We Have the Key

"So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains, and we never even know we have the key" (E)

Remember - the key is in our hand. Use it!

Everyone has moments and situations in their lives when they feel incapable of overcoming a terrible predicament or difficult challenge. Feeling powerless and unprepared, we often give up and give into the pressures we face. If only, we feel, something extraordinary were to occur to save us, we are doomed. Without a solution or option, we lose hope. However, how many times did we realize only after the event that the answer to our issue was right before our eyes all along, yet, due to our attitude, we failed to recognize it?

The other night, I was having some problems with my wife's disc player in her minivan and attempted to fix it. With several screwdrivers and various other tools in hand, I made way into the car and prepared for what I thought would be a quick job. I rolled up my sleeves, turned on the dome lights and got ready to work. 
After I took apart the dashboard and disconnected the ventilation system and dash electronics, I removed the disc changer. Once I unscrewed what seemed to be dozens of screws, I saw the issue - the CD's were jammed. Tugging, pulling and jabbing at the discs proved to be unsuccessful, and it dawned upon me that I would have to bring it to a more knowledgeable "professional" than me. All of the connections and parts were reinstalled, I turned off the lights and manually locked the door from the inside.
In the morning, I was met with a surprise - the minivan wouldn't start. It only took a few seconds before I realized what happened ... I had drained the battery by keeping the interior lights on for so long the previous night. I immediately called Chaverim (a Jewish volunteer group that are exactly what they're called - friends) to lend me a hand. When they arrived, I took out my fob to click the car open - but even that didn't work. The battery was completely dead!
"Now how am I going to get into the car?" I exclaimed in despair.
The Chaverim member smiled back at me and patiently answered, "Why don't you just use the actual key to unlock the door manually?"
I am quite the professional.

Instead of giving up, perhaps the solution is right there before us! In our very own hands!

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please help me find the key to any issue that arises!"

That's the Goal

"Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you. Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out" (AM)

Are you ready to score?

Life is challenging  - by design. Each moment in our lives, we make decisions that have the capacity of altering and redirecting our future in unfathomable ways. Every word that is spoken, every gesture that is made, every action that is executed and even every thought that passes through the mind is a distinct decision - a decision that we either consciously or subconsciously make. Life wouldn't be the same without them. They enhance our lives, making us stronger, better and more experienced in this journey. The greater the decision, the greater the challenge. The greater the challenge, the greater the gain if we succeed. The greater we become. Without such challenges, we gain nothing.

One of the most influential and well-respected Torah leaders of the past generation in Eretz Yisroel was Rav Sholom Schwadron, tz"l, known as the beloved and famed "Maggid of Yerushalayim." His powerful and heartfelt talks remain etched in the minds and thoughts of the countless people that drank thirstily from his words. On one occasion, he was speaking with a teenager, and the conversation moved to the topic of soccer and the youngster's intense obsession with it.
"I don't understand how the game works," Rav Sholom innocently remarked.
The teen briefly explained the basic objective and rules of soccer, to which Rav Sholom simply responded, "If the goalie is blocking the net, why don't the players just come at night when he's gone and kick the ball in then!"
Though a bit frustrated, the fellow patiently and respectfully answered, "Because then it wouldn't be counted as a goal - the game would be over! The point is to get it in the net when it's being guarded! Otherwise, what would be the point?"

Exactly the point! We only score when there's a challenge! When the "game" is over, it's over!

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please give me the strength to overcome today's challenges!"

Die Hard Fan

"I've dropped out, I've burned up, I've fought my way back from the dead ... I'll be better when I'm older, I'll be the greatest fan of Your life" (EM)

What kinda fan are you?

Recently, a Holocaust survivor visited our school, and addressed the students in what was a very memorable event. With vivid detail and deep emotion, this well-respected gentleman recounted his experiences of that terrible and painful epoch in Jewish history. He described how he witnessed the local shuls being torched by the henious Nazis, the injustices that prevailed as the norm, and the miraculous process his family merited as they were led to safety from the camps of death.

When he concluded his heart-wrenching account, he welcomed questions from the students. Perhaps one of the most insightful questions came towards the very end, as a boy reflected, "How did you find the courage to rebuild a religious family after witnessing such horrors?"
After a short pause, shrug of the shoulders, and slightly perplexed expression, the man responded simply, "Because I was a Jew! I was born a Jew, I lived my life as a Jew, and I will always be a Jew!"

There are several tiers of fans in the world of sports. First, there are the casual followers who watch a game every now and then when the chance arises. Then there are those who classify themselves as fans of specific teams and keep up to date with scores and schedules. However, the top of the line fans are what we call "die hard fans." They pledge allegiance to their team, religiously watch each and every game with total concentration and excitement, memorize statistics, monitor trades, and own every form of memorabilia and team merchandise. They may even have season tickets - box seats, of course.
What happens when these die hard fans' team loses? Do they jump ship? Do they simply choose another team to follow? After all their effort, time and monetary investments, are they willing to give it all up so fast? NEVER! Not a die hard fan! They're in it until the bitter end! Win or lose. They're team is the best - and nobody will ever convince them otherwise!

We lost six million of our brothers and sisters - our fellow fans. They were born as fans, lived as fans, and died as fans. And they didn't just die quietly.
They were die hard fans.
And the best fans die hard.

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please give me the strength and courage to always be Your fan and follow only You!"

Your Daily Dose of Pro-Teen

"If I listened long enough to you, I'd find a way to believe that it's all true ... still I look to find a reason to believe" (RS)

Want to feel better?
Add some Pro-Teen to your diet!

Our health is important - both our physical and spiritual health. We need both to survive. Just as we need to remain healthy by feeding our bodies what it needs to function well, similarly, our souls need nourishment. We accomplish this by davening, learning Torah and doing mitzvos. Our souls depend upon these nutrients. And, just as if the body is deficient in certain vital nutrients, it can begin the deteriorate and cause us harm, so too, the soul. If we do not "feed" it "religiously," it will most certainly begin to decay and cause us immeasurable, long-lasting sorrow.
The teenage years can be turbulent times. At this age, children are at a period in their lives where they are making decisions and choosing their direction in life. Every step of the way, they choose their actions, those that will ultimately pave the way for their future. For them to succeed, we need to instill the seeds of success well before they arrive at this pivotal junction in time.

