Picture of the day - Hey Teves

A picture i found on the net, the picture description reads as follows: Images of books on shelves are seen projected on the walls of the Tower of David in Jerusalem's Old City - part of a show called "Or Shalem, Jerusalem Lights the Night", staged by a group called Skertzò on October 7, 2008. The Tower of David is a massive citadel that, over the centuries, has served as a fortress, military barracks and cannon position. These days, the Tower serves as a popular tourist site.

I found it appropriate for Hey Teves.

Good Yom Tov.

JIBJAB usually puts things in prospective. in a matter of 45 seconds, they put togeather an animated video of how this past year sucked.

in past years, they would end the video with something along the lines of "here is hoping year (200?) won't be like (200? - the previous year)".

this year's video ends with: "If there is anything I'm happy about, it's that it is all over".

I guess they lost hope, they wish you a Happy new year with some sour face.

Thank G-d we don't celebrate '09 rather '69.

A full house of Books

Today I'm here to give respect to a man who had started doing something small, that in it's own way changed the way Crown Heights residents and Shluchim think about one of the Rebbe's Mivtzas.

It is obviously Mivtza Bayis Molei Seforim. there is an individual who goes out of his way to keep himself busy and Chasidim happy.

So this Hey Teves, if you are not sure where to get your Seforim, just go to 
http://vaadseforim.blogspot.com/ and order your Seforim.

I do NOT get commission (but i may get less attitude).

I get it

"You remember the story when . ."

- "no"

"well he had green pants and a blue shirt"

- "don't remember"

"and he had that blue car, they were standing in the alley way"

- "OH, I remember".

conversations like that are so common, only sometimes the one you are conversing with refuses to accept the fact that you simply forgot this story, so he will go on and on with dumb facts till you will remember.

or will you??? many times you will give the face like you totally get it, although you have no clue what he is talking about.

Why would you do it? just admit you don't remember! but then you will just here more facts to MAKE YOU remember, so just say you remember!!!

Chanukah Vacation

Due to the early Chanuka vacation our writers took (they pay here ain't that great), posting hasn't happened in the last week or so.

(or due to the fact that i was living off cell phone internet for the last few days).

New updates and posts will resume IY"H right after Chanukah.

trust me, i will have a lot to write after analyzing the world from a viewrs point of view.

WHAT??????

A mark to remember

A few years ago, I was in 770 davening Mincha, and i noticed that the Chazzan made a mark in his Siddur before he started Shmone Esrei. Curios as to what he wrote in the Siddur - which belonged to the Shul - i checked after he left as to what it was. I noticed that he made a mark in the Siddur near the point where on fast days you must say Aneinu.

That day was indeed a fast day, obviously he wrote in the siddur, to remind himself to say it, but it wasn't HE'S siddur, what happens if I used the Siddur the next day?? would i maybe by mistake say Aneinu on a non-fast day.

The truth is, that it's not the point what happens the next day, the question is right then and there, WHAT ON EARTH WAS HE THINKING???? It's not he's siddur, he must NOT write on it.

Today i was davening Shacharis, and a kind fellow that used the siddur before me (could of been yesterday, or a few days ago), took initiative to remind Klal Yisroel NOT TO FORGET Vsein Tal Umatar, how? He made a pen mark underlining those words!!!!

But it's just like the people who are Machmir, that if a hair falls out of their beard, they put it in a Sefer. But no, they would never ruin one of their Seforim at home. They just dump it in the nearest Sefer they find in 770.

I guess the Tfillin straighteners might be better.

Man with small brains

Yesterday in Torah Ohr, i was learning the difference between Yaakov and Eisav. Eisav comes from Olam HaTohu - small Keilim and large Oros, so the Keilim can't contain the Or.

Simply put - writes the alter Rebbe - it's like a man with small brains, The light of intellect can't shine through it. In a practical sense; he becomes narrow minded, his brain cannot handle two apposing facts. he cannot see both sides of an argument.

I pointed out to my Chavrusa, that here the alter rebbe uses the term - MAN with small brains (really it's not actually 'brains' rather 'Seichel [שכל]), not like in Tanya where the Alter Rebbe uses the term CHILD.

If someone does something bad (or good, if you like to be cynical), there is always another side to the story.

If you disagree - you're just another Eisav. A man with small Seichel!

Where buy?

As a city boy, you never have an issue, whatever you need there will be a 24 hour store in the area that carries it.

You're never worried about an emergency battery crises at midnight, or that you will NEED a cold beer, there is always a store that carries it.

