Meaning of Life – Chayim Plural So what is the meaning of life? What is its true definition? In Hebrew life is Chayim. In Hebrew words can be singular or plural interestingly the word Chayim is plural. What is the hidden message? The Rebbe expressed it beautifully: During a farbrengen attended by college professors and University students the Rebbe remarked that the Hebrew word for life, Chayim, which literally means “lives”, is in the plural rather than “life” in the singular. This comes to teach us an important truth. We are not truly alive until we think and care about others. Meaningful life for a human being doesn't exist in isolation but in plurality, shared with others. This reflects the teaching of the great Sage Hillel, legendary for his patience, tolerance and humility. He taught: “If I am only for myself what am I? The Needy and the Needed A once-wealthy chassid who had lost his entire fortune came to see Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi. "If G-d has chosen to afflict me with poverty," he wept, "I accept the Divine judgment. But how can I can I accept that I cannot repay my debts? That I am unable to honor the dowry I promised for my daughter's marriage? Why is g-d doing this to me? "Rebbe!" cried the chassid, "I need your blessing!" Rabbi Schneur Zalman sat with his head in his arms in a in deep meditation listening to the chassid's tearful pleas. After a long pause, Rabbi Schneur Zalman lifted his head and said with great feeling: "You only speak of all that you need. But you say nothing of what you are needed for." The Rebbe's words pierced his heart, and he fainted. When the chassid opened his eyes he was a changed man and with a new found joy he devoted himself to a spiritual life. Several weeks later his Rebbe summoned him and, blessed him with success. In time, the chassid regained his wealth, made good on his debts and promises, married off his daughters, and resumed his philanthropy on an even more generous level than before
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Friday, September 6, 2024
Joke: someone with incredible mazal
GOOD LUCK
A young manager-in-training is shadowing a veteran at the company. Demonstrating
how he picks applicants for job interviews; the veteran picks out thirty resumes from a
stack of three hundred and throws the rest into the trash.
“Wait,” the young man asks, “there could be some really qualified applicants in
that stack you just threw out.”
“Maybe,” the older manager replies. “But the first thing I need around here is
someone with incredible mazal.”
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
A CAT AND MOUSE GAME
Late one
night in a Brooklyn bar, a mouse comes out of its hole and finds an open bottle
of vodka. Licking the bottle clean, the mouse falls into a drunken stupor.
A little
while later, a cat passes by and sees the drunken mouse lying there. As the cat
inches closer to the mouse, preparing to pounce on it, it notices another cat
coming from the opposite door. In the ensuing scratching duel, the cats maul
each other; before long, both cats lie dead at the mouse’s feet.
Waking
up the next morning to the sight of two dead cats, the mouse proudly says, “See
what I can do when I’m drunk…”
What kind of Jews do you have?
So, the next time Schlamazal
or Schlemiel calls and asks “What kind of Jews live in ventnor , I have my
answer all ready. Here it is:
We are wise Jews. Wicked Jews. We’re
those I’ll be your 10th man if you need me Jews. Those G-d is real,
but I am not sure what he wants from me Jews. We’re those always questioning
Jews. Those thinking Jews and let me tell you something Jews. Those old Jews.
New Jews. If you need a place for Shabbos you can stay with me Jews.
Those always trying to make your
life just a little better Jews. We’re those twice a year you’ll find me in shul,
but I am Jewish all year long Jews. Those I would rather not, but since you
asked me, OK I will wrap tefillin Jews. Those I am little scared to admit it but
yes, I am a Jew, Jews. Those I just started keeping Shabbos in my college dorm and
why didn’t anyone tell me about this before Jews.
We’re those I’m an Israeli so don’t
tell me what to do Jews. Those yes, I am Haredi but not like the ones in the
movies Jews. Those English, Turkish, Yemenite and Moroccan Jews. Those Ashkenazi
blonde-and-blue-eyed but no I’m not a shiksa Jews. Those recently converted and
totally loving it Jews. We are 7th generation Charleston Jews. Soviet
era born and desperately trying to catch up Jews. Not yet but working on being
more shabbat conscious Jews.
Those I’m not religious but so proud
of being Jewish Jews. Those we don’t know why we’re still being persecuted Jews.
And I am a little afraid so I’m trying not to be too Jewish Jews. And those whenever
we’re murdered you probably think we had it coming Jews. But still, not afraid
to wear my Star of David Am Israel Chai Jews.
We’re those you don’t want to hear
this, but I don’t care what you think Jews. Those bullied in high school
because I was rocking a yarmulke Jews. Those standing up to Jew hater Jews. Those
I think you got it all wrong, but I respect and love you cause you’re my brother
Jews.
