The Return of Hostages
At 1:49 a.m. on February 11, 2024, Israeli special forces carried out a complex and perilous hostage rescue operation in Rafah. Israel's elite officers employed their bodies as shields to protect two hostages amidst a flurry of bullets during the dramatic pre-dawn raid that liberated the captives.
The success of the operation relied on a synchronized assault, which involved targeted airstrikes against Hamas terrorist positions. These airstrikes served to divert the attention of the terrorists and eliminate potential threats, thereby enabling the safe extraction of two Jewish hostages, Fernando Simon Marman and Louis Har.
A Gift Which Money Can’t Buy
Kivi Bernhard, an international keynote speaker and author of the highly acclaimed "Leopardology: The Hunt For Profit In a Tough Global Economy," received an invitation to deliver the opening address at a prominent Microsoft conference. The event was expected to host hundreds of international figures vital to Microsoft's business, including Bill Gates.
The Big Picture
“Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff”. This popular saying is often used to remind ourselves or others that it isn't worth getting upset or stressed about minor issues.
Effective managers are able to share the vision of their company with their employees and partners so that while each team member may be preoccupied with their specific tasks on a daily basis, they also understand how their work contributes to the success of the business as a whole. This realization motivates each member of the team to carry out even seemingly trivial tasks with the greatest care and at the same time not allow inconsequential challenges to consume them.
Anatevka
While the name Anatevka is famously known as the village from “Fiddler on the Roof”, in recent years, the modern village of Anatevka was established by Rabbi Moshe Azman, one of the Chabad representative in Kiev, to house refugees attempting to escape the Russian bombing on the eastern border of Ukraine.
Singing Shalom Aleichem in Arabic
Freed Israeli hostage Daniella Gilboa recently shared that during her captivity, she and four fellow hostages learned to recite the traditional Shabbat song Shalom Aleichem in Arabic—out of fear they would be overheard.
Her revelation is one of many stories of faith that emerged from the hostages in Gaza, demonstrating how faith and Jewish observance provided them with strength and resilience in their darkest moments.
Who Invented AI?
It's hard not to be amazed by the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) over the past few years. Many people feel a mix of wonder, excitement, and uncertainty about what the future holds. Many experts predict that AI will usher in a golden age of abundance, where goods and services become so affordable that a high standard of living will be accessible to all. Others, however, express concern about AI's potential to disrupt the job market, affecting hundreds of millions of workers worldwide.
Finding Community in a Bomb Shelter
A few hours before the start of Purim this week, I received a call from a member of the JBN community. He and his family were in Israel for an extended stay and suddenly found themselves in the midst of war. Air raid sirens had been sounding regularly, forcing them in and out of bomb shelters throughout the day.
Because of the security situation, he was unable to go to synagogue to hear the reading of the Megillah. Yet Purim had already begun in Israel, and he was determined not to miss the mitzvah.
Israel: Post October 7
Uvda, described by Variety as “the local equivalent to CBS News' 60 Minutes”, ran a segment that featured United Hatzalah members Avi and Avi who had been celebrating Shabbat and the holiday with their families and community when they first heard the news of the horrific attacks on October 7th. Following the Torah's injunction that saving a life supersedes all other laws, they jumped into their ambulance and started heading south.
Priorities: Business or Clients?
Providing good customer service is an important part of any successful business. However, to what extent should a company be ready to accommodate a client's request or perhaps absorb a financial loss? What if the loss came as a result of extraneous circumstances such as a pandemic which is beyond the control of the business or the client?
Priorities
With only so much time in our day and with a finite amount of resources and energy, we are often faced with the challenge of prioritizing and choosing between various responsibilities and opportunities to engage with at any given moment.
This may express itself in finding the right work-life balance such as choosing between staying an extra hour in the office or returning home to spend quality time with our children before they go to bed. Or it may manifest itself in how we choose to invest our philanthropic dollars or community engagement.