But a few days ago, a friend asked me where he can find a pillow in Crown heights. I told him to take the subway to Atlantic Ave. and go to Target, however he was certain that he can find one in the Shchunah.

I wanted to see how it will turn out. After a long run up and down, I realized, that the Shchunah still needs a few essential stores.

Start with a Starbucks, apple store and then a store that carries pillows. but i guess that if you want a pillow, the store doesn't have to be open for 24 hours . . .

Do you Boontoons?!

Boonton, NJ

Hierarchy

It's just the way the world was created, chances are you work for someone else, why? well in some cases it's because you need someone on top of a lot of people, makes sense.

However in many cases the guy on top has someone on top of him and that guy someone that is his boss, and each boss is responsible only over ONE person, that makes you think that maybe these nerds just need a job...

Other times the boss is actually needed, however he is so happy with his job description 'principal' that he doesn't actually do anything.

So yes, the hierarchy has to continue, but the one on top has to know that he IS replaceable!!!

(this is for those that go on released time, and instead of HELPING the other Bochur, they do all their phone calls at that time. You might be IRREPLACEABLE, but respect your commitment)

more the merrier

Something to think about ......
You know what would really PISS OFF the Democrats...
Bush should resign now.
Then Dick Cheney becomes President (that would really PISS OFF the liberals)!!!
Then he appoints Condoleeza Rice as VP.
Then Cheney resigns two weeks later and Condoleeza Rice, A Republican,
becomes the first BLACK President and the first WOMAN President !!!

I Hate my dentist ...

Don't know why, when your younger, every day you go to the dentist, oh, you have a day off next Wednesday - let's go to the dentist.

No matter what you do at the dentist, it hearts. Where else does it hurt to take a picture??? everything they put in your mouth has DD (check the psynamWIKI for more on DD), and tastes like an entire old age home, but YOU GOTTA GO TO THE DENTIST.

Oh, the dentist is much like you teacher; always right, not just the usual rants ("You don't brush your teeth", "You don't floss correctly", "You say you already HAD braces???", "I recommend teeth whiting NOW"). but they also have an opinon about the world: "You shouldn't smoke", "You drink???", "Smicha is a waste of time" etc.

To remind you; dentist failed med school!!!

But then you grow up, you visit the dentist when the economy is down just so that they can claim money from your insurance for the "annual checkup".

So why do they always HAVE TO find something wrong?!

something funny 2 lighten it up

after all the crying bawling etc. i thought hey how about a good joke that would get us bomping back into seder uchdilikamon-

A woman in a hot air balloon realizes
she is lost. She lowers her altitude
and spots a man fishing from a boat below.
She shouts to him, 'Excuse me,
can you help me? I promised a friend
I would meet him an hour ago, but I
don't know where I am.'

The man consults his portable GPS and replies,
'You're in a hot air balloon,
approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation
of 2346 feet above sea level.
You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north
latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09
minutes west longitude.

She rolls her eyes and says,
'You must be supporting John McCain!'

'I am,' replies the man. 'How did you know?'

'Well,' answers the balloonist,
'everything you tell me is technically
correct, but I have no idea what to
do with your information, and I'm still
lost. Frankly, you're not much help to me.

The man smiles and responds, 'You must be for Obama.'

'I am,' replies the balloonist. 'How did you know?'

'Well,' says the man, 'You don't know where you are
or where you're going.
You've risen to where you are, due to a
large quantity of hot air. You made
a promise that you have no idea how to keep,
and now you expect me to solve
your problem. You're in exactly the same
position you were in before we met,
but, somehow, now it's my fault.'

Video Of Toronto Yeshiva Mivtzoim (5767)

Will and Power

Chassidus emphasizes the power of thought and even more the power of speech. We as Chasidim who learn Chassidus know and live by this.

On Thursday through all the mess that was going on we all had hope, we thought that all will be good, and even the pessimists amongst us at least knew not to speak the worst.

But there were still those few who just said the bummest things, i don't find it necessary to quote, but it is a shame, we who know and understand that Tracht Gut is not a suggestion, rather a real thing which can bring to Vet Zein Gut, should know to be more careful.

I didn't want to bring it up, but it bothers me. Maybe we should all focus on learning more Chassidus, that gives all clear vision.

Or not? you pessimist . . .

Sadness

It doesn't happen very often, someone you never met, and yet you can't stop crying. It's like you know he is part of you, although you know nothing about him.

It doesn't happen very often, but it seems that lately it's happening more and more. What more do we need to do??? Ad Mosai, Genug Shoin.

