“It’s not how much or how little you have that makes you great or small, but how much or how little you are with what you have.” 

- Rav Shimshon Rephael Hirsch

Leading with Lollipops

You don't have to be on *Regional Board to be a leader. In all likelihood, you already are one... you just might not know it yet! Take 6 minutes and be inspired by someone who changed another's life through a story he doesn't even remember happening, and pay it forward! Give another person the gift of knowing how they've changed your life. Candygrams, ncsy tzadikim on fbook, or old fashioned phone call... there are ways to show gratitude and at the same time help enlighten others to their impact as leaders!

*That being said...  RB might just want you anyway :)

Appreciating People

In Pirkei Avos (1:15) it says, "vehevai mikabel es kol haadom bisaiver panim yafos" -
"you should greet every person with a pleasant demeanor."
Why does the mishnah say haadom, instead of adom.
The same question could also be asked for the statement in Pirkei Avos (1:6) that says, "vehevai dan es kol haadom likaf zchus" - "and give every person the benefit of the doubt."
Why the extra letter "hey" before adom?? There must be a message here..

The Sfas Emes tells us that this little extra letter actually gives us the secret to having successful relationships. "Kol haadom" literally means all of the person. We learn from here that in order to be pleasant to every person and in order to judge them favorably we need to respect and appreciate all aspects of their being. Once we are able to recognize all of the great qualities in people it will be natural for us to greet them pleasantly and judge them favorably!

Let's take this even deeper. Rabbeinu Yonah asks a really interesting question: One of the fundamental concepts of Judaism is "veahavta l'raiacha kamocha" - "love you friend as yourself." Why is it that the word "raicha" is used here instead of a different word, like "chavercha?"
Rabbeinu Yonah says the most amazing idea which, if we really take to heart, can make our relationships much more meaningful.
He says that in the word "raicha" is the word "ra" meaning bad. What this means is that everyone has some bad in them, some type of flaw. We shouldn't even expect to meet perfect people, because people like that don't exist. Sometimes we see faults in people and from then on it's hard to think of them without thinking of their faults.
"Veahavta l'raiacha kamocha" is teaching us that in order to love people we need to look past their flaws and appreciate the greatness that's inside them.

(Step By Step, article by Rabbi Shalom Rosner)

The Dash by Linda Ellis

The Dash

By Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak


At the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone


From the beginning to the end.


He noted that first came the date of her birth


And spoke of the following date with tears,


But he said what mattered most of all


Was the dash between those years.


For that dash represents all the time


That she spent alive on earth


And now only those who loved her


Know what that little line is worth.


For it matters not, how much we own,


The cars, the house, the cash,


What matters is how we live and love


And how we spend our dash.


So think about this long and hard;


Are there things you’d like to change?


For you never know how much time is left


That can still be rearranged.


If we could just slow down enough


To consider what’s true and real


And always try to understand


The way other people feel.


And be less quick to anger


And show appreciation more


And love the people in our lives


Like we’ve never loved before.


If we treat each other with respect


And more often wear a smile,


Remembering that this special dash


Might only last a little while.


So when your eulogy is being read


With your life’s actions to rehash


Would you be proud of the things they say


About how you spent your dash?

Perspective

Life is a funny thing. You never know when you're going to have a profound effect on someone, whether from a conversation or just being yourself in their proximity. This is something to always keep in mind - because you never know what affect it is going to have on people, one should always do their best to make a positive impression and impact. When speaking, choose words carefully and make sure to get your point across. Speak thoughtfully. Live thoughtfully.

'Till 120!

Today's Hebrew date -- the 7th of Adar -- is Moshe's birthday and yahrtzeit (death date). Moshe, arguably the greatest leader of all time, lived 120 years and is the paradigm for the traditional Jewish birthday wish to live 'till 120! ("ad meah v'esrim!"). The Torah itself states that not only did Moshe live a long life, but his "eyes didn't dim, and his vigor did not diminish" (Devarim 34:7) and in Breishit 6:3 G-d Himself says that man won't be immortal, but that his years will be 120 -- the sign of a full, complete life.

Interestingly, people have always had an obsession with youth. From claiming to be 21 years old forever, to plastic surgeries, to anti-aging creams, to the legendary search for the fountain of youth, people have a fascination with the mystery of how to break nature's prescribed path of growing old.

But its rare to really appreciate the beauty that growing old entails.

