A video to inspire your day!

B"H

Dear Friends & family, I hope this e-mail finds you in good health
& spirits (and if not, may this email improve them!) May you all have great success for this coming year
& a Shabbat Shalom!

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WHEN Adam and Chava were created, the Torah states: "Va-yaniche-u B'gan Eden, L'avdah U'leshamra"-And G-d Placed them in the Garden of Eden, to work it and guard it."
Our souls were brought down to this physical world, placed here to work the land, to make it into a better place. We are "gardeners" - placed here to beautify this world, and make it a dwelling place for Hashem. To sit in yeshiva (like I am ;) is only a preparation to do this; it isn't the essential point. The reason for our birth and preservation in this world, is to go out into the world and affect it positively; to be a "light unto the nations." All peoples have this job, but us Jews we're primarily entrusted to be examples of goodness and spread light; starting from Abraham and continuing at the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai - until today. To go out of the closed walls of our personal comfort zone, and retain our inner values and morals takes courage, but we can do it!

SO with this in mind, I have attached here a few videos that exemplify this; of being a "Kiddush Hashem" - Sanctifying G-d's Name and spreading kindness and warmth to the world around us. I'm primarily a visual person, so I love videos which I feel oftentimes can speak louder then words. Over the years I have seen some very nice, very inspirational ones. Here are some I thought you may like; Short, but extremely powerful and inspirational. Choose one to watch, it's worth it! (I listed them in order of my liking ;)



1) Chabad Principal goes to Bronx & revives school (I know this guy, he's amazing):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKnRumG-GME

2) Matisyahu: a) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-aAZT15eHc
b) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgIy5H8ohYU

3) Man gives millions to unemployed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YcWLXBXaD8

I have to run for Shabbat, but be well everyone, and I hope to see you all here in yerushalayim very soon!

Daniel
Jerusalem, Israel

The King's Coming to Town Baby!

B"H

Hey everyone, I hope this e-mail finds you in healthy and happy spirits!
You know, living in Jerusalem while learning deep, sacred texts of Jewish thought, and meeting and hearing from so many special people from all around every day, I learn many inspiring life lessons. It's therefore very hard for me to choose 1 to try and give over once every week or 2 in this email. But I appreciate any of you who read them and share them, and to those who send me feedback. Thanks a lot and I hope you enjoy them!


Imagine you could meet your king. Imagine you were hanging out with friends on a simple Wednesday afternoon, and the king walked into your very room.
Imagine no more...

The last month of the Jewish year (which begins on Friday) is called 'Elul.' Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi explains the special opportunity we are given in this month to connect to G-d, with the following parable:

A King decides to leave his palace, leave his large city, and enter the fields where the simple farmers work. There, ALL are able to come and meet the King, who embraces them with a shining and happy countenance.
The mystics teach us that 'Elul' is an acronym in Hebrew for: 'Ani Le'dodi Ve'dodi Li' - "I am to my Beloved, and My Beloved is to me." (When soccer star David Beckham found out he had some Jewish roots, he tattoed these words on his arm. Warning: I'm not implying this..;)
These words signify the reality which is this month of Elul. G-d, our King, "comes to our field" - He Becomes Much more accessible to us - "My Beloved is to me." When we try to connect, it meets with more success. But like the parable of the simple people going out to greet their King, we also have to put in some sort of extra effort to reach out to our King - "I am to my Beloved." And our King is Excitedly Anticipating our coming, with a shining Countenance. Let's seize this amazing opportunity in this auspicious month before the High Holidays (which our mystics describe as the time when we leave the field together and enter into the actual palace, alone with our King.)
But let's not forget the special quality that this month has, that of the King Being with us in the simle "field." For these 30 days Hashem Becomes more apparent to us WHEREVER we are holding in life, low or high, field or palace. Most of us are field people; we aren't always that lofty and righteous. But regardless of where we stand, the King Ventures to us in our field, ready to connect on our level. All we have to do is greet him.

Good luck and have a great month!

Daniel
Jerusalem, Israel
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May you be inscribed & Sealed for a good & sweet year!
Remember: Your next deed will change the world. Make it a good one!

Adam Sandler & Spiritual Survival

B"H

This past week, at our yeshiva's end-of-summer banquet, Rabbi Shlomo Shwartz (fondly known by his Santa Monica faithful as "Shwartzy") spoke. Among other points, Shwartzy mentioned how he used to have a weekly learning session on Judaism with Adam "Chaim Rafael" Sandler. During the course of one of their discussions, conversation veered towards the subject of money. Adam told Shartzy: "Money?! I make lots of it and I'm depressed. The happiest day of my week is when I'm here learning with you..."

The Talmud relates that there was a time when anyone caught teaching Torah by the Romans would be put to death. Yet Rabbi Akiva persisted teaching Torah to children. Those around him tried to reason w/ him, saying: "If you continue, you'll surely be killed! Those you teach might be killed as well! If you stop though, at least there's a chance of survival!"
Rabbi Akiva smiled and replied:"Let me explain with a parable.
There was once a fox resting by a river. Peering into the water, the fox saw a group of fish looking very worried. "What's the problem?" asked the fox. "There are fishermen waiting to catch us by the edge of the river!" "OK," said the fox after some thought, "I have a plan. Jump on my back and I'll secretly take you to the other end of the river, and drop you back in past the fisherman." The fish laughed at him and said: "I thought you foxes were sly?! If we leave the water, we'll perish for sure! We can't survive without water! If we stay in the water, at least we have a chance at survival..."
"Torah," Rabbi Akiva concluded, "is the water of the Jewish people. It's our spiritual life force."

This lesson proves true for both Jew and non-Jew alike. We all have souls, and these souls need nourishment, just like our bodies need, albeit a more spiritual nourishment. Divine Wisdom, as found in our Torah works in abundance, both practical and mystical, is essential to our daily living as content, caring and purposeful human beings.

"But so many seem to be happy and content, as they exit the malls and clubs laughing together, w/out anything deeper?"

A fish looks happy when he's taken out of the water as well, jumping and flailing around. But he's dying. True joy and contentment is found when one nourishes one's soul; not just one's body.
May we all have much success, both in the physical and spiritual realms!
Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel
Nicè, France

P.S. To check out an artist who blends the spiritual well with today's world, see Matisyahu's new music video, very nice:
Matisyahu "One Day