Archives: Selected Writings

Selected Writings

HONORING PEOPLE EVERYWHERE

Who is worthy of honor?

Who does Hashem honor? People who honor other people. We might think that when we give honor, we lose honor. The contrary is true. The more we give, the more we receive. Givers get, takers get taken.
Imagine a world in which  everyone honored and complimented each other. What kind of self-esteem that would create throughout society. How everyone would feel good about themselves. How people would appreciate and come to understand their true value. That their presence has importance. How empowering that would be?

Not a bad idea to try it at home or work. Witness a magical change take place. People need to be respected and recognized. It has been found to be a basic human need. Since we all need it, we must also be prepared to give it. It is a marvelous potion that works wonders. Just watch the joy and smile you caused to appear on another person’s face. Its very simple to do and offers many side benefits, besides the good will it creates.

A great way to measure if we have earned the classification of an Honor Giver is to ask ourselves, if we greet people first, or wait for them to
greet us first? Do we hold the door open for another person?
Do we give up our seat? Do we allow someone else to have the last word? Are we a good listener?

In trying to analyze the root cause, why people at times find it difficult to bestow honor upon other people, we find that it is usually attributable to haughtiness and ego. This trait causes one to look down upon others. How can I give honor before I receive it?

How do we release ourselves from such a psych, a feeling of superiority? By facing the truth. Not necessarily because I have more, am I more, whether it’s money or brains. They don’t always go hand-in-hand and besides its all a gift from Hashem.
A core principal in Judaism is respecting and honoring another individual. Praising another one of Hashem’s creations and making them feel good about themselves.
Honoring other people is a super power act that breaks barriers and creates harmony  and unity.
Some of Hashem’s greatest Naches comes from seeing His children living in peace and harmony, honoring and respecting each other. Honoring another person is to  honor Hashem, since we are all created in His image. Hashem is a Giver so we also need to be givers, by emulating His Giving attributes. May we always find ourselves in a giving position.

THE ENDLESS CHASE

There are people who are rich and have nothing and there are people who have nothing and are rich.

What is the determining factor? How does one really know if they can consider themselves rich or poor? Its easy to find out. Ask yourself the following
three questions:
1) Do you live with Tranquility?
2) Are you Satisfied
    with what you have?
3) Are you Accepting
    of your circumstances?
Remember, happiness is not always having what you want, but rather wanting what you have.  Some people are wealthy but never happy. They are always looking for more, and when they get more, they want even more. Unfortunately they have been sucked into the endless chase. Instead of controlling their passion, they are controlled by their passion. They run the great risk which  eventually can bring to jealousy, envy, theft, even sickness.
Why is it, that the more we have, the more we want? Why don’t we recognize the vicious cycle for what it is? Why do we allow it to control us and affect every waking moment of our life? Time to be mindfull and realize that once we allow ourselves to be consumed by the pursuit of riches, we are headed down a path which leads towards a bottomless pit.

Truth is, that only when I finish constantly wanting, do I  transform into a wealthy person. One who is always looking for more and is never satisfied, is no better off then the impoverished person who is always looking for more and never satisfied. Chasing just one more handout, one more opportunity, one more deal.
An endless chase to nowhere. A person is only required to put in reasonable effort to provide adequate sustenance for himself and family, without going overboard. Trick is to get to a place of feeling “I have enough”. Satisfied with what Hashem gave me.
Think about  it. No one ever winds up with more than is destined for them anyways. There is no guarantee that even if one amassed alot, that he will retain it. How many stories abound of rags to riches and riches to rags. Not in vain did our Sages teach, that only the one who is happy with his lot in life can be considered rich.
Why continue the endless chase to nowhere?

REACHING OUT WITH A SMILE

Its so easy to be the first to greet someone warmly, express gratitude for a favor, give a blessing, offer praise
or just express appreciation.
What does it really take to acknowledge someone’s presence with a smile?
To say “HELLO” or “GOODBYE”. How much good will could be generated, by just greeting someone with a
“GOOD MORNING” or wishing them a “GOODNIGHT”, especially our own child?
What does it really take to occasionally make a phone call and inquire about someone’s welfare? Reaching out to a parent, grand parent, widow or sick person and saying, “HOW ARE YOU”?
What about saying “THANK YOU” when benefitting from another persons kindness? How about acknowledging someone’s thank you with, “YOUR WELCOME”.
Wishing a Yid, “GUT SHABBOS” or “GUT YOM TOV”, isn’t a bad idea either, instead of just walking by and making believe the other person doesn’t exsist, or isn’t worthy of recognition. What about wishing “MAZEL TOV” to someone making a simcha? How about blessing someone with a “STAY WELL” or “BE WELL”?
Truthfully speaking, what is the hang up? Is it חס ושלום pride or status, that gets in our way?
We say three times a day “ונפשי, כעפר לכל תהיה” Let me be before all as dust.
Do we really mean what we say, or are we just saying words? We ought to realize that when we greet another person appropriately, we are doing a Chesed, by making another human being feel good. We are also letting them know that they are recognized, count and have value.
Little do we realize that we are also doing ourselves a Chesed at the same time. Let us remember what Hashem promised our forefathers,  “ומברכך ברוך”, those that bless you, shall be blessed.
What a super opportunity. Let’s not take it for granted.
There is so much power in a smile, good word or nice compliment. It can brighten someone’s day. It can uplift a person’s self esteem. It can encourage them to take on challenges they never thought possible.
Our words have super power, to encourage and foster camaraderie in our homes and communities.
Best time to start is NOW.

ACCEPTANCE

If that is the way it should have been, then that is the way it would have been. We can’t bring the past back but we can make an effort to improve the future. True, sometimes things don’t turn out our way. What does a Jew who really trusts in Hashem say at that time? “גם זו לטובה”. “Whatever happened was for the good”. More important to focus on the future, the direction in which we are headed, then to harbor upon the past, which we can’t bring back. We must however learn from the past, not to repeat the same mistakes in the future.