Vitamins are part of daily life. From a very young age, children consume various vitamins to retain their health and well-being. Many parents are fixated on making certain that every possible vitamin category is addressed properly. Systematically, they have their children take an array of vitamins as part of their morning routine. However, even those parents who do not pump vitamins into their children, there are times that they are triggered to begin, such as after a doctor's appointment. If results from a blood test show a deficiency in a certain area, surely the parents will become more vigilant in providing the necessary vitamins their child requires rather than allowing the problem to persist. 

If a teenager demonstrates a deficiency in his religious health, it is our duty to provide the much-needed "vitamins" to bring him back to healthy levels. This must be done with care and love since after all, we are dearly concerned about him. It goes without saying that we wouldn't want to cause further decline and jeopardize his future by pushing him to neglect the vitamins. Negativity, coercion, criticizing and reprimanding are all catalysts of greater distance and far worse health. It is, therefore, our responsibility to be positive and loving so that they will want to become healthier.
We must be supportive.
Accepting.
After all, the vitamins have to taste good and not leave a repugnant taste in their mouths! If we want them to take what they need, shouldn't we have a bit more pro-teen in our diets?

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please help me be a healthier Jew!"

Get In the Game!

"Reaching out for something you've got to feel while clutching to what you had thought was real … the struggle within" (M)

Don't be stuck on the sidelines -
get into the game!

People often wonder why the happy and celebratory days of Sukkos follow Rosh ha'Shana and Yom Kippur - the Days of Awe. After all, why do we sit in a Sukkah just days after we begged for our lives? What is the connection between the two?
On a different, yet related note, once we finish the busiest time of the Jewish year, we may question what we can take with us from the "holiday season." How can we keep the spirit of these days alive throughout the rest of the year?

Everyone wants to be someone great. Nobody wants to be just average. Each of us have role models to whom we aspire, and through our lives we attempt to achieve the goals with which we may become more like those role models.
A few days ago, I was in a restaurant and recognized that half of the people were wearing the same green outfits - Jets jerseys. Being Sunday, a day many dedicate to football, several people had returned from the game and came out to eat to celebrate their win. Why do they wear the jerseys, though? If they aren't the players, then why wear their clothing?
The answer is that when they watch the game and root for their team, they feel connected to them. They feel part of the team. When their team wins, they celebrate - just like the players. When their team loses, they sulk - just like the players. So, during the game, the fans pretend like they're players. Yet, when the game is over, the jerseys come off and they return to normal life. They are no longer "players," rather regular people.
But what about the players themselves? The role models? The people who everyone looks to? They, too, take off their jerseys - but they are still the same people! They are still players!

As we stood in shul on Rosh ha'Shana and Yom Kippur, we promised Hashem to be better. We promised to become the people we know we're supposed to be. The people we know we can be. But this is no easy task. How can we immediately transform ourselves to become truly great overnight? The moment we walk out of shul, we are hardly different people. How can we take the feeling of sanctity of Rosh ha'Shana and Yom Kippur - the feeling of wanting to be great - with us throughout the year?
In comes Sukkos. The moment we leave shul we are told to start building a Sukkah. We are taught that we are to leave our Diras Keva, our permanent home (our houses) and move into the Diras Arai, our temporary home (the Sukkah) - and it, the Sukkah, should become our Diras Keva during this time.
This is our answer. Hashem is telling us to leave our permanent place - the person we have grown into - and move into our temporary place - the person we become only on occasion. Everyone experiences times when we feel tremendously elevated and inspired. There are times when we fulfill mitzvos that uplift us. Carry us. Give us a sense of accomplishment. Transform us into a greater person - temporarily. However, time passes. The feeling wears off and we revert back to our regular selves.
Although we may wear the jersey of our role model, we are not the real player ... yet. After the experience is over, we take off the jersey - the temporary person - and return to our permanent self. Sukkos is about making the temporary permanent. It is the time to keep the jersey on. To become the player - the role model. To incorporate the inspiration of Rosh ha'Shana and Yom Kippur into our everyday lives. To become part of our reality. Who we truly are.
To make the temporary permanent.

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, help me be the best I can be today!"

Race to the Starting Line

“You got a fast car, but is it fast enough so you can fly away - you gotta make a decision” (TC)



The race is on - get moving!

  The year is now officially underway. We've made it this far once again. Yet, as with all new beginnings, there are certain expectations we have for ourselves, as well as promises we made to Hashem on Rosh ha'Shana and Yom Kippur that we must fulfill in the coming months. One thing is for certain - we must not sit back and relax now that the Day of Judgment is behind us. After all, we are essentially now preparing for the next Yom ha'Din.

If you have ever played the classic arcade racing game, you know the thrill and excitement of high speed driving that cannot be imitated on the roads of real life. Gripping the wheel and thrusting the pedal to the metal, you drive through a series of tight, challenging turns while avoiding "dangerous" collisions with other drivers. As you slow into turns and rebound from the frequent side-swipes, you keep your eyes on the clock as the time ticks.
But where are you going? What is the goal?
To complete the lap and make it to the starting line again before time expires.
"Am I going to make it?" you nervously think to yourself.
With a few moments to spare, you finally make your way to the "checkpoint" - the starting line - and begin a new lap. But the challenge now increases - you'll have less time to complete this new lap. If you made it this far, you surely can find a way to drive through the same course again.
Only faster. Better. Make smarter decisions. Crash less.

We all made it to the starting line and just pulled out once more, and, although we may have crashed a couple of times (bein odom l'Mokom) and brushed by others driving on the road of life (bein odom l'chaveiro) this past year , we are still alive and intact, thank G-D. We get to start the clock once again.
However, the responsibility that rests upon our shoulders is great. If we managed to make it this far, Hashem has faith that we'll do even a better job this year - in the new lap. We'll have to drive better. Safer. Bump around and crash less.
And the margin of error is slimmer since time will be tighter.
But we've been here before. We've done this lap before. Each day poses the same challenges - but we're smarter now. Stronger now. We've become better drivers.
Drive safely!

