There Can Be Only One

"We're one, but we're not the same, we get to carry each other ... one"

A world of many, a People of One

One of the beautiful aspects of Judaism is that we are part of one People, although we may be different and unique. Whether you are an Ashkenazi, Sefardic, German, or Chassidic Jew, you are an equal and vital member among our People. Yet, to go even a step further, people often feel that only the righteous and scholarly are beloved in the eyes of Hashem. However, this is simply not true. We are all the dear children of Hashem, however close or far away from Him we may be. Ultimately, it is our goal in life to gain a closer relationship with our Father in Heaven - and to help others gain this connection, as well.

Generations ago, in Europe, it was common that the Jews in large and heavily populated cities were more knowledgeable in Judaism than those in small villages found on the outskirts of town. In these small villages, the simple Jews often did not have religious guidance or formal Torah teaching, leaving them profoundly lacking in the knowledge of the basic tenets of Jewish law and practice. However lacking they were, their innocent and wholehearted desire to serve Hashem was still intact.
It was the practice of many great Chassidic Rebbes to reflect on the halachikly incorrect behaviors of these Jews in order raise their meaningful actions to their purest level and find favor in the eyes of Hashem. One Pesach, an odd story was related to Reb Sholom Rokeach, the Belzer Rebbe, tz"l. Apparently, a father in a nearby village explained the Four Sons in a very peculiar manner. When he would say "Echod Chochom, echod Rosho, echod Tom, v'echod She'eino Yodei'a Lish'ol," each time he would say the word "echod," he would cover his eyes and extend the word as we do during Shema - and everyone around the table did the same!
The Belzer Rov rejoiced upon hearing the story, and then explained. "When we proclaim Hashem as Echod, One, not everyone understands or agrees. Only someone like the Chochom comprehends this. However, when Moshiach comes, everyone - including the other three types of people - will unite to say "Hashem Echod! Furthermore, if you take the word "Shachris," you will notice that it spells out the Roshei Teivos (acronym) of the Four Sons (in this order: S'heino, Chochom, Rosho, Yodei'a, Tom). When the "night" of the Exile is over, and we gather together to recite the Shema of "Shachris," EVERYONE will join together in proclaiming "Hashem Echod!"

May we all merit the chance to witness that glorious day when we will gather together as one, united People and announce to the world, "Hashem Echod!"

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, I believe in You and love You!"

Dream Big

"Time keeps on slippin' into the future ... I want to  fly like an eagle, let my spirit carry me, I want to fly like an eagle 'till I'm free." (SM)

Let your spirit fly and set you free!

With Shabbos ha'Gadol just hours away and Pesach just days away, we feel the hype and energy with each passing moment.
Cleaning, preparing, shopping ... busy times.
Before we enter Shabbos, perhaps we can share a thought about the potential and symbolism behind this Shabbos, Shabbos ha'Gadol.
Each year, we prepare for Pesach, often for weeks before. The stress mounts, as do the grocery bills, and we enter into the special holiday with a sense of pure exhaustion. As we sit tired at the Seder table and as the days of Pesach slip by, our thoughts often drift away from the very core mindset of the holiday - freedom. We get carried away about the past and leave very little room for the future. We fulfill our obligation of remembering and reliving Yetzi'as Mitzrayim, but by the time we reach the end, where we desperately proclaim, "Next year in Yerushalayim," we may have lost steam.
This is why we have Shabbos ha'Gadol before Pesach. Besides for all the reasons we have learned about the reason for its name, perhaps there is an additional lesson to be learned from it. Perhaps, we are being told, "Dream big!" We are being taught not to go through the Pesach season and forget the potential - our potential.
We can be big!
Real big!
We have the potential of bringing about the Final Redemption!
Before entering Pesach, let this Shabbos ha'Gadol remind us of how great we can be. Let it remind us of our potential to bring about a salvation. Then, we can enter Pesach with a sense of purpose far greater than a simple retelling of the past, but with an anticipation of the bright future to come.
The miraculous redemption from Mitzrayim began on Shabbos ha'Gadol when B'nei Yisroel followed the direction of Hashem to prepare the Korban Pesach. It started with their actions. With their faith. With their potential of destroying the very symbol of Mitzrayim and its false gods.
We can and must do the same. Our redemption will also begin when we discover our potential to overcome our difficulties through our faith in Hashem. Through our actions of faith.
Let our spirits carry us so that one day soon we will "fly ON an eagle 'till we're free!"
Let this truly be a Shabbos ha'Gadol!

Say to yourself ten times today:
"I have potential! I can be great!"

Let My People Go!

"What if G-D was one of us?" - Boruch Hashem, He's not!

