In honor of Rebbe Simcha Bunim of Peshischa

🕯️ In honor of Rebbe Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (my great - great - great - great - great grandfather), whose yahrzeit falls on the 12th of Elul, a tzaddik who saw past appearances and demanded truth from the soul.

As we enter the gates of Elul and approach the Yamim Noraim, a deep teaching from his sefer, Kol Simcha (Parshat Shoftim) comes to remind us: “A person should not perform mitzvot by habit or imitation, just because it is the way of the world. Rather, everything must be done with da’at (awareness) and emet (truth). Without knowing oneself, one cannot truly know the One above.” (Kol Simcha, Shoftim, s.v. “Titen lecha melech”)

This is the time to return not just to Hashem — but to our real selves. The Rebbe didn’t want saints. He wanted *real people*. Raw, flawed, striving — but *honest*. Let this Elul be different. Let's drop the act. Let’s show up with our actual hearts.