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please help me overcome today's challenges so that I can better serve You!"

Be Connected - Always

"You should know, everywhere I go, You're always on my mind, in my heart, in my soul ... You're the meaning in my life, You're the inspiration ... Wanna have You near me ... no one needs You more than I need You" (C)

The signal is at its strongest -
are you connecting to it?

Time is ticking. It isn't just a cute cliche - it's real.
People wonder, "What is so special about this time of year? Everyone talks about doing teshuva and how now is the time to 'connect' with Hashem. What does that mean? And why now?"
We know that Hashem is closer to us during this time period, and, therefore, it makes Him more accessible to us. It means that we can earn forgiveness faster, gain a closer and more lasting bond with Him and essentially change our lives for the better.

The other evening, a neighbor of mine introduced an interesting idea to me - a plan for our neighborhood. He remarked, "Instead of everyone buying their own personal wireless router to connect to the Internet, where some will have a stronger signal than others, why can't we just buy a really powerful router and place it someone central among our condos? This way, everyone can be connected all the time!"
Perfect idea! 

The further we are away from the router, the weaker our connection. The weaker our connection, the slower we work. The slower we work, the less we get done. If we're so far away from the router to the point that we have no signal - we're not connected at all!
During the month of Elul and the Yomim Nora'im, Hashem is "closer" to us. The signal is stronger now than any other time of year. Thus, we can connect better. Work faster. Get more done. While some have a strong connection to Him throughout the year, the signal that is transmitted now is universal. Anyone can tap into it. Anywhere.
The only question is - have we turned our access feature on?

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, I want to stay connect to You - please help us keep the connection strong all year long!"

Life - Not a Bored Game

"I don't wanna close my eyes, I don't wanna fall asleep ... and I don't wanna miss a thing" (A)

Rosh Hashana is here -
are you ready to wake up?

There's a popular phrase out there - "Live life with no regrets." The message that is being related is that we should live out our dreams and act upon each and every impulse without thought.
Without reflection.
Without regret.
When we feel bored, we should go out and enjoy life, regardless of the consequences. After all, we're told, life's a game. Live for the thrill. Just do it.
Sadly, this is not the Jewish way. It isn't even a moral or responsible way of life. It is both dangerous for us, as well as destructive for all others around us. However, regardless of the immediate results of such a lifestyle, ultimately, such behavior will generate far reaching and painful outcomes down the line.

For anyone who has undergone surgery, you surely remember the fear and sense of anxiety that led up to it. When you came to the hospital for pre-op, the surgeon discussed the procedure, the possible dangers, the hopeful results and side affects. Nervous and scared, you were brought into the OR, and the staff prepared you for the surgery. The anesthesiologist walked in and introduced himself, and explained what he would do, and how the injection would put you into a deep sleep so that you would be at ease and wouldn't feel the pain.
A few short moments later, so it seemed, you woke up. You were no longer in the OR, rather in the recovery room. The surgeon was gone. The anesthesiologist was gone. Everyone was gone.
"Where am I?" you thought to yourself.
You then remembered that you underwent surgery - but you couldn't remember a thing. Everything that happened while you were "under" - not a single memory of it. One thing is for certain - the surgery was over. Yet, a while later, a heavy, shooting pain settled in. Engulfed in utter agony, you summoned the nurse.
"What is going on?" you cried. "I thought I had anesthesia so I woulnd't feel the pain?"
"True," the nurse patiently respondsed, "but that was for during the surgery. You are now experiencing pain because the anesthesia wore off. Since you are now awake, you will undoubtedly feel pain."

Let us not be fooled. If we choose to put ourselves to sleep and ignore the true meaning and purpose of life, we can enjoy all we want. While asleep, we will feel no pain. However, eventually, we are bound to wake up. And when we do, reality will settle in. The thrill will be gone. The fun we once experienced won't even be a lasting memory.
Done. Gone. Over.
The only thing that will remain will be the pain.
But we can avoid the pain. We can avoid the entire surgery if we choose. But we will need to remain healthy. To keep our souls healthy. And if we do, we won't have to sleep. We won't want to sleep. We will want to live life the way it was designed to be lived.
With meaning.
With purpose.
With true happiness.
With two days before Rosh Hashanah, let the sound of the shofar awaken those of us who are still sleeping. Let us awaken to a new year.
A new life.
A life of living, not sleeping.
A life, not a game.

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, help me wake up - and stay up! I don't want to sleep through life anymore!"

Yearly Cleaning

"It's clean up time, it's clean up time. Let's make our SOULS shine!" 

Are you ready for your appointment?
Don't wait for decay - clean right away!

We currently find ourselves in the month of Elul. In just a few short weeks, we will be standing in shul pleading for a healthy and positive year as we sway back and forth with heartfelt devotion. The question that many ask is, "I already bought my seats. What do I need to prepare for? I'll get my machzor ready, dress in my holiday finest, and go to shul. What else is there to do?"
So, what is this month of Elul all about anyway?

I recently visited the dentist for my annual, much unanticipated cleaning. As is the ancient custom, I brushed my teeth better and longer that morning. Feeling confident and proud, I walked into the doctor's office and confirmed that I have taken good care of my teeth. "Yes, doc," I calmly answered, "I brush twice daily. I take good care of my teeth."
It didn't take long before the dentist began sighing while slowly and deliberately moving his head from side to side discouragingly. 
"You know, Rabbi," he said patiently, "you have some plaque build up on your back teeth. You really ought to clean better."
"Really?" I said surprisingly. "I brush religiously!" 
"Are you sure?" the doctor questioned. "It isn't good enough to brush well once or twice a week. Certainly not just once before coming here. If you let time pass with plaque sitting on your teeth, it causes decay, which may force me to drill or even worse."
After I assured the doctor that I would do a more diligent job of cleaning my teeth, I made the appointment for the same time next year. 