Unconditional Love
A little while ago, after being disciplined for misbehavior, my son innocently asked me, “Do you still love me?”
It’s easy to dismiss children’s words as just blabber. Though, often enough, the most profound ideas and insights can be gleaned from the expressions and refreshing questions of small children.
By asking “Do you still love me”, he was essentially wondering if a parent's love to a child is unconditional or if it is conditional on good behavior.
The Power of Transformation: From Gaza to Times Square
When Segev Kalfon was held hostage in Gaza, he witnessed fellow captives paraded on stages before evil crowds in cruel propaganda spectacles. In the suffocating darkness of the tunnels, he made a quiet vow: if he were ever put up on that stage, he would use it not for humiliation — but for faith. He dreamed of declaring Shema Yisrael, Judaism’s timeless proclamation of unity, before the very savagery that sought to break him.
By the time he was released, the staged ceremonies had stopped. The captors had removed the platform.
So he found another one.
Celebrating Life
On Purim we celebrate one of the most joyous times of the year- the holiday of Purim.
It commemorates the (Divinely orchestrated) salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian empire from Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day.” Literally “lots” in ancient Persian, Purim was so named since Haman had thrown lots to determine when he would carry out his diabolical scheme, as recorded in the Megillah (book of Esther).
Chosen for What?
In a well-known quote from "Fiddler on the Roof," Tevye gazes heavenward and ponders on his many misfortunes, "Dear G-d…I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can't You choose someone else?"
For good or for worse, the nations of the world have always been obsessed with the Jewish people. Despite Israel's best efforts to prove that it is just like any other country, the world will always treat Israel differently. Indeed, what does it mean to be the Chosen People?
How Generosity Creates Wealth
Studies conducted at Harvard Business School have identified a striking correlation between charitable giving and increased personal income. Economist Arthur Brooks describes generosity as creating a “virtuous cycle,” in which giving money away often precedes higher subsequent earnings.
The research proves that charity is not merely an expense; it is actually an investment in one's own wealth.
Think Big
Several years ago, renowned Radio & TV Host personality Dave Ramsey addressed a diverse audience of thousands at a convention and shared insights from a book that he felt had changed his life.
The book, "Thou Shall Prosper" by Rabbi Daniel Lapin, delves into how the Jewish people have had the tendency to prosper way beyond their population size in every setting they have ever been in throughout history. The Jewish people today, constituting only 3% of the American population, remarkably make up 67% of the Forbes 400 list.
Reciprocity
Throughout all stages in life and the various relationships we develop, we tend to be both a recipient and a provider.
Children are dependent on their parents for food, shelter and basic necessities, while they give boundless joy, Nachas, and love to their parents in return.
Educators and mentors guide and greatly impact the lives of their students by instilling within them exemplary morals and imparting them with invaluable wisdom and inspiration. In turn, students give their teachers and mentors a sense of fulfillment while helping them crystalize and better understand their subject matters.
The Paradox of Prosperity: Are We Happier?
By almost every material metric, we are living in an era of unprecedented prosperity. Our grandparents could scarcely have imagined the technology, medical breakthroughs, and comforts we now take for granted. Yet recent research reveals a startling paradox: despite being wealthier and more comfortable than ever, our collective happiness is in sharp decline.
No Free Lunch?
How often do we encounter an apparent freebie only to find out about the hidden fees or many strings attached. As the popular saying goes, “there is no such thing as a free lunch".
It is only human and natural for us to have the “what's in it for me” attitude when conducting business. However, Judaism teaches us that we should strive to develop a selfless approach while interacting with one another and to help others wholeheartedly without any preconditions or expectations of receiving something in return.
What Makes You Happy?
Israel is ranked as the fourth happiest country in the world, according to the UN-sponsored World Happiness Report. The obvious question arises: how can Israel, the only civilized nation under constant mortal danger, maintain such happiness? Despite ongoing threats from Iran and its terrorist proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah, along with facing global boycotts and condemnations, what are the sources of this happiness?