Always forward with positive anticipation and trust in Hashem. Hashem is in charge. When we reach out to Him truthfully, He is accepting.
Not with demands, not with complaints, just humbly.

We must always be mindful of the fact that it is Hashem’s will to do good by us.    “מרצון הטוב להיטב”    It is the will of Hashem, the essence of all good, to do good with His creations.

We only need to make ourselves worthy, of the abundance of good, Hashem has in store for us. Let us better earn it and deserve it. What is most interesting is that Hashem continuously showers us with good even before we earn it or deserve it. How fortunate we are to belong to the Holy Jewish Nation.

HASHEM IS ONE – ה’ אחד

When we say the sacred words “ה’ אחד”, are we just offering testimonial belief, or are we pledging our fullest devotion to Hashem, because of this realization? Does “אחד” motivate us to serve Hashem exclusively and to do His will vigorously? Are we just paying homage, or is it a call to action? If we really mean and believe what we say, then we must make Hashem our first priority, our highest priority, our most important priority. Our minds need to constantly be occupied with Hashem. “בכל דרכך דעהו” Know Hashem and take Hashem into consideration in all your dealings. Hashem must become to us the essence of our existence. Hashem must come before everything else. Uppermost in our minds is pleasing Hashem. Therefore we must live focused, with the sole purpose of giving Hashem a נחת רוח from the life we lead. Hashem has to become our primary interest in life. That all we do is with the proper intent, for His sake and honor. Hashem and fullfilling His will becomes the most important part of our daily ogenda. Our days are spent concentrating on Hashem. We pledge our full allegiance to Hashem with all we have, body and soul. We really try to make Hashem proud of us. Our trust, faith and hope is only in Hashem. There is no other power, no other entity besides Hashem. Nothing  compares to Hashem, there is nothing without Hashem, there is nothing but Hashem. Hashem rules Supreme. That is what we are supposed to mean and think about when we say “אין עוד מלבדו”. Since Hashem is everything, we must serve Him with everything we have.

After all, didn’t we say ה’ אחד?

I AM INNOCENT, REALLY?

Shlomo HaMelech advises in Koheles, “At all times your clothes shall be white”.”בכל עת יהיו בגדך לבנים”

Under the surface though, we can hear him advising,
ALWAYS KEEP YOUR SIDE OF THE STREET CLEAN. Make sure YOU, NOT THEY, are doing everything correctly. Are you certain, that you aren’t to blame in any way for what happened? Have you reviewed your words and actions and made sure they were proper? Did you contribute to maintaining harmony or dissension? Did you bring people together, or did you fuel friction amongst them?
It really doesn’t matter what anyone else does or did. What’s most important is what you do or did. How you handled a challenging situation. Did you aggravate it, or calm it down. Remember, the blame game only serves the blamer, but in the end resolves nothing. By overlooking, you have the chance to insure peace and tranquility in your life and in the lives of all those who look up to you. Making sure not to be judgmental and  giving people the benefit of the doubt, creates trust and goodwill.
It’s all about your choices. Were they positive, helpful, considerate, peaceful, understanding, tolerant and  forgiving.
What counts most, is what you do, regardless of what anyone else does or doesn’t do. There lies the secret of human strength. That is where the power to make a difference is found. Guaranteed, Hashem will pay you back in kind, for honoring his name שלום. Peace to all.

ANTISEMITISM

We can’t change how the Gentile Nations think about us. We can however change how we behave towards them and how we conduct our business affairs with them. It is in there DNA to persecute the Jewish people as our Sages have warned: עשו שונה ליעקב The gentiles are enemies of the Jewish People. So it has been and so it will continue to be, till Hashem redeems us from this exile and restores His honor in Yerusalyim. But until then, we must be ever vigilant of the dangers that loom around us.

There may however be a positive aspect, as to why Hashem created such a strained relationship with them. That’s to keep us separate from them. Not to chummy up to them, like we are their buddy buddies. The risk is great that they will have a negative influence on us and we will learn their values and adopt their habits.
It is the normal tendency for people to stay away from crowds that upset and hurt them. Their hate will force us to stay away and keep our distance, which is exactly Hashem’s will .
“DON’T MIX WITH THEM”.
The Torah identifies us as a עם לבדד ישכון ובגוים לא יתחשב
A nation that lives alone and gives no consideration to the Gentile Nations. Truthfully speaking, that is Hashem’s wish for us, to stay seperated.
What is the Jewish Nations DNA? To behave like the Chosen People. Not to give the Gentile reason to strike out against us. We were chosen from amongst the nation’s to be a light onto the nations. To live and teach by example, spreading the Torah’s influence all over the world.
So may it be in our day.

LOVING ANOTHER HUMAN BEING

ואהבת לרעך כמוך
“Love your friend like yourself”. Really? How can a person love someone else like themselves? A tall order indeed, but obviously possible, since Hashem commanded us to do so.

A prerequisite to loving a friend as yourself, is to first love yourself. Hard to share, that which you don’t have. When a Jew is at peace with himself, through the Faith and Trust he has in Hashem, he can more readily share the tranquility and happiness, that comes from such living, with another person. He has no issues, complains little, carries no grudges and pardons his grievances. No one is giving him. No one is taking from him. Whatever happens is per Hashem’s will.

Judging people favorably, is a good starting point, in practicing true love for another person. After all, they are only human beings, just like us. Who doesn’t want to be judged favorably? Who doesn’t want to be given the benefit of the doubt?

