One day, the Rebbe’s grandson came running to his grandfather sobbing bitterly.

The ‘Zeide’ asked him: “Why are you crying?”

The boy said: “I was with my friends playing hide and seek. I found a perfect place to hide. ”

The ‘Zeide’ said: “So what was the problem?”

The boy answered: “I waited and waited, and my friends gave up looking for me.”

The ‘Zeide’ said: “You and G-d have the same problem. G-d also hides. He wishes for his children to look for him, but they get so busy that they forget He is there.”

This week’s portion is Vayelech. It continues last week’s story. Moses is speaking to the Children of Israel on the day of his passing, the 7th of Adar. G-d predicts to Moses that “This nation will rise up and stray..” And G-d predicts that He will hide from them. Rashi, the commentator, writes: “As if I don’t see their troubles.”

• How does this passage relate to the period between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur?
• Do you seek out a Higher Power to help you when you are happy or struggling?
• What does it mean to “stray” in today’s times?
• How does one find the way back?
• Where are we going back to?