At this morning's Breakfast & a Class, we explored one of the most surprising openings in the Torah. As the Jewish people stood ready to enter Eretz Yisrael after forty years in the wilderness, Moshe Rabbeinu told them not to think they were inheriting the Land because of their righteousness. If not because they were perfect, then why did Hashem continue to believe in them? More importantly, what does that teach us about the way Hashem looks at each of us?

Using memorable stories—from a humorous fortieth wedding anniversary, to a struggling violin student, to Sir Edmund Hillary's climb of Mount Everest—we discovered that the DNA of the Jewish soul is not perfection, but growth. We concluded with two timeless teachings: the Kotzker Rebbe's insight that more light allows us to see more dust, and Rabbi Asher Abittan זצ'ל's unforgettable lesson: 'Where you are on the ladder is far less important than the direction in which you are climbing.' If Hashem has never given up on the Jewish people through thousands of years of triumphs and failures, then none of us should ever give up on ourselves. We hope you'll join us for this inspiring class.