lift my eyes to the Heavens,” the verse can be interpreted in two ways. Firstly, that we commemorate the innocent souls who were killed due to people’s senseless hatred, and secondly, we thank God for all those who survived the barbaric attack. Rabbi Kanelsky then stressed how we must teach the young generation that God rules the world, and if that knowledge would spread to all schools and colleges, that would prevent much hatred.
Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky then blew the shofar in preparation for Rosh Hashanah and concluded with the words of the Mishna, “Da ma l’maalah mimcha, know what is above you.” The simple meaning is that we must always remember that God is above us at all times. A deeper meaning is to know that what is above is comes from your own actions. Everything we do affects the world. If we listen to the shofar and think before we act, then we will be blessed with a sweet and healthy new year.
