Here’s a thought:
It all goes back to the very first Friday of history when Adam and Eve were created in the afternoon. On that first day, they were commanded that until nightfall they were not to eat from the fruit of one tree, the Tree of Knowledge. The mystics teach that the fruit of this tree were grapes, a fruit that contains the potential for great good and great evil. Over a glass of wine relationships are made and lost, lives are enhanced and destroyed, hopes are created and dashed. It is the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eating from the tree was only prohibited until nightfall that day. Once Shabbos came in, they were allowed to eat from the fruit. But they did not wait. We correct this mistake each Friday night by making Kiddush over wine or grape juice. It reminds us that we can only truly enjoy the pleasures of this world if we can also defer our enjoyment. If you can wait, then you are the master of your desires. However, if you can't, then you are slave to them. The key to being a worthy person is the ability to control yourself. It starts with the way we eat, and extends to every choice we make. It lifts us above our base desires and empowers us to be masters over ourselves and reach for a higher calling. Menachem Mendel Bluming and Rabbi Moss taken from Shach al Hatorah, quoted in Likkutei Torah Kedoshim 29a
0 Comments
Emunah is much more than hope or faith it is TRUST. Trust transcends hope, as the sky above transcends the earth below.
A thread of hope is an anchor to the ground, a narrow path you’ve set for destiny to lead you. The thread snaps and your eyes look up to see nothing more than the open sky. Hope is gone. All you can do now is trust the One who has no bounds. That is Trust: When you stop suggesting to your Maker how He could rescue you. When you are prepared to be surprised by wonders and open to miracles you've embraced trust. Menachem Mendel Bluming, Rabbi Freeman, Chabad.org Rabbi Menachem Mendel Bluming provides assistance and guidance to Jewish families and individuals throughout Potomac, Maryland, as executive director of the Chabad of Potomac. In addition to his work at the Maryland center, Menachem Bluming provides Jewish and practical advice on a range of topics through the Chabad website that include parenting. This advice covers all nuances of parenthood, including the following tips on air travel with young ones. 1. Let kids move around before boarding. Children can become restless from sitting still for so long during a flight, so let them move around and expel energy while waiting for your boarding time. You can always let babies crawl a bit during this time, especially if you arrive at your gate very early. 2. Request the back of the plane for bassinets. If you cannot acquire a bassinet row, request to sit close to the back for more storage room and places next to the bathroom, making it easier to handle diaper changes and children who need to use the facilities. Additionally, you will likely disturb other passengers less at the back. 3. Bring extra clothing. Always pack extra clothing for yourself and the children, especially for ones with a history of motion sickness. This will provide a change of clothing if something spills or someone misses the sick bag. Remember to also pack plastic bags for soiled clothing. 4. Pack distractions. A backpack of toys and goodies for each child, depending on their age and interests, is a good idea. Consider packing toys without pieces that can get lost, and give each child a pack of crayons. Furthermore, give small children identical snacks in clearly labeled baggies to avoid conflict. 5. Carry extra provisions. Pack extra diapers, bottles, formula, and snacks in case of emergencies or lost items. Split your provisions between your carry-on and your personal bag, which can go under the seat in front of you. This will prevent you from needing to pull items from the overhead compartment. Flying time can be used as quality time for Jewish books and lessons if you prepare in advance and make it fun. Bon voyage! In Las Vegas we were stunned once again by another staggering and grotesque mass murder and the resultant anguish for all those whose lives have been destroyed and irrevocably altered. We are left perplexed and wondering what in the world is going on in our country?
This kind of vicious mass murder is something we have not seen before, certainly not with the frequency that we see it today. Would you believe that there has been a shooter incident somewhere in the country almost every day this year? In the latest tragedy in Las Vegas the killer doesn't seem to even have had a twisted ideological or religious motive. Just wanton murder. Although law enforcement may be baffled in their search for a motive in this case, A general societal shift may have contributed to the perpetration in these kind of atrocious acts. The most dramatic changes in American society over the past seventy five years has been, not in the technological realm (though superficially it may seem so), but rather in the abandonment of absolute values and G-d centered morality. This fundamental change in the underpinnings of society, has over the course of time, permeated every aspect of contemporary society from basic social structures to business, entertainment, and education. This abandonment of G-d and values has weakened our societal foundation and, cumulatively, has laid the ground work that has wreaked this nihilistic havoc upon us. The good news is that, each of us as individuals do have the chance to make G-d centered choices. These singular, individual acts, have the ability to create global positive change. Menachem Mendel Bluming, RSK and Chabad.org |
AuthorRabbi Mendel Bluming also dedicated six years to serving on the board of directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, where he received the Matthew H. Simon Rabbinical Award for exceptional communal leadership. Archives
June 2023
Categories
All
|