Technology. An incredible gift, right?
Well, it depends on your answer to the following question: Does it make you free or a slave?
Many people use technology to learn Torah and fulfill mitzvos like never before. In such a fashion, technology makes them free - free to be able to accomplish more. However, there are people that are slaves to technology. They NEED to read and answer every text message and e-mail immediately, regardless of when and where they are. They NEED to post everything to Facebook as soon as it happens.
Is that freedom or slavery?
In the following clip, we see what "may" have happened if Yetzi'as Mitzrayim would have occurred in our current new age of technology. As you watch and laugh, think to yourself - which version was greater and more miraculous, the virtual Exodus or the real one? Why?



Are we truly free?

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please help me be free to fulfill Your Torah and Mitzvos!"

Mr. Clean, Mr. Clean

"And the truth shall set you free!"

With the Pesach cleaning season well underway, it is wise to take a moment to reflect upon the true mission of cleaning ... to rid ourselves of chomeitz. It is very easy to become overwhelmed with the task, and it is also easy for the experience to become a burden rather than a sacred mitzvah. As long as we have the proper intentions in mind, we can avoid the following clip becoming a true story.



Enjoy your Pesach preparations! Let it set you free!

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Cleaning for Pesach is enjoyable!"

I'm WIth You!

"Like a rock, I was strong as I could be. Like a rock, nothin' ever got to me" (BS)

Take off with Hashem!

As we draw nearer to Pesach, we remind ourselves of the Jewish struggles in Mitzrayim. We have all learned, however, that we were not alone in our misery. Rather, Chazal teach us that Hashem was with us in our pain, as well. Therefore, when He redeemed us, in truth, He redeemed Himself, as well.
This should give us tremendous comfort and support. Just by virtue of the fact that we know that Hashem is with us wherever we are and whenever we need Him, should give us the strength to overcome our difficulties. This strength alone can lift us up and redeem us from all of life's more painful experiences.

A friend just remarked to me last Friday night after davening: Why is it that when people board a plane, which can certainly be a frightful event, most people don't get overly nervous. Yet, when people go in for surgery, most become very anxious?
He answered, quoting a big tzaddik, that the difference is that when the surgeon operates, he is operating on the person alone - only he experiences the event, not the surgeon. Yet, when one flies upon a plane, he knows that the pilot is flying along with him, and therefore he has faith that the pilot will do all in his power to fly and land safely!

Dovid ha'Melech writes in Tehillim, "Hashem li, lo ei'ra," Hashem is with me, and therefore I need not fear! Since Hashem is with us at all times, we can rest assured that all will be well - He is aboard with us!
If Hashem is flying the plane, is there truly any need to fear?

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, I have faith in You! I will not be afraid!"

Stair Master

I can almost see it, that dream I am dreaming, but there's a voice inside my head saying, "You'll never reach it."

Climb high - you can do it!

Life is a stairway to Heaven.
But the question is, are we really climbing it!
We often look at life and the troubles that we encounter as impossible feats to overcome. We see some extreme cases as tasks not even worthy of putting in our effort in order to accomplish. If we would only view them with a more positive pair of eyes, we would realize that they are not so difficult after all, and, with some degree of desire, we can find an alternative means of reaching even the highest levels of success.

There was once a king who had always wished to find his most loyal citizen so that he could reward him for his faithfulness. After consulting his advisers, a plan of action was designed to achieve this objective. A towering structure would be built in the center of the nation's capital. Leaning against this tall tower would rest a ladder with quite abnormal rungs - spaced five feet apart from one another. The task: whoever could reach the top of the tower would receive the honor of marrying the princess and earning great wealth. No sooner after the concept was publicized the tower was built. People by the hundreds flocked to the site to try their hand at climbing the ladder. As each person attempted to climb this most odd contraption, they would all fall down. Even the greatest, most athletic visitors found themselves climbing but a few rungs before dropping like flies. Each day, scores of people flooded the newly constructed square to take a stab at the ladder or merely to glance at the commotion.
Each day there stood was a man near the tower, gazing up and down the monstrosity. People would approach him and ask why he had not yet tried to climb the ladder.
"Are you going to try, or are you just gonna stand there?" they would ask.
"It doesn't make sense," the man replied. "The king is such a merciful and kind man. He would never give us a challenge that we cannot succeed! There MUST be a way up there!"
Finally, after several days of studying the area, the man walked around to the back of the tall tower and found a doorway that led to a stairway - and he successfully climbed to the top of the tower!

We can get to the top. We must get to the top. But the question is how we are going to get there. When difficulty strikes, and we look at it like a ladder that is insurmountable, take a step back. Look at it from a different angle. If you do, you may find an alternative way of overcoming it.
Tell yourself, "It isn't so bad. I can figure this out!"
Take it one step at a time. With each step, we become stronger. And stronger.

But I gotta keep trying - gotta keep my head held high. Just gotta keep going. And I got to be strong.

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please give me the strength to overcome all of the challenges that come my way today!"