Its one thing to say I love you. It’s an entirely different thing to show it and do something about it. True love is when we can imagine ourselves being in the other persons predicament and then doing something to alleviate their hardship.
We are taught that if you see your friend’s animal sagging under a load, you are required to lend a hand and help out. Then how much more so, do we need to lend a hand to help out a fellow Jew in trouble.
One of the greatest acheivments one can accomplish in this world, is to help another Jew. When we do that, we are helping one of Hashem’s children. Hashem is deeply in love with the people that help his children out.
Since we are all children of Hashem, we are bound together as brothers and sisters, responsible for each other. If we don’t look after one another and care for each other, who else will? Only through our deep concern and caring, have we been able to navigate the exile and survive. We only have Hashem and each other. Love your fellow man like yourself, to nurture peace and harmony within your family, your community, and your world. Hashem will surely smile down upon you and shower you with His endless gifts.

FAMILY CHESED FIRST

Lets consider the following question:
Is it fair to say, that just because the Chesed we are doing for someone else, happens to be a member of our family, that the value of that Chesed is diminished in the eyes of Hashem?
Not likely.
Every little bit of Chesed we do, with any Jew, is precious to Hashem, since we are all His children. However, when Hashem observes a spouse doing Chesed with their own spouse, or a parent helping out one of their own children, He is even more pleased and appreciative. After all, their Neshomos and care have been entrusted to us by Hashem. Real Chesed, the way the Torah views it, starts at home.
It comes before any other Chesed one might consider doing outside of their home. Just because Chesed at home is an obligation, doesn’t minimize the value of any action we may take to benefit another family member.
On the contrary, it increases the value, in that we are fulfilling our Heavenly responsibility.
We are doing the Chesed, Hashem wants us to do, before doing the Chesed we want to do.
BEFORE WE VOLUNTEER OUR SERVICES OUTSIDE OF OUR HOME, WE MUST VOLUNTEER OUR SERVICES INSIDE OF OUR HOME. OUR OWN FAMILY MUST ALWAYS BE OUR FIRST PRIORITY.
Those whose lives and needs depend on our performance daily, must always be considered first, before anyone else or anything else.
Chesed begins at home.
Let’s make CHESED AT HOME our first priority.

I DON’T KNOW

Truthfully speaking, is there anyone on this world that knows everything? No one, is the probable answer most people would give. Then it should not be so difficult for us to say, “I don’t know”. We know for sure that we are not the only one’s who don’t know everything! Yet we have difficulty saying these words. What gets in our way? Our EGO. Would be a good idea to come to terms that there is such a phenomena as, not knowing.  One of our great Talmudic sages advised, “learn to say, I don’t know”. As hard as it may be for us to acknowledge this fact, knowledge of this reality is a key to tranquility. Knowing that “I Don’t Know” allows us to let go and to stop blaming and beating up on ourselves during times of hardship, which we encounter in life.

Let’s take it one step further. Just like we don’t know every nuance about everything that is going on around us, so also we don’t know all of Hashem’s ways. Why He does and does not do certain things, is beyond our understanding. This should be easy to comprehend, unless our EGO gets in the way and Heaven forbid causes us to start questioning Hashem’s ways, as if we were entitled to know His reasoning. We need to face reality, that just as our senses are limited so to is our brain power limited. The prerequisite before trying to know, is to know, that we can’t know everything. Taking this enlightenment into account, it is now easier to live with ourselves on a daily basis, to more readily rely on Hashem.
 כי לא מחשבותי מחשבותיכם, ולא דרככם דרכי, נאם ה’
We don’t think along the same lines, Hashem says. You don’t think like I think and your ways are not My ways.
Whats important to know, to get through life with stability is,
כי כל דרכיו משפט, קל אמונה ואין עול, צדיק וישר הוא
That Hashem is trustworthy,
He makes no mistakes at all, His ways are righteous, perfect and just.

ALMIGHTY POWERFUL HASHEM

The First thing to recognize, internalize and know is that Hashem exists and is everywhere. He is one and alone created the universe and all that is contained in it, period. There is nothing else but Him. Hashem is the beginning and end of everything.

His אלקות permeates His entire creation and nothing but His Almighty Power exists. Its ה’ אלוקים that holds everything together and energizes everything in motion. He alone powers heaven and earth and all in between. Nothing, absolutely nothing can take place without the Almighty Power of Hashem. He is in full control. From the simplest existence on earth to the most sophisticated occurrence taking place anywhere in the entire universe.”מלא כל הארץ כבודו”.

Whatever has happened, is happening and will happen, is all attributable to Hashem. Whatever we see and wherever we are, that is where Hashem can be found “אין עוד מלבדו”. Everything around us and all that we see is a representation of אלקות. The cycle of planets and life on Earth, in all its variables, is constantly being orchestrated by Hashem. He refreshes and revives the entire universe from scratch daily.  Let not a person allow his mind to entertain for even a moment that the world is on automatic pilot. That things are just happening without Hashem’s constant supervision and intervention. It’s not so. Were it not for Hashem’s Almighty Power, the world would return to nothingness instantly.
So let’s review the basics.
In the very beginning Hashem created heaven and earth. Yes, יש מאין something from nothing, with His Power exclusively and without any assistance at all. Everything we see and anything we are exposed to, are His copyrighted creations and designs. They can never be duplicated in their entirety, with all the ingredients and special compositions inherent in them, in whole or in part.
How humble must we then be, while surrounded by such a display of excellence. The universe’s sophistication is unparalleled, and its daily services are forever ongoing, never interrupted. To have the privilege to exist in such magnificence is truly an honor. Thank you Hashem for giving me the privilege to live in it, enjoy it and thrive in it

SUCCESSFUL?

What really defines true success? Are we to consider a person who has and gives successful? Not always.

