The Director

One of the most essential questions human beings wonder, regardless of time or place, is: "What brings happiness, and how do I avoid sadness?"


At first glance, the answer seems to lie on one simple idea: Avoiding pain and unpleasantness. "If I avoid pain, I won't be sad." But as can be seen in our life experiences, this can't be the true answer. Let's take a look at the most human, and most painful, of human experiences: Childbirth. And yet as painful as this experience is, it will be extremely difficult to find a mother who has just given birth, who isn't overcome with an indescribable feeling of joy and contentedness. Clearly, when pain has an underlying meaning and goal behind it, not only is sadness not an outcome; great joy can come! So what causes our sadness and hinders our joy?

To find our answer, let's take a look at the most obvious of sources: The Goliath ride at 6 flags magic mountain. As the ride rises higher and higher, the fear and trepidation mount. Then, at its peak, with a view of the entire Los Angeles skyline, the ride drops at an incredible pace! If you take a look at that moment at the faces of the participants, you will see an odd, paradoxical sight: Looks of sheer terror and joy! How can one possibly be happy at a time like this? Aren't they worried? Well, the ride goers know that there's rules & regulations in place to ensure the safety of the ride. They know that there's constant inspections and oversight, ultimately overseen by a director whose dedication to the well being of the ride goers is paramount.

So too in our lives. When one realizes that there is a Director, an overseer over each event of one's life, than hindrances to joy melt away. Pain, fear, aren't the problems. The problem is that we don't recognize that there is a plan behind it; that there's a director overseeing each aspect of our lives and our ultimate success. That therefore there is meaning behind every one of the challenges and painful experiences we encounter. When we internalize this recognition, when we put faith in trust in our Director, we allow joy to enter our lives, freeing us to ride the roller coaster of life with smiles on our faces.

Shabbat Shalom!

It's Time to Smile!

B"H

"When the month of Adar enters, one must increase in joy." (Talmud - Taanit 29a)


The 12th & last month of the Hebrew calendar is upon us. And that means: it's time to rejoice! Halfway through the month we celebrate the joyous of all holidays - Purim (which will be discussed at length in upcoming emails). In 1991, Saddam Hussein was defeated officially on - you guessed it - Purim day. Mass murderer & Jew hater Josef Stalin, suddenly passed on the 1st day of Adar, in 1953. An auspicious month for sure, but let's take a look at the words of the above phrase from the Talmud: "When the month of Adar enters, one must increase in joy." Why not simply say, "one must be joyful?" To increase implies that one is already joyful, and merely needs to increase it. It comes out from this that the Torah expects us to be joyful at all times!

But how is that possible? True, the 2nd verse in Psalm 100 of King David's Tehillim states: "Ivdu et Hashem B'simcha - serve G-d in joy." And the Code of Jewish law does begin with: "Serve G-d always." So if one must serve G-d in joy, and serve him in every aspect of our lives, 1+1 = 2: we must be joyful at all times, right? Well, between you and I, it ain't always so easy.

Sure, as a kid I was pretty happy. Laughed a lot - not a care in the world. But now the weight of the world is on my shoulders! Health, bills, pressure, relationships - there's a lot to worry about! But perhaps what is needed is to work on a change of perspective. From our narrow viewpoints, we view the world as owing us everything. If something is lacking in my life, it isn't fair. But what's the truth of the matter? Do I really deserve anything? The Torah's point of view takes an opposite approach: Everything I have is merely a gift of kindness from above. And therefore I don't need more, or demand more.

It seems simple enough, but imagine if we awoke everyday and lived like this? The shirt I have, the food I eat, the health I have - is all a gift. Anything and everything, is all from pure kindness. And when one labors at attaining this deeper perspective on life, he or she can also come to appreciate the fragility and lackluster quality of the material. Spirituality, good deeds, Torah wisdom - that's everlasting, for it lives on the spiritual realms which is permanent. Physical attainments ultimately fade away and don't last, so why be so sad when you can't attain them?

