As an orthodox Jew in America living in the End of Days, I keep thinking that we need to get out of this country as fast as possible and make it to Israel.
I am all for it.
I want to do it.
I think it's the only place for a Jew to live.
Jews here are caught in the 'hey buddy, dont get bent out of shape' culture where the hemlines get shorter, and 'slumming it' is a cool thing to do. We forget so rapidly that there is a schedule, a cosmic timetable to history. Just as a caterpillar has x amount of time to be a caterpillar before it suddenly enters a cocoon and then emerges as a beautiful butterfly.
For 5768 years, humanity has been in the caterpillar stage, and we have become like the Big Green Caterpillar, so big and fat, especially gorging all those pizzas, lollipops, and burgers in the good olde US of A. However whether we like it or not, we will eventually enter the cocoon and have to break out of our old caterpillar shell (hmm change ourselves, do teshuvah, etc) or else the governments will force us to do so, G-d forbid.
And the end, humanity will enter the beautiful butterfly stage, with Moshiach, speedily in our days.
Israel is a mess, however Israel is the only place to be if you want to be really close to Hashem.
Israel is a proving ground. I failed after 3 years, however it is for the best.
The Melitzer Rebbe, shlita, understands clearly why we cant simply drop the job, get on the plane and move to Israel.
First shalom bayit (peace in the home).
Even though Hashem wants us to make aliyah, nevertheless I think He would rather us happily married in the Diaspora rather than marital discord in the Holy Land! If the spouse is not ready to go up, then you are not yet ready. End of story.
Also, we have to think about $$$. Once you do get the job, you will probably have to learn to live on much less, deal with a much smaller house/apartment, and trash a huge percent of your paycheck to a now defunct government.
Nevertheless, I want to move. Im ready to leave my Honda Odyssey and move on. However I am not ready to leave my lucrative job right now, and more importantly, my wife is not ready to move yet.
So there you have it. Yes, Hashem wants me to end up in Israel. However right now, he wants me here in the United States.
We'll ramble on more about this subject. I congratulate and envy the brave people who have made the jump, and pray that their aliyah will bring the Redemption now speedily in our days, amen!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
OK, time for Robert to take the mickey out of himself today.
Why?
Coz I feel like it, that's why!
Here are some things that I like that are going to make people either shout or point fingers at me.
Here we go:
1. I love Richard Wagner's music! Yes, Im a frum Jew who loves Hashem, and Yahadut. However I just enjoy that powerful Germanic sound!
courtesy of cbc.ca
2. I love driving aggressively. However I am working on this one! It's not easy to break an addiction (see article below)
courtesy of motorcycle.com
3. I am a Mummy's boy.
4. I am a big Neil Diamond fan.
5. I am discovering the appeal for love songs, especially since Im married to a wonderful Jewish queen!
6. I want to buy a pink and grey Brompton folding bicycle because, I just LOVE that pink colour!
Courtesy of southdownsbikes.com
7. I am a big softie who loves to think he is a Labrador puppy.
Courtesy of susanalabradors.com
8. I have terrible table manners and eat my food way too fast!
Courtesy of TimesRecordNews Wichita Falls Online
9. I consult my rabbi so many times, the Rebbitzen starts to worry her husband is not spending enough time with her ;)
10. I always ask my wife permission for anything.
11. I cant cook anything that cannot be cooked in a microwave.
Courtesy of iomfire.com
Why?
Coz I feel like it, that's why!
Here are some things that I like that are going to make people either shout or point fingers at me.
Here we go:
1. I love Richard Wagner's music! Yes, Im a frum Jew who loves Hashem, and Yahadut. However I just enjoy that powerful Germanic sound!
courtesy of cbc.ca
2. I love driving aggressively. However I am working on this one! It's not easy to break an addiction (see article below)
courtesy of motorcycle.com
3. I am a Mummy's boy.
4. I am a big Neil Diamond fan.
5. I am discovering the appeal for love songs, especially since Im married to a wonderful Jewish queen!
6. I want to buy a pink and grey Brompton folding bicycle because, I just LOVE that pink colour!
Courtesy of southdownsbikes.com
7. I am a big softie who loves to think he is a Labrador puppy.
Courtesy of susanalabradors.com
8. I have terrible table manners and eat my food way too fast!
Courtesy of TimesRecordNews Wichita Falls Online
9. I consult my rabbi so many times, the Rebbitzen starts to worry her husband is not spending enough time with her ;)
10. I always ask my wife permission for anything.
11. I cant cook anything that cannot be cooked in a microwave.
Courtesy of iomfire.com
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
8TH DAY CHANUKA!
OK, it's the 8th day, the number 8 being the supernatural number, above nature, transendential.
No post today, Im just gonna give you some light to end Chanuka on a strong positive note!
Cheers!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The Speeding Addiction!
Yikes, I forgot my camera today, so I will have to show the 7 and 8 candle pictures tomorrow. Meanwhile, I hope you are having a wonderful Chanuka. My wife has a fever and is relaxing today in bed. Let's pray that she gets better soon!
(update) - got the camera, and my wife is getting much better, Baruch Hashem!
I want to talk about driving for today. It is such a big spiritual test, and one that I find tremendously difficult to pass. Drivers in the USA do all sorts of annoying things like blocking the left lane.
Jeremy Clarkson, the fantastic host of the British car show Top Gear says that speed is like a type of drug, a fix that one needs. Like a smoker who craves his cigarettes, a chronic speeder is addicted to that fantastic feeling of freedom and joy that moving fast generates in him, and when a guy blocks his way, he is denying the speeder his fix. This obviously gets the speeder furious, and road rage ensues.