Real success is, setting a goal, pursuing it, never giving up and accomplishing it. Keeping our word and doing what we say we will do. Being reliable and accountable for our actions. Having a noble living standard and sticking to it, come what may. Practicing and respecting our moral, ethical and religious values. Saying what we mean and meaning what we say.
There are people who may have obtained wealth through unscrupulous means and dishonorable transactions. They may contribute generously to worthy causes, but can hardly be considered successful. Easy come, easy go. They may appear philanthropic and successful from the outside, but in reality are soiled and impoverished in the inside.
People who are faithful in their dealings and have developed a reputation of trustworthiness, have truly achieved one of the greatest levels of success.
Success is not measured by the wealth one has accumulated in this world. Rather it is by what he has shared with the world. Contributing to people’s success and helping them become successful, is another measure of our own success.
Generally, instantaneous success never lasts. It’s the  continuous daily struggle of climbing the ladder, and eventually achieving the goal previously set, that defines success. Oh, if we could only achieve every day that which we set out to accomplish at the start of the day, how fulfilled we would be. That would provide the necessary energy for continuing the following day enthusiastically.
As long as a person is making daily progress, heading in a positive direction, he is  successful. Success is not just the final result. It is starting at point A and arriving at point B, as planned. Just because one may have experienced a bump or fall on the way doesn’t mean they have failed, so long as they pick themselves up and continue to march forward. It’s overpowering one’s temptation to give up when facing defeat that’s living success. There is a saying that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Giving up is never an option. Every successful person will acknowledge that there is no gain without pain.

Not repeating the same errors over and over again and learning from one’s mistakes is successful living. Not staying stuck in the same place, being able to dust oneself off and start a new, is success.

Taking care of ones wife and children respectfully and properly, is one of the greatest successes a man can achieve in his lifetime. He has fulfilled his sacred responsibility of providing for the family gifted to him by Hashem. It is to him Hashem entrusted His precious children. How pleasing that is to Hashem.
Living outside one’s self and focusing on the needs of others. Helping improve their lives with the wisdom and means Hashem bestowed upon you is success.
We are used to thinking that success is determined by a person’s wealth, fame and popularity. Truth be told, that is not Hashem’s measuring stick. Hashem looks at how honest a person is and how much a person tries. The effort put in to overcome a challenge. How a person uses his full potential and doesn’t slack off with laziness. How he uses all his inborn talents gifted to him by Hashem. Puts in an honest day, truthful to Hashem and his fellow man. These are great successes everyone can hope to accomplish and attain.
So our goal must constantly be, to push forward with positivity. Not to focus much on our past experiences and failures. Learn from them and move on, since the future is where we are headed to. Trying to make progress with every single new day gifted by Hashem, whether in our Torah study, our Prayer, our kindness, or simply trying to support our family.
As long as we are moving in the right direction and making progress, we are successful. Life is not a race. Just need to move forward at a healthy consistent pace.
If we are honorably putting in a full truthful day of effort, we are pleasing our Creator. Ultimately it is He whom we need to please and come to terms with. If we live according to His dictates, principles and values, that He revealed to us at Sinia through His Holy Torah, we have achieved a milestone and major success in life.

