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!"