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Author:Chabad Intown

Aug 02 2017

I’m in love again!

Israel, Lifestyle, Moshiach, Rebuilding
by Chabad Intown

Before I got married, a family member told me that “marriage would be the most difficult thing I would work on in my life, but it would be the most rewarding”.   I thought about this, this week as we observed Tisha B’Av, the day which commemorates the destruction of the two Batay Mikdashos – Temples – in Jerusalem and the exile of the Jewish People. The destruction of Jerusalem is much more than a commemoration of an event of the past. It is really about all the suffering of our People...

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Jul 26 2017

See, what you’re gonna see!

Challenges, Israel, Lifestyle, Rebuilding
by Chabad Intown

It's always a little humbling when the lights go on. Suddenly you see how you really appear. It's humiliating, embarrassing and most of all humbling.   I'm talking about perspective, worldviews, paradigms, etc. We think a certain way based on our upbringing, other influences and our own choosing. Of course, we have only those tools to work from. So we engage with the world from that vantage point. Sometimes that vantage point and paradigm is helpful and sometimes it becomes a point of tension and contention between us and others.   Then one...

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Jul 19 2017

Thank you G-d for afflicting me, please hit me again!

Challenges, Israel, leader
by Chabad Intown

Said no one ever! Or maybe they did. There is a sentiment among certain religious groups to preach the idea that suffering is good, should be welcomed and thanked for. To be fair these are fundamental Jewish values as well and can all be sourced to the Midrash, Talmud and other good sources. But to say thank you?   Let me put the subtle distinction in context.   We all face challenges in life. When we experience challenge in life the growing person looks at the challenge and finds lessons to learn, ways...

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Jul 12 2017

Say What You’re Gonna Say, Do What You’re Gonna Do

Challenges, leader, Lifestyle, Moses, Rebuilding
by Chabad Intown

Talk is cheap, although it seems to come at a big price these days. But really, anyone with an opinion articulates it without fear. That is in part because today everyone feels that speaking your mind is ok no matter the context, language or opinion.   How about action? Doing? Society today has accepted pretty much any behavior as acceptable. However, those behaviors are generally behaviors of self expression. In other words, society has accepted that anything you do to express yourself is acceptable.   What about doing as it relates to doing the...

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Jul 05 2017

Sensitivity and Today’s Media

Challenges, leader, Lifestyle, Loving-Kindness
by Chabad Intown

Wax on, wax off. Practice makes perfect.   Each year as we study the weekly Torah portion, we inevitably chance upon small or big nuggets that jump out and provide a transformative life lesson.   It's also amazing how they seem to always present themselves right at the time that we as a society or as an individual need to hear that lesson.   Look at today's headlines. Any headlines, any website, any news service. I challenge you to find a website that doesn't have a list of insults and shaming comments about some politician, hollywood...

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Jun 29 2017

A False World

Challenges, Lifestyle, Rebuilding, Tammuz
by Chabad Intown

In this week's Torah portion we read of the passing of Aaron the High Priest - Kohen Gadol. It says that all the People mourned him for 30 days. The reason for this our Sages say is that Aaron was lover of peace and a pursuer of peace.   The Kabbalah tells us that the world is a "false world". What you see is almost never what you get. There is always something else beneath the surface.     This reality of our world makes the ideal of truth a hard one to live by. Try matching truth...

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Jun 21 2017

I choose

Challenges, Inspiration, Rebuilding, Recovery
by Chabad Intown

I recently attended a funeral of a dear friend and young man. A real tragedy and sad day. One of the speakers, a good friend of the deceased shared his memories but he presented his comments in a unique fashion.   He framed all of his memories by saying "I choose to remember". I choose to remember the deceased for this particular quality and proceeded to share an anecdote. He did this over and over again and it suddenly it hit me. He was not only saying these words but actually engaging...

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Jun 14 2017

Of Spies and Souls

Challenges, Lifestyle
by Chabad Intown

When we think of a spy we may think hero or villain - depending if your team is the one spying or being spied on. In this week's Torah portion we read of the 12 spies going to spy on behalf of the Jewish People in and on the Land of Israel.   These spies (10 of them at least) who left as hero's (Heads of the Children of Israel the Torah calls them) became villains, meeting their death in the desert.   A spy integrates him or herself into the environment that they...

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Jun 07 2017

Mazal Tov and Let them Rise Up

Challenges, Children, Lifestyle, Loving-Kindness, Rebbe
by Chabad Intown

Sarah Chana Radcliffe, a respected family therapist writes the following: Older kids as well as teens need more space to do things their own way. Parents, on the other hand, want to help their kids do things the best way, the safest way, the rightest way - THEIR way. They often suffer tremendous anxiety in letting go of the reigns. If you feel a strong need to give your older child lots of instructions, remember this: he learned everything you had to offer in his first decade. You did a great...

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May 30 2017

Indulgence or Abstention?

Change, Lifestyle
by Chabad Intown

In this week's Torah portion we read about the Nazarite. This is an individual who has taken a vow of abstention. He is prohibited from cutting his hair, drinking wine and coming in contact with the dead.   Once his period of abstention comes to an end or if he mistakenly comes in contact with the dead, he must bring a “sin” offering.   Our Sages tell us that the reason for the sin offering is on account of his self imposed abstention from wine.   It would seem like the abstaining from wine is a...

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