POWER OF VISUAL INFLUENCE

“וכל העם ראים את הקולת”
 “The whole Nation could see the sounds”, as Hashem conveyed the עשרת הדברות to כלל ישראל. Rashi explains, רואין את הנשמע, they saw what they heard. The obvious question is, why did Hashem feel it was also necessary for כלל ישראל to actually see what they were hearing? Why wasn’t hearing sufficient enough?
The conclusion we must draw is that Hashem felt, hearing alone would not be enough to insure that כלל ישראל would remember what they heard. Hashem who created the human mind and understands best how it works, felt that in order for כלל ישראל to remember His directives, they would also need to see the  spoken words, not just hear them.
It is interesting to note that studies have validated the Sinia lesson, that visualization plays a major role in remembering. Visual images have the power to implant themselves in the human brain and have a greater impact on memory then words do.
Over 600,000 adult Yidden witnessed the Torah giving, which they acquired at הר סני. Not only did they hear Hashem speak to them directly, they also saw the sounds come forth, everyone together. Every single Yid heard and saw, what every other Yid in כלל ישראל heard and saw. There was no denying, what took place at Sinia. Hashem gave the Torah to the Jewish People as an eternal heritage. To them and only to them. What happened was real, true, beyond a shadow of a doubt and recorded with perfect accuracy for eternity.
The visualization insured, that the events of the day would make an everlasting indelible impression on all the attendees. It would never be forgotten and would last for eternity.
How important then does the role of visualization play, in transmitting knowledge and information. Not enough to just lecture to Talmidim and Talmidos. Need to also incorporate visual aids into lessons wherever possible, to enable better comprehension and retention. “A picture they say is worth a thousand words”. An image with a spiritual message has the power to captivate a students mind. It can eventually help transform the student to imitate what they have seen, since it entrenches itself into the mind.
The reality is, people remember what they see much more then what they hear. As a retired Rebbe, parent and grandparent I have come to know this truth. Visuality somehow creates attachment, which goes straight to the mind and heart. The mind takes a photograph of the picture seen, which creates retension power.
This is the reason why imagery and multi media have become so popular and successful throughout the world. The media world has figured out how to create stickability. Their grapic advertisements, imprint themselves into the minds of their viewer’s. This makes the message they are trying to convey difficult to forget. Eventually it triggers the buy reaction they are looking for.
By taking this important lesson into consideration, we may have an answer to the following question. How can we Mechanchim conteract the negative, enticing, visual influences, attacking our childrens minds daily? The displays of vanity, immodesty and fantasy constantly bombarding Jewish minds, with values that are contrary to our own.
Part of the answer may be, to fight negative visual influences with positive visual influences.
To teach properly, in today’s day an age, we need to do more then just lecture about ethics and morality. By providing illustrations that students can relate to, accompanied by inspirational spiritual messages, we can be hopeful to bring about meaningful change.
Truthful Jewish Living Inspirational Spiritual Posters do just that. They are graphic, full color illustrations that convey strong spiritual messages, that go beyond mere words. All to often, what we hear, goes in one ear and out the other. Information conveyed to Talmidim today needs an anchor. With short attention spans and minds being bombarded with all sorts of distractions, it’s important to create strong focus in Talmidim. Need to captivate their minds and create a reality that dominates their attention, where what we are trying to teach can gain traction. Just like the vision that was implanted into the minds of Klal Yisroel at Sinia, has proven to endure, so to today, a consciousness needs to be embedded into our Talmidim and Talmidos. Visual aids help insure that what we teach lasts a lifetime.
So Truthful Jewish Living an initiative of The Cheyus Organization has already released sixty Inspirational Spiritual Posters on its website, which can easily be downloaded and printed, with the hope of inspiring positive spiritul visualizations into the mindsets of our people. They have the power to help everyone be more mindful of who we are and what kind of conduct is expected of every member of Klal Yisroel.
It has already been proven that these visual alerts bring Yidden closer to Hashem and help them understand a little better what we are all about and what we need to be cognizant of. They infuse insightful spirituality into our minds, beyond ritual practice and thereby help counteract many of the negative influences surrounding us.
Was very pleased to recently receive a letter from a Rebbe who had displayed some posters in his classroom. He related how the boys in his class say to each other when someone acts up, “Don’t just study Torah, learn from Torah” a saying they picked up from a poster. That four color graphic poster resonated with them and became implanted into their consciousness.
It is encouraging to have the support of Gedolei Yisroel and Mechanchim who have already reviewed the posters. It is also noteworthy that many of the observations and suggestions shared by them at the recent Torah Umesorah Convention are already addressed in the first sixty published posters.
Now let’s imagine for a moment if Inspirational Spiritual Posters were displayed in all hallways and classrooms of Yeshivas, Beis Yaakov’s, Day Schools across the country. If every child was handed a new colorful poster to take home every Shabbos. If each Rebbe or Morah would just spend a few minutes every Erev Shabbos engaging their students in conversation about the spiritual lessons contained in the poster. Eventually that colorful poster would wind up on the Shabbos table, thereby increasing spirituality in the entire home, from the bottom-up.
This important initiative has the power to create real spiritual change, syncing ritual practice with spiritual connection. It can enable this generation of Klal Yisroel and those to follow, to maintain and preserve our stature of being a  ממלכת כהנים וגוי קודש, a priestly Holy Nation sanctifying Hashem’s name throughout the world.

SING A SONG

Throughout our history the Jewish People called out and prayed to Hashem in song. In good times and in stressful times, song brought our nation together. It cheered us up and brought hope and tranquility to our downtrodden and persecuted.
Some of our greatest leaders משה רבינו ,מרים הנביאה, דבורה הנביאה, דוד המלך, שלמה המלך
taught us, that one of the most powerful instruments we can use in becoming close to Hashem is song. It is a spiritual force that stimulates our inner emotions. Song helps our holy souls connect to Hashem, making it easier to dedicate our lives to Him in an unimaginable way. We are elevated through heart warming melodies  and tunes, that improve and revitalize our mood, creating a feeling of closeness with our creator. Its calming and relaxing sounds somehow have the power to reduce the interference that disturbs our mental and emotional being, affording us the opportunity to  better concentrate on having a more meaningful connection with Hashem. Song has spiritual powers that can change melancholy into cheerfulness, sadness into happiness, depression into hope. It’s transforming powers are evident in our  prayers and are present at our simchos. May song always bring happiness  into our lives.
The following compositions were composed as an  expression of appreciation to Hashem, for the special experiences encountered in life, orchestrated by Him. They inspired my soul to call out to Him in song, fulfilling  the dictum of: “שירו לה’ שיר חדש” “Sing a new song to Hashem
May it be Hashem’s will that these original melodies, inspired by Him, bring a measure of joy, tranquility, happiness and hope to my beloved people, עם ישראל.

SO LUCKY TO BE A JEW

The Sinia Covenant bound the Jewish People to Hashem forever. Our connection is unseverable. Some Jews try to honor the Covenant all the time, and some unfortunately, only some of the time.