This is a major battle for me. I am a chronic speeder, and need to break this addiction. There are times when the roads are clear and we can enjoy the route. There are also times when we are forced to slow down, during those infamous traffic jams on our interstate highways. The worst situation for me is when the motorway is not crowded, but all the cars are scattered over the road so there is no way to pass. Why dont they get out of the way, so they can continue their pace, but let us move on???
The job therefore for me is to
1. Stop asking those questions like "why dont they just move over, blah blah blah?
2. Stop talking to people about American drivers.
3. Constantly think about the good things this country has to offer us.
4. Realize that driving is only a teeny tiny part of life; the most important thing is to be close to Hashem and to maintain our relationship with Him.
5. Play relaxing music or a Torah shiur instead of rock or techno!
6. If I get angry, pull over at the next opportunity, stop the car and just stay put (count to 10, breathe, or just do nothing) for 1-5 minutes, and then start all over again
One thing I noticed is that once I start to drive aggressively, I suddenly go into speed mode and it is much much harder to slow down and be a mentsch again. Therefore, it is wise to stop and breathe so I can slow down. Once I am back in mentsch mode, then I can start the car and drive on.
If you have any tips on how to overcome the speeding addiction, please send them to me.
It is said that our life tikkun (the purpose of our lives) lies in the very things that are very difficult for us to do. Perhaps this area is one of my tikkunim, one of the reasons for What Am I Here For Anyway!
Cheers for now!
Monday, December 10, 2007
More Photos
Good morning! Happy Chanuka.
Since I dont have the WWW at home, I will have to put day 5, and 6 here together. Here they are:
Since day 4 was Shabbat, and I lit the chanukiah at somebody else's house, and I forgot my camera, we dont have day 4. Nevertheless I think the 2 above pictures make up for it.
Anyway, the chanukiyot are getting brighter and we pray that Moshiach's light is getting brighter every second now. Yes, we have a Damocles nuclear sword hanging above our heads, and the USA is going bananas, and Europeans are learning how to say rude things to us again. However Hashem is the Ruler and we trust in Him. Think about it....isnt it amazing that we have got to this point in history. We nearly destroyed ourselves in WW2 (if Hitler got the bomb). Then the Cuban Missile Crisis, then the rest of the Cold War, then the Gulf War, then India and Pakistan. We could have got nuked then...but Hashem protects us in His secret ways.
Anyway, at the risk of being naive, just hug your brother, overcome a negative character trait, or just thank Hashem for one thing He has given you, and you are on your way to happiness and not just survival but a thriving new member of Hashem's people! Yes and that includes people who are not Jewish too.
Cheers for now!
Friday, December 7, 2007
OK, I am settling down in Baltimore and am enjoying my marriage with Yelena every day, B"H!
I am now working for a nice computer training company in Hunt Valley and have a wonderful office. I have a fantastic view of the rolling hills, as you can see in this picture:
I also will show you some Yelena pictures as well! (More to come, because I just love photographing her!) She is so photogenic, unlike your's truly who runs like a cheetah on amphedamines away from a camera!
I also have found a wonderful little Sefardic shul near my house. IT's called Bet Ya'akov and I will put in a link to the shul's website. It has a fantastic Aron Kodesh, which I will also show you in this photo:
Anyway, that's it for now. Expect more cool pictures, and thought-provoking articles to come IY"H soon!
Shabbat Shalom!
I am now working for a nice computer training company in Hunt Valley and have a wonderful office. I have a fantastic view of the rolling hills, as you can see in this picture:
I also will show you some Yelena pictures as well! (More to come, because I just love photographing her!) She is so photogenic, unlike your's truly who runs like a cheetah on amphedamines away from a camera!
I also have found a wonderful little Sefardic shul near my house. IT's called Bet Ya'akov and I will put in a link to the shul's website. It has a fantastic Aron Kodesh, which I will also show you in this photo:
Anyway, that's it for now. Expect more cool pictures, and thought-provoking articles to come IY"H soon!
Shabbat Shalom!
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Living in 2 worlds
Things are not what they were a decade ago. Life is rushing forward at a breakneck pace and it seems that Moshiach will appear any minute now!
And yet life goes on, I go to shul, get to work, and live my life as usual.
What do we do? Should we ditch everything and move to Israel and hunker down in kollel learning Torah non-stop until the big day, join the IDF and start defending our Holy Land, or just hang out in our nice corner of Galut and drive the nice car, eat the nice meal in the nice house, and commute to the good secure job every day?
Well, I am no Rabbi, however Hashem has blessed me with a good common sense that has helped me alot. It seems to me that we are living in a unique chapter in history where we have to be living in 2 realities or worlds.
We must not quit our day jobs at all, unless you have a better one waiting for you in Israel. We still have to live our lives, doing our best performance at work, gaining new job skill. More importantly, we have to work on improving our relationships, our Yiddishkeit, and Torah learning.
YET, we must remember that the world we see right now will end and a new glorious era will usher in a world where we will not have to worry about finances, wars, and evil any more! We must look forward constantly to that day, and yearn for it with all our heart and soul, as though it will come NOW!
So as the wise proverb says, keep your head in the sky and your feet firmly rooted on the ground. And keep talking to Hashem and pray for what you need so you can serve Hashem better. Remember, Hashem and the Divine Court love happy smily people, not complaining grouchos (more on that subject in a later post)
There is one thing, I believe that will bridge today's world with the world of Moshiach: Treat people with respect, and do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you! Forgive anyone who angered or upset you, start talking to people you have not talked to. I am working on my driving for example!
So dont make snap hasty decisions, keep a connection with your Rebbe or trusted advisor, and start to be nice to people. Keep the course, and IY"H, Moshiach will come and say Hi to you!
Cheers!