I think we all get the point,

אז מען גיבט א פאטש, גיבט מען אין פנים

We should only here good news.

Beat the system

I always say that i have faith in the system, may it be the fact that after 4 years in Zal you move on to Shlichus, or after Shlichus Smicha, 770 and at the right time marrige, but after all said and done, the system always needs perfection.

It may be the few Bochrim in your class that don't make Shlichus, or those who can't hack Smicha, but to all there is an answer. at their own level, where, how, no one knows, but it's all good.

There was one thing i never had faith in, i tought that as us Lubavitchers we have our people we care about, and that's it. But after i saw today in 770, that EVERY SINGLE LAST BOCHUR cares about - to an effect that you can't concetrate on anything else - our brother, the Shliach in India. We are praying feeling and loving, what happens to him is OUR FATE, OUR LIFE and OUR FUTURE. it was a sad, yet sobering feeling of truth.

I have faith in the system, it will never fail.

spontaneous Evolution

For me the Kinus is an evolving experience, i remember it from about the age when i can remember myself, every year it brings new meaning to me. In 2nd grade it may be a whole extreme roll of Shtick to get a cookie out of one of the workshops, in 3rd grade the class is all exited because our teacher came late due to the fact he was busy shmoozing with all his friends.

Every year something new, how to get (forge) a band, how to get hooked with a good Shlichus for upcoming holidays etc.

The first year i went to the banquet it was all about the excitement when all shluchm started spontaneously dancing, the year after that, i was ready for the spontaneous dance (as well as the spontaneous dinner, spontaneous JEM video and spontaneous Roll call where Arkansas turned into arknsew (Kri and Ksiv) and connectect vchulu).

This year i tried something new, I joined the childrens kinnus - Tzieri Hashluchim, i wanted things to truly be spontaneous. It was, i think that when a young child jumps up when they announce his country of Shlichus, although he may not really know how to spell Shlichus, is really remarkably moving.

No matter what year it was, after the kinnus i always hope that one year i will be a Shliach Spontaneously dancing!!!

Sleep is GOLDEN

Back to out regular posts later today.

I CHANGE THE WORLD!!!

There once was an individual that used to get up every morning, and stop at a busy intersection. there he would control the traffic, and make sure that all cars stopped or drove at their appropriate time.

One morning he called in sick, he couldn't get up. No replacement was sent, and the traffic still ran in a smooth an orderly fashion. You see, he failed to relies that he was not necessary at all, there were several traffic lights that told the cars exactly what to do.

Many times people do things, they think the world will collapse if they won't do it, it's up to them. But they really are not needed at all. You may see them next to a Sefer Torah, running to be the first one to cover it with it's Mantel the second one finishes making a Bracha.

They me be the ones that make sure to comment on every piece of news that COL etc. writes, because if they don't others may get the wrong idea about Lubavitch. Or they are the ones that forward every stupid email or text that they get.

You get the point, they do no harm. But they are not saving anything, and wasting their precious time on nothing.

Then again, those people may not have PRECIOUS TIME. Maybe that's what i do when i write these posts.

Will i ever know??? can I actually change the world????

Lamah?! - Kacha

All that is done in our life is for a purpose, but it is very frustrating when all others are convinced that they know why you do what you do, at a time when you alone are not sure why you do it.

You may eat, why?! are you hungry, maybe! is the food good, maybe again. or your just plain spaced out and not even paying attention to what your doing. Ober Yener VAYST and he is 100% sure that you are eating now because so and so. V'Lahadam!!!!

Today i went to the Ohel, as i leave my car, a smart Bochur i know approaches and asks: are you getting engaged now?

I mean, why can't a Chosid just go to the Ohel without a big excuse? i mean is it so hard to understand that i just decided to visit???

Yes, not always i eat cause I'm hungry, not every time i drink is it alcohol and no, not every time i go to the Ohel, am i getting engaged.

Az M'kukt Oiben . . .

When you walk in the street, many random weird thoughts cross your mind, it can be anything from the weight of the guy walking across the street, the fact that you walk faster then the cars driving or simply how one men might have wheels instead of feet.

There are a lot of stories about Reb Yoel, he was walking and thinking Chassidus, and bumped into a tree, or that he carried the garbage for four blocs etc.

Yesterday i was going to Mikvah after a late revile, i was raining and i was wearing my crocs, i was fascinated by the fact that although there are holes, my socks were not getting wet.

Till i stepped into a puddle . . .

Situation Resolved...

B"H

It all started after Tishrei, when the Middle Easterns' (many of them at least) began to vacate the premises. That was positive news for us "Spoiled Americans", who were displaced persons for an entire month.