The long painful exile that dispersed the Jewish People all over the world throughout the millennium is mostly to blame. No doubt, the endless persecutions and resulting repercussions, left there mark upon the psych of Jewish Nation. However, despite the torment inflicted upon us in every generation, we as a Nation have always mustered the strength to march forward. The Jewish People’s burning will to rejoice in their final destiny can never be extinguished, nor can they ever as a Nation be eliminated.
The Gentile Nations on the other hand have greatly benefited from our stop over in their lands. Nevertheless, despite all of our contributions to their overall society, commerce, health and welfare, they still enthusiasticly continue to isolate us and remind us at every opportunity that we are unwelcome. They make sure we remain a lone lamb amongst seventy wolves.
What are the chances of a Nation surviving, with so much hostility aimed towards them and outnumbered seventy to one? Yet the Jewish People somehow manage to hold on, survive and prosper, despite the turbulent storm that has engulfed them. There is only one conclusion to draw. It is Hashem’s will for them for the time being.
As a Nation we have always tried to make the best out of the conditions we were in and continue to do so.
Klal Yisroel has a job to accomplish in this world. To be a light onto the nations, teaching by example, G-dliness, morality, decency, respect, humanism, ethics, spirituality hopefulness.
In all areas, the Jewish People benefitted the society’s they lived in. You would think the nations would welcome us, cherish us, support and protect us. Instead they pursue us, violate us, with total disregard of our status.
We are the Chosen People, chosen by the Creator of the world Himself. It’s their jealousy of the beautiful life we lead and the intact families we build and nurture. The values we honor and tremendous contributions we make to society, way more then expected for our small numbers. The expansion, growth and successes we acheive, no matter the field,
or in which circles we find ourselves. The wonderful communities we build and develop and the camaraderie we show each other. How we take care of one another in all situations. They envy the infrastructure we have established. How we are able to independently provide all types of assistance to all our brethren, in all circumstances. They know if you are a Jew, you are never stuck. No Jew is ever abandoned. No matter where a Jew finds himself, help is not far away. You name it, we provide it. There is a Chesed group for every situation and every need. How comforting it is to be part of such a distinguished People and to know that we are never stranded, come what may.
Even when it seems we are alone, we are not. We always have Hashem and our Tehillim at our side.
There is no denying however, that two thousand plus years of exile have taken their toll. Nevertheless, no matter how much every family chain has been through, they continue to hold on, the best they can.
The reality is that since the destruction of our Beis Hamikdash we have been shipped wrecked. All of us thrown into a stormy, turbulent ocean, fighting for survival amidst the waves and currents. Everyone desperatley trying to reach shore safely. Many have arrived tattered, broken and confused in one way or another. Despite all the trauma they have been through, mostly still try to remember the real Jewish Family they belong to.
What choice do we have, but to carry on and march forward, as we have been doing throughout the generations. Never loosing hope and always trying to make the best of every situation, despite all the difficulties encountered on the way.
It’s our faith and trust in Hashem that keeps us going. We know for sure He will never forsake us or abandon us. Proof is, He never has. We have already outlived all the empires until now. Its the promise Hashem made to our forefathers.
Yes its true, He has put us through many trials and tribulations, but rest assured there is good reason. It is all part of Hashem’s master plan which is presently a guarded secret. The day will soon come however when Hashem will gather all His children from the current exile. He will be so proud of how His People survived and flourished. That we never forgot His promise, to return us to our homeland and rebuild the Beis Hamikdosh. Hard to imagine what life will be like when our redeemer Moshiach finally arrives. Living in peace and tranquility. No longer oppressed by the nation’s of the world. Serving Hashem once more with holiness in the Beis Hamikdosh as it was always meanth to be. Dedicated to the study of His Holy Torah and fulfillment of His Holy Mitzvos. World honor and admiration will be ours. Finally Hashem’s children will really be able to fulfill their mission of spreading Hashem’s light all over the world. All will then know and acknowledge, Hashem is King, Master of the Universe.

ELUL REFLECTIONS

The Holy month of Elul is upon us once again. Everyone is getting ready to really connect and come closer to Hashem, our Father, our Master, our King. That Hashem reigns supreme is our national anthem. We cry out in unity, “אין לנו מלך אלא אתה”, we have no King except for you.
Should be thinking about how we spent our life the past year, while in the presence of the King. Did we study Torah, perform Mitzvos, Daven, give Tzedakah, do Chesed, take care of our families properly, as we should have? Can we truly say that we made Hashem proud, as we reflect on our actions and behavior? After all, our Father in Heaven deserves to have some Naches from us, in return for all the blessings, He bestowed upon us and our families the past year.
Before asking for another year of health, sustenance, naches, success and well-being, it’s only right to first thank Hashem for all He has graciously showered upon us till now. Then we must make ourselves worthy of His continued blessings for the coming year. This can be accomplished by reflecting upon our past misdeeds, verbally repenting for them and sincerely committing to live more sincere Torah life’s in the future.
Finally, by pledging our allegiance to our beloved KING and altogether coronating HASHEM exclusively by calling out ה’ מלך, ה’ מלך, ה’ ימלוך , לעולם ועד.

What you see you remember – וראיתם אתו וזכרתם

Truthful Jewish Living is the challenge of our time. Living a Truthful Torah Life in an untruthful world is our goal.
How does an exiled Jewish Nation avoid the fake tantalizing fantasies of the Gentile world? What can we do to counteract the negative visual influences broadcast before our eyes constantly, that are contrary to our Torah values and beliefs?
One solution maybe, to broadcast, post and advertise positive visual influences. To spread graphically pleasing Inspirational Spiritual Posters throughout the Jewish World. Weekly Spiritual alerts in Shuls, Yeshivas, Beis Yaakov’s, Dayschools, magazines, newspapers, and popular media platforms, have the power to motivate and elevate Jewish souls, young and old, to live by the truthful teachings of our Holy Torah and Sages. Additionally they can be a great resource for educators and parents.
It has been said that “A picture is worth a thousand words”. People tend to remember what they see, far more then what they hear. Visualization has transformational power to influence. Not in vain did Hashem insure, that the Jewish Nation saw what they heard at Mount Sinia. To Hashem it was clear,

הפך בה והפך בה, דכלא בה

The משנה in אבות teaches: בן בג בג אומר הפך בה והפך בה, דכלא בה Everything is contained and encoded in תורה. The destiny of כלל ישראל as a whole and the life of each and every one of us, a part of נשמת ישראל. Hashem, the Torah, and the Jewish Nation are inseparable and bound as one. My grandfather, a survivor of Auschwitz, would always say, “You will always find your life in the פרשה of the week if you search hard enough. Look at these amazing words in this weeks פרשת נח, which we will read tomorrow and underscores the point. Upon seeing these words, at this specific time, one can only feel reassured and encouraged for the future of Klal Yisroel. ותשחת הארץ לפני האלוקים, ותמלא הארץ – חמס The world became corrupt and filled with HAMAS – ROBBERY before Hashem. Shortly there after the Torah says כי מלאה הארץ חמס מפניהם, the world is filled with HAMAS – ROBBERY because of them, והנני משחיתם את הארץ and I am ready to destroy them from the world. May we merit to witness that day shortly. ישועת ה’ כהרף עין Hashem’s salvation is imminent. אין עוד מלבדו

PIRKEI AVOS INTRO

פרקי אבות – Ethics of The Father’s, is one of the time sacred treasures of the Jewish People. It is studied by young and old, every Shabbos between Pesach and Rosh Hashanah throughout the Jewish World.