May each and every one of us have everything that we need, physically & materially. As the Lubavitcher Rebbe often said: "Our generation's tests should not be in the realm of poverty." We have other struggles. But this perspective mentioned above is still a worthwhile one to repeat in our minds. Ultimately, our sadness at its root stems from a deeper place: Confusion, which comes from a lack of revelation. G-d is hidden; his plan behind our lives and this world not overtly apparent. Confusion leads to a morose feeling. Purim, and the month of Adar, shows G-d's light in the darkness of exile, how even when he hides, it is apparent that He is running the world. G-d's name isn't mentioned even once in Megillat Esther that we read on Purim, but it is completely apparent that he is running the show. May we work to see his fingerprints on creation and in our lives, and how all that we have - is really just a gift - from him to you and I. Imagine if, when you see a friend on Purim wearing a costume mask, you call that person's name, seeing behind his hiding. Then there's no point in hiding anymore. May that time come soon, speedily in our days!

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh tov!

-Daniel

Joy & Love

During this past week, we marked the 17th anniversary of the passing of Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the 7th Rebbe (Spiritual leader) of Chabad Lubavitch. A teacher who guided and mentored a generation of people (see here), there are 2 specific areas that he continually highlighted: To be joyful, and to love every fellow Jew like you love yourself (The Rebbe also preached a love of fellow human beings, but particularly highlighted the special quality of unity among the Jewish people).

A famous story highlights this. Every Sunday in his later years (from the age of 86-92 yrs. old), the Rebbe would stand for hours on end, greeting all comers with a smile and an encouraging word, as well as a dollar for charity. An elderly lady once remarked to him in wonder, "How can you do this!? Don't you ever get tired?" To which the Rebbe responded: "One never gets tired when counting diamonds."

Which reminds me of a question posed to me recently by an elderly Rabbi at a Chassidic gathering. "I don't understand," he said. "If an angel were to appear in this room right now, everyone here would be in awe and wonderment, standing in complete reverence. And yet, Jewish Mysticism teaches that the soul of a Jew derives from the highest of G-dly realms, beyond all angels and supernal beings. So how come we show one another any less reverence or respect?"

Of course, the answer is that physicality hides the G-dly truth contained within it. At least in our mortal viewpoint, if not in the eyes of the Rebbe and other holy giants of our history. The ones who could see the diamonds in the rough - explained the true reality. Now it is up to us to train ourselves to look at the world in such a way.
But how can we if we see different?
And here lies a beautiful directive from the Rebbe that is at once simple, and very powerful: To be joyful. It's not always easy, and one doesn't always feel like putting on a smile and laughing, but beyond the good it does for our emotional health, joy "breaks all barriers" (see here). It helps us to view others favorably and with a kind eye, even if normally we might have not done so. To see the holiness in the people around us. It also helps us look at ourselves with a kind eye. Because "love your neighbor like you love yourself," only works if you love yourself! Not the egotistical type of love, but rather the appreciation for the diamond which is you; the diamond the Rebbe would see. The inner soul which is you.

And once we appreciate that we are diamonds, we can appreciate the diamonds that surround us - no matter how much mud may cover them -they are still diamonds. As Rabbi Piekarski of Del Mar once remarked: "When looking at a star from earth, it looks like the same as all of the others. But if you were to get a closer look, you would see the special, distinct quality of that particular star. So too with every fellow Jew we meet." At 1st glance we may see negativity. But get to know the person, peer deeper, and you may find a diamond.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel

Dancing in Prison

B"H

I want to wish you a happy Passover!

I will be in Estonia next week

G-d Willing, preparing Passover food & stories for the Jewish Estonians there.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to write next week's e-mail there, maybe at some seedy Eastern European internet cafe or something.