Our greatest Sages advise us to conduct a daily accounting of our deeds. We are instructed to mull through our daily actions each night so that we can adequately repent for our wrongdoings and accept upon ourselves change for the following day.
Sins cause spiritual decay. If we don't fulfill our daily quota of "self-cleaning," we are almost assured that it will cause tremendous harm in the long run. When we arrive at the Doctor for our annual "cleaning," our single day's worth of last-minute preparation will surely not help. The build up will be self evident, and, for our personal long-term well-being, He may have to cleanse us through an intense process.
During this month of Elul, it is in our best interest to prepare a bit better than to simply remove the machzor from the shelf and dry clean our most handsome suit. Let us make it our greatest responsibility to get cleaning ... and quickly! That appointment is fast approaching!

(A good friend of mine, a dentist, tells me that in truth, a person needs a cleaning twice a year. I guess that's why we also clean for Pesach!)

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Doctor, please help me treat my soul better so that it is cleaner for my next appointment, iy"H!" 

Cat Nap, Cat Walk

“You who are on the road, must have a code that you can live by, and so become yourself … Teach your children well … and feed them on your dreams” (CSN&Y)

All eyes are on you.
Remember - you're center stage.

Recently, I was speaking with a wonderful, wholehearted and proud Jewish colleague of mine about the dynamics of  religious observance. We were talking about how difficult it often is to teach children about the importance of Judaism while so many struggle themselves. He remarked, "How can we teach our children the power and beauty of davening when it's such a challenge for ourselves to remain involved and connected to it each and every day?" Yet, perhaps his answer came immediately thereafter. "But you know," he continued, "I love shul. I love going there. There's something so wonderful about being in shul."

Another colleague once shared with me the following incident that the local shul's Rov related on Yom Kippur. Each day, in the Rov's Daf Yomi shiur, there was always this one fellow who would come and fall asleep on his Gemara. Day after day, the man simply came and slept through the entire shiur. 
A bit puzzled and curious, the Rov approached the man after the shiur one day, and hesitantly asked, "If you don't mind me asking, although it is really great that you come to the shiur, and of course you're always welcome, I was just wondering why you come if you fall asleep?" 
With a deep sigh, the man replied, "Listen, Rabbi. I never really had the mind for Gemara. I learned it when I was younger, but I never thought that I had the head for it. But," he changed his tone and proudly continued, "you may think that I get nothing out of it since I always fall asleep. It's not true. I do gain from it. When my children wake up in the morning, they see my bed empty, and they ask my wife where I am. I want my wife to be able to tell them that I'm out learning Torah!" 

We all have role models in life. These role models are formed in our youth and continue throughout our lives. Although they may slightly change over time, we remain within the relatively similar wavelength of those we grew up with unless we make the conscious effort to change our perspective in life. There are athletes, movie stars, teachers, Gedolim, family members and friends. They can certainly serve as meaningful role models if they have wholesome and respected characters, and endorse positive and honorable lifestyles.
Yet, why do so many people "wanna be like Mike"? Simply because they were "trained" from their youth that this would be the greatest dream. This would be the greatest form of success. But what if every father woke up early to learn, and showed their children the value of Torah? What if every father told and demonstrated to his children their love for going to shul? Although it may be challenging for us, we inspire the next generation by what we stress. By what we value. By what we show our admiration and desire for.
The father who wakes up early to learn will have a better chance of having children who will grow up respecting and loving Torah.
The father who tells his children how much he enjoys going to shul will have a better chance of them following in his dedicated and admirable footsteps.
When was the last time we told someone how wonderful it was doing a mitzvah?
Remarked how meaningful our davening was?
How fulfilling it is being a Jew?
Each person is a role model for others.
We are on display.
We are all on the "cat walk" of life - and we don't have nine of them to squander.
Let's be good models.
Let's be super-models!

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hazshem, please help me be the best I can be - for myself ... and for others!"

Unplugged

“Electricity is pulsing through our veins, a charge is racing … energy, filling the ominous void within you; no need to live your life in that gap; got what you need right here on lightning tap, so charge me, charge you” (MH)

Are you sure you're plugged in?

Something's wrong. People sense it. The Jewish world feels it. And although we may live in an age with a unprecedented, powerful Ba'al Teshuva movement, we lose countless people each day to assimilation and intermarriage. Yet, besides the staggering number of disassociated, unaffiliated Jews throughout the world, we recognize a growing presence of religious Jews that lack feeling and emotion towards their daily observance of Judaism. You can almost sense people davening, saying brochos or wearing tzitzis in a completely unattached manner.

Like a body without a soul.
Why? Why are people not feeling the fulfillment and sense of spiritual achievement when performing mitzvos?
We know that the Torah and mitzvos have infinite power with which they are designed to infuse us with overwhelming joy and ecstasy.
But why do so many people not feel it? Why aren't they charged with positive energy from learning and doing mitzvos?

The other morning, after I got myself ready for davening, I slipped my Blackberry onto my belt and ran out to the car. When Shachris was over, I sat back in my car, took out my Blackberry to check my emails and texts (of course only after davening!), and noticed my battery nearly drained. 
"Funny," I thought to myself, "I know I charged it last night."
When I returned home, I went to take a look at my charger, and I quickly realized what went wrong. Although I certainly did plug the charger into my Blackberry, I didn't recognize that the charger wasn't plugged into the wall. My phone may have plugged in, but it still didn't charge. Even though the phone was plugged in, the plug wasn't! 


It is true. Torah and mitzvos are designed to charge us. Give us life. But we may think that as long as we plug them into ourselves we will feel charged. Unfortunately, this is not enough. The Torah and mitzvos themselves have to be plugged into the Source. When we learn and fulfill mitzvos, it does not suffice to do them with an empty mind and a severed heart. If we are not fulfilling our job with the understanding that we are working to be attached to - plugged into - the Source, Hashem, then we will not walk away charged.
Keeping Shabbos is not merely a mitzvah - it is a way to connect to Hashem. Tzitzis is not merely a four cornered garment - it is a way to wrap ourselves with holiness, thus coming that much closer to our Father. Yet, because people often do not comprehend this concept, Shabbos, wearing tzitzis, and any other mitzvah for that matter, becomes meaningless.
Becomes a body without a soul.
Even if people fulfill them - they have the charger plugged into them - the charger isn't connected to the Source ... and their energy and soul will soon run out of battery power. They will continue through life drained of spirituality and religious fervor.
It is, therefore, our most vital duty as Jews to make sure that when we fulfill a mitzvah, daven, or learn, that we are truly charging ourselves. That we realize what and why we are doing each particular action, and remained plugged in - to Hashem, lest we stop functioning as another 'cell' of His great and most powerful army.

