Just One More Snooze

My daily morning routine goes something like this: 
Alarm rings at 7:15. Snooze. 7:20, *ring* *ring*. Snooze. 7:25, *ring* *ring*. Snooze. And so on until 8:05 sometimes 8:10 and mornings like today when my eyelids just would not stay open then 8:20.
To me "snooze" was probably the best morning invention ever made but also the worst. Especially being that my snooze is only for five minutes. There's always that same thought process that goes through my head- its just ONE more snooze! What harm can be caused by pressing it just one more time and getting an extra five minutes of dozing. Thing is those seemingly innocent "five" minutes usually turn into 5x20!
Procrastination. 
A lot of us will be quick to say, me? A procrastinator?! Never! But truth is, how many times are we told to do something or know there's stuff to be done and think to ourselves "just one more snooze!" I mean will it REALLY make a difference if I help my mother now or in five minutes; but like my alarm clock proves to me every morning, five minutes can turn to an hour extremely fast!
So next time you're tempted to press that snooze button- Ehh, ill Daven later Hashem's not going anywhere. I'll help my friend with that project tomorrow; it is due in like three weeks! Don't give in and instead go for the "dismiss alarm" option and do what needs to be done. As Benjamin Franklin said, "You may delay, but time will not."

Shake It Off and Step Up

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule braying or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back he should shake it off and step up. This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up.

It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him actually blessed him all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

That’s life. If we face our problems and respond to them positively and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity, the adversities that come along to bury us usually have within them the potential to benefit and bless us! Remember that forgiveness, faith, prayer, praise and hope all are excellent ways to “shake it off and step up” out of the wells in which we find ourselves.

Jewish Power

The following is a Rebbe story I read recently and want to share:

Rabbi Zalman Serebryanski, a senior chassid from Russia and dean of the Lubavitch Rabbinical College in Melbourne, Australia, once brought a girl to Rabbi Chaim Gutnick. "Please, help this girl convert," he asked.

Rabbi Gutnick listened to the girl's story. She lived in Balaclava, and from her youth had felt a strong attraction to Judaism. Whenever she heard stories of the Holocaust, she was deeply touched. She had been reading and studying about Judaism for a long time, and now wanted to convert.

Rabbi Gutnick was moved by her sincerity. Nevertheless, he did not want to perform the conversion. The girl was still living at home with her non-Jewish parents. Would she be able to practice Judaism in her parents' home? Would her interest continue as she matured into adulthood? Since he could not answer these questions, he decided to let time take its course. If the girl was still interested when she was older, she could convert then.

Rabbi Gutnick's refusal plunged the girl into deep depression, to the extent that she had to be confined to a hospital. The elder Reb Zalman, stirred by the depth of her feelings, continued to visit her from time to time.

After several weeks, he called Rabbi Gutnick, telling him of the girl's condition and asking him whether perhaps he would change his mind because of the strength of her feelings.

Rabbi Gutnick answered that the reasons which had dissuaded him from performing the conversion were still valid. Nevertheless, he promised to write to the Lubavitcher Rebbe describing the situation. If the Rebbe advised him to facilitate her conversion, he would happily comply.

Reb Zalman told the girl that the Rebbe was being consulted, and her condition improved immediately.

Rabbi Gutnick did not receive an immediate reply to his letter. But at a later date, at the end of a reply to another issue, the Rebbe added: "What's happening with the Jewish girl from Balaclava?"

Rabbi Gutnick was surprised. The girl and Reb Zalman had both made it clear that her family was Anglican!

He and Reb Zalman went to confront the girl's mother. At first, she continued to insist that she was Anglican, but as the sincerity of the two rabbis impressed her, she broke down and told her story. She had been raised in an Orthodox Jewish home in England. As a young girl, she had rebelled against her parents and abandoned Jewish life entirely, marrying a gentile and moving to Australia. She had not given Judaism a thought since. She loved her daughter, however, and would not oppose her if she wished to live a Jewish life.

Once the girl's Jewishness was established, Rabbis Serebryanski and Gutnick helped her feel at home in Melbourne's Lubavitch community. She continued to make progress in her Jewish commitment, and today is a teacher in a Lubavitch school.

But Rabbi Gutnick still had a question: How did the Rebbe know she was Jewish? At his next yechidut (audience with the Rebbe) he mustered the chutzpah to ask.

The Rebbe replied that, at Reb Zalman's urging, the girl had also written him a letter. "Such a letter," the Rebbe declared, "could only have been written by a Jewish girl."

