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New Year

Aug 30 2017

Shiny Penny Syndrome

The nature of the human is that the things we can't have, things that are inaccessible, difficult to achieve or expensive are the those we want most.   When things are easily accessible or common we often times disregard their value.   ***   During the month leading up to Rosh Hashanah, the Holy Baal Shem Tov says that G-d is accessible to each and every one. He uses an analogy of a king who comes out of the palace and goes out to the field where the common man is and he smiles to them...

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Aug 25 2017

A Dream Come True

After many years of dreaming of taking my family to the beautiful natural sites of the west, the dream came true!   Dena and I just got back from a 15 day road trip with all of the kids. The magnificence, beauty and wondrousness of each of the stops would have justified the trip unto itself. Combined together it becomes a thing that fantasy and fairy tales are made of.   Among the many fascinating sites (Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands, The Grand Canyon to name a few) we also had wonderful experiences in the...

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Oct 27 2016

Living the Marathon

The Marathon is over. 48 hours of Rosh Hashanah solemness, 25 hours of Yom Kippur praying and fasting, 7 Days of Sukkos joy and unity and the grand finale 48 hours of Simchas Torah dancing and L'chaim!   I've never run a marathon, but I suspect that when the body cools down after that run it's a little too quiet. Kind of begs for some action. Maybe you need to go for a small run?!   With the high of the high holidays cooling down maybe it's time for a little run. In fact...

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Oct 19 2016

Dance The Night Away!

48 hours of Rosh Hashanah = 48 hours of Simchas Torah (and Shmini Atzeres)!   Love and Awe (or fear) of G-d are fundamentals of Jewish faith and observance. They are called wings through which all of our good deeds soar heavenward.   Love and Awe (or fear) of G-d are fundamentals of Jewish faith and observance. They are called wings through which all of our good deeds soar heavenward.   On Rosh Hashanah, "days of Awe", the energy while critical is one of distance. On Simchas Torah the energy is one of Joy and Love...

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Oct 11 2016

The Way I Think #52

How was the sermon? Was it passionate? Was it on the money? Did it make its mark?   How inspired were you these past few weeks? What kind of good resolutions did you make?   Now that the HH days have passed and we are up to the fun stuff Sukkos and Simchas Torah, what happens to those sermons or the inspiration of the services?   Hence, The Way I Think #52   #52 is the number of weeks until the next Rosh Hashanah. So my question for you and for me is, “do we wait until week...

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Oct 06 2016

The Angel at Starbucks

Do you ever stop and wonder about the tens if not hundreds of people you bump into or interact with on a given day? The bagger at the supermarket, the mailman, a customer service representative, the email spammer and the many more human beings we interact with consciously or subconsciously every day.   According to the teachings of the Ba’al Shem Tov, each of these interactions are divinely orchestrated. There is a reason and purpose for each of these interactions. No we are not always fortunate to see or know the...

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Sep 28 2016

Don’t Judge Me!

No one likes to be judged! In fact the Mishna says, don't judge another because there is only one True judge. So why the New Year's celebration?! Indeed it is a day of awe but when the service is over we are instructed to go eat and feast and celebrate.   Let's break it down. Why don't we like to be judged? Here are a couple of reasons: 1. We don't think the other person has our best interests at heart 2. We don't think the other person really understands us and our...

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Sep 21 2016

Groundhog Day

Imagine you woke up each morning and the world was brand new. No baggage. Everything was fresh. Imagine if each day was your wedding day. Imagine if each day was your first day at your new dream job.   (Ever notice how kids wake up in the morning? For them each day is exactly like that. They don't carry yesterday's burdens, it's all new and fresh.)   We crave novelty and newness. What a gift that each year we are given the opportunity to renew ourselves as G-d renews the year.   In fact each day...

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Dec 18 2015

Like water reflects a face

What do you do when you have made a New Years Resolution to be really nice to people around you, but there is this one person who really gets to you? Like for example what happens if the guy is a king and he has just taken your brother (that you have pledged to your father that you would guard him with your life) as a slave.  Even more problematic is that this viceroy is one of the most powerful people in the world.  And finally, he seems to be...

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