A man named Ernie

I strolled into Walgreens feeling just fine, thinking this was going to be a quick and easy trip, since all I needed to do was copy a picture for my great-grandmother. I walked up to the counter and explained what I wanted to do, the clerk asked me what size picture I wanted, so I whipped out the photograph and showed it to her. She then proceeded to explain that because it was taken by a professional photographer, there were copyright laws that applied and I couldn't copy it. We went around in circles for a few minutes, me expressing my shock and dismay because it was MY picture and why couldn't I copy it and she, the clerk, getting agitated as she repeated herself to me. I finally left, mumbling a thank you, feeling disgruntled.

As I got back in the car and calmed down a little, I felt disappointed about the way I had responded to this little incident.

I was upset because things didn't go smoothly as I had planned.

Then it occured to me.

G-d was present. Not only me.

I had forgotten that when there is a G-d things don't always go my way.

And, since when is my way the best way?

I pondered my way to Safeway and it was there that I met Ernie.
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So there I was, waiting in the express line at the Safeway on Rainer, which actually seemed to be going slower than the regular lines, and so I contemplated switching lines but then I realized that it's like when you are driving; the lane next to you is always going faster until you switch over to it.

So there I was, waiting, and as I inched closer I could see that the man behind the counter was Ernie, a tall, full-faced, black man with a huge smile on his face; the kind of guy that you would see whistling a tune as he walked down the street with a jump in his step. Then I realized why the express lane was moving at snails pace, because Ernie treated his customers like his closest friends, with care, concern and compassion and he inquired about the lives of each customer and responded with sincere words of advice and comfort. I stood there wondering how he was able to be so positive and act towards every single person with such joy and care. It wasn't long before I understood.

A couple more minutes of waiting and it was my turn to have chat with Ernie.

"Hello there," Ernie said, with a big contagious smile.

"Hello, how are you doing?" I responded, with an equally big smile (I couldn't resist, even if I wanted to).

"Oh, alright-a little hungry," he proclaimed.

"Didn't have your break yet?" I inquired

"Nah, but I'll grab something in a bit," he said, still smiling, "but enough about me, how are YOU?" he insisted.

"Good, Thank G-D," I exclaimed, I am really enjoying the snow, it is just so beautiful!"

"ALL of G-D's creations are beautiful," He insisted.

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You are so right, sir.

And there it was. Ernie has got it down.

It is crystal clear to him that each and every single person is deeper than their physical body, each person has a soul that is beautiful-even if it is hard to see.

Because he knows this with every fiber of his being, he can bring out the humanity in each and every person, no matter how big of a sneer they have on their face.

It also means, that whatever G-d throws his way, Ernie is prepared and ready to integrate it with joy, because ALL of G-d's creations are beautiful.

He doesn't let a little thing get in the way of his smile.

Not even a photograph.

And I thought I just had some errands to run?

G-d had another idea.

Burst of Truth

B"H
Forget Punishment----

If you are thinking that G-d is out to punish you, that He will not save you from your trouble because you are undeserving, then you are not trusting Him. Trust knows not a shade of doubt that He will deliver.

A Daily Dose of Wisdom from the Rebbe-words and condensation by Tzvi Freeman
Tevet 14, 5767 * January 4, 2007

A rude awakening

It is the Tenth day of the month of Teves, I am mourning the siege of the walls of our holy city Yerushalayim. My spirit is calm, my mood sorrowful and I am feeling a deep connection with my people. I am in Staples making some photo copies for my final the following day. The door opens and a woman strolls in, her arms overflowing with packages to rerturn, a black scarf wrapped around her head, a long jean skirt flowing to the floor and sneakers peeking out; clearly she is a fellow Jew. I try to catch her eye in an acknowledgment that we are internally the same. She eyes me suspiciously, and as the elevator door is closing, mutters in a strong Brooklyn accent, “What, you never seen someone return things before?” I was shocked and saddened. My gesture that I saw as connecting and revitalizing she interpreted as degrading, insulting and made her feel self-conscious.

On her way out of the elevator to leave the store she passed me once again, but this time I stopped her and started apologizing profusely, explaining to her that my intentions were far from contempt or disparaging, but that I saw she was Jewish and so I wanted to acknowledge that. Her response hit me hard, “Oh so are you not from around here, do you not realize that this is a very Jewish neighborhood?”

That was it, she was so entrenched in American society, that it was not a value of hers to feel pride or even make a distinction in her mind when she saw a Jew. My mourning intensified and I saw the walls of Jerusalem being surrounded and besieged all over again in 2006. I wanted to connect, validate her existence, take pride in her outward display of her internal soul, and she wanted to blend in, live amongst the society and felt no connection to my soul. This is galus. Assimilation is rising and even the people that have not cut their ties have disconnected. Pain shoots through my heart. Tears well up in my eyes. I yearn for my people in their state of holiness or even in their state of imperfection, but at least in a state of unity, feeling and acknowledging each others presence.

Jews for G-D

I encountered him on my way to school, twice in the same week. He was standing at the top of a busy escalator in the subway station during rush hour, a sweet, peaceful yet disturbing smile on his face, wearing a shirt advertising Jews for Jesus. He thrust his hand out with a pamphlet imploring me to take it, "No thanks," I said, with disdain in my voice and a glare in my eyes. In my hurry to get to my class my mind said, "I am a Jew for G-D" but I didn't pause to express my sentiments to this man. This scenario repeated itself twice and I kicked myself for not stopping to talk and tell this confused man what I really thought.