As Jews we carry a huge responsibility. Everywhere we go people can tell we are Jewish. It's our job to decide what they think about these "Jewish" people. The way we dress, act, talk, walk, is so important for we represent an entire nation. We also need to realize and understand how lucky and privileged we are to carry such a great honor. We should hold our Judaism with great joy and pride as we go out into the physical world and reveal each spark of G-dliness.

All Equal? No. All Important? Yes!

In this week's Parsha we see yet another troubling story. 
The story of Korach. 
One of the main things that upset Korach and caused his rebelling against Moshe and ultimately him being swallowed into the ground was his misunderstanding of role play. He was upset at Moshe, that he was a "leader" when he felt like we should all be equal. What he failed to see is that the beauty of Yiddishkrit lies in our system of role play. What makes it "work" is precisely because we are NOT all equal. We are all unique individuals each with out own unique specific mission. Whether your mission is to be Kohen Gadol or the farmer that gives his Bikkurim to the Kohen you are just as important. One can not fulfill his mission without the other. This was Korach's misunderstanding. 
Each and every one of us can help repent for Korach's sin by recognizing and utilizing to the fullest our mission. Never, ever feel as though you are not important or just one of a million because Hashem has given YOU a specifically designed mission that no one but yourself can accomplish. Remember that!
Shabbat Shalom :)

The Power of Music

Music is the pen of the soul.
Music is what feeling sounds like.
Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.
Music expresses that which cannot be put into in words, and cannot remain silent.
Music is the universal language of mankind.

Music is a whole lot more than a good rhythm. Music is a whole language. A whole world.

Music has the power to reach into your soul and grip it so tight.
When releasing its hold, you feel emotions you didn't even know you possessed.
The intricate compilation of notes and then the instrumentals that carry it out have a way of really touching us very deeply.

I saw first hand the potency of music last night.

A close friend of mine recently got married and another one of our friends hosted a Sheva Brochos for her at her house. We were all having a wonderful time there. There was great food, drinks, company when in walked in about three or four Heimishe guys carrying various instruments. Not sure if they were hired for the event or maybe friends of the Chosson I just sat and watched to see what would happen. They began to play and sing and slowly all the males at the meal got up and began to dance. At the center of them stood my friend’s (who hosted the event) father. He had a smile from ear to ear as he clapped and danced along with the guys.

Watching the scene I couldn’t help but smile and almost wish I could join in. The energy these guys brought into the house was amazing.

I was kind of curious though. Where did these guys come from?

A few minutes later my friend walked in and explained.

Her father has been going through dialysis. This group of guys came to visit every so often and would play and sing for him which brought him lots of joy. He has been suffering with a kidney disease for a few years now and had just been told some promising news. This group of guys, having no idea there was even a Sheva Brochos going on, came over to celebrate.

I turned to watch and was filled with such an immense joy and happiness.

Happy for my newly wedded friend.

Happy for this incredible news.

And most importantly happy that Hashem put such people in this world. Such guys who with their talent for music and love for another Yid came and strongly impacted so many people.


I want to take this time to give a big Refuah Sheleimah to Reuven Leib Ben Sheindel Tzivia Yocheved, he should have a full, speedy and healthy recovery!!!

Here are a couple pictures I took (not very clear unfortunately) as well as I took on my blackberry a few second video clip and uploaded it privately to YouTube, the link for that is here: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUSSN3EaHlg

I personally love to have background music to listen to at work. Two great Jewish music stations to listen to are http://jewishbroadcast.com/  and http://yidlive.com/ as well as http://www.chabad.org/ has an entire audio section with a great selection of music and Niggunim to listen to.

If You See a Friend Without a Smile; Give Him One of Yours

The following article was sent to me awhile ago and I recently came across it again. No matter how many times I've read it, it touches and inspires me each time. 

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends’ tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives.“ He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out he lived near me so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends. He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him and my friends thought the same of him.
Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!" He just laughed and handed me half the books.
Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship.
Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous. Today was one of those days.
I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said.
As he started his speech he cleared his throat and began. "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends...I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story."
I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met.  He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize its depth. Never underestimate the power of your actions.
With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. G-d puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for G-d in others.

The story pretty much speaks for itself and what a powerful lesson for us to take through life.  One has no idea the power of even the smallest of gestures. Try it today; ask someone how their day is going, giving a dollar to the homeless man on the street, or even just smile at the cashier at your local grocery. Never undervalue your abilities!

Hear no Evil, Speak no Evil, See no Evil.

