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!"