Has the the blessing of free speech made so many of us tolerant? Has this "blessing" caused us to pass people spreading lies about our nation and say, "no thanks" instead of starting an uproar, stating what we believe and fighting for the cause? Where is our anger, our passion and love for G-d and his children? Where are we expressing these inbred Jewish traits? Is complacency going to be the next destroyer of thriving Jews? Where is our burning fire of love, passion and commitment that we must breathe every moment of every day? Where is our commitment to Hashem, His Torah and His children.

On the Jews for Jesus site it shouts in bold, "How to Get Saved." What this seeming innocuous phrase shouts is antithetical to everything Judaism stands for. It connotes passivism. It reassures, you dont have to do anything active, just believe in Jesus and you will be saved. Judaism is all about action, do, do more and never stop! This is one of the dangers of Jews for Jesus and what I suspect is part of its popularity, it is so easy! More dangerous, however, is their passion for their warped beliefs! They are committed to "saving" the world. Where is our passion????? We have an obligation to teach all that we learn to each and every Jew. To be passionate and assertive with our fellow Jews!

R' Dovid Goldwasser was once walking down the street and he meets two Jewish men. Barely into the conversation he asks them if they had a bris milah, they tell him no, but they are too old and so they don't want one. R' Goldwasser goes on to tell them the significance and beauty in the mitzvah. They refuse still and then he leaves. As he is walking away he hears somone shouting after him. He turns around and one of the men are running after him. He stops R' Goldwasser and says, "My wife just had a baby boy, if I am too old, I want my son to have a bris, can you organize a bris for him?" He did just that and as a result another beautiful soul was brought officially into the covenant. It was all because of the passion and love of ONE man who knew that inside each Jew there was a soul shouting to be heard and touched!!!

Just IMAGINE a world full of people like this...

We have the power to make it happen.

Be Bold.

Be Daring.

Be Real

Seek The Truth.

Dispelling Darkness

Light yeilds to the prevailing darkness as winter sets in; the trees have shed their last leaves, the animals are burrowing in their underground homes and the bitter, cold nights begin. It is precisely at this very moment, at the darkest time of the year, in the midst of a cold, gloomy winter, that Chanukah arrives to tell us that a little flame can break through the darkness. To tell us not let our heads droop but to keep going strong. To reach inside ourselves and proudly wear the banner of determination that keeps our tiny nation thriving throughout persocution, to break the barriers of our physical environment and tap into the spiritual realms of our universe.
We often rely on external sources to enlighten our lives and bring inspiration ourselves. The winter is the time to recognize the inner strength we each posess, the bright flame within each of us that can carry us through the darkness and light up our path and therefore the path of those around us.

A Torn Soul-free flow

It touches me at my very core. It is calling out to me from all sides. The beauty, sincerity and love touches my soul and makes me yearn for the Rebbe I never knew. The Rebbe that is still beloved by the world and who is truly chai v’kayum. The legacy he left behind is so deep and rich it makes my soul cry just from reading a blog about his shluchim. I feel his love permeating my being through his shluchim in the midst of manhattan. What is the secret? It is the truth, I cannot run from it. When something touches your soul and makes you feel so alive how can you run from it? Maybe I am just emotional right now, I say, but not everything makes me cry, not everything evokes such a deep feeling from the essence of my very being. Not everything makes me yearn to be connected with G-D. A yearning that transcends anything that I have ever experienced! A real, live, true yearning, not one based on indoctrination. In my little cove in the middle of a physical reality…I crave more, I crave my soul! What will I do? What am I to do Hashem? To face the truth or run from it? To stay and keep my life simple or to complicate and enrich it? Hashem, it is torture…why, I know there is a reason I wasn’t just born into it but why? What is your message for putting through all my roller coasters????? The thought of learning chassidus, the flashbacks to the illumination, clarity and connection bring tears to my eyes, a lump in my throat and a yearning that will never disappear. A deep feeling rises from within, so deep within that it no longer is my body, but transcends that.

Lessons of a Soul

Last night I went to a speech by Rabbi Paysach Krohn and as I was sitting there waiting for him to begin to speak I was scoping out the scene, instantly judging all those around me. It was then that Rabbi Krohn said a few words that turned my mind around. He simply observed how special it was that so many people came and that this demonstrates the innate desire of Jews to always be growing higher and learning more. All of the sudden my judgments melted and I looked around and saw a beautiful crowd of neshamos that wanted to soar.
That was the first of many lessons that were re-affirmed for me last night in that gorgeous shul in Manhattan.

Last night I learned that Hashem wants to hear our regrets and open our hearts to Him and in turn He will embrace us wholly.

I learned that King Yoshiyahu was unique and significant because he said “Alai L’hakim”, that he would take it upon himself to sustain the Torah in his generation by spreading it to each Jew.

I learned that each Jew has a responsibility to provide his fellow Jew with strength, inspiration and encouragement.

I learned that what defines a person is their soul, not their job.

I learned that the proper response to “what are you?” is “Ivri Anochi”, “I am a Jew” and that every action in my life is dictated by that knowledge.

I learned that just because a person cannot afford a first-class ticket does not mean he is not first-class.

I learned that a Jew is conspicuous to all, and that we cannot hide our true identity from anyone, therefore we must act in a way to sanctify G-D's name.

I learned that a truly great person is one who can humble himself to truly and sincerely say, I’m sorry.

I learned the value of time, that in two minutes you can change someone’s life.

I learned that what you do tomorrow cannot make up for what you lost today.

I learned that intelligence is when you realize you have a soul and you understand that you will one day have to return it to G-D.