All it’s lessons are rooted in Sinai. It is the accumulative wisdom that the greatest Sages of yesteryear extrapolated from their intense Torah study.

This knowledge is an everlasting guide for the Jewish People, insuring that they will always live on a higher spiritual level than the rest of the nations. That they will live up to their calling of being a light onto the nations, by example.

Our Sages didn’t just study Torah. They also made sure that their conduct matched their scholarship. After mastering perfection in each generation and passing it on to the next, they transcribed appropriate guidelines and primary conduct expected of the Jewish People, as children of the King.

Their goal was for us to live noble lives imbued with values that go beyond personal gain, lust, honor and immediate pleasure. To lead quality lives that emulate the ways of Hashem. The King’s children cannot behave like everyone else.

They must live on a higher level. They must be conscious of their actions. How we behave with our fellow man and equally important, how we serve Hashem. Pirkei Avos stimulates our minds to be more mindfull, to think before we do.

We don’t just study Torah. We live by its teachings, in real time practice. Pirkei Avos is a road map that helps us navigate the stormy seas of life, while educating us on how to attain human perfection in all areas.

Our Sages put great emphasis on improving character traits, moral behavior, proper daily relationships. They considered it a prerequisite, even before Torah study itself.

Their advise to us is timeless. They summed it all up in a few words דרך ארץ קדמה לתורה. May we merit to live the esteemed life they charted for our nation.

PERSPECTIVE : YOU SAW

“You – the Jewish Nation, SAW that I spoke to you from heaven”. Over 600,000 people witnessed this event. They heard it, they saw it, all together. Every single person saw, what everyone else heard and saw. There was no denying, what took place at Sinia. It was real, true, beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Hashem felt however, that His speaking to the Jewish Nation and their hearing the Commandments, would not be sufficient enough. They would also have to SEE and visualize what they would hear, to insure that it would make an everlasting indelible impression upon them forever.
How important a role does visualization then play, when transmitting knowledge and information. Not enough to speak and for others to hear. Need to also make visualization possible, to enable better comprehension and memorization. By taking this important lesson into consideration, we may have an answer to the following question.
How are we to conteract the negative, enticing, visual influences, attacking our minds daily? The displays of vanity, immodesty and fantasy constantly bombarding us and being broadcast before our eyes, wherever we go? Part of the answer may be, to fight negative visualizations with positive visualizations.
“וכל העם רואים את הקולות”.
“And the whole Nation SAW the sounds”. Miracle of miracles, that Hashem allowed the Nation to actually SEE the sounds. Hashem obviously felt that it was not enough for the Jewish People to just hear. They also had to SEE.
To teach properly, especially in today’s day and age, we need more then just lecturing. We also need visualization, as Rashi explains רואים את   הנשמע”, “they SAW what they heard”. A picture was implanted into the minds of the Nation. A consciousness was embedded into their being through SIGHT, that would last forever. “הנגלות לנו ולבננו”.
So we release these Inspirational Spiritual Posters with the hope of painting some positive visualizations into the mindsets our people. They have the power to help us be more mindful of who we are and what kind of conduct is  expected of us. No doubt these visual alerts will bring Jews closer to Hashem and help them understand a little better what we are all about and what we need to be cognizant of. They will infuse insightful spirituality into our minds, beyond ritual practice and thereby help counteract many of the negative influences surrounding us. These Inspirational Spiritual Posters hanging in Shuls, displayed in Schools, viewed weekly in newspapers and magazines, will enable us to maintain our stature of being a   ממלכת כהנים וגוי קודש a priestly Holy Nation onto Hashem and a light onto the people’s of the world.

HOPEFUL MOURNING

Why does a person mourn? Undoubtedly, because they feel a loss. Something is missing in their life, which they once had, that has been taken from them. They feel a tangible void. Something they may have taken for granted is no longer. Things will never be the same. Truthfully they are not. How can they be? The absence is felt constantly.
So I sit once again and mourn the destruction of my beloved Beis Hamikdash and try to imagine how wonderful life would be with it. I mourn all the suffering and pain the Jewish People have had to endure throughout the ages, which has come about as a direct result of not having the Beis Hamikdash. Wo unto us, that we still have not succeeded in getting the Beis Hamikdash rebuilt after all these years. For this alone, we need to mourn. How much longer can we endure this exile and the loss of our brethren to assimilation? As Hashem’s Holy People however, His Beloved Children, we can never give up. That is not an option. We need to keep on moving forward with positivity. As proud Jews we live with hope. We have survived till now, as a truley United Nation. We surely will make it to the end, come whatever test we are challenged with. We never give up hope. What we can do is to continuously strive to improve and emulate Hashem’s ways. To rid ourselves of the transgressions that brought about our downfall in the first place and not repeat them. To make a commitment to love each and every Jew unconditionally. To help bring back home, those of our family who have strayed away from the Torah way of life, with love, understanding and compassion. We can rest assured that Hashem is watching over us. Shortly, very shortly, we will all together merit the great day we have all been waiting and praying for. The return of our Nation to ירושלים עיר הקודש and the בנין בית המקדש השלישי. May we merit to see the prophesy of our redemption come true, soon in our time אמן.
HASHEM, WE ARE READY FOR YOU. PLEASE TEST US ALREADY.
WE NEED YOU NOW MORE THEN EVER BEFORE.
WE ARE STILL WAITING DAILY, NEVER GIVING UP HOPE.