In some form or another we are all victims of it.

We create it, speak it, hear it, and spread it. We get hurt by it, cause unnecessary drama in our life because of it yet somehow can’t get enough of it.

Gossip.

Just one word, six letters, yet an eternity of meaning.

Mishlei brings a very interesting quote, “B’efes etzim tikbeh aish u’vein nirgan yishtok madon.” Which literally translated means: “Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossiper a quarrel dies down.” A fire goes out as soon as there is nothing more to burn, and conflicts end as soon as there is no more hearsay spread.

Lashon hara is unfortunately one of the toughest Aveiros to withhold from. Most people don’t even realize just how much of their daily talk is in fact gossip.

Although it is very tempting to pass on juicy news or to listen in on a scandalous conversation stop and think, do I really need to listen to this? Do I really need to share this piece of information that I know can potentially harm someone?

A good way to slow down the gossip is by dedicating a  specific time each day, it can be as little as ten or fifteen minutes, in which you know you will not talk any Lashon Hara. The problem with gossiping is we’re not inherently malicious people looking to destroy others lives. It really comes down to a lack of realization that what you are saying or listening to is unnecessary gossip that could potentially really hurt someone. So taking that time to just be conscious of the fact that you are not going to idle talk is a huge step in eventually getting to a lifestyle where you don’t need to or want to talk about other people.

That extra few seconds to think before you act and those few minutes of intentionally withholding can really make the world of a difference!

Life isn't about Waiting for the Storm to Pass, it's about Learning to Dance in the Rain.

Lesson of the Spies

This week’s Parsha is Shelach, distinctively known as the Parsha of the Miraglim. This is one of the most troubling stories we find in Jewish history. We know that upon the Yidden’s request Moshe allowed a group of spies to go and scope out the land of Eretz Yisroel before the Jews would enter it. Upon returning to Moshe and the Jews they came bearing the terrible news of giants inhabiting the land as to which the Jews respond by declaring that they’d prefer to go back to Egypt! This is mind boggling. How is it possible after witnessing possibly the greatest miracles of all time that they could have such a lack of faith?! Did they not first hand witness all that G—d is capable of?! There are many answers brought down by commentators but one of the simpler almost obvious answers is the following.

What it came down to at the end of the day was their feelings of indifference and lack of appreciation. The Yidden, having just experienced miracle after miracle got used to this notion, as if daily occurrences of waters splitting and extreme plagues hitting their enemy was the norm. They got so used to this miraculous lifestyle they were living they didn’t stop and appreciate just how extraordinary and great life actually was. While we can sit and judge and question how on earth they could behave in such a manor if we stop to think about it we are not very different than the Yidden then. Many of us are unfortunately victims of such a mindset ourselves. We experience day to day miracles in our lives that we just take for granted. The fact that I wake up every morning, have food to eat, clothes to put on my back, family, friends, a job, these are all miracles! Do you know how many people unfortunately don’t have such things?! Taking it one step further think about yourself. When you do a favor for someone and it goes unappreciated what kind of feelings does that stir up in you? How about when you are appreciated, when you’re given thanks and given praise? Not only do you feel good about what you did but it makes you want to do more for that person.

Luckily for us we are given Davening. All we need to do is to take that half hour of our day and acknowledge to G-d that we are aware of all that he does. Keep this in mind next time you’re Davening or if you don’t have the luxury to Daven daily than just stop and take even five minutes. Think about and appreciate all that you have and give thanks to the one who gives it all to you.

Shabbat Shalom!

Just Surrender

Today's Tanya talks about the famous concept of all that Hashem created being created from nothing. This concept as explained is not one our limited minds can actually grasp. What we can however grasp and mediate on is the concept of just how impressive G-d really is. Thinking about and truly delving into it can really leave one feeling humbled and awed by Hashem's greatness. Feeling such feelings of humility can really make or break one's day. When trivial obstacles come your way and you want to throw your hands up in despair think about that greatness and just surrender. Realize that if He could create something from absolute nothingness than surely He's got some sort of bigger plan going on for you.


I found this particular sentence to be a good one to read and reflect on:

ואף שבאמת אינו דבר בפני עצמו, אלא כמו התפשטות האור מהשמש

Although, in reality, [the created being] has no independent existence, and is only like the diffusion of the light from the sun,

Just as the sun’s rays are merely a diffusion from the sun, so, too, all of creation is but a diffusion of G‑d’s activating force. Since, however, created beings are continuously found within their source (unlike the sun’s rays which do leave their source), their Divine source should cause them to be completely nullified within it, just as the light of the sun is in a state of complete nullification when found within the sun.

