Palestinian officials say they plan to begin mass marches against Israel’s occupation of the West Bank on Sept. 20, the eve of a laregly symbolic U.N. vote expected to recognize their independence.
Read full article: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/palestinians-announce-massive-protests-against-israel-in-september/
One commenter posted the following.
Remember August is the month of Ramadan – so they are gearing up to againt Israel in September. :) Also, I keep seeing tweets about something coming down between Iran and Israel in September – and keep your eyes on Turkey guys and gals :) That is a key player.
So, what do we do when we read the above? How many take out a sefer Tehillim and pray for Israel's welfare? And how many continue to click on the next website?
Monday, 1 August 2011
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Sharing emotions
In a letter to the editor of the Mishpacha magazine, a reader wrote the following which caught my attention.
Another thought, shared by a friend of mine who underwent a major tzaar. At the time of his suffering, he was inundated with visitors and mechanchim, who came en masse, many from far away, to sit with him and comfort him. He appreciated the outpouring of nesia b'ol and how each one took the time and effort to really participate and feel his pain.
Some time later, he merited making a simcha and again, many people came. "But this time," he told me, "I felt like their hearts weren't in it. They were coming to be yotzei, not to share in my emotions.
May we merit to share many happy occasions with friends and share their joy with heartfelt emotion.
Another thought, shared by a friend of mine who underwent a major tzaar. At the time of his suffering, he was inundated with visitors and mechanchim, who came en masse, many from far away, to sit with him and comfort him. He appreciated the outpouring of nesia b'ol and how each one took the time and effort to really participate and feel his pain.
Some time later, he merited making a simcha and again, many people came. "But this time," he told me, "I felt like their hearts weren't in it. They were coming to be yotzei, not to share in my emotions.
May we merit to share many happy occasions with friends and share their joy with heartfelt emotion.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Not a scandal
Scandals sell newspapers, so we are saturated with article after article about sleazy politicians, financial wrongdoings and the like. When a story breaks which will shed a negative light on a person's reputation, the incident is reported worldwide.
But, when there is a story that portays people in a favorable manner, few pick up on the article and publish it.
Last night I read an article at the Lakewood Scoop about a very honest storekeper. So far, I haven't seen anyone else pick up on the story. So, in case you missed it, click here to read a story not laden with scandal, but with principles of honesty that we should strive to emulate.
But, when there is a story that portays people in a favorable manner, few pick up on the article and publish it.
Last night I read an article at the Lakewood Scoop about a very honest storekeper. So far, I haven't seen anyone else pick up on the story. So, in case you missed it, click here to read a story not laden with scandal, but with principles of honesty that we should strive to emulate.
Monday, 13 June 2011
Gratitude
Sara Yoheved Rigler has an article about gratitude on Aish.com which is worthwhile reading.
A couple of months ago, a a mother of two boys approached me to ask if I would tutor her young sons for an English test that they were taking in the beginning of June. In the end, I lent them two grammar books which have yet to be returned.
The family lives across the street from me. I bumped into the mother last week and asked if her children had taken the test. She replied in the affirmative.
"I would love to know what type of questions were asked on the test," I told the woman." Knowing that the boys had a busy school schedule, I asked when I could call them. She said that I could call in the afternoon, since it was Friday and they would be finishing school early.
I called a few hours later and the mother told me her boys were sleeping but she would have them call me. I reminded her that my books were still in her possession and she told me that her sons would return them.
Friday passed with no call or return of the books. Now it is Monday and I still haven't heard from them. I can assure you that when they needed the books, they were at my door at the first available moment.
Let's take more care in returning items in a timely fashion. Let's show gratitude for the favor bestowed upon us. Let me be dan lechaf zechut.
In a similar vein, when someone calls with a suggestion for a shidduch, if you decide that it is not appopriate, at least have the courtesy to call back the person who suggested the idea, thank them and let them know that you aren't interested, for the moment.
A couple of months ago, a a mother of two boys approached me to ask if I would tutor her young sons for an English test that they were taking in the beginning of June. In the end, I lent them two grammar books which have yet to be returned.
The family lives across the street from me. I bumped into the mother last week and asked if her children had taken the test. She replied in the affirmative.
"I would love to know what type of questions were asked on the test," I told the woman." Knowing that the boys had a busy school schedule, I asked when I could call them. She said that I could call in the afternoon, since it was Friday and they would be finishing school early.
I called a few hours later and the mother told me her boys were sleeping but she would have them call me. I reminded her that my books were still in her possession and she told me that her sons would return them.
Friday passed with no call or return of the books. Now it is Monday and I still haven't heard from them. I can assure you that when they needed the books, they were at my door at the first available moment.
Let's take more care in returning items in a timely fashion. Let's show gratitude for the favor bestowed upon us. Let me be dan lechaf zechut.