Who's in charge here?
Be charged. Be super-charged.

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please help me remain connected to You - always!"

Why Should I Cry?

"Every night in my dreams I see you. I feel you. That is how I know you go on … Once more let us open the door … There is some love that will not go away” (CD)

Let us mourn today, and
rebuild tomorrow!

Perhaps, the one day a year that remains far from our understanding is Tish'a b'Av. We are told that it is a day of fasting. 

Why?

Because both the first and second Beis ha'Mikdash were destroyed on this day.

Many people, especially children, struggle with this concept. They ask, or perhaps only think, "What's the big deal? Why should I mourn for a building that was destroyed over 2,000 years ago? What does it mean to me?"

We never saw the Beis ha'Mikdash. We cannot grasp what we have lost since we have never experienced it.

So why do we mourn? Why must we fast?

There was once a couple who remained childless for many years, yet awaited Hashem’s intervention and salvation with complete and unrelenting faith. In due time, Hashem heard and answered their tefillos, as the woman became pregnant. The couple was overjoyed and filled with elation, while they patiently anticipated the birth of their child. However, when the woman went into labor, she was met with difficulty and danger. The most experienced and reputable doctors were called, and then the top surgeon was dispatched. Finally, the husband was ushered into the doctor’s office and given the most dreadful and heartbreaking news.

“Your wife is in a very dangerous situation,” the head doctor painfully explained. “We are at a point where we may not be able to save her life. The only way that we can preserve her life is to allow the baby to die. You have to make the choice. Either you choose the life of your wife or that of the child.”

With this, the husband let out a piercing and agonizing cry. How many tears did he weep for a child? How many tefillos did he pray with incessant fervor to merit this boy? Yet, to enable him to live he must allow his beloved wife to die. How unbearable the pain!

“Let my wife live!” screamed the broken a husband.

The woman heard the noise from within the labor room, and realized the desperation and bleakness of the situation. She wanted to know exactly what was going on.

The doctor entered the room and told her, “You are very weak, yet the baby is healthy and big. It is not possible for you to deliver him. We must surgically remove the baby in order to sustain your life thus killing the baby.”

The wife trembled and said, “You cannot do this! I give you no permission!”

“But your life depends upon it!” responded the doctor.

The wife adamantly cried, “I must do what is proper in the eyes of Hashem. I refuse to take my life at the price of the life of my son!”

The doctors tried unsuccessfully to convince her to reverse her decision. They told her that she had her entire life ahead of her, and that her husband loved her. She had to make the decision on behalf of the both of them, they would say. Yet, she refused to be persuaded. All she ever wanted was to have a child to survive her.

She was ready and willing to give her life for that of her son.

There is no describing the cries and screams. The woman knew that her minutes were counted. She called for her husband, and said, “I am going to pass away as is the way of the world, and it is the design of man for his heart to forget the pain. Yet, there is one request that I ask of you. This boy that I am giving birth to will never see my face. Tell him about me. Tell him how I suffered for him, how much I love him. Tell him everything I did for him until I gave him my life. Tell him that I want him to follow in the ways of the Torah, and that this would give me the greatest of pleasure and merit in the World Above. And tell him that on every yartzeit he should learn to give merit and lift my soul.”

As the woman completed her words, the baby was born and she tragically passed away.

The boy lived with the memory of his mother – her image set before his eyes at all times. On her yartzeit, he recited Kaddish as tears streamed down his cheeks. When he grew older, each year he would close his store on that day, gather a minyan to learn Mishnayos, and he himself would learn all night and lead davening during the day with a broken heart.

Yet, the years passed and his emotions cooled and diminished. But, he was still loyal in observing the yartzeit, although he no longer closed his store or gathered a minyan to learn. And, even though he lead the davening, his davening was cold and expressionless.

Before evening, he went upstairs to visit his father, yet his father refused to see him.

The son shook in fear and asked, “Father, why do you hide your face from me?”

The father responded rebuking, “I was in shul, and I heard your cold davening. Is this the way a son davens for his mother – for a mother who in her death gave him life?”

The application of this moshol could not be any clearer. Chazal remark that the Beis ha’Mikdash is also referred to as a Mishkan since it served as a mashkon, collateral, for the sins of Klal Yisroel.  It was through its destruction that we were saved, as Rashi relates, “Hashem unleashes His anger on wood and stones.” Rather than annihilating Klal Yisroel, he destroyed the Beis ha’Mikdash. The least we can do is observe the time period of its ruin by davening for and lamenting it! Would it not be only proper for us to mourn its destruction and pass along to our children this sense of indescribable loss – one that both they and we have never merited to see, yet through it we live today? Does the Beis ha'Mikdash not deserve at least this much?

The Navi Yirmiyahu states, “For I have heard an outcry like that of a woman in labor, in pain like a woman giving birth for the first time. It is the voice of the daughter, Tziyon, for she will wail, she will wring her hands, 'Woe is me, now, for my soul has been wearied by the killers.'” From here our moshol is vividly clear. A woman in labor has given her life to protect her son from death. Is it not appropriate that her son mourn her loss? Is it not a sacrifice worthy of mourning?

(Translated from Ma’ayin ha’Moed)

We may have never seen our holy Beis ha'Mikdash, but if we would only realize how it gave us life! 

Let us keep it alive - let us bring it back alive!

Say to yourself ten times today:

"Hashem, I am sorry that Your Home was destroyed - because of me! Please give me the strength to help rebuild it!"

Color Blind

"See, it's not about races just places; faces where your blood comes from; is where your space is, I've seen the bright get duller; I'm not ‘gonna spend my life being a color

" (MJ)

Are we using our colors to
make us brighter?

