Embrace Diversity
Diversity is woven into the very fabric of the universe. Every individual possesses a unique fingerprint; no two zebra stripes are identical, and even two snowflakes drifting side by side are truly distinct.
As succinctly stated in the Talmud, "No two minds are alike, [just as] no two faces are alike (Berachot 58a)."
Sandy Koufax, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg & Yom Kippur
October 6, 1965, the first game of the '65 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers versus the Minnesota Twins. It's Yom Kippur night at Metropolitan Stadium, 47,797 in attendance. Sandy Koufax, lead pitcher of the LA Dodgers, refuses to play.
Koufax's refusal to pitch on Yom Kippur gained him the respect and admiration of many Jews. His courage gave many Jews the strength to not be ashamed of their Judaism.
Napoleon's March
Napoleon's March is remarkable for its joyous, rhythmic character. It was played in 1812 by the armies of Napoleon when they crossed the border near Prussia in their invasion of Russia. Napoleon insisted his soldiers sing this march as they went out to battle, for he wished to boost their morale and instill within them a sense of confidence that they would win the war. Indeed, Napoleon's army did initially encounter great success in conquering much of Europe until their eventual defeat at the hands of the Russian army.
It’s all in the head
While Rosh Hashanah is commonly referred to as the “Jewish New Year”, in fact, the precise translation of Rosh Hashanah is actually “Head of the Year”.
We call this holiday “Head of the Year” since these two days stand in the same relationship to the rest of the year as the head does to the body. Just like the head is the source of the life force of the person, and afterwards this life force is distributed to each individual organ of the body, so too Rosh Hashanah has hidden within it all of the life force of the year, and from the holiday it is apportioned to each and every individual day.
The Cry of the Shofar
As we celebrate the upcoming Rosh Hashanah, the head of the new year, we reflect on the past year and anticipate the upcoming year ahead.
Out of all the many Mitzvot and customs that are generally observed, what is considered the most important part of the Holiday?
The Mishnah states, " The mitzvah of the day is with the shofar." There is a parable shared by the Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760) describing the significance of the Shofar.
Israel’s Secret Weapon
Six F-15 escorts and eight F-16 fighter bombers roared off the runway from Etzion Air Force Base in southern Israel. The air was thick and tense. Prior to take-off, Lt. General Rafael Eitan briefed the pilots. "The alternative is our destruction," he said, displaying unusual emotion.
Israel's intelligence had recently confirmed that Iraq had intentions of producing weapons in their Osirak nuclear facility. The atomic bombs which the Iraqi reactor would be capable of producing from enriched uranium or plutonium could be as fatal as the one that landed on Hiroshima. Realizing the mortal danger facing the people of Israel, the Israeli government decided to attack. At 3:55 PM, while the country innocently bustled about its daily activities, the fighter jets secretly took off.
The Butterfly Effect
On December 29, 1972, American meteorologist Edward Lorenz presented a talk entitled "Predictability: Does the Flap of a Butterfly's Wings in Brazil Set a Tornado in Texas?"
The Butterfly Effect concept, highlighting the possibility that small causes may have momentous effects, eventually became a metaphor used in very diverse contexts, many of them outside the realm of science.
A Soldier on the Ukrainian Front
In Nikolayev, Ukraine, a city where streets are nearly empty due to the precarious security situation, over 200 people of all ages joined the Rosh Hashanah prayers and heard shofar.
Local Chabad emissary, Rabbi Shalom Gottlieb, said that the turnout was “beyond expectations” since “the city is embedded in battle and bombings and the streets are empty. People stay barricaded in their homes and don't venture out. We couldn't have dreamed of this.”
Appreciation
There are many forms of expressing appreciation and gratitude. It may be a simple verbal “thank you”, an email or text message, and of course a thank you card or gift.
Showing appreciation consists of more than just paying lip service and fulfilling our social duties, it is an acknowledgement of the true source of the wonderful gifts we have received.
Expressing gratitude and appreciation go to the heart of who we are as Jews. The definition of the word Jew in English, or Yehudi in Hebrew, is derived from the word “Hodaah”, which means to thank or acknowledge G-d. The Talmud explains, “anyone who rejects idolatry is called a Yehudi (i.e. One who acknowledges G‑d's existence and submits to His authority)”.
First Impressions
Research indicates that first impressions are formed within 7 seconds. In fact, experiments conducted by Princeton researchers even suggest that individuals can make accurate judgments of others within as little as 1/10 of a second.
