Rays of light

Rays of light emanated from Moshe Rabeinu's face/forehead. Where did they come from? In one opinion of the medrash, a drop of ink was left over from ksivas sefer torah. Hashem wiped this on Moshe's forehead and....voila! What does this mean? The Or Hachaim Hakadosh asks surely Hashem knows how much ink is needed? and answers that..Moshe had to write that he was humbler than anyone on the face of the earth, and could not bring himself to...in its completeness..and therefore wrote the word 'chaser', (instead of ayin-nun-yud-vav, left out the yud). that accounts for the extra drop of ink and is the ultimate prototype of 'boraech min hakavod', one who flees honour, has it chase and catch up with him.
They say of one of the great mashgichim of Europe (think it was Alter of Slobodka), that he said that his ambition was to go through life making as little an impression as possible. Compare that with our current pop icons!
Such is the case in the 'kavanos ha-Blog'.
Are we trying to make an impression or vent (might be therapeutic) or add something good to the world....

Purim

The table- red and royal. Extravagant. The menu- perfectly beautiful, delicious, yet practical

(most guests will be too drunk to appreciate anything complex)

Mishloach Manos- inexpensive yet tasteful...

My family all made up sweet and lovely..

My child, so delighted with the pantomime, the perfect dream-like fantasy of today

Watch his face, his eyes when he takes it all in
The colours, the children, the streets of Yeruhalayim are so bright

Feel the goodness, the giving..

Put smiles on people's faces..

Can you?

Use all your energy- physical, emotional- your creativity, to create a day so joyous and free

Can you relax, let go, invite them all in, and sit and watch and enjoy

Discover the beauty of truth in release, inhibitions dissolved, appearances set aside

Be brave, be yourself. Fell full, feel free, feel confident to enjoy...

Can you relinquish all expectation, and simply welcome all that happens today

A mitzvah of feasting, celebrating, partying. A holiday steeped in mystery- and revelation.

A holiday so suited to today.

Dark, disconnected days- but we know its meaning is simple hidden

For now

Purim has always been my favourite..

When I finally feel peace, harmony, symmetry

In the seeming chaos, and lack of order.

From the past, to the future

Just one day

Fall into it

Let go

Experience it fully

Enjoy

:)

The Dude

This was the title of a Time mag article describing Rick Rubin, 43 years old, a big, affable, laid-back, big-bearded guy described as a ZZTop type, he's riding a major wave of success. He is currently the biggest-by-far producer of hit albums in the world including almost everyone who's hit it big lately and includes a number of artists and groups whose work I am totally unfamiliar with. He's almost a cert to win the Grammy for Best Producer.

I love reading success stories, but when the guy seems like a truly nice guy, I like it even better. More than that, this is a guy who has a different style! While some others will pressure artists to perform even at 'gun-point' (believe it or not!), Rubin believes in approaching things from the entirely human point of view. He talks to his artists, believes in them, treats them as he would any human being and says,

'I don't see what's so difficult about this job'!

What does it entail after all?!

Making sure that very talented people produce what they do best!

Aha! Therein lies the secret. His genius....managing people....

They're all just people, with insecurities and baggage and all kind of stuff (especially these artists, can you just imagine!) They need encouragement, a sympathetic ear, a genuine interest in who they are and what they have to offer.

And so with the education of our children and so with our employees, co-workers, employers, students and even so with our spouses. Are you listening? Are you showing respect? Are you being considerate of where they're coming from?

That's how we manage people, children, friends and family...

3 cheers to him and may he go from strength to strength and make lots of money...and us too.

Speak no evil....

In this age of Blogging, where everyone has an opinion and gets to stand on his soapbox without so much as walk to the park, there's something that we should remember....

'Not everything that you think, need you say..

not everything that you say, need be written...

not all that is written should be printed...

and not all that is printed should be read....'