The majority of people see colors quite clearly and distinctly, and can tell the difference between their various shades. However, there is period of time that everyone becomes color blind - each and every night. Have you ever noticed that it is difficult to distinguish between different colors under dim light? Or how you cannot even recognize blue from red at all at night?

The first thing that happens is that the color receptors in our eyes are not sensitive enough to light in order to keep responding as it gets dark. As their responses get smaller and smaller, so do the differences in the color signals from the different receptors, and objects end up looking less colorful. As this continues and the light level keeps dropping, the color receptors, called cones, can no longer respond at all. A different type of receptor, called rods, can respond at these low light levels, but the rods do not have the capability to distinguish colors. Therefore, we basically see in strictly black and white at night.

Judaism is quite colorful. We come in many colors and shades. Different clothing. Different yarmulkas. Different dialects and pronunciations. But there is something we share in common - we are all Jewish. In broad daylight, it is easy to tell the difference between us - which isn't really a problem at all. In our prime, when the Beis ha'Mikdash stood tall and the Presence of Hashem was sensed by all, our uniqueness as individuals, though part of a glorious Nation, was a great attribute of ours. In fact, as we camped beside the Mishkan, we were clustered by sheivet. There was a distinction between us.

Yet, today and for the past 2,000 years, we find ourselves in a period of darkness. Our exile has blackened our eyes. It has stolen our light, our glory. It tore down our Beis ha'Mikdash as well as tore us apart from one another. 

It is during this time of night that we must adjust our vision. At night, we must become color blind. We must learn to shed our labels of one another. We must not allow our different colors to keep us separated. Indeed, this is the very source of our exile. During this darkness, we must recognize that it is not a matter of what color Jew you are, but rather that you are indeed a Jew!

As we near the date when we mourn the destruction of both Batei Mikdash, let us remind ourselves of who we are - and who we must be in order to merit the end of our darkness ... the day when Hashem will cast the ultimate light of the Final Redemption upon us, may it come soon in our days! 

Say to yourself ten times today:

"I love my fellow Jew! I love every single one of them!"

Fly Away

"You're a butterfly, and butterflies are free to fly, fly away, high away, bye, bye" (EJ)

It's fly time. You can wing it.

One of man's greatest dreams is the ability to fly.
Is flying not the lure of superheroes, such as Superman? Somehow we feel that we would be greatly empowered if we were equipped with the capacity to fly.
Well, we indeed can fly.
Although our bodies are bound to the ground by the law of gravity, our spirits and souls can certainly fly. Yet, just as birds, our skill of flying is also bound by rules.

The saintly Rabbi Yisroel Salanter once found himself outside, staring up at the skies. Observing the birds flying above, he was inspired with an insightful thought about human nature. He turned to his students and remarked, "My dear students! Look at the grace and beauty of the birds. Did you ever pause for a moment and ponder how high they can fly? Yet, when they stop thrusting their wings up and down, how they fall so fast! We are just the same as they! When we put forth all of our energy and might, we have the ability to soar up to the Heavens. However, if we were to lose our stamina and inspiration for but a moment, how quickly and far we can fall! Let us try, my dear students, to continue to fly strong, and draw near to our Father in Heaven! All our lives, let us not stop for even a moment!"

Hey, you never know. Maybe one day all that flying will make you into a superhero.

Say to yourself ten times today:

"Hashem, please give me the willpower to keep flying closer to you!"

The Age of Wii

"Come together right now over me" (TB)

It's not a game. It's life.

We clearly live in an age of "I before we." It is an age where most people choose me over we, rather than the reverse. We see this everywhere.
It is quite natural to think about ourselves and our personal needs. We are indeed human. This behavior begins from the very beginning of our existence. As babies, we cried until we were attended to. In early childhood, our most frequently screamed statement was, "It's mine!" As young teenagers, we never thought our parents could be right. After all, we always knew better.
Right?
However, as time passes, we are designed to become more sensitive to others. At a certain age, we should come to the realization that we are not in this world to benefit ourselves alone. It is no mistake that we don't get married at 8 years old. At that age, we are not old enough to comprehend the concept of thinking about someone else, let alone live with that notion each and every day.

Is it not interesting that we live in a generation where even our culture boasts a certain bold selfishness? Is it not odd that we focus so strongly on the "I before we"? Perhaps the most popular item in the American market today is the iPod and iPhone. Even in Israel, the second most popular snack brand is Bissli (li, as in for me). It is no wonder, then, that even when we use the word "we" today, it can be distorted. Thus, the Wii even has "I" in it - twice!

Wires are used to connect two things together.
We live in a wireless world.
"Stay connected."

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please give me the strength to think and help others today - not just myself!"

Hitting the Right Key

“But all I really know is what I see, and everybody sees it differently … But I'm the only one who holds the key” (RS)

Where did you put your keys?

Children and adults often ask the probing question, "Why does Judaism have so many complicated rules? Why does it seem that if I don't fulfill a mitzvah exactly as prescribed, I don't get credit for it?" Perhaps, when it specifically comes to davening, people wonder why they seem to try to concentrate and recite the words properly, yet don't appear to see results. "I say the words, but nothing seems to happen."

I always find it amazing that with all the locks in the world, each one has its own key. With something that seems so small, so finite in size, yet each lock requires the exact cut "teeth" in order to unlock it. Some ridges are taller, some shorter, yet, each lock has a matching key with the perfectly proportionate combination. If one would try a key that has a similar style to any particular lock, it wouldn't work. As close of a match as it may be, it still won't open the lock.
Each mitzvah unlocks an infinite array of power and reward. Each tefillah unleashes worlds of energy and opens tapestries of treasures. However, we can only earn these results and reveal this power and energy if we use the right key. Each mitzvah has its measured requirements. Each tefillah depends upon the right combination of words, feelings, and thoughts. 
We certainly have the potential. Hashem gave us each the necessary keys. However, just as a locksmith takes a bare key and cuts it with precision to match the needed result, so must we custom tailor our keys to fit each lock. And, just as a locksmith may use pre-existing keys to imitate and copy in order to serve the identical lock, so must we use the Torah and its great scholars to form our keys so that we may unlock each particular door throughout our lives. 