And yet life goes on, I go to shul, get to work, and live my life as usual.
What do we do? Should we ditch everything and move to Israel and hunker down in kollel learning Torah non-stop until the big day, join the IDF and start defending our Holy Land, or just hang out in our nice corner of Galut and drive the nice car, eat the nice meal in the nice house, and commute to the good secure job every day?
Well, I am no Rabbi, however Hashem has blessed me with a good common sense that has helped me alot. It seems to me that we are living in a unique chapter in history where we have to be living in 2 realities or worlds.
We must not quit our day jobs at all, unless you have a better one waiting for you in Israel. We still have to live our lives, doing our best performance at work, gaining new job skill. More importantly, we have to work on improving our relationships, our Yiddishkeit, and Torah learning.
YET, we must remember that the world we see right now will end and a new glorious era will usher in a world where we will not have to worry about finances, wars, and evil any more! We must look forward constantly to that day, and yearn for it with all our heart and soul, as though it will come NOW!
So as the wise proverb says, keep your head in the sky and your feet firmly rooted on the ground. And keep talking to Hashem and pray for what you need so you can serve Hashem better. Remember, Hashem and the Divine Court love happy smily people, not complaining grouchos (more on that subject in a later post)
There is one thing, I believe that will bridge today's world with the world of Moshiach: Treat people with respect, and do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you! Forgive anyone who angered or upset you, start talking to people you have not talked to. I am working on my driving for example!
So dont make snap hasty decisions, keep a connection with your Rebbe or trusted advisor, and start to be nice to people. Keep the course, and IY"H, Moshiach will come and say Hi to you!
Cheers!
It's been a long time!
Good morning!
It has been a long time since I updated this blog. After my father created an incredible blog on his Indian trip, I thought, it's time to dust this thing off and start anew.
Many things have happened in my life including:
1. Getting married on August 28, 2007
2. Moving to Baltimore
3. Finding a wonderful new job in Hunt Valley
Hashem has been blessing me with so much!
Will talk more later, just want to get this blog back in action again!
Meanwhile, let the lights of Chanukah warm you up!
Cheers for now!
It has been a long time since I updated this blog. After my father created an incredible blog on his Indian trip, I thought, it's time to dust this thing off and start anew.
Many things have happened in my life including:
1. Getting married on August 28, 2007
2. Moving to Baltimore
3. Finding a wonderful new job in Hunt Valley
Hashem has been blessing me with so much!
Will talk more later, just want to get this blog back in action again!
Meanwhile, let the lights of Chanukah warm you up!
Cheers for now!
Friday, July 6, 2007
To Be Zealous
I wrote this blog earlier, however I would like to repost it for Parshat Pinchas
To Be Zealous
Here's some insights on Zealousness that Hashem blessed me with.
OK, how do I know if I am a true Zealot, a Pinchas in training...or am I a fake, a self-righteous angry man?
Well, it depends who you are zealous for.
If I am thinking of my own honour, my own self-aggrandizement, then I am fighting for ME ME ME. My mind will be
muddled and confused, and trillions of angry thoughts will fly in my mind.
If that's the case, stay home, do not dare to lift even a speck of dust against the police, you will be creating a
massive Chillul Hashem.
However, if that same sin was performed on your own turf, say a bunch of hooligans destroyed your prized roses, you
would NOT be angry at all. Rather you would feel massive sadness, and you would cry Niagara Falls, seeing
how the noble human being could crash to such lowness and sub-bestial disgrace! However your mind would be clear and
tranquil. Then you can start qualifying as a Pinchas in Training!
Now if those hooligans start grafitti-painting the Kotel R"L, and you were not 'honour sensitive', however you feel
burning wrath, not for your sake, but for G-d's sake, then you are a true zealot. Pinchas HaTzaddik will be proud of you!
By the way, for the record I, Robert A. Solomon would fail this test!
You would then be doing a great Kiddush Hashem as you fight for His Honour and Glory. People will tell by your calm, noble deportment that you are genuine, and not a
self centered ball of anger and flame. However please try to keep within the law as you can!
Now how can you tell?
My humble guess is how you are behaving.
Imagine a big ugly drunk fighting. He is slashing, punching, and kicking in all directions. He is clumsy and scattering
his brute strength all over the place like an incandescent light bulb.
Now imagine a Martial Arts Grandmaster like the Aluf Abir or The Tae Kwon Do Grandmaster. He will be focused and clear-minded
like a laser beam. His energy is strong, and his passion is strong, but it is focused and concentrated!
Pinchas was such a grandmaster. Pinchas was FURIOUS no doubt, but it wasnt his own honour! It was HASHEM'S HONOUR!
So despite his blazing fury over Hashem's honour he still managed to have the clearness of mind to:
1. Ask his Rebbe (Moshe Rabeinu) for the halacha. An angry person for his own honour will not do this
2. Calmly walk through Shevet Shimon's territory avoiding the security guards
3. Aim the spear at the right spot!
4. Dispatch the bodies in a proper way, and then walk away and leave the spotlight.
So if you are angry, and yet be able to think with clarity and logical purpose, then get on the plane.
However if you are just 'pissed off', you are better off davening to Hashem, speaking to Hashem the way
Rebbe Nachman taught us to do, and to keep learning Torah!
To Be Zealous
Here's some insights on Zealousness that Hashem blessed me with.
OK, how do I know if I am a true Zealot, a Pinchas in training...or am I a fake, a self-righteous angry man?
Well, it depends who you are zealous for.
If I am thinking of my own honour, my own self-aggrandizement, then I am fighting for ME ME ME. My mind will be
muddled and confused, and trillions of angry thoughts will fly in my mind.