(ascribed to Rav Yisroel Salanter)

Over Spilt Milk

Rabbi Dr Abraham Twerski, in his book 'Generation to Generation' tells a great 'vort' that he heard from his father. Why is there a minhag to eat 'farfel' on a friday night? From the yiddishe word 'verfalen', which is 'fallen' or 'lost', as in 'too bad, lets move on'. As you know from me, one of my favorite expressions, 'veiter!'; 'lets move forward! Onward Jewish soldiers!'.

Why on a Friday night? Because we are supposed to view the world then as complete, done, all work for the world completed, and happy with the lot that Hashem has placed upon us....and so we say 'what was, was; if there was a loss or disappointment during the week...veiter!'

Like the Serenity prayer, 'lets fix and address what can be fixed, leave well alone that which is beyond us & of course, the wisdom and insight to decide the difference between them'.

Gut Shabis

Luv u

Abba

Dignity

[I found this picture after I wrote this post. I didn't mean to be so INTENSE! But isn't it a fantastic pic??]

Abba. That is the best definition for the word Tiferes that I ever heard. I'm somewhat obsessed with the definitions of words- especially "Hebrew Terms". English is what we speak and what speaks to us!
I think that's why I (and you, maybe) make fun (or scream about!) those fefrrrumte folk we all know! Because somewhere inside us, we're not sure if anybody truly knows what these words mean...?
Emes Sheker Yetzer Tov Yetzer Hora Tznius Anova Gevura Baal Teshuva Chassidishe Litvishe Heimishe Yiddishe Gevaldige Meshiganneh!

In any event, I just remembered one of my favourite things I ever heard you say ( although I have many many favourites) which is that-
The definition of Emunah is Awareness
I think about it all time. It's the only thing that ever helped me to understand what Emunah means.
Abba have a good Shabbos!
FERFALEN

Tiferes

RB, I've been thinking about it....I'll tell you what exactly you're supposed to do with all that free time....answer is....anything you like....as long as its of the utmost Dignity.

Great word that; connotes a quality of spirit; Tiferes.

If a man can live that, he is living an existence of supreme quality and all of his thoughts and actions are elevated...

love you

Abba

Rip Van Winkel

The Daf (daily talmud study) of yesterday has the remarkable precedent of the 'Rip Van Winkel' story. Choni Hama'agel (a righteous individual of Talmudic fame) wondered at the passage in Psalms that says "we were as dreamers" (referring to the 70 years that the Jews spent in Babylonian exile). He said, "can one sleep for 70 years?!".

He then observed a man planting a Carob tree and asked the man, "when will that tree produce fruit?" "In 70 years", he answered. "You won't even be here!" "Yeah, but somebody planted the one that I get the fruits from, 70 years ago, shouldn't I do the same?"

Choni then ate and fell asleep for 70 years. When he awoke he observed somebody eating from the tree. He inquired as to the identity of the individual, to be told that he was the grandson of Choni. "Must be I slept for 70 years!", he observed.

Even though he was accorded great respect by the scholars of the time, they did not believe that he was the same Choni who had disappeared all those years before. Sensing that he had nothing further to contribute, he prayed that he should die and did.

Perhaps this is our 'killing-time' syndrome. When we wish we were somewhere else in time, space or circumstances, we are 'as dreamers'. Choni wanted to see the results of his investment of time and energy, only to discover that he had nothing to add in a different time and space. Every moment that we live, even though we often cannot see the effect thereof, has an enormous impact. We should never wish/dream it away. On the contrary, we have to embrace every moment, the good ones and the bad ones and the dreary and boring and hurting and tired ones and realize that they are just part of the bigger picture we are in the process of creating....

The Wife/ Mom/ Woman Syndrome

Yes, I agree very much- What should we do with all this time on our hands?? I think it is especially true for women in general, and for me in particular. Men always have a mitzva to be learning... and women? Well, there's the husband and the kids, shopping, cleaning, cooking, laundry... it never ends. For many women, especially in Israel, it's challenging enough to keep up with all this.
(Adding in a couple of shiurim, some shidduch work- not sure what else they do! Neshei projects?!)

