Three weeks ago yesterday on December 5, 2017, I had another unbelievable visit in the form of three words: "I am here."

Yesterday. according to the Gregorian calendar, I celebrated exactly four successive years in Israel without having left the country even once. In addition, I slept every single night in Jerusalem! What a paradigm shift from living in a small town located just ten minutes north of Chicago, for twenty-one successive years! Today is Wednesday, the fourth day of the week in the Hebrew calendar, perhaps no coincidence to speak about the Hineini (Heb.: "Here I am!) I awoke to after a wooshing sound passed through every cell of my being, as if I would meet my destiny as it departed from my lips on the fourth day of the week four years after ascending to the capital of the Jewish State of Israel. How could I rise to the occasion? The answer would hopefully arise in the coming weeks and months with an upcoming appointment to a teaching position. With Hashem's (Heb.: G-d's) help, may my past incarnation yet have a successful existence in this world!

In the last few days I have been reading a wondrous short story or tale by Rabbi Nachman of Bratslawa, the great-grandson of Rabbi Israel, the Baal Shem Tov, The Master of the Wondrous Name. entitled "The Seven Beggars." I would would highly recommend this tale to those who are interested in being exposed to superb, classic Chassidic folklore. In this story. one finds the exquisite expression "Hineni!" ("Here I am!") six times, with a seventh time anticipated with the coming of the Messiah!!