A Life Lesson from Steve Jobs
In the opening pages of his biography, Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, reflects candidly on his adoption. He recalls a chilling moment when he was about six or seven years old. He told the girl across the street that he was adopted, and she replied, “So does that mean your real parents didn’t want you?”
Happiness is a Choice
A young couple living in Czarist Russia in the early 1800s were faced with a significant decision. Life in Russia at the time was no picnic, especially for the Jewish people, due to the many economic and religious restrictions imposed on the Jewish communities in particular. They were considering making Aliya and immigrating to Israel to enjoy an easier life with the liberty to openly practice Torah and Mitzvot and benefit from the spiritually uplifting atmosphere of the Holy Land.
It’s Bashert
You may have heard the Yiddish expression “it’s Bashert”, loosely translated as, “it’s meant to be”.
While this expression is most commonly used to describe one’s soul mate in the context of marriage and dating, such as, “I found my Bashert”, it also has a broader connotation for many other areas in life including one’s career choice, place of residence, or when facing unexpected challenges and opportunities.
Organized Chaos
In the hours before opening, a restaurant is a scene of controlled chaos. Staff arrive early, each with a specific role. Managers oversee, checking cleanliness and alignment, holding briefings on reservations and special requests. There's a palpable urgency as everyone works against the clock. In the kitchen, chefs and cooks set up their stations while the head chef directs, ensuring everything is prepared perfectly. As opening approaches, the chaos subsides. Final touches are made, lights are dimmed, and soft background music starts. The doors open, and the restaurant transforms. Guests are greeted warmly and led to tables, where the atmosphere is now serene and relaxing, transitioning smoothly from behind-the-scenes chaos to effortless service.
Our Mission Statement
Every business, organization, or movement has a mission statement. The mission consists of the original reason why the entity was created in the first place. Although the products or services that are provided may include a wide range of options, a successful business or organization always remains in sync with its mission and fulfills its intended purpose.
Fantasy or Reality?
At the turn of the 20th century, life expectancy for Americans was just about 33-48 years.
In 1900, the average family had an annual income of $3,000 (in today's dollars). About half of all American children lived in poverty. Most teens did not attend school; instead, they labored in factories or fields.
Suprarational
George, an avid fisherman, once set out on a quest to figure out the size of the smallest fish living in the ocean. So he spread out a huge fishing net in the Atlantic Ocean and was amazed to catch fish of all different types, colors and sizes. But surprisingly, out of the tens of thousands of fish that he caught, he did not find any fish smaller than five inches.
The Next Big Thing
In 1964, Look magazine ran a cover story entitled “The Vanishing American Jew.” The national publication explained to their millions of readers why in all certainty there would no longer be any Jews left in the United States in the 21st century.
Well, we all know what happened. Look magazine has disappeared and the Jewish people live on and continue to thrive. Thank G-d we are witnessing a revival of Judaism in America and around the world. There is a thirst among Jews of all walks of life and demographics to reconnect with their Jewish heritage and millions of Jews are returning to their roots.
"No taxation without representation"
The slogan "No taxation without representation" was first adopted during the American Revolution by American colonists under British rule. They believed that if they were not represented within the government of the ruling empire or nation, then they had no right to be taxed.
As we commemorate America's Independence Day, the 4th of July, we express our gratitude to the founding fathers of this great country while reflecting on our country's mission statement and the values of religious liberties and moral ethics that helped shape our society into one that has been so hospitable to Jewish people and members of all faiths.
Leadership: Influence Vs. Power
In 1968, as a college student at Cambridge University in Cambridge, England, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks decided to visit the United States and meet with the greatest of America’s Rabbis.
During his visit, every Rabbi he met told him that he had to meet the Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Rabbi Menacham M. Schneerson. After scheduling a meeting, Rabbi Sacks, who was by then in Los Angeles visiting family, took a Greyhound bus for 72 hours back to New York.
Yes, You Can!
In life, the difference between success and failure often depends on our perception of reality and our willpower to make it happen. One of the signs of an effective leader is how well they are able to empower their constituents to take ownership over their responsibilities.
A manager may want to micro-manage their employees to guarantee optimal results. However, empowering our team members and giving them the tools to take their own initiative enables them to use their own creativity to accomplish perhaps even more than what we had envisioned in the first place.
How Facebook Messenger Bots was Inspired by Challah
One of the signs of an effective leader is how well they are able to empower their constituents.
A manager may want to micro-manage their employees to guarantee optimal results. However, empowering and giving them the tools to take their own initiative enables them to use their own creativity to create something perhaps more powerful than what was envisioned in the first place.
Equality or Diversity
Equality is often understood to mean that we are all created equal and therefore should be given the same opportunities and rights. We aim to develop a society where our differences are overlooked and instead we try to focus on the areas where we can find common ground.
But are we actually all similar? Should our obvious differences be a source of contention and therefore ignored?
Be Present
A recent study conducted by Microsoft found that since the onset of the mobile revolution, around the year 2000, the average attention span of individuals has dropped from approximately 12 seconds to just eight seconds.
Throughout the day, we are exposed to an overload of information, whether it's news or work-related information. The constant pings of notifications distract us from whatever we’re doing, decreasing our focus.
Oprah, we still have to stay humble!
Ethan Bortnick, an accomplished pianist, singer and songwriter, was considered a child prodigy from the age of three and went on to entertain international audiences throughout his childhood. He is listed in the Guinness World Records for "The World's Youngest Solo Musician to Headline His Own Concert Tour".
Self-Respect
In July of 2022, Israeli pop star Yuval Dayan stirred an outcry and a heated public debate in Israel when she refused to shake hands with visiting US President Joe Biden due to her religious beliefs.
Dayan, along with another singer, Ran Danker, performed at a ceremony marking Biden's receipt of Israel's highest civilian honor.
Peace through Strength
Rivka Ravitz, a mother of 12, had achieved a historic milestone as the first woman and religious individual to serve as Chief of Staff for a President of Israel.
During a recent interview, Ravitz reflected on the numerous opportunities she had to meet with world leaders and the admiration they expressed for her unwavering commitment to upholding her Jewish values and raising a large family while fulfilling her duties in a prominent position.
Maximizing our Potential
There is a famous anecdote that tells of the Sage Reb Zusha of Anipoli (1718, Tarnow, Poland- 1800, Anipoli, Ukraine) relating to his disciples, “When I go up to heaven after my time on earth is completed, I am not afraid of being asked why I was not as great as Moses, after all, G‑d already has a Moses. I am afraid, however, of being asked, ‘Zusha, why weren’t you Zusha?’ ”
You Are Important
Eli Groisman grew up in Curaçao, a Caribbean island, in the early 1980s. Since there were no Jewish schools on the island in those years, he attended a Protestant school, where he had a difficult time. Despite his non-observant upbringing, he refused to participate in religious services, leading to daily conflicts with other students while the teachers and principal sided against him. By seventh grade, things escalated, and he started skipping school to play golf, returning just in time to meet his father Chaim at dismissal.
Home Sweet Home
There is an expression, “Money can buy a house, but not a home”. What is so unique about creating a home which engenders the feelings of warmth, love, and acceptance that may be challenging to replicate elsewhere?
The structure of a house along with its design, furniture and amenities obviously serves an important role, however, they do not define the ultimate nature of one’s home. For one can find shelter or even enjoy quality hospitality elsewhere. But, of course, it's still not quite the same as one's home.