Not Just Another Birthday

I’m starting to find that the older I get the less significant birthdays become. What once was a date that had a “65 days, 16 hours, 33 minutes, 15 seconds, and 5 nano-seconds” countdown the days proceeding it is now pretty much just another date on the calendar. Not to sound like I’m complaining because on the contrary this birthday proved to be one of my best birthdays yet. It’s more of a perspective thing where you realize that it’s more than just a day to get presents and eat cake (although there's nothing wrong with a bit of that!) As Frum Lubavitchers we grew up learning the Horoahs of the Rebbe as to what one should do on their birthday. Amongst the list and probably one of the more important ones is the concept of making a Hahchlata, a resolution. One is committing to take on a new good deed for that coming year. As every birthday comes and goes I try and fulfill this obligation, be it a big take on or something small. Some years it lasts a month, others almost a full year, and even some that I still do today. This year as I thought about it I decided I want it to be different. I want to really take upon something that I’ll stick to. But more than just improving my own life I have this strong desire to help others improve theirs as well. This feeling of wanting to reach out actually came to me a little less than a month ago.

This may sound rash, a bit on the insensitive side, and to some maybe even a little impetuous but dig deep inside yourself and you'll see where I come from. We human beings are creatures of habit. And as habit happen to be by most of us, we’re naturally selfish. No one’s first and obvious desire is to please others. If it happens to be while doing so you're somehow benefiting yourself that's one thing, but otherwise we like to revolve everything around ourselves. The things we do, say, act; it’s all about how it makes me feel or what I’m gaining from it. We tend to have a whole lot of “me” and “I” and not so much “you.” And that's normal. It’s why we are brought up to never be content where we are and to constantly strive to perfect ourselves and attain a higher level.

There are though select individuals who defy this human nature. Against all odds they live a life of complete selfless. They posses a level of Ahavas Yisroel that surpasses anything we can ever imagine; a level that's spoken about by many yet practiced by so few. One such individual, who exemplified this rare, earnest, and most genuine love for every single Jew was my grandfather, Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Kagan A"H.

Ten years ago from this past Chof Iyar, my grandfather, Rabbi Y.M. Kagan A”H was taken from this world. After spending the Shabbos of Lag B’omer Farbrenging at the Ohel (something he often did) he was unfortunately killed in a tragic car accident while driving to the airport. More than me losing my grandfather the world lost a rare and cherished soul. We lost a great friend, profound mentor, esteemed teacher, and most importantly a true Chossid. We know there is absolutely no such thing as happenstance. Everything happens for a reason down to the most minute of details. So it is no coincidence that Zaidy’s Yom Hilullah falls out just two days after Lag B'omer. The day that Rabbi Akiva's students ceased to pass away. 24,000 students had been killed and why? All due to a major lack in Ahavas Yisroel. Whilst Lag B’omer leave us with many valuable lessons the most vital, important one is of course Ahavas Yisroel as Hillel HaZakon said when asked to explain the whole Torah on one foot- V’Ahavata Lerecha Kamocha. Who better to teach us this concept than Rabbi Kagan.

Being the mere age of ten years old when he was Niftar I unfortunately don’t have too many memories of him. What I know is what I hear from the countless stories that were told about him, the personal encounters that people have since given over, the articles and books he’s written, and tapes and videos that were put out. The underlying theme, among so many lessons he had to teach, was definitely that of Ahavas Yisroel.
One thing Zaidy was famous for was compiling “A Thought for the Week,”adapted from the works of the Rebbe. Short, sweet, and straight to the point these thoughts on the weekly Parsha became wildly popular and today are commonly said around the Shabbos table.

I’m no author and can't write nor talk as eloquently as my grandfather but in wanting to keep his legacy alive and doing something to make him proud I have started this blog titled, “A Thought for the Day.”  Most of us B”H are consumed with busy lives. Between work, school, kids and just life in general things can get pretty hectic and especially as we get older and don’t necessarily have the luxury to sit and learn all day it’s important to get at least a small, daily “dose” of G-dliness and spirituality. So every day (or at least that’s my goal) I will post a small thought, nothing mind blowing or too complex, just a small something to think about throughout the day. If even just one person reads it and takes it in, my Hachlata will be fulfilled. May we all be Zoche that by my next birthday we will all be celebrating in Yerushalayim with the Rebbe and Zaidy!