Good Shabbos Email

FOR SHOFTIM

CHOOSING THE DIVINE BUS

In the middle of last week, I was in need of a book I had ordered previously. Confirmation of my purchase had been emailed to me about a month prior, but the book itself had not yet arrived.

It should not be too complicated, I thought. I called the number of the publishing company in New York, and the phone was answered almost immediately by a young lady.

The first words expelled out of this individual were, “[name of the company], can I help you?”

Her voice was snarky. It was as though I had just had the audacity to disturb her peaceful summer day. She sounded impatient and as though she was doing me the greatest favor by providing me the privilege… Read More »

FOR RE'EH

TO DANCE, TO PRAY, AND TO EAT

It is one of the more heartwarming stories to emerge in a long time. Annette, engaged to Lior Solomon, was slated to get married recently in Israel. They booked one of the country’s most gorgeous venues, a setting with exquisite gardens, beautiful décor, and a large hall.

Invitations had been sent out, and wedding guests had responded in the affirmative. The bride and groom continued with their preparations. The hall, conveniently located in central Israel, was all set.

Annette had suffered tragedy in her life. She lost her mother a couple of years ago. Her father was very unwell, and succumbed to his ailments just a few short weeks before her scheduled… Read More »

FOR VO'ESCHANAN

TODAY IS THE HAPPIEST DAY OF THE YEAR!

– A TRIBUTE TO MY FRIEND, ALLEN TENENBAUM –

Our dining room table on Friday nights is a rather active and noisy place, as it is in many homes across the globe. Highlighting the din, is the active participation of our children and guests discussing the Torah portion or festivals of that particular week. From the time of Moses, Jewish people focus, study, and “live” with the portion assigned to each week. It takes a full year to get through the entire Torah. And it is the same with the festivals. Before each one, our children will have been well prepared to discuss and celebrate them.

It has been quieter over the past weeks. Some… Read More »

FOR D'VARIM

GOOD CREDIT

Earlier this week, I was settling into my seat on a plane as the rest of the passengers were still embarking. The three seats in the row behind me were already occupied.

A cry of “oh no!” was suddenly emitted from one young lady sitting behind us.

Naturally, all heads turned back towards this obvious yelp of distress. As it turned out, she had left her cell phone charging back in the terminal. What would she do now? Life without this critical instrument would be miserable.

Those in my row suggested that she simply return to the terminal and retrieve it. Ample time was still available to pull this off successfully before the scheduled time of departure. The pass… Read More »

FOR MATOS-MASEI

DO YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR PROMISE?

An agreement was reached this week by global players, much to the consternation of Israel and the majority of Jewish people around the world. Many non-Jewish clear thinking moral and decent people are also scratching their heads in bewilderment over the deal.

A deal is a deal, goes the saying. When two people give their word to each another, it should count as a done deal.

Ask any decent and moral person the following: If someone promised to perform a particular action, must that promise be kept? Those decent and moral people would surely be inclined to say that the promise must be kept. That is quite obvious.

What would happen, though, if the per… Read More »

FOR PINCHAS

HOW HEROS LIVE AND DIE

Do you have a hero, or multiple heroes? A person to whom you can look up for encouragement, for emulation, or to aspire to follow in his or her ways?

Some look up to those who have had to overcome overwhelming, even unimaginable challenges and obstacles, in order to survive. Some have not merely survived, but have thrived.

Others are prone to look up to a parent, a teacher, or a friend, who has invested time and effort to promote and encourage the person, setting him or her up to succeed in life.

Still others will look up at a person who has harnessed a talent, and has achieved celebrity status as a result. A sports figure, a musician, an accomplished author, … Read More »

FOR BALAK

FEAR SHOULD NOT BE HERE!

It was around nine in the morning last Friday when I received a call from Israel. On the phone was a woman I have known for a while since her days in Georgia. She was calling about her daughter, who was returning home to Europe via a different country, and was denied entry into that country.