In fact, the phrase itself speaks worlds: to grow old.

To live a static life is not much of a life. But to GROW old? Now that's pretty awesome.

A few weeks ago on Shabbos, I had the privelege of witnessing and being inspired by a man who knows the meaning of "growing old." Rabbi Sidney Keiman, the rabbi emeritus of Congregation Adereth El in Manhattan, turned 100 years old on January 27, 2013. The Shabbos before his birthday (parshat Beshalach) was understandably an incredible one for the entire community.  Rabbi Kleiman was called to the Torah for the aliyah that included Az Yashir -- the song of gratitude that the Jews sang when passing through the red sea on their way out of Egypt. Two congregants lifted R' Kleiman from his wheelchair and supported him on either side as he stood with an unnatural strength before the Torah for the entire aliyah. In respectful awe, the entire congregation stood right along with him.

 

I wish I could take a peek through the window of what Rabbi Kleiman has seen over the past century, but suffice it to say I doubt he could have ever predicted the iPhone 5. When he first arrived in his shul, there were still individuals there who were alive during the Civil War! He was there during the Great Depression when congregants would donate coal and clothing instead of money. Can you imagine someone who was not just alive during the Holocaust, but was a full fledged rabbi of an American shul in 1939, leading a congregation through those years of tragedy? And then to witness the complete turn around with the celebration that followed the establishment of the state of Israel!

100 years down the line, though wheelchair bound, R' Kleiman is still the first one in shul every single day. In fact, that's how he spent his 100th birthday -- going to shul like he does every other day. Perhaps the most beautiful part of his birthday shabbos was seeing R' Kleiman, still fully with it, give a brachah in a strong powerful voice to the crowd of children presenting him with his birthday card.

In his own words in an article about him:

( http://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/interviews-and-profiles/rabbi-kleiman-still-the-first-one-in-shul/2012/01/19/ ):

"I'm not that big a man. My name is Kleiman, which means 'small man,' kleiner mann. I'm just happy to do what I do, and if people want to follow my example, so much better."

When we think about growing old, we tend to wonder: What's the secret? I want to share with you a short clip from the Ellen Degeneres show, featuring a 105 year old woman Edythe Kirchmaier. When asked the secret to living a long life, her focus was on positivity. In her words, "If something happens, I can't do anything about it. So I don't let it bother me."

Wishing us all a long meaningful life! Till 120!

The Jewish World

I got an e-mail from one of the elders in my family today explaining why, in the upcoming Super Bowl, if we (my siblings and cousins and I) didn't go for the Ravens we were going against the family. Apparently, my Great-Aunt's nephew is a defensive coach for the Ravens (I was going for them anyway)!
I think we can take a few things when thinking about this a bit deeper. First, that you never know when a little digging will turn up some really cool relatives. Second, we should realize and be thankful for the openness of America and how this country allows us to live and prosper in a way that no other country ever has. Finally, that even though the Super Bowl is a huge deal to many, it is just a game (and many people at your party are really just there for the commercials)... So enjoy the game! GO RAVENS!

Reflections from Conclave

When it comes to the NCSY family, and don’t get me wrong, we really are a family, I am relatively new. As an advisor, our job is to inspire you guys and play an active role in your growth as individuals.

Inspire. What an interesting word. I knew it would play a large role in this past weekend when I got to Conclave and it was written across the front of the sweatshirt. As an advisor, I wanted to be able to inspire you, the NCSYers, through my actions. My initial impression of who the “inspire” was directed to could not have been more wrong.

Based on my initial impressions from Fall convention, I thought that I knew what to expect at Conclave; then I arrived. From the first moment of “bingo” until the closing program, I was thoroughly engaged, and that was largely because of you, the NCSYers.

The moment that really stands out in my mind though was the kumzitz Sunday night. It was at this point that I really understood what the “inspire” was referring to. Listening to each of you talk and share yourselves with those sitting in the circle as Conclave “ebbed” away was inspiring to every single person sitting there. I realized that as much as I came to inspire each and every one of you, I think that all of YOU inspire ME to be a better person and push myself all that much more.

When things are easily attainable to someone, that person doesn’t necessarily appreciate them until they no longer have them or at least hear about situations and people that do not have the same circumstances and blessings. Listening to each of you share your struggles really gives perspective and inspiration to each and every person that may not have originally appreciated what they had, or people that are struggling with their own issues and just needed that little push. For this, I want to thank everyone that came to Conclave.