QUESTIONS & TRUST

Throughout the Talmud we find questions and answers. Sometimes questions with no answers, תיקו. This is a reality in life. We find ourselves with a question for which we can’t find an appropriate or satisfactory answer. Greater minds then ours, have grappled with difficult questions, trying to find truthful answers. Sometimes they came to the conclusion, that there just is no answer.

It’s not the end of the world, when we have an unanswered question. That doesn’t necessarily mean there is none. There may very well be an answer, just we haven’t merited to find it yet. It maybe due to our lack of understanding, which we need to accept. Let’s face it, no human being exists that understands and knows everything. There are things that we understand, that others don’t and there are things that others understand, that we don’t. It has been said, “no one dies from a question”.

It’s healthy to ask and to be inquisitive. To want to discover, solve a riddle and get to the truth. The Torah says “If your son will ask what is this service about, you shall tell him”. This is how we learn and mature throughout life. By questioning, learning and moving on. We must however make sure, that unanswered questions in religion don’t affect our faith and trust in Hashem. Usually unresolved questions come from a lack of sufficient information. The more knowledge and understanding we gain about a subject, the less questions we are likely to have. When it comes to unanswered questions of a religious nature, it is worthwhile asking ourselves before becoming disenchanted, if the great leaders of the past or present generation also had the same unanswered questions? Probably not. That means there is an answer out there. If we truthfully search hard enough we might find it. One of the great sages of the Musser movement once said, “if a mortal human being asks too many questions concerning Hashem’s leadership, he may be called upon to face his Creator before his time was really supposed to be up, to have all his questions answered. Rest assured, in heaven for sure there is an answer to every question. Sometimes we just lack the comprehension down here. We don’t like to think that way. Our ego finds it difficult to imagine and make peace with the phenomenon, that sometimes our abilities are somewhat limited. Truthfully speaking  they are. Hashem created the world this way, with limitations. Think about it. Do our hands have unlimited reaching power? Is the distance our feet can walk unlimited? Can our eyes see everything? Do our ears always hear what is being said? Can we smell sweet aromas in the distance? The answer is, no. Hashem created human beings with limitations. So to, the jelly in our brains have been created with limitations. No two mindsets are the same. How much one can and can’t understand is a gift from Hashem. כי ה’ יתן חכמה, מפיו דעת ותבונה.
Knowing this truth brings peace of mind. Understanding that we don’t and can’t understand everything, is an important step to living with tranquility. Since we live in challenging times, a world of trial and tribulation, there may be times when we will have to make peace with some difficult  experiences we encounter and hear about. Best to just surrender to Hashem, trust in his leadership and let go. It’s all right for unpleasant news and hardships to touch our hearts, but we must be careful not to allow them to penetrate into our hearts, where we can no longer function. We can never allow ourselves to get down and out, depressed, quit or get angry at Hashem. Let’s understand that Hashem created us to question and explore, to seek truthful answers and to try and make sense of all that is occurring around us and in the world. We are curious human beings always interested in news, always asking, why. Inquisitive, in order to protect ourselves and know the best way to deal with life. It is normal and healthy. Dovid Hamelech however gave us the best advice on how to live with peace of mind even when there is turmoil in the world and  questions beg for answers,  “בטח בה’ ועשה טוב” Live with trust in Hashem and do good. Rest assured there will come a time when no question will be left unanswered. May we merit the appearance of אליהו הנביא in our time.

Tolerance

Intolerance is the foundation and underlying cause of all dissension in the  world. Its effects are felt on a communal level and personal level. At home, at work wherever people congregate. Particularly religious intolerance has been the cause of so much anguish and persecution throughout the ages around the globe. In Judaism there are groups that believe they have a monopoly on Jewish belief and practice. For some reason they believe that they have the right to practice their version but deny others the same right to choose. Tolerance teaches that there can be different approaches that are right so long as they conform to Shulchon Oruch. Not every Neshoma is able to connect to Hashem in the same way. Some thrive in a more serious environment while others in a more relaxed cheerful environment. Hashem is bigger than life and allows for all of the different Neshomos he created to connect to Him in different ways. In Judaism its not one size fits all. If the path we walk on is to narrow some may fall off. If it is a little wider, there is room for all to thrive on their level. Our eternal life however, is on the line when we choose a Rabbi with whom to connect and practice. Choosing a tried and proven version of Yiddishkeit is the key. Finding a Rebbe with a proven tradition, who practices and teaches the Torah Hashem gave to His people by example, without introducing any new inventions and changes, with a reliable track record is critical. His stature and reliability must be based upon the education he received from having studied under great Rabbis from previous generations. This is life insurance for us in this world and in the world to come, our ultimate final destination. New versions of Judaism are risky. Always better safe than sorry. Centuries ago, there was only one kind of Judaism that all Jews practiced together. All of a sudden Conservative and Reform Judaism and the likes were introduced by people who were not prepared to forfeit their will for Hashem’s will. They tried to introduce new ideas that would conform to the easy street life style they preferred to lead, foreign to our heritage. They blended into modern society. In the process they distorted and perverted the Holy Written Torah and Oral Law as given to us at Sinia. They are the chief cause of assimilation amongst our people. There is no room for tolerance with them. The key is to connect to the original practice of Judaism, as given to us at Sinai and passed down from there through the generations. To honor our great Rabbis and their teachings. To respect those Holy people who devoted and sacrificed their entire lives for their communities and congregations. Tolerance yes, perversion and change from the original is intolerable. May we merit the coming of Mosiach soon in our day. He will surely answer all our questions and clarify for all the Jewish people wherever they may be scattered, Hashem’s true will. May we once again all serve him together as one nation, united in truth and love, as it was always meant to be.