Why is Shabbos Bereishis the only Shabbos which is called by the name of the parsha? Why don't we also refer to Shabbos Noach or Shabbos Lechlecha?

The Tami Haminhagim answers that during the holy high holidays we all had thoughts of repentance and accepted upon ourselves new disciplines and directions. We therefore use the name Shabbos Bereshis (the beginning Shabbos) to remind us that the past is over and now it is time to begin a new life. This should rejuvenate (re-jew-venate) us and give us fresh motivation and excitment to move in a positive direction.

Hashem loves us and each day gives us new possibilities to return to Him. A person should never give up because if one keeps plugging away at something in the end they will be successful.

Have a Great Shabbos

quote:

Hashem loves us and each day gives us new possibilities to return to Him. A person should never give up because if one keeps plugging away at something in the end they will be successful.

It all depends on your definition of "success".

Sometimes you can plug away at certain things and not be successful because it wasn't HaShem's will for you to do it. For instance, some people are not cut out for the 9 to 5 work environment and end up on public assistance. Actually, for some people ending up on public assistance is like early retirement and it is indeed something that they had plugged away on and were successful in achieving their goal. Then they can do whatever they want with their time and direct themselves towards Torah study and more elevated thinking. That in itself can be a definition of success. So I suppose that it all depends on what you plug away at and your definition of success. Sometimes you can plug away at something and never quite get it. Take Moshe Rabinu for example, he plugged away and never made it into the promised land. Sometimes all you can do is leave a legacy.

Also, if you plug away at evil deeds and evil thinking then you become more successful at being evil, don't you?

Yes, HaShem loves us in spite of it and always gives us a chance to return to him but how do we do it ourselves? It is as if returning to him is too far for us to go by ourselves on foot and we need help getting there by car.Sometimes it seems that there is no possibility of returning. Can He help us return? Can He help us be good? And can he ever control our Yetzer Hara? Does He ever cleave to us? And chase after us when we've gone astray?

Also, how do we know if we haven't already returned?