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....