Social Conformity
How much of an influence does peer pressure have on the decisions and lifestyle choices we make?In the 1950s, Solomon Asch, a young Jewish immigrant from Poland, conducted a series of psychological experiments to figure it out. What later became famously known as the The Asch Conformity Experiments, Asch found that nearly 75% of the participants in the conformity experiments went along with the rest of the group at least one time. People were often willing to ignore reality and give an incorrect answer in order to conform to the rest of the group.
Stepping out of our Comfort Zone
Stepping out of our comfort zone is perhaps one of the most important lessons that we can implement while developing a business or an organization.
It is an essential part of developing a business or generating revenue yet it can not be taught in a classroom setting or through a virtual webinar. It must be tried and experienced first-hand through trial and error. The overwhelming positive results are generally unanticipated and often take us by surprise.
Remaining Nonpartisan
During the turbulent early 20th century, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (1880–1950), known as the Previous Rebbe, was once traveling by train to Petersburg. In his car were noblemen, clergy, and a group of Jewish students. Before long, a heated discussion arose on the topic of ideal systems of government.
Universal Mission
David Chase, a Holocaust survivor, businessman and philanthropist who led many important charitable efforts for Jewish communities around the globe, once shared an inspiring episode.Chase maintained the practice of praying in Tallit and Tefillin daily—even aboard airplanes and his personal yacht. In following the Talmudic dictum to face towards Jerusalem while praying, Chase regularly asked his captain, a non-Jew named Nick Winters, of the ship’s position and projected route.
The Antidote to Stress
Managing our stress level is a challenge we often face when trying to keep up with our daily responsibilities and commitments.
Maintaining a healthy balance between family, work, community and a connection to our heritage is essential to living a purposeful and meaningful life. But how can we properly dedicate ourselves to each of these aspects of our lives within the limited time we have without feeling overwhelmed? This quandary assumes even greater prominence during times like these when we are faced with uncertainty and unique challenges.
Lechaim- Are We Living or Existing?
“Lechaim (to Life)" is not just a nice slogan used when friends and family make a toast together during joyous occasions. Lechaim connotes a blessing and desire that we wish to focus more on living and less on just existing.
To exist means to consume space, resources, food and all other materialistic things that our physical existence depends on. To live, on the other hand, means to focus on the meaning and purpose of life. Instead of being motivated to work just to pay our bills, we strive to contribute to society, develop meaningful relationships with our families and friends, and make a positive difference for the people around us.
Israel, our home!
When Ben & Jerry's announced their plan to end sales of their products in certain parts of Israel, there was understandably a strong response from many in the Jewish community and from our friends in the United States and around the world.
Many people felt that Israel was being unfairly targeted and singled out for what they saw as a veiled form of anti-Semitism.
Three Types of Relationships
Men usually don't sit over coffee talking about their marriages. That's why a particular conversation between three males stuck in my mind — they were discussing the joys of wedded life.
"I love my wife," said David. "That's why I do everything she asks me to do. A few months ago she exclaimed, ‘David, I would really appreciate a new diamond necklace for my birthday’, and I make sure to purchase one for her next birthday.”
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.