Shabbat
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.
Rosh Hashanah
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.
Yom Kippur
Sandy Koufax, 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.
Two weeks later, at a Simchat Torah gathering, the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, spoke about the Jewish pitcher who refused to play on Yom Kippur (the following is a free translation from the Yiddish). "The first condition in influencing a child," said the Rebbe, "is that the child must see a living example by his parents. If the child sees the parent studying Torah at a time when the parent would otherwise be involved in business dealings, thereby surrendering a few dollars of profit, and perhaps causing that he won't be written up as one of the top dealers — this is an example of self-sacrifice for the child".
Sukkot
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).
Simultaneously, as we embrace diversity within both people and creation, we acknowledge the indispensable roles each of us plays in fulfilling the purpose of creation. Similar to a musician in a symphony or a sports player on a team, each individual serves a unique purpose. We unite not in spite of our differences but because we recognize how our uniqueness complements one another.
Simchat Torah
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.”
Not to be outdone, Daniel said: "I also do everything my wife asks me to do. In fact, she doesn't even have to spell out what she wants. She recently was admiring a diamond necklace on display in a store front’s window and I made sure to purchase it for her birthday.
Chanukah
From Berlin to Gaza
It was the eighth night of Chanukah in Kiel, Germany, a small town with a Jewish population of 500. That year, 1931, the last night Chanukah fell on Friday evening, and Rabbi Akiva Boruch Posner, spiritual leader of the town was hurrying to light the Menorah before the Shabbat set in.
Directly across the Posner’s home stood the Nazi headquarters in Kiel, displaying the dreaded Nazi Party flag in the cold December night.
With the eight lights of the Menorah glowing brightly in her window, Rabbi Posner’s wife, Rachel, snapped a photo of the Menorah and captured the Nazi building and flag in the background.
She wrote a few lines in German on the back of the photo. “Chanukah 5692, (1931), “Death to Judah”, So the flag says, “Judah will live forever”, So the light answers.
Purim
Celebrating Life
The holiday of Purim is one of the most joyous times of the year.
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).
The Persian Empire of the 4th century BCE extended over 127 lands, and all the Jews were its subjects. When King Ahasuerus had his wife, Queen Vashti, executed for failing to follow his orders, he arranged a beauty pageant to find a new queen. A Jewish girl, Esther, found favor in his eyes and became the new queen, though she refused to divulge her nationality. Her uncle, Mordechai, uncovers an assassination plot and saves King Ahasuerus' life.
Passover
The Fifth Son
In the early seventies, the Jewish Federation of North America decided to launch a campaign. They sought to institute that at every Seder table there should be an empty chair to bring into the Jewish consciousness the awareness that - if not for the holocaust and the loss of our 6 million - there would have been another Jew sitting in that seat.
Recognizing the influence that the Rebbe, Rabbi M.M. Schneerson, had on Jewish communities around the globe, a representation of communal leaders came to see the Rebbe with a request. They asked him to encourage his emissaries around the world to spread the idea of the empty chair, so that this custom will become established the world over.
The Rebbe replied, "Your idea of adding a chair is very important, and I’m ready to join the call. But, there is one condition…the extra chair should not be empty, but filled."
Shavuot
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.
A home is a place where our essence and inner core is revealed. A home is where we feel most comfortable to express our inner feelings and desires. It is a place where we feel we truly belong.