The 7-Second Rule has become a powerful tool for marketers, salespeople and communicators alike. It's about getting your message across quickly and effectively.
The Secret to a Happy Marriage
What is the secret to building a successful marriage and a meaningful relationship?
Western civilization has developed exponentially over the last few centuries in many areas such as commerce, medicine, science and technology. Despite all the challenges still facing society today, we are living in a relative prosperous era.
A Lesson from Afghanistan
It is difficult to remain apolitical in today’s charged political climate. Every aspect of society seems to have become a partisan issue. While of course it is important to vote based on our values and beliefs, we must be careful not to fall into the partisan political trap.
One of the things the Jewish people have learned throughout our long history is that we can not put our absolute faith in any particular party or politician. We have seen the worst and the best come from all sides of the political spectrum. While we do our best to establish a stable, safe, and prosperous society, we must put our ultimate faith only in G-d that He will take care of all our needs.
Social Media
What common denominator do social media networks and platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter etc. share which make them so appealing to consumers? While they each have their own unique features and applications, they have all tapped into an essential human disposition: the need for connectivity.
G-d created human beings with a natural desire to connect with fellow human beings. This desire is the driving force behind the formations of communities, country clubs, business networks, peer groups and of course families.
A Lesson from Rachel Goldberg-Polin
During her heart-wrenching and emotional eulogy for her son Hersh on September 2, 2024, Rachel Goldberg-Polin expressed her extraordinary faith so profoundly:
"I have had a lot of time during the past 332 days to think about my sweet boy, my Hersh. And one thing I keep thinking about is how, out of all the mothers in the world, G-d chose to give Hersh to me.
The King is in the Field
At the start of the pandemic, I received a remarkable email from Brandon Steiner, Founder of Steiner Sports Agency. The message began with these words: “Over the past 7 or so years, I have posted over 2,500 blogs. Last week's blog, 'What if you could talk to G-d? My question for all of you is - if you could have a conversation with G-d, what would you say? What questions would you have?’ had the most responses I have ever had!"
It brought to mind the Midrashic statement, “We are believers, the sons of believers”. This is true at all times but especially pertinent during challenging moments.
But Where is G-d?
Eliot Lasky, who was born to Holocaust survivors, grew up in a traditional Jewish community. At the age of 18, he left school and eventually joined the Rolling Stones on their American tour during the height of the hippie era. In this time, Eliot desired to fit in more than anything else.
As time went on, the allure of his new lifestyle faded, and he found himself grappling with profound philosophical questions about faith and life in general. One question in particular kept recurring in his mind: "How can Judaism be right while the rest of the world is wrong?" Upon seeking advice from a friendly rabbi, he was directed to seek counsel from the Rebbe.
The Justice System
Having an established justice system is a bedrock of any civilized society. Without law and order, the world would be a very chaotic and dangerous place. Our Sages state, “pray for the welfare of the government, for were it not for the fear it inspires, every man would swallow his neighbor alive (Ethics of our Fathers 3:2)”.
The Greatest Return on Investment (ROI)
Investors often evaluate the efficiency of an investment by measuring the Return on Investment (ROI). In a broader sense, we make decisions all the time to ascertain where we should invest our time and resources to produce the greatest profit with the least amount of risk. Often, greater opportunities for profit are associated with higher levels of risk as well.
However, there is one type of investment that produces a guaranteed high return with no risk. That is the investment in Tzedaka. I use the Hebrew word Tzedaka, and not charity, because it more accurately portrays the true essence of its definition. Charity connotes performing a nice and generous act, going beyond the call of duty. Tzedaka, however, is derived from the word Tzedek, which means “righteousness”, or doing the right thing. When we give Tzedaka, we are fulfilling our responsibility to G-d who entrusted us with allocating the wealth in the proper manner.
Rights or Responsibilities
At the turn of the 18th Century, there were many new philosophies and movements that were gaining popularity and capturing the minds and hearts of millions of people across the globe. They challenged the autocratic system of governance and power which was prevalent at that time and introduced new ideas that sought to bring an end to inequality, poverty, and suffering.
The True Meaning of Higher Education
During the congressional hearing on anti-Semitism on December 5th, 2023, multiple Ivy League university presidents were asked a simple question: "Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate the university's code of conduct?" Their responses were shockingly ambiguous: "It depends on context."