"Gam key ei'lech b'gei tzal'moves, lo i'ra ra key Atah imadi" - fear not, for Hashem has given us the key to unlock the shackles of doom. The key is to always have faith in Hashem!

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please help me find the right key for everything in life!"

U Turn

“You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind; a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead — your next stop, REAL LIFE” (TZ)

Read the road signs -
time to make a turn

"It's never too late, never too little," as they say. And it's true.
Let's face it. It's so hard to change a bad habit. The longer we allow the habit to remain strong, the more difficult it is to break it. But it can always be broken. Always.

You're driving down the road as the numbers continue to roll forward on the odometer. Enjoying the scenery, you smile as the warm sun beats down upon you through the window. Appreciating every moment, you feel thankful that you're alive and well, heading towards what you anticipate will be a great trip. Yet, after a while, you take your eyes away from the beautiful landscape ahead, and glance at the signs. Suddenly, you realize that you've been driving the wrong way for miles! 
"Ah, forget it! Just continue!" you tell yourself. "After all, the scenery is so fantastic!"


This doesn't appear to be very realistic. If a person has a destination, he would most certainly turn around immediately and head in the right direction. Yet, what would happen if a person forgot his destination? Or entirely forgot he had one? Would he turn around after all?
This world is quite a big place. It's easy to get lost. But the key is to remember that we have a destination. A very important one at that. We cannot become distracted or else we may lose our vision. Our mission. Our destination.
Keep your eyes on the road signs - they'll lead us in the right direction. Don't lose focus. However, if you're perceptive enough to realize that you're going the wrong way, find that first "U Turn" sign and turn right around! The scenery isn't worth it! Your destination is so much more important!

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please lead me and help keep me in the right direction - I don't want to get lost!"

Just Be You

“'Cause I have wandered through this world, and as each moment has unfurled I've been waiting to awaken from these dreams. Doctor, my eyes, tell me what you see … just say if it's too late for me” (JB)

Have you found you yet?

There are billions of you's in the world, but only one me.
In a society where everyone is trying to be someone else, we often lose sight of who we are - and who we can be. In our never-ending attempt to achieve happiness, we must pause and ponder why so many have failed.
What is happiness? True happiness? And who defines it?
There are many images and icons of happiness in the world today. Through a seemingly endless array of avenues, we are sent subliminal messages as to what happiness entails, and who possesses this happiness.
Is it fame?
Fortune?
Good looks?
If we attempt to be someone else in order to arrive at a blissful existence, we are doomed to fail. To be truly happy, we must first reveal who we are - our positive traits, talents, and aspirations - and what we can be. Only then can we realize what will truly make us happy. Truly happy.

Here is a short insight that sums it up:
"If I am me because I am me, and you are you because you are you, 
then I am me and you are you.
But if I am me because you are you, and you are you because I am me,
then I am not me and you are not you."

"Just be yourself - everyone else is taken."

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please help me find the real me!"

Closer Than You Think

“I wish I could just make You turn around, turn around and see me cry. There's so much I need to say to You, so many reasons why - You're the only One who really knows me at all - so take a look at me now” (PC)

Are you close enough to see Him?

There are so many reasons to turn to Hashem. To speak to Hashem. So much to talk about!
"But I can't see Him!" you may say. "Who am I talking to if I can't see Him? Where is He?" 
The truth is, He is closer than you may think. However, the way it works is that the more you try to come closer to Hashem, the more you see Him everywhere. Although He can always see you, you cannot see Him unless you grow closer to Him.

One of the most intriguing, yet common visual effects is a two-way mirror. Whenever I find myself near one, I always struggle to figure out what is on my side of the mirror and what is on the other. If you've ever stood near one, you know what I'm talking about. 
When do you see more on your side and less on the other? When you're standing far away from the mirror. When standing from afar, all you see is you. You and all of your surroundings. Yet, when you're standing up close to it, you can nearly see right through it. As you lose focus on yourself and fade away, everything on the other side becomes visible. Clear.
But this is not true for those on the other side. They don't see themselves at all. Only you. As clear as day.
Hashem can see us clearly. Always. He never sees or thinks about Himself, only us. However, on the other side, the situation is not the same. If we're far away from Him, all we see is ourselves. We look at our lives and surroundings, and Hashem is nowhere to be found. So we think. Yet, if we were to draw closer to Him, we would stop merely seeing ourselves, but we would begin to see the wisdom of Hashem a bit better. If you were closer still, you would see Him crystal clear - all the time! 

Warning: Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.


Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please help me grow closer to You so that I can see You always!"

Itching For It

"Watch out you might get what you're after ... some things sure can sweep me off my feet, burning down the house" (TH)

How are you going to
put out the fire?

Years ago, I read somewhere a very perplexing comment by Rebbi Nachman of Breslov. He seemingly said that the most accurate means to measure one's self-control is by not scratching your skin when you have an itch. This, he noted, is the ultimate demonstration of self-control. When I read this, I thought to myself, "Well, it certainly is difficult to restrain ourselves from scratching an itch, but is that really the greatest form of control? There must be a deeper message in his ever-clever words."
Last night, I believe I figured out the answer to my question.

Athletes foot. If you have ever had it, you know how uncomfortable it is. That incessant itching, screaming, "Scratch me - now!"
Although it doesn't happen often, I felt this urge to scratch my toes as I removed my shoes for the night. With my nails hard at work on my toes, I thought of the words of Rebbi Nachman - and then it hit me. 
When a person feels an itch, that sense of needing to scratch overtakes a person's mind. That's the only thing he can think about. Nothing else. As long as the itch is there, the thought and fixation on the need to scratch remains. Once the person gives up his battle to restrain, and begins scratching away, there is an immediate sense of pleasure and accomplishment. The itching is finally being fully attended to. Yet, a person can get carried away and scratch far more than is needed, which is quite common. When he gets the sensation that the job is done, he realizes another problem - his skin is on fire! His skin is red and burning! Only after a few moments does the burning dissipate, leaving him with either a feeling of completion - or the need to scratch once again!
The identical situation occurs regarding sin. Once a person entertains the possibility of committing a sin, that itch to fulfill his urge overpowers every other thought. If he surrenders, and completely indulges in the sin, he will certain feel an immediate sensation of enjoyment. However, this satisfaction will surely be short-lived. Certainly, if he exceeds in his temporary delight and enjoys in excess, he will soon realize the results of his actions. Ultimately, when he finishes itching, he will be left on fire! 
... until the next itch comes along ...