We’re those Iron Dome cheering
where were you BBC when the missiles were raining down on Tel Aviv Jews. Those if
you’re a hater you can just get off my Facebook page Jews. Those we’re sick of
your double standards and that UN stands for Useless Nations to me Jews. That
will fight it out if you have a problem with me Jews. And we desperately want
to just live side by side in peace with you Jews.
We’re those always needing to
explain that chosen doesn’t mean better Jews. Those let’s figure it out
together Jew. Those there’s never, ever just one answer Jews. Those I don’t
know which way to hold a siddur but I just like being in shul with other Jews, Jews.
Those psychoanalytical and let me tell you something about you and your mother
Jew.
We’re those look how many Nobel
Prizes we won Jews. Those OMG OMG did you know that Houdini, Pink, Wonder
Woman, Scarlett Johansson, Drake, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Jonas Salk (the
polio vaccine guy) were Jewish, Jews. Those and did you know that we invented stuff
that’s part of your everyday life but you don’t even know it Jews. Those I was
born in the USA but my daughter wants to fly jet F-16’s for IDF. Those I don’t know
the difference between Bibi and Bamba but I believe in my people to do what is
right Jews.
We’re those lox and bagel noshing falafel
& hummus eating couscous, schnitzel, latkes & matzah ball soup scarfing
Jew. We’re those hey you BDS Israel’s the only liberal democracy in the Middle
East Jew. We’re those I became a refugee when my ancestors were kicked out of
Arab lands Jew.
We’re those I’m totally not
religious but rush home every Thursday night to study Talmud on Zoom Jews. Those
taking my tuna on matzah lunch wrapped in tin foil to public school on Passover
Jews. Those I may not always eat kosher, but I won’t touch bacon Jews. Those
looking for the truth forever wandering Jew. Those I just want my child married
under a chuppah and give me Jewish grandchildren Jews. Those I walked out of
Auschwitz and was afraid for too long until I stood at the state house and lit
the menorah Jews.
We’re those I’ll bet I am more
religious that you Jews. And those I’ll bet you are, but I love you anyway Jews.
Those with a picture at the wall of a chossid and a soldier in arms at the wall
Jews. My son’s an IDF hero Jews. Those you may kill me, but you won’t kill my
dream Jews. Those I’ve never been to Israel, but I’ll get there someday because
it’s my homeland Jews. Those it’s almost 4000 years and we’re still standing
Jews. Those we’re finally here standing at the western wall with a tear in my
eye Jews.
We’re those I won’t apologize for
surviving Jews. Those fighting to make USC understand that scheduling major
programs on YK isn’t cool Jews. Those never ever again Jews. Those I won’t rest
until every Jewish child in Columbia has an excellent Jewish education Jews.
We’re a mother of 6 and still wish
there were more of us Jews. Those creative Jew. Those dancer Jews. Painter Jews.
Those grandchildren of those who suffered so we would just make it Jews. Those
but I wish they would have taught me Yiddish Jews.
We’re those everything’s part of
Hashem’s plan and I’ll keep looking for the answer Jews. Those we’re going to
be okay because Moshiach is coming so hang in there and do another mitzvah Jews.
Those I believe human dignity will prevail, and the world is made up of decent
people Jews.
So to Shlomie and Schlemazal and
to all the other who want to label us I say, we’re not religious, we’re not orthodox,
we’re not cultural, spiritual, or secular Jews. We’re not centrist Orthodox or Modern Orthodox, Open Orthodox, Closed Orthodox, or even slightly
ajar Orthodox. We are not nondenominational,” “trans
denominational,” “post-denominational” we are just authentic, Jews. And we are here today because we’re
Jews, no more no less. That’s all, and that’s enough.
Burnt Soldier - A Mother’s Love
A Mother’s Love
During the YK War, Chief rabbi of
Israel, Israel Meir Lau, became the rabbi of the Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv,
which turned into a military hospital. The hospital took in 475 wounded
soldiers, all of them from the Suez Canal, all of them in critical condition.
(One of the wounded, whose right arm
had been crushed, was a young medical student, a religious boy named Naftali
Rubinstein who wanted to be an orthopedist. He said to me, “My career is over.
If I am ever able to lift a spoon to my mouth, it will be a miracle. I don’t
dream of ever being able to perform surgery.” Today, Naftali Rubinstein is the
head of the orthopedic department at Ichilov.)
One boy, Rabbi Lau shared, was stuck
in a tank that the Egyptians burnt. The soldier was brought into the hospital,
burned from head to toe and could not stop screaming in pain. All the morphine
in the world could not calm him. With his crying from pain, none of the other
patients could sleep. The nurses begged him to calm down, his roommates nudged
him, I tried to speak to him, but nothing helped. The pain was harrowing. His
body was all charred, so if you tried to touch him, he would yell. One day, his
mother came to the ward, sat down beside him, and found a tiny patch of natural
skin on one of his legs. It was, sadly, the only natural skin he had left on
his poor body. She placed her finger on that pot, and stroked it slowly,
lovingly, and murmured, “Calm down, my sweetheart. Rest, my love, you need to
sleep so that you’ll have the strength to become healthy. It’s Ima speaking to
you; sleep, my child. You’re not alone. I am here with you,” a whole time
caressing that single tiny patch of natural skin.
