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."
The Goal of Education
What is the ultimate goal of education?
A child or young adult may attend school or a place of higher education to receive valuable knowledge or attain a skill in a specific field. That information may then be used to advance a career and provide them with a future livelihood.
However, there is another aspect to education which far outweighs the above mentioned objective. The ultimate goal of education is to instill in our youth good morals, faith, values, fine character and purpose. This type of education is not only provided by academic institutions but rather something which begins from the moment a child is conceived and continues on for the rest of their lives.
The Secret To Our Survival
Recently, I came across a beautiful article published in the Wall Street Journal. The article was titled “The Shul That Rose From the Ashes” in which the author, Josh Nass, describes his grandfather's childhood in Malakhovka, a suburb of Moscow, and eventual emigration to America in 1972 after surviving the horrible persecutions of pogroms, the Holocaust, and the communist government's attempt to stifle Jewish observance.
The Ultimate Security
There is a fascinating story recounted in the Jerusalem Talmud: “The last Parthian king Artavan once sent a gift of a very precious pearl to Rabbi Yehudah Hanassi, asking to be sent something of equal value in return. Rabbi Yehudah Hanassi sent a mezuzah in return. When the king received the mezuzah he was dumbfounded that Rabbi Yehudah could consider this little piece of parchment as an equivalent to the precious pearl. He expressed his sentiments in no uncertain terms. Thereupon Rabbi Yehudah explained to the king that they had different sets of values, hence the king’s amazement. He went on to say that whereas the king’s gift was something that he, Rabbi Yehudah, would constantly have to guard against theft, etc., his own gift to the king was something that would guard over the king and protect him.”
A Mezuzah in Cuba
About 10 years ago, as a Rabbinical student, I was assigned to travel along with a friend to Cuba in order to assist the small Jewish community there with their High Holiday needs.
Our responsibilities included leading services, hosting Kosher meals, and providing much needed basic necessities for the impoverished local community there. In addition, we were to assist local Jewish tourists and visiting business people with celebrating the holidays.
Feel at Home
Have you ever wondered what is the most important part of a home? Is it the roof and exterior walls which provide shelter from outside elements? Or is it the interior design and aesthetics which impact the function and ambiance of the home? Perhaps it's the furniture and appliances which enable us to make use of the home itself?
While all those aspects serve an important purpose, they do not define the ultimate nature of a home. For one can find shelter or even enjoy quality hospitality and luxurious amenities while staying at a hotel as well, but, of course it's still not quite the same as one's home.
A Visionary Mindset
On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers revolutionized the modern world with the first successful airplane flight, embodying the power of visionary thinking. While most were focused on improving the speed and efficiency of existing modes of transportation, the Wright brothers, like other visionaries, saw beyond the limits of their time, imagining a future where humans could fly.
Effective Communication
A couple days ago, I was speaking with an acquaintance who shared the following challenge he was facing:
After overseeing a merger with another law firm, he was encountering some resistance from a few of his attorneys. Although they were receiving a raise, better working conditions, and job security, they were still unhappy with the new arrangements.
There may be many facets to the quandary, but perhaps one way to address the issue is through effective communication.
Make it Relevant
I recently heard a young entrepreneur share his experiences and struggles which he faced while launching his startup.
He had invested a significant amount of seed money to create a great product, but, for some reason, he had failed to attract enough interest from potential customers to remain sustainable.
Yiddish Humor
In the early 20th century, the Borscht Belt in the Catskills was a popular summer vacation destination for Jewish immigrants looking to escape the stress and density of city life.
Many famous Jewish comedians and entertainers got started with their careers performing at hotels and resorts in the area delighting their audiences with Yiddish humor especially highlighting stereotypical Jewish traits.
There is something about the Yiddish language that captures and expresses so much of our Jewish history, culture, and Weltanschauung.
The Difference Between Kodak & Amazon
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 20% of new businesses fail during their first two years of operation and 65% within the first ten years. Only 25% of new businesses survive for 15 years or more.
While there are many root causes for this phenomenon, two primary reasons are often cited: remaining rigid or expanding too quickly.
The NYT Millennium Edition
For many years in the 90’s there was a small advertisement that ran every Friday on the bottom corner of the front page of the New York Times. It read, “Jewish Women: Shabbat candle lighting time this Friday is ____pm.” It not only served as a reminder of this eternal mitzvah, but it also expressed Jewish pride.
The advertisement ceased after the sponsor ended it, but it reappeared once.
One Small Step
At 10:56 p.m. ET on July 20, 1969, the American astronaut Neil Armstrong put his foot on the lunar surface and famously declared, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Neil’s “one small step” was only made possible through years of research and hard work from a large team of experts and billions of dollars of investments.
Parents kvell while watching their children grow up, but they also remember the sleepless nights, the kvetching they had to put up with, the sacrifices they made and the resources they invested in educating their children to develop into mature, good, Yiddishe Mentchen.