I can only hope that as an advisor I can inspire you in much the same way. I, and I believe I speak for all the advisors, am always willing to talk and listen to anything you might say. Thank you all for all your inspiration.

Sincerely,

Nachum Matten, Advisor

Taking the Time to Breathe

In this week's parsha, Parshat Shemot, Jewish slavery in Egypt begins. Strangely enough, as the work load increases there's no mention of the Jews complaining under the hard labor or crying out to Hashem. That is... until the day of the King of Egypt's death. Well, doesn't that seem like a strange time to cry? If anything, wouldn't they be excited by the death of the very king who was enslaving them? Now that he's dead, they can have hope that a new king might lift the strict work regimen and bring new policies!
Some commentaries explain the sudden Jewish cries by saying exactly that -- that it was after the death of the old king, and thus at the start of the new king's reign that they started crying. They were crying because it turned out that the new king was just as harsh as the old one. Before the death of the old king, the Jews looked forward to a light at the end of the tunnel, but now that the old one died and the new one was just as bad, all hope was lost. Time to turn to Hashem.
But I actually want to focus on a different approach -- that of the Netziv (Rav Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin, Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin in the mid 1800's).
He strengthen's our original question by saying that the Jewish people especially shouldn't have been crying on the day of the king's death. This is because all of Egypt was mourning his death, and it was a day off for the entire country. In other words, the Jews wouldn't have been working on that day! So why in the world is their one day off from work the day when they suddenly started crying?!
The Netziv explains the situation with a profound idea.
You know that feeling of being so incredibly busy that you have no time to think, and then finally Shabbos arrives, you get to put your life on hold, and you can finally give yourself a chance to breathe?
Well that's essentially what happened to the Jews. They were worked so hard while the old Pharaoh gradually brought them into slavery, that they never had a real opportunity to pause and think about the seriousness of the situation they were in. It was only on the day that the Pharaoh died, when they weren't working, that they had time to reflect on their awful situation, recognize it's gravity, and call out to Hashem for help.
Let's reflect this story back to us.
We spend our whole lives running and running and running in circles with all the things we have to get done, but do we ever give ourselves a moment to breathe? To think? To add meaning to our day? To thank God for the gifts He's given us? We're so busy with the tasks that fill up our daily routine that we don't get to reflect on (hopefully) the AWESOMENESS of our lives!
What if the busy-ness of life is stopping us from doing something as crucial for our well-being as asking for Hashem's help was for the Jews enslaved in Egypt?
Before we get lost in our school work once again, let's finish up our winter vacations by taking a step out of our routine. Close your eyes, reflect on the greatness of life, and breathe!

Cloud Waves

Here is another post showing the incredible beauty of nature. 

Sometimes all we need to do be inspired is to look outside...

An Unstoppable Spirit

We all have expectations for our lives -- of the life paths and opportunities that should come our way, and where they should lead. But what happens when those expectations come crashing down? Janine Shepherd, an aspiring olympic medalist, tells her moving story of what it means to not let your life circumstances take control of you, but for you take the reigns and take control of your life.

"It wasn't until I let go of the life I thought I should have, that I was able to embrace life that was waiting for me." 

Janine's inspiring and empowering story proves that though our bodies are limited, our spirit is unstoppable.

Post by, Sarina Miller

Celebrate Your Appreciation

When we go somewhere, we know where we leave from. In the case of Yaakov Avinu, however, in this week's Parsha, the pasuk tells us first that he left B'er Sheva and then that he went to Charan! What is the significance in telling us that Yaakov left B'er Sheva?

Rashi tells us that the Torah emphasizes how Yaakov's leaving was more than a geographic relocation, but it also left B'er Sheva empty, deprived of the splendor that Yaakov provided.

The sad part of the story is how they only realized this after he left. Shlomo HaMelech says in one place that "He who found a wife has found goodness" (Mishlei 18:22). In another place, however, he says "And I find more bitter than death, the woman"(Koheles 7:26). The difference is in the tense of the statement. The Vilna Gaon explains that according to human nature the first pasuk speaks in the past tense- how things were good. The second is in the present, how one is constantly reminded of the bad.

In the spirit of giving thanks, let us not take anything for granted. Rather, let us recognize and outwardly appreciate all the good we have in our lives. Shabbat Shalom.