Despite just being in transit, the immigration department in that neighboring country wanted this woman out that Friday afternoon. She elected to go to London, where my parents and some of my siblings live. This phone call was a request for me to make the necessary arrangements.

I had just begun to battle with, what turned out to be, a terrible case of the flu. The remnants of this… Read More »

FOR CHUKAS   

ABSOLUTE DEDICATION TO ALL

(From a previous Good Shabbos Email)

Earlier this week, I paid the first of my two annual visits to summer camp. Twice during the summer, I typically enjoy a day engaged in “Chabad style” Jewish programming with the campers.

Aside from time with the campers, there is also time to meet some of the staff, many of whom are former students of mine. This time, I also met a staff member from Israel, who had been hired to work at camp for the summer.

This staff member approached me with a question. She related that her job at camp was to impress upon the campers the importance of Israel from a cultural standpoint. Although this young lady is p… Read More »

FOR KORACH

LEADING THE DIVISION

(From a previous Good Shabbos Email)

When it comes to special moments, not many can best the experience of candle lighting time on a Friday evening, a few minutes before sunset (or on the eve of a festival). The female members of the household light a candle, while married women kindle a minimum of two candles. Their hands are then passed around the flames three times, and, as though they are gathering the light into themselves, they cover the area of their eyes with their fingers and hands. The light and radiance of the candles have now been taken inwards.

As their hands cover their eyes, the women recite the blessing for the Shabbos or festival. Many will utilize this time to ref… Read More »

FOR SHLACH

EMAILING OPPORTUNITIES

Earlier this week, I received an email from a person unknown to me. It was addressed to a guy named Mark, and I thought it was simply forwarded for me to read and comment.

The first half of the email contained words of encouragement to Mark, imploring him to utilize the time he has been given to do whatever it is. The second half of the email is what caught my attention. In this section, Mark was being encouraged to focus upon the Almighty. There was talk about a belief in at least “something,” and about somewhere, “a place,” where people go after death. The email also contained some sinister words about Free Will and about humans destroying the world.

&nb… Read More »

FOR B'HALOSECHO

CONSTRUCTING A POWERFUL UNITY

Vice President Joe Biden suffered a tragedy this past week. His son, Beau, 46, passed away from cancer. He had been battling the terrible disease for years.

This is not the first tragedy suffered by this family. In 1972, a week after Biden was elected from Delaware to the United States Senate, his wife and daughter were killed in a car crash while out shopping. His sons, including Beau, were also hospitalized in very bad shape. It was not clear whether they would survive without brain damage.

Joe Biden, at 29 years old, just starting out in his political career, would not leave them. He was focused on the boys, who were all he had left. He ended up ta… Read More »

FOR NASO

OILING ONE’S DEEDS

The sign outside the one-story structure occupies a most prominent place on the edifice. It takes up more space than the façade from which it is hanging. It advertises an oil change for $21.00. With my car needing an oil change, I figured that this price is not too bad.

I pulled into the shadowy area behind this structure, as one normally does for an oil change. There, a man came to greet me with a clipboard in his hands. After confirming the purpose of my visit, the guy said, “What kind of oil are you looking for, synthetic or synthetic blend?”

When it comes to oils permitted for the kindling of the Menorah on Chanukah, I have done my homework on those… Read More »

FOR SHAVUOS

A HEAVENLY EARTH

It is somewhat unclear what the Pope actually said earlier this week regarding a certain Palestinian leader. Whatever he said, though, the setting was not in favor of Israel. That is very clear. When the said Palestinian leader consistently promotes the destruction of Israel and its citizens in words and deeds, only the boorish ignorant would consider him a partner for peace with Israel. That should be obvious to anyone who cares about peace.

Without getting into the details of the story, it is abundantly clear that Israel is held to a unique standard by the rest of the world. Israel’s very existence is not merely threatened by its bitter sworn enemies, but actions of countries t… Read More »