Rebbi Nachman - I hope I understood your words correctly!

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please give me the self-control not to scratch when every 'itch' comes along!"

Up, Up, and Away!

"I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky ... spread my wings and fly away" (RK)

Are you ready to fly?

Many people are afraid of heights.
Why? Why wouldn't they want to grow? Want to become great? Want to fly?

The last time I traveled by plane (which was several years ago), I kept my eyes glancing out the window during takeoff. As we rose higher and higher, and the people and objects became smaller and smaller, we soon enough rose above the clouds. 
And a thought hit me.
When a person looks down from an airplane, it does not appear as if he is going too quickly. However, to those of us on the ground, when we look up to the sky, those planes move mighty fast! 
Our Gedolim don't view themselves as being any greater than anyone else. When they look at us, they don't feel that they're going any faster than the rest of us. Yet, in truth, they are flying high above us all, above the clouds. Therefore, when we look up to them, we clearly see and recognize just how much faster they are flying.
However, the beauty of our Gedolim is that they can take us along with them - as passengers upon their planes - and bringing us higher and closer to Hashem. If we truly desire that closer connection, we must know that our Gedolim can assist us. They can bring us there. And, we never know, maybe we'll end up flying ourselves!

"Some people just know how to fly."
Wanna learn?

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please help me find the right guide in life so that I can grow closer to You!"

Mystery Bus Ride

"The wheels of the bus go 'round and 'round, all through the day"

Are you ready for the ride?

"Where going away, away - to where? I cannot say, mmm mmm! So have a nice day!"
So the little kids sing. So true.
So is life.

As the bus approaches each bus stop, people eagerly await to board. Different people, different destinations. As they board and pay their fare, there are those who sit up front while there are those who take a back seat. Throughout the ride, people continue to board while others complete their trip and descend the bus. Each person has their own unique place where they need to go.
So is the ride of life. People are forever boarding and descending - people are born and people pass away at their predesignated destination. We each pay our way and have our own seat. When a person passes away, it is indicative of the fact that he reached his destination - his ride is complete. Yet, just like a person wouldn't object to someone getting off the bus before them considering the fact that everyone has a different destination, so too in life.
We are all on the bus at different points, each for our own, unique mission.
Our own road trip.
Our own destination.

We are all on the road of life. Where are we headed?
In truth, where we're going, we don't need roads. With the Torah guiding the way, we will most certainly soar to the Heavens!

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please guide me on the road of life - send me in the right direction!"

The #1 Fan

"I close my eyes, only for a moment and the moment's gone. All my dreams, pass before my eyes with curiosity" (K)

Chill out - He's there alright.

This very moment is now gone.
What about now? Gone, too.
Whatever we did or did not do now is now gone. There's no going back to now.
Now it's then.
Time. That is the ultimate limitation in this world.
But there is One Being that is beyond time - Hashem.
Where is Hashem?
Then. Now. Will be.
He's beyond time.
He's there alright. You can't see Him, but you can feel Him - that's what makes Him Hashem. That's what makes Him the Almighty.

Take a look at a fan, either a hand-held one or on the one hanging from the ceiling. Turn it off. Take a look at the blades. Three, four, or five pieces of plastic or wood spaced from one another.
See them? Sure you do. They're right in front of your eyes.
Do you feel the breeze from it? No. Not yet. It isn't on.
Now turn on the fan - at full blast.
Feel the breeze now? Sure you do. Ahhh. So refreshing.
But hold on. What happened to the blades? You can't see them anymore! Where are they? Did they disappear?
Well, you know that they're there - or else where is the breeze coming from! If you would be able to see them, you wouldn't feel the breeze! You're only feeling the cool breeze because it's moving so fast!

Being stuck in the here and now, we cannot see Hashem. Just as the blades of the fan constantly move and thus cannot be seen, neither can Hashem.
But He sure is there - can't you feel Him?

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please help me see You in everything and everywhere today!"

Make Ur Wrds Gr8

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can kill me!

Be bold. Word out.

There are a mere two factors that separate humans from the animal kingdom - free choice and speech. In the past several decades, we have witnessed an unprecedented increase in phone usage. With the advent of cell phones, we have seen an enormous explosion of our speech. With the ability to reach virtually anyone at virtually any time, we have become quite comfortable calling more people, more times and speaking ... more.
Then we were given text messaging. Perhaps a means to limit our speech, for better or worse, texting comes with its own set of challenges. People text what they would oftentimes never say in person. Yet, while we have the luxury of unlimited nights and weekends on most networks, there is something unique about texting from which we can possibly learn a very valuable lesson.

A texting field is limited to 160 characters. Although we can feel free to text multiple messages one after another, we are nonetheless limited to a finite number of characters in a single text . Interestingly enough, this has impacted people in the most profound ways, most notably in the fact that the spelling accuracy of our youth (and even older) has deteriorated. People have adjusted to using shorthand to communicate their messages. Since we are limited to 160 characters, and we want to get our point across in one, single text, we alter the spelling to achieve this goal.
Lol, ttyl, and thanx just to list a few appropriate examples. Also, the communication between people becomes vague and often misunderstood, which leads to various relationship difficulties.
Although the negative outcomes appear clear, there is something so incredibly positive and important to learn from.
Our words are limited! If we were to realize that our words are finite, and that each word is accounted for, perhaps we would use them more wisely. Just as we careful calculate each and every character in a text message, our precious words should be closely scrutinized far more.

Count your words and make your words count!

Say to yourself ten times today:
"I will try and think before everything I say today!"