Nothing I wouldn't do for you guys! :)

~~~~~~~

There's a great Chassidic story that took place many years ago in a Ukrainian jail.

It involves the 2 holy Rabbis, Reb Elimelech and Reb Zusia, who also happened to be brothers.

These 2 brothers had been walking the streets innocently when they were arrested and thrown into jail for no apparent reason.

Knowing that everything in life was orchestrated by G-d, the brothers accepted their fate with a good spirit.

But during the 1st day of imprisonment, Reb Elimelech noticed that his brother's face appeared downcast.

"What's the matter Zusia?" Eliemelch asked his brother.

"We can't pray to G-d here!" he answered, pointing to the communal toilet in the room used by the prisoners.

Jewish law states that one is forbidden to recite holy words of prayer next to such foul smelling secretion.

"How can I enjoy any moment of my day

when I can't be serving my G-d!"

"But my brother," Reb Elimelech replied gently,

"the same G-d that Desires your prayers, also Desires that you not pray in such a situation. You are serving Him."

Reb Zusia's frown slowly began to turn into a wide grin.

"You're completely right!"

Grabbing his brother by the arm, Reb Zusia began dancing around the room with him, singing with joy.

The other prisoners, attracted by the joyous dancing and singing, began to dance and sing themselves.

The vicious prison guards rushed to the scene and asked the first prisoner they saw the meaning of all of this joy.

The prisoner pointed to the toilet and told them it had "something to do with that."

"If that's the case, we'll get rid of their joy immediately!" The guards quickly grabbed the waste bucket and removed it from the room.

~~~~~~~~~~

Simcha poretz geder - "Joy breaks all barriers" - is a classic saying of our Sages. To "think good, and it will truly become good."

By approaching life with optimism and a joyful demeanor, in whatever situation is thrown at us, Kabbalah teaches us that we are able to cause above that G-d Wants to

Give us an openly favorable outcome! (We know that all G-d Does to us is good, but not always apparent good from our viewpoint down here).

As we leave the month of joy, Adar, and enter the month of redemption, Nissan, let's remember to always approach life and its

obstacles and challenges with a smile. And like Reb Zusia and Reb Elimelech, we may yet see the open and revealed good

that comes from our optimism.

Shabbat Shalom!

Daniel

A secret to Joy in Life

Hoping this email reaches you in good health and happy spirits!

There's something surprising many people don't know about. I don't know why that is, but I want you to know
that 1 of the fundamental, most important aspects of our service to G-d (& very much important in our own lives) is happiness-serving
G-d with joy. Many Jews go to synagogue. Unfortunately, sometimes it's only on days like Yom Kippur (the most solemnn day of the yr.), and they end up skipping out on Purim, Sukkot, and all of the other very fun days in our calendar.
Judaism, the life of a Jew, must always be approached with Joy. But that's not always so easy....

There is an extremely effective way our sages teach us to be happy: To know, and always remind ourselves, that EVERYTHING we see
and everything that occurs in our lives, is "Hashgacha Pratis"-Divine Providence. G-d isn't Hanging out in heaven watching the world; rather
He Runs everything that occurs to every individual-from your near car crash to the stubbing of your toe! (Even Einstein said: "I am convinced that God does not play dice (with the world").
Chassidic Philosophy (Jewish Mysticism) goes a step further, and teaches us that G-d even Decides the direction in which each and every leaf falls from a tree!
Meaning, that our whole day is run by G-d-He Helps us and we must know always that He's running the show. Therefore: "Damn, I'm stuck in traffic! It's just not fair!" Could rather be: "for some reason, G-d Decided this should be. It must therefore really be for my best benefit." Who knows, maybe in free-flowing traffic you were supposed to be in a car accident? (G-d Forbid :)
How do we know though that G-d Truly Runs everything in the world, and that he even cares about us and our little, minute daily lives?!
The stories abound; both that I've heard, and that have occurred to me in my own life-things too coincidental...
these miracles enclothed in nature that happen to us from time to time, are signs to us that EVEN the boring day-to-day activities are overseen and run by G-d! It's like when you walk into Sears and you hear a beautiful piano melody playing. You think it's 1 of those pianos that are automated to play on their own. Then you hear a mistake. Now you realize there was Someone behind playing the melody the whole time.
These "glitches" in our lives is the open divine providence, that shows us that G-d Was really behind everything the whole time. We just have to be sensitive enough to notice them and thank G-d who helps our every step "i n his heart a man plans his course but the Lord directs his steps."

Through recognizing G-d's Hand throughout our day, we can be calmer and more joyful in our lives.

Shabbat Shalom!
-Daniel