If that's the case, stay home, do not dare to lift even a speck of dust against the police, you will be creating a
massive Chillul Hashem.
However, if that same sin was performed on your own turf, say a bunch of hooligans destroyed your prized roses, you
would NOT be angry at all. Rather you would feel massive sadness, and you would cry Niagara Falls, seeing
how the noble human being could crash to such lowness and sub-bestial disgrace! However your mind would be clear and
tranquil. Then you can start qualifying as a Pinchas in Training!
Now if those hooligans start grafitti-painting the Kotel R"L, and you were not 'honour sensitive', however you feel
burning wrath, not for your sake, but for G-d's sake, then you are a true zealot. Pinchas HaTzaddik will be proud of you!
By the way, for the record I, Robert A. Solomon would fail this test!
You would then be doing a great Kiddush Hashem as you fight for His Honour and Glory. People will tell by your calm, noble deportment that you are genuine, and not a
self centered ball of anger and flame. However please try to keep within the law as you can!
Now how can you tell?
My humble guess is how you are behaving.
Imagine a big ugly drunk fighting. He is slashing, punching, and kicking in all directions. He is clumsy and scattering
his brute strength all over the place like an incandescent light bulb.
Now imagine a Martial Arts Grandmaster like the Aluf Abir or The Tae Kwon Do Grandmaster. He will be focused and clear-minded
like a laser beam. His energy is strong, and his passion is strong, but it is focused and concentrated!
Pinchas was such a grandmaster. Pinchas was FURIOUS no doubt, but it wasnt his own honour! It was HASHEM'S HONOUR!
So despite his blazing fury over Hashem's honour he still managed to have the clearness of mind to:
1. Ask his Rebbe (Moshe Rabeinu) for the halacha. An angry person for his own honour will not do this
2. Calmly walk through Shevet Shimon's territory avoiding the security guards
3. Aim the spear at the right spot!
4. Dispatch the bodies in a proper way, and then walk away and leave the spotlight.
So if you are angry, and yet be able to think with clarity and logical purpose, then get on the plane.
However if you are just 'pissed off', you are better off davening to Hashem, speaking to Hashem the way
Rebbe Nachman taught us to do, and to keep learning Torah!
Thursday, May 3, 2007
I AM ENGAGED!
Here is the lady I have been praying for all these years:
I know I have been amiss for a while, because I have been focusing lots of time on shidduch hunting and car buying, but now
With The Help Of Hashem YitBarach, I AM ENGAGED to my Jewish Russian Queen
The Beautiful Yelena Kaz of Baltimore.
Now I am working hard to get married IY"H. In the meantime, I have some pictures and an engagement ring movie to show you. If you cant play the movie, that's because YouTube is processing the movie right now.
Here's my bride and I mugging for the camera. Sorry guys, I am not very photogenic like my kallah is ;)
I know I have been amiss for a while, because I have been focusing lots of time on shidduch hunting and car buying, but now
With The Help Of Hashem YitBarach, I AM ENGAGED to my Jewish Russian Queen
The Beautiful Yelena Kaz of Baltimore.
Now I am working hard to get married IY"H. In the meantime, I have some pictures and an engagement ring movie to show you. If you cant play the movie, that's because YouTube is processing the movie right now.
Here's my bride and I mugging for the camera. Sorry guys, I am not very photogenic like my kallah is ;)
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
You need engines and flaps to fly a jet plane brother!
Hello people,
Why is it so important to do personal prayer? Why do I have to take about 15-60 mins of my precious time and go into a field or park and speak to Hashem? Do I not do this during Shacharit, Mincha, and Ma'ariv (Arvit) in a minyan? Also people are going to see me as ridiculous?
Well Rebbe Lazer Brody gives excellent answers in his CD's and blog. However I can give you a parable. Suppose you have a big jumbo jet, you need the big Rolls Royce or Pratt and Whitney engines to get that big beast airborne. However without flaps you aint gonna get anywhere brother!
The Anshei Knesset HaGedola (Men of the Great Assembly) created the traditional prayer service at the start of the 2nd Temple period. There are no prayers more potent and powerful than those. They are the engine, the fuel to get us airborne and flying.
However I need a direction, I need to know my goals, what I really want in life, and how to ask Hashem what I specifically need. Plus there are things on my mind I need to vent out. INstead of hurting other people, and transgressing laws of loshon hora, hurtful words, and the like --- say the same stuff to Hashem instead. Personal prayer is the flaps, the rudder, and ailerons that direct the aeroplane to it's correct destination.
In conclusion, you need the jet engines of Jewish Tradition and the community, and you need goals and personal prayer to steer you in the correct direction that Hashem wants you to go.
Why is it so important to do personal prayer? Why do I have to take about 15-60 mins of my precious time and go into a field or park and speak to Hashem? Do I not do this during Shacharit, Mincha, and Ma'ariv (Arvit) in a minyan? Also people are going to see me as ridiculous?
Well Rebbe Lazer Brody gives excellent answers in his CD's and blog. However I can give you a parable. Suppose you have a big jumbo jet, you need the big Rolls Royce or Pratt and Whitney engines to get that big beast airborne. However without flaps you aint gonna get anywhere brother!
The Anshei Knesset HaGedola (Men of the Great Assembly) created the traditional prayer service at the start of the 2nd Temple period. There are no prayers more potent and powerful than those. They are the engine, the fuel to get us airborne and flying.
However I need a direction, I need to know my goals, what I really want in life, and how to ask Hashem what I specifically need. Plus there are things on my mind I need to vent out. INstead of hurting other people, and transgressing laws of loshon hora, hurtful words, and the like --- say the same stuff to Hashem instead. Personal prayer is the flaps, the rudder, and ailerons that direct the aeroplane to it's correct destination.