Three minutes later, the boy fell
asleep for the first time since the war, and there was silence in the ward. All
of us were in tears.
Rabbi Lau said: I then understood the
verse in Isaiah (66:13), “Like a man whose mother comforts him, so I will
comfort you.” We marveled at the instinct of a mom to tune-in to that single
spot in his charred body that she could hold and caress.
What a profound lesson. You sometimes
encounter someone who may be emotionally forlorn, burnt by life, by the system.
But there is always one spot, maybe tiny spot, in the soul that remains
uncharred. Caress it, and he will return to life.
And it’s so true about our nation.
People are sometimes pessimistic about our future. They say that Jews are too
indifferent. The truth is: In every Jew there is a patch of holiness and passion
that no fire and no water can ever destroy. Every Jew is sacred, every Jew is
eternally connected. Our job is to “caress” that spot—and help every one of our
brothers and sisters rediscover their truest and deepest self.
Arab Remembers Honesty of Jews Fifty Years Later
Arab Remembers Honesty of Jews Fifty Years Later
A powerful story (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ltu-PioKm0):
A Jewish fellow by the name of Steve Clar,
from Arcadian Development Group, a company that develops, builds and renovates
nursing homes, was traveling to Kentucky. He was exhausted and entered a gas
station to get a coffee. He hears the owner speaking Arabic on the phone, so
when the owner asks Steve how he’s doing, he answers: Hem-Di-Lilah, thank G-d
in Arabic. The man was shocked that a Jew with a kipa knows Arabic. They strike
up a conversation and the man tells him: I’m in love with the Jewish people.
Why?
I grew up in Ramallah, in Israel. We were 10
brothers and sisters; we lived in one room in a refugee camp. We were a poor
family, no bread, nothing at home. To help support my family I had to travel to
Jerusalem. In Jerusalem there is a corner where you can stand, and if people
need any labor, they pick you up from there. There was a Jewish guy, a
contractor, Moshe, who hired me to paint houses; I made a nice income and
brought back food for my family.
But then suddenly the Yom Kippur War broke out
in 1973. The Arabs launched a surprise attack, and they closed immediately all
the borders, we couldn't travel to Jerusalem to find work. The war ended but
we're still afraid to go into Jerusalem to get work. We were so poor. No food
stamps in our city… when you have no bread, you starve.
Ad then suddenly one day, the Israeli Army
enters Ramallah and they're asking for my name, they're looking for me.
Everybody's scared they are going to arrest me. They found my house, they
knocked on my door, I was petrified. Sudddenly, I see, who comes out of the
army jeep? My contractor, Moshe, who was also a reserve General in the Israeli
army, and managed to get a few soldiers to escort him to our home in Ramallah. Moishe
stuck his hand into his bulletproof vest, took out an envelope, and handed it
to me, and said: Here's your last paycheck; I'm sorry I wasn't able to pay you till
now, because of the Yom Kippur War. I was blown away.
50 years passed, and here you, a proud Jew
comes into my gas station in Kentucky. I can’t tell you how much I love Jews.
I live in Kentucky today. I am very affluent.
I own more than 24 gas stations and build parking lots and truck stops. The man
is a tycoon. But I want you to know, that the pay check he game me 50 years ago,
which consisted of maybe 60-70 dollars is worth more to me than the millions I
make now each year. I swear, if I knew his last name, I’d go to Israel, search
for him and give him a long hug and kiss! I want to tell him: you taught me the
most sacred lesson in my life.
(Shortly after the YK war, my family moved to
Kuwait. We built a construction company,
we were very successful. Then in 1990 Saddam Hussein attacked and
invaded Kuwait. His army came in and stole everything we owned; they took
everything, even my car, my bank account. Everything! I could not buy milk for
my kids. And these were our Arab brothers. I thought to myself, wow, look at
the difference between the Jewish guy, Moshe, who after two months of war came
with the army looking for me to give me my paycheck, so I can feed my brothers;
while in Kuwait they took everything from me.)
Here is an Arab who understands the gift of
being a Jew and living Judaism.
HILTON Towel
Teddy came home from camp missing his beautiful, large, fluffy towel. The mother calls camp: You guys allow thievery. Someone stole my son’s towel. You guys should be ashamed of yourself and close down your camp.
The camp director responds: Relax. Nobody
stole it. It was probably lost. Let me search for it. Would it have any
identifying sign on it?
She says, of course. It says in big words:
HILTON.