But. Truthfully, keeping house does not have to be so over-whelming- it certainly is not for me!
Not a full-time job, and not 100% fulfilling either.

So what to do with:

a. brains in our heads

b. feet in our shoes

c. time on our hands!!!

the Cossacks

Hi Daughter

my thoughts on the subject go something like this....

We have too much leisure time on our hands. This goes without saying. In the 'heim' there was a lot of abject poverty. The husband was scratching around for work or trying to fulfill the complement due the 'porutz'. The wife was milking the cow and cleaning the house and looking after the kids, etc (she always has more to do...).

They were both trying to avoid the next marauding cossack and therefore she was relieved to have a live husband with all limbs intact at the end of the day. No time for speculation over here....I should have married the other guy/girl is one of the most oft-quoted or thought catch-phrases of the 20/21 century....

Generally, Big Mistake....

Firstly, who knows, might be the same or a lot worse.

Secondly, the change entails enormous baggage (especially if there are kids involved).

Thirdly, G-d chose for me. Don't interfere with the plot unless you have extremely good cause to do so.

More on this another time.

Catch you later.

Luv

Abba

Thank you and Yes!

Abbs
Thank you
No it was not terrible at all! I always love listening to you! I miss reading your Fortune and Time magazine- after you have opened it- of course!
There are definitely up's and down's.. I know that's how it goes.. But when I'm down- I'm very down, when I'm up- I'm very up and when I'm bad- I'm horrid!
Yes, you can definitely help... as always. I find it hard to talk sometimes- writing comes easier.
You've told me before that you used to get depressed on Mondays. How?! In my mind, you are the busiest, most accomplished man I know! You never stop going 'veiter', I find it hard to imagine a depressed Abba.
Have a good Shabbos and thank you.
I love you
Love Me

From Abba

Hi
This from my last Fortune magazine:
'Last summer Wanda Ferragamo ordered a special gift for her 22 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. The fashion-family matriarch took a plastic Weeble, the egg-shaped doll that wobbles but doesn't fall down, and had it recast as foot-tall artisinal silver statues. Hand soldered lace curled around 45 bellies. "My Dears", read the inscribed dedication, "regain your balance and cntinue straight on the path of principles and moral rectitude shown to you."

She's quiet a lady, Italian 80-year old woman who took over her husband's shoe business when he died in 1960 and built it into a multi-million dollar company.

I don't have to tell you how silly this is. I want to be able to have a dialog with you rather. Can I communicate by email? I would like to send you something every day and you reply...might even turn into a best-seller.

I don't have to tell you this (or do I?). Life is not exciting every day. Mondays are especially bad, maybe Sunday in Israel. Slowly, after years of practice, my Mondays are not as bad anymore. It's like the first ten of 30 push-ups. You resolve to weather it is based on the knowledge that a) It gets better as the week goes by, and b) it's only the first 80 or 90 years that are tough ( as Zaida used to say). It has its up moments and then down ones. Read somewhere that these are called y'mei sina and y'mei ahava, and that we grow more during y'mei sina. Makes sense, I think I'm beginning to feel it's a bit true.

The medrash says that the nachash was on a very high madrega (stood erect, spoke to Hashem) and desired Chava, which was inappropriate, therefore, he never gained what he desired and also lost what he had. I suppose they can be all up-days if you have access to powerful narcotics. It lasts as long as you have the money, aren't yet in jail and are still breathing. And- I just remembered this one by Erma Bombeck (tell you about her another time) "don't confuse fame with success; Madonna is one, Hellen Keller is the other."

So is all of this really terrible? Some of it? Which part? I love you very much and would love to help you somehow; can I? I really like communicating with you, does this work? Hoping yes and to hear from you soon,

Luv

Your Abba