In conclusion, you need the jet engines of Jewish Tradition and the community, and you need goals and personal prayer to steer you in the correct direction that Hashem wants you to go.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Dont worry America. Israel is behind you!
From Arutz 7 (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=120700)
Israeli Security Firm to Outfit Surveillance at D.C. Airport
11:47 Feb 01, '07 / 13 Shevat 5767
by Ezra HaLevi
An Israeli security company based in Ra’anana has been chosen to outfit Washington D.C.’s airport with digital surveillance systems, Israel21c reports.
NICE Systems was selected by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) to supply the company’s NiceVision Digital Video Surveillance Solution as part of a Closed Circuit TV core systems upgrade at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
"Because NICE has been providing security surveillance systems for airports around the world for years, they allow us to meet these challenges and provide our client with the best suited digital video technologies available," said Gunvir Baveja, President and CEO of eVigilant, system integrators for Reagan National Airport.
The planned security upgrade will involve the decommissioning and removal of existing video servers and recording systems currently maintained in the airport operations computer room and its replacement with NICE’s high-resolution digital video recorders.
The NiceVision Digital Video Surveillance Solution is capable of sustaining numerous cameras while providing the infrastructure and integration potential to support video content applications. This means threats can be identified and tracked as images are analyzed in real-time.
Israeli Security Firm to Outfit Surveillance at D.C. Airport
11:47 Feb 01, '07 / 13 Shevat 5767
by Ezra HaLevi
An Israeli security company based in Ra’anana has been chosen to outfit Washington D.C.’s airport with digital surveillance systems, Israel21c reports.
NICE Systems was selected by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) to supply the company’s NiceVision Digital Video Surveillance Solution as part of a Closed Circuit TV core systems upgrade at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
"Because NICE has been providing security surveillance systems for airports around the world for years, they allow us to meet these challenges and provide our client with the best suited digital video technologies available," said Gunvir Baveja, President and CEO of eVigilant, system integrators for Reagan National Airport.
The planned security upgrade will involve the decommissioning and removal of existing video servers and recording systems currently maintained in the airport operations computer room and its replacement with NICE’s high-resolution digital video recorders.
The NiceVision Digital Video Surveillance Solution is capable of sustaining numerous cameras while providing the infrastructure and integration potential to support video content applications. This means threats can be identified and tracked as images are analyzed in real-time.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
There is a G-d
I found this incredible video on Reb. Lazer Brody's site. This is an amazing boy who recorded this song between chemotherapy sessions. This song was also recorded before his Bar Mitzvah. May Hashem send him a complete refuah shleimah!
The video can also be found here
Friday, January 26, 2007
Work -- WHY?
Work
After talking about ridiculously expensive automobiles yesterday, let's get back to the theme of this blog: What are we doing here?
Uh and by the way, while we're here, why do we have to work.
Here's an answer given by Yanki Tauber of Chabad.org
Article appears at http://www.chabad.org/magazine/article.asp?AID=466991
Why must everything be so difficult? Couldn't G-d have designed our lives so that we wouldn't need to encounter disappointments, challenges and toil every step of the way?
This must be one of the oldest questions ever asked. The answer--that an "easy" life would also be a meaningless life--is probably just as old. And so is the parable told to illustrate the point:
A wealthy nobleman was once touring his estate and came upon a peasant pitching hay. The nobleman was fascinated by the sight: flowing motions of the peasant's arms and shoulders and the graceful sweep of the pitchfork through the air. He so greatly enjoyed the spectacle that he struck a deal with the peasant: he would give him a gold coin every day if the peasant agreed to come to the mansion and display his hay-pitching technique in the nobleman's drawing room.
The next day, the peasant arrived at the mansion, hardly concealing his glee at his new line of "work." After swinging his empty pitchfork for an hour, he collected his gold coin--many times his usual reward for a week of backbreaking labor. But by the following day, his enthusiasm had somewhat waned. Before the week was out, he announced that he was quitting his commission.
"I don't understand," puzzled the nobleman. "Why would you rather swing heavy loads outdoors in the winter cold and the summer heat, when you can perform an effortless task in the comfort of my home and earn many times your usual wages?"
"But master," said the man, "I'm not doing anything..."
After talking about ridiculously expensive automobiles yesterday, let's get back to the theme of this blog: What are we doing here?
Uh and by the way, while we're here, why do we have to work.
Here's an answer given by Yanki Tauber of Chabad.org
Article appears at http://www.chabad.org/magazine/article.asp?AID=466991
Why must everything be so difficult? Couldn't G-d have designed our lives so that we wouldn't need to encounter disappointments, challenges and toil every step of the way?
This must be one of the oldest questions ever asked. The answer--that an "easy" life would also be a meaningless life--is probably just as old. And so is the parable told to illustrate the point:
A wealthy nobleman was once touring his estate and came upon a peasant pitching hay. The nobleman was fascinated by the sight: flowing motions of the peasant's arms and shoulders and the graceful sweep of the pitchfork through the air. He so greatly enjoyed the spectacle that he struck a deal with the peasant: he would give him a gold coin every day if the peasant agreed to come to the mansion and display his hay-pitching technique in the nobleman's drawing room.
The next day, the peasant arrived at the mansion, hardly concealing his glee at his new line of "work." After swinging his empty pitchfork for an hour, he collected his gold coin--many times his usual reward for a week of backbreaking labor. But by the following day, his enthusiasm had somewhat waned. Before the week was out, he announced that he was quitting his commission.
"I don't understand," puzzled the nobleman. "Why would you rather swing heavy loads outdoors in the winter cold and the summer heat, when you can perform an effortless task in the comfort of my home and earn many times your usual wages?"
