Rabbi Dunner shares a thought based on the medieval rabbinic scholar Rabbi Yosef Bechor Shor‘s insightful interpretation into the prohibition against excessive mourning, and engaging in self-injury as part of the grieving process.

To illustrate the idea that an individual’s Jewish national identity indicates and leads to a better relationship with God, Rabbi Dunner shares a moving story by Elie Wiesel, and offers an inspirational message of hope for the month of Ellul, the final month of the Jewish calendar year which occurs in the week that follows our reading of Parshat Re’eh.