In a similar vein, when someone calls with a suggestion for a shidduch, if you decide that it is not appopriate, at least have the courtesy to call back the person who suggested the idea, thank them and let them know that you aren't interested, for the moment.
Thursday, 26 May 2011
The good news
A little while ago, I attended a tea in support of an Israeli institution for young women. I approached the principal of the school who was the guest speaker at the event. I asked her for a blessing for a member of the family who was undergoing some medical tests. She calmed me down with her encouraging words and told me that I should promise to donate to her institution when I hear good news. She showered me with blessings and I felt relieved and more at peace.
Today I found out that the results of the test were very reassuring and there was no need for any medical intervention. I was very excited and remembered to call the prinicpal with the good news.
She told me, "I give blessings to many people but so few people call me to report back to me when there is good news. You are special."
Let's remember to call the person whom we burdened with our worries if our problem gets resolved. We thought enough of them to confess our anxieties to them and listen as we tearfully spoke to them when things weren't going well in our lives. Let's think enough of them to impart good news, as well.
Today I found out that the results of the test were very reassuring and there was no need for any medical intervention. I was very excited and remembered to call the prinicpal with the good news.
She told me, "I give blessings to many people but so few people call me to report back to me when there is good news. You are special."
Let's remember to call the person whom we burdened with our worries if our problem gets resolved. We thought enough of them to confess our anxieties to them and listen as we tearfully spoke to them when things weren't going well in our lives. Let's think enough of them to impart good news, as well.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
The parrot
This Shabbos I attended a shiur where the rabbi related an interesting anecdote to drive home his point about how even though we might have had past failures, we can ultimately succeed and turn our past failures into successes.
He related an anecdote about a man who boasted that his parrot could say the Shema Yisrael. He would bring it to shul and the parrot would perform for the congregants. No one believed him and the man collected 500$ from those who bet against this seemingly impossible feat. The parrot was brought to shul but would not speak. Disappointed, the man returned the money and left the synagogue in shame.
When he got home, he got angry with the parrot.
"Because of you, I lost money and I suffered terrible embarrassment," he said.
The parrot responded, "You'll see that it will work out for the best and I will have made you even more money when you approach the congregation again in a month's time. This time bet 1000$ and I will perform for you. Now aren't you happy that you will have doubled your money?"
The rabbi concluded, "So too, can we turn our failures into successes. Hashem doesn't want us to fail. But if we do, we are given more channces to use our failures as an opportunity for growth."
He related an anecdote about a man who boasted that his parrot could say the Shema Yisrael. He would bring it to shul and the parrot would perform for the congregants. No one believed him and the man collected 500$ from those who bet against this seemingly impossible feat. The parrot was brought to shul but would not speak. Disappointed, the man returned the money and left the synagogue in shame.
When he got home, he got angry with the parrot.
"Because of you, I lost money and I suffered terrible embarrassment," he said.
The parrot responded, "You'll see that it will work out for the best and I will have made you even more money when you approach the congregation again in a month's time. This time bet 1000$ and I will perform for you. Now aren't you happy that you will have doubled your money?"
The rabbi concluded, "So too, can we turn our failures into successes. Hashem doesn't want us to fail. But if we do, we are given more channces to use our failures as an opportunity for growth."
Sunday, 8 May 2011
The wrong man
Debbie Greenblatt writes in Mishpacha about emunah and marriage. She describes a woman who suffered great emotional pain in her marriage. She had confided in Ms. Greenblatt that "she married the wrong man. She insisted that there had been another person in her youth who would have been more suitable, and she should have married him."
Ms. Greenblatt responds that , "while this fantasy may be useful as a coping mechanism in a difficult situation, the underlying premise is untrue and a tremendous obstacle in rectifying the situation. If we believe that we are where Hashem wants us to be, it will help us put our entire being into the effort of building and repairing our shalom bayis."
How many of us also have a person in our past that was more suitable? Let's stop living in the past and uttering if only and let's concentrate on making the most of the marriages we are in. Let's work on the present, whether it is on getting into shape, becoming better people, enrolling in courses etc. We are in the situation where Hashem wants us to be so let's work to be at peace with where we are now.
Ms. Greenblatt responds that , "while this fantasy may be useful as a coping mechanism in a difficult situation, the underlying premise is untrue and a tremendous obstacle in rectifying the situation. If we believe that we are where Hashem wants us to be, it will help us put our entire being into the effort of building and repairing our shalom bayis."
How many of us also have a person in our past that was more suitable? Let's stop living in the past and uttering if only and let's concentrate on making the most of the marriages we are in. Let's work on the present, whether it is on getting into shape, becoming better people, enrolling in courses etc. We are in the situation where Hashem wants us to be so let's work to be at peace with where we are now.
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