"But master," said the man, "I'm not doing anything..."
Thursday, January 25, 2007
The new $8 million Maybach Exelero
This nice sports car can be yours for only eight million dollars.
Hmm, just enough to keep a yeshiva going for 100 years!
Hmm, just enough to raise an army to get Ollie out of office!
Hmm, well I do like that nice premium leather interior with the matching crash helmets.
Hmm, that's gonna take a huge chunk of Olam Habah from me, so I'll settle for a Bugatti Veyron at about $1.3 million, what a deal!
Meanwhile I will keep driving my 1993 Mazda MX-6 happily. It's got 180,000 miles on it, and still going like a tiger. No it wont even eat the dust of these 2 mentioned cars, however one thing Im sure. When I am in the Beltway, or on Rockville Pike and surrounded by traffic, I am confident that we will be traveling at the same speed together. SLOW!
Ladies and gentlemen, these cars are gorgeous, however put your money where it really matters - helping people and increasing your Olam Haba! Just think how much it will cost to insure my Exelero. One ding could cost you the price of a new Lexus.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Hashem The Ultimate Grandmaster and Strategist
US, do not mess with Israel!
You keep sending money to the rogue Palestinian yobbo state of hooligans?
You keep telling us to give up our precious land and settlements?
Well you got our Tattie in Heaven rather disappointed in you, and this buddy has now happened to you:
"Israeli industries are benefiting in the wake of the increasingly destructive weather patterns striking coastal areas of the United States, offering hurricane protection and fresh citrus.
Israeli citrus farmers have benefited from the wave of freezing cold weather that struck California recently, destroying 70 percent of its citrus fruit."
Click here for more exciting info!
Now as I explained in my earlier post, I have the power to choose good or bad. However whatever I do, Hashem will always win! He thinks trillions of moves ahead of us! He is the Ultimate Grandmaster and Strategist!
So never give up hope! Keep strong emunah (faith) and we'll come out the Ultimate Winners and Beneficiaries! AMEN!
You keep sending money to the rogue Palestinian yobbo state of hooligans?
You keep telling us to give up our precious land and settlements?
Well you got our Tattie in Heaven rather disappointed in you, and this buddy has now happened to you:
"Israeli industries are benefiting in the wake of the increasingly destructive weather patterns striking coastal areas of the United States, offering hurricane protection and fresh citrus.
Israeli citrus farmers have benefited from the wave of freezing cold weather that struck California recently, destroying 70 percent of its citrus fruit."
Click here for more exciting info!
Now as I explained in my earlier post, I have the power to choose good or bad. However whatever I do, Hashem will always win! He thinks trillions of moves ahead of us! He is the Ultimate Grandmaster and Strategist!
So never give up hope! Keep strong emunah (faith) and we'll come out the Ultimate Winners and Beneficiaries! AMEN!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
I have no control!
Microsoft Corp was created by Hashem to demonstrate to me that I have no control.
Let's face it, Hashem controls the world whether I like it or not. Ok, what's the deal?
I was working on my computer when I found out it was acting weird. I went to the Task Manager and found out that the CPU rate was jumping from 20% to 90%, and then it hit 100% and hung there for about 2 minutes.
Suddenly a popup box told me that Windows was updating my computer and showed me the ubiquitous Time Left bar. When the process was finished the computer then had the NERVE to automatically close down my programs and reboot without MY SAY IN THE MATTER!
Thank G-d I was not doing anything crucial. Nevertheless it is annoying!
The truth is IT IS A TEST. It is a crystal clear example that I have no control.
There are two items that can make us angry: the automobile and the computer.
Both of these tools gives us tremendous power: The power to travel long distances, the strength of a powerful engine at my beck and call - or the ability to connect to the world and be able to publish my thoughts through the internet, to create my own podcast! WOW!
However these power trips come to a crashing halt when there is a traffic jam, the cops pull me over, the program crashes, or Windows reboots my computer without my say!
We pretend we are godly beings as we drive our fancy cars and work on our awesome laptops. Nevertheless Hashem is quick to send us a traffic jam or a program crash in order to remind us that we really have no control.
Yet we do have control in one area -- THE POWER TO EITHER GET ANGRY OR TO REMAIN CALM - in other words, the power to choose the good moral path or the bad stressful path.
The choice is yours!
When you hit your next traffic jam, encounter the cop, or experience your next computer mishap
STOP, TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND WAIT FOR 5 SECONDS
Then continue.
You will find yourself a much happier person! Hatzlacha!
Let's face it, Hashem controls the world whether I like it or not. Ok, what's the deal?
I was working on my computer when I found out it was acting weird. I went to the Task Manager and found out that the CPU rate was jumping from 20% to 90%, and then it hit 100% and hung there for about 2 minutes.
Suddenly a popup box told me that Windows was updating my computer and showed me the ubiquitous Time Left bar. When the process was finished the computer then had the NERVE to automatically close down my programs and reboot without MY SAY IN THE MATTER!
Thank G-d I was not doing anything crucial. Nevertheless it is annoying!
The truth is IT IS A TEST. It is a crystal clear example that I have no control.
There are two items that can make us angry: the automobile and the computer.
Both of these tools gives us tremendous power: The power to travel long distances, the strength of a powerful engine at my beck and call - or the ability to connect to the world and be able to publish my thoughts through the internet, to create my own podcast! WOW!
However these power trips come to a crashing halt when there is a traffic jam, the cops pull me over, the program crashes, or Windows reboots my computer without my say!
We pretend we are godly beings as we drive our fancy cars and work on our awesome laptops. Nevertheless Hashem is quick to send us a traffic jam or a program crash in order to remind us that we really have no control.
Yet we do have control in one area -- THE POWER TO EITHER GET ANGRY OR TO REMAIN CALM - in other words, the power to choose the good moral path or the bad stressful path.
The choice is yours!
When you hit your next traffic jam, encounter the cop, or experience your next computer mishap
STOP, TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND WAIT FOR 5 SECONDS
Then continue.
You will find yourself a much happier person! Hatzlacha!
Friday, January 12, 2007
Trust in Hashem
Good morning!
Sorry I have been so slow updating this blog. It is not easy to find a subject that I can discuss. Every day I keep hitting all the favourite blogs and wonder "When is that bloke going to put up something new?" Now I realize it is very difficult to keep updating a blog and the people who manage to do it regularly have my admiration.
OK, Im still trying to figure out what Im doing here. One thing is to have more trust in Hashem. Why is it so hard to trust Him? We know that people are fickle, they say one thing and do another, so why do we run to flesh and blood and not to Hashem?
Well for one thing, we are so frightened of responsibility in this generation. We think that if Hashem is THERE and EXISTS, then gee golly that means no biking trips on Saturday (uh Shabbat) and wow, not going to the Ha'andi Indian restaurant that I so love, coz they serve treife meat, and the walls of their pots and pans are saturated with pork, shellfish, and other treife flavouring. Oh yeah, and that means having to figure out how to tell the boss I need to split at 2pm on a winter Friday afternoon and discuss how the sun goes up and goes down, and here's the kicker: I cannot carry anything in my neighbourhood, until somebody climbs up some telegraph poles and ties some string around them that encompasses the area.
Ladies and gentlemen, I wont get into the reasons for these mitzvot. Im not qualified. However at the end of the day, IT IS WORTH IT! BECAUSE:
1. I belong to an incredible community of beautiful Jewish people, and I cannot imagine starting my day without davening with them in shul.
2. When I know that everything I do, even the stupid mistakes - is because ultimately, Hashem wanted that to happen, that relieves me from the feeling that Im Stupid! Yes I botched something up and next time I'll learn better. However with this precious insight, I dont have to waste valuable energy fretting over my stupidity because Hashem wanted it to happen that way anyway!
3. It is fantastic to know that there is a perfect Being who I can rely on, who isnt fickle and will always support me through the thick and thin.
4. Hashem is also testing me to make sure that I am not a 'fair weather friend' - that I will only like Him when He is good to me (If only we had the appreciation) however when things go bad, that's the BIG GAME...when the shidduch rejects me, or I get teased by my friends, or I dont get the honour I want...then Hashem is testing me to see if I thank him. If I show that I want to thank Him even in the rough times, that is a sign that I am not a fake fair weathered friend and this gives Hashem the greatest pleasure. This results in a sweetening of the bad times, and future blessings!
5. Hashem does not expect us to become Instant Tzaddiks. It took me 2 years to start keeping kosher properly. It took me a year to be Shomer Shabbat. Just one little mitzvah is all you need to do. Just keep looking up. Remember that if you are on the bottom floor but your eyes are looking upwards, that is far far better than being on the penthouse suite on the roof but looking down and saying "Ho hum, life as usual"
Trust in Hashem, keep praying and do an extra mitzvah like lighting candles, a romantic Friday night meal, giving a dollar to charity, or eating one kosher meal a day. Believe me, it gets easier every day!
Shabbat Shalom!
Sorry I have been so slow updating this blog. It is not easy to find a subject that I can discuss. Every day I keep hitting all the favourite blogs and wonder "When is that bloke going to put up something new?" Now I realize it is very difficult to keep updating a blog and the people who manage to do it regularly have my admiration.
OK, Im still trying to figure out what Im doing here. One thing is to have more trust in Hashem. Why is it so hard to trust Him? We know that people are fickle, they say one thing and do another, so why do we run to flesh and blood and not to Hashem?
Well for one thing, we are so frightened of responsibility in this generation. We think that if Hashem is THERE and EXISTS, then gee golly that means no biking trips on Saturday (uh Shabbat) and wow, not going to the Ha'andi Indian restaurant that I so love, coz they serve treife meat, and the walls of their pots and pans are saturated with pork, shellfish, and other treife flavouring. Oh yeah, and that means having to figure out how to tell the boss I need to split at 2pm on a winter Friday afternoon and discuss how the sun goes up and goes down, and here's the kicker: I cannot carry anything in my neighbourhood, until somebody climbs up some telegraph poles and ties some string around them that encompasses the area.
Ladies and gentlemen, I wont get into the reasons for these mitzvot. Im not qualified. However at the end of the day, IT IS WORTH IT! BECAUSE:
1. I belong to an incredible community of beautiful Jewish people, and I cannot imagine starting my day without davening with them in shul.
2. When I know that everything I do, even the stupid mistakes - is because ultimately, Hashem wanted that to happen, that relieves me from the feeling that Im Stupid! Yes I botched something up and next time I'll learn better. However with this precious insight, I dont have to waste valuable energy fretting over my stupidity because Hashem wanted it to happen that way anyway!
3. It is fantastic to know that there is a perfect Being who I can rely on, who isnt fickle and will always support me through the thick and thin.
4. Hashem is also testing me to make sure that I am not a 'fair weather friend' - that I will only like Him when He is good to me (If only we had the appreciation) however when things go bad, that's the BIG GAME...when the shidduch rejects me, or I get teased by my friends, or I dont get the honour I want...then Hashem is testing me to see if I thank him. If I show that I want to thank Him even in the rough times, that is a sign that I am not a fake fair weathered friend and this gives Hashem the greatest pleasure. This results in a sweetening of the bad times, and future blessings!
5. Hashem does not expect us to become Instant Tzaddiks. It took me 2 years to start keeping kosher properly. It took me a year to be Shomer Shabbat. Just one little mitzvah is all you need to do. Just keep looking up. Remember that if you are on the bottom floor but your eyes are looking upwards, that is far far better than being on the penthouse suite on the roof but looking down and saying "Ho hum, life as usual"
Trust in Hashem, keep praying and do an extra mitzvah like lighting candles, a romantic Friday night meal, giving a dollar to charity, or eating one kosher meal a day. Believe me, it gets easier every day!
Shabbat Shalom!
Sunday, January 7, 2007
To Be Zealous
Here's some insights on Zealousness that Hashem blessed me with.
OK, how do I know if I am a true Zealot, a Pinchas in training...or am I a fake, a self-righteous angry man?
Well, it depends who you are zealous for.
If I am thinking of my own honour, my own self-aggrandizement, then I am fighting for ME ME ME. My mind will be
muddled and confused, and trillions of angry thoughts will fly in my mind.
If that's the case, stay home, do not dare to lift even a speck of dust against the police, you will be creating a
massive Chillul Hashem.
However, if that same sin was performed on your own turf, say a bunch of hooligans destroyed your prized roses, you
would NOT be angry at all. Rather you would feel massive sadness, and you would cry Niagara Falls, seeing
how the noble human being could crash to such lowness and sub-bestial disgrace! However your mind would be clear and
tranquil. Then you can start qualifying as a Pinchas in Training!
Now if those hooligans start grafitti-painting the Kotel R"L, and you were not 'honour sensitive', however you feel
burning wrath, not for your sake, but for G-d's sake, then you are a true zealot. Pinchas HaTzaddik will be proud of you!
By the way, for the record I, Robert A. Solomon would fail this test!
You would then be doing a great Kiddush Hashem as you fight for His Honour and Glory. People will tell by your calm, noble deportment that you are genuine, and not a
self centered ball of anger and flame. However please try to keep within the law as you can!
Now how can you tell?
My humble guess is how you are behaving.
Imagine a big ugly drunk fighting. He is slashing, punching, and kicking in all directions. He is clumsy and scattering
his brute strength all over the place like an incandescent light bulb.
Now imagine a Martial Arts Grandmaster like the Aluf Abir or The Tae Kwon Do Grandmaster. He will be focused and clear-minded
like a laser beam. His energy is strong, and his passion is strong, but it is focused and concentrated!
Pinchas was such a grandmaster. Pinchas was FURIOUS no doubt, but it wasnt his own honour! It was HASHEM'S HONOUR!
So despite his blazing fury over Hashem's honour he still managed to have the clearness of mind to:
1. Ask his Rebbe (Moshe Rabeinu) for the halacha. An angry person for his own honour will not do this
2. Calmly walk through Shevet Shimon's territory avoiding the security guards
3. Aim the spear at the right spot!
4. Dispatch the bodies in a proper way, and then walk away and leave the spotlight.
So if you are angry, and yet be able to think with clarity and logical purpose, then get on the plane.
However if you are just 'pissed off', you are better off davening to Hashem, speaking to Hashem the way
Rebbe Nachman taught us to do, and to keep learning Torah!
OK, how do I know if I am a true Zealot, a Pinchas in training...or am I a fake, a self-righteous angry man?
Well, it depends who you are zealous for.
If I am thinking of my own honour, my own self-aggrandizement, then I am fighting for ME ME ME. My mind will be
muddled and confused, and trillions of angry thoughts will fly in my mind.
If that's the case, stay home, do not dare to lift even a speck of dust against the police, you will be creating a
massive Chillul Hashem.
However, if that same sin was performed on your own turf, say a bunch of hooligans destroyed your prized roses, you
would NOT be angry at all. Rather you would feel massive sadness, and you would cry Niagara Falls, seeing
how the noble human being could crash to such lowness and sub-bestial disgrace! However your mind would be clear and
tranquil. Then you can start qualifying as a Pinchas in Training!
Now if those hooligans start grafitti-painting the Kotel R"L, and you were not 'honour sensitive', however you feel
burning wrath, not for your sake, but for G-d's sake, then you are a true zealot. Pinchas HaTzaddik will be proud of you!
By the way, for the record I, Robert A. Solomon would fail this test!
You would then be doing a great Kiddush Hashem as you fight for His Honour and Glory. People will tell by your calm, noble deportment that you are genuine, and not a
self centered ball of anger and flame. However please try to keep within the law as you can!
Now how can you tell?
My humble guess is how you are behaving.
Imagine a big ugly drunk fighting. He is slashing, punching, and kicking in all directions. He is clumsy and scattering
his brute strength all over the place like an incandescent light bulb.
Now imagine a Martial Arts Grandmaster like the Aluf Abir or The Tae Kwon Do Grandmaster. He will be focused and clear-minded
like a laser beam. His energy is strong, and his passion is strong, but it is focused and concentrated!
Pinchas was such a grandmaster. Pinchas was FURIOUS no doubt, but it wasnt his own honour! It was HASHEM'S HONOUR!
So despite his blazing fury over Hashem's honour he still managed to have the clearness of mind to:
1. Ask his Rebbe (Moshe Rabeinu) for the halacha. An angry person for his own honour will not do this
2. Calmly walk through Shevet Shimon's territory avoiding the security guards
3. Aim the spear at the right spot!
4. Dispatch the bodies in a proper way, and then walk away and leave the spotlight.
So if you are angry, and yet be able to think with clarity and logical purpose, then get on the plane.
However if you are just 'pissed off', you are better off davening to Hashem, speaking to Hashem the way
Rebbe Nachman taught us to do, and to keep learning Torah!
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