With new enthusiasm and devotion I started learning once again in my reclaimed seat; life was back to normal...

But wait, one problem...

Of the many that left, there are a handfull that stay behind for an entire year, as part of a group that's known as "Kvutzeh".

Well, I was lucky enough to have a two guys from that group sit RIGHT NEXT to me, at the table where I sit.

I know what you're thinking; "What's the big deal?! We all sit next to those guys, they're all over the place!"

You're right! And for that matter last year two from that group sat next to me, and they were both pleasant individuals.

But this guy just had a nasty odor emanating from him, I mean it was really bad. Every time he would pick up his arm I would begin to hyperventilate to get some oxygen in my system.

It was Terai...

After much thought and discussion with my chavrusah, (Chacha said (and I quote) "That's a delicate situation. Say something to your teacher, she may be able inform him or his parents of his hygiene problem."--...They don't seem to understand the intricate details and lifestyle of us in 770) We concluded that the best way to tackle the issue was to speak to a good friend of his, who would be able to influence him about proper hygiene.

We did just that, and B"H it's gotten much better ever since...

Daily Optimism

It's a normal thing. You wake up in the morning and you're sure that today will just be great. Everything seems so promising. For one, I always check my Macintosh dashboard where i get all the news, emails etc. that i need to start the day.

Every morning, although the market isn't open yet (obviously that would really depend on the time i get up), the dashboard displays my portfolio in the plus (+).

Yes, it does say +0.00, which really means nothing, but it gives you a feel of optimism. Another good day.

It hits you by night; today was not just 0.00, it was -(add here however many digits you want).

Morgen vet zain Gore andersh.

my first post

ummm

Back and up

After the 9-11 attacks, when the pentagon was hit, the Chinese called President Bush, and told him that if he is missing any classified documents that were lost in the plane hit, they would be more then happy to replace it for him.

However true or funny that story could of been, it teaches us that all your important data must be backed up. Even if it means that your enemy is holding on to it, because your external hard drive, which all Lubavitch Bochrim own at least one, WILL crash, it's just a matter of WHEN.

That 'when' will happen at a time most annoying for you, it's a guaranty, your data will NEVER be important, until your hard drive crashes.

It happened to me last night, 14 hours later, it's all recovered, backed-up and Lubavitch is up and running.

No thanks to China.

You snooze - you lose

It is something interesting about human's, one will never turn his alarm clock off in the morning, he will just press the snooze button.

For starters, you program your alarm clock to wake you 10 minutes earlier so you can afford 2 snoozes, you then sleep through the 2nd snooze, wake up after your roommate is moaning 'shut the alarm' and you hit snooze again . . .

It's the same by all people, if you need to get up at 7:30 AM you will NEVER program your alarm clock for 7:30, you will also NEVER get up at 7:30, the alarm clock is programed for 7:20 (or if you learn in Mesivta toronto: 7:16), and you will get up not before 7:40, I guess that's why the snooze button is the biggest one (and the 'set' button is hard to find).

Then there are always those, who don't have an alarm clock; Boruch Dayan Haemes to you too!

Ring of power

It is very common by human beings to take their positions and abuse it, it is one thing, however when it's done with or for a purpose. It is a different story when used for no good reason.

You can be a CEO of a billion dollar company, your high role and position can be used out to make money, meet important people and change the world, or you can boast that your assistant gets you coffee whenever you ask her to!!!! WOW, you can boss over another person, isn't that the purpose of the world.

Yesterday there was a concert in Oholei Torah for all the collage students, the management asks that no Bochrim should come. You don't belong there, if they are right or wrong isn't the point, they make the event - they decide the rules.

In order to prevent unwanted guests from entering, they have a security guard that makes sure you are wearing an entrance band.

After you enter, you should be fine. But there was this power hungry Bochur who was chasing other Bochrim out, why? I guess he wanted to show he was better. I told him I will get a band, he said he doubts it, I got the band, but didn't go inside. After all it's not a place for Bochrim, but at least this power hungry freak knows that the system can always be broke.

It also makes good practice for the Kinus Banquet. Good Luck.

"Oh for g-d's sake"

It can happen anywhere, you may be on a train, sitting on a plain or just reading a book on a park bench. You are doing you're own thing and suddenly you see someone walking towards you, from when he is fifteen feet away you are already thinking "no, not near me, please don't sit here, JUST NOT HERE", and nine out of ten times, he will park RIGHT NEXT TO YOU and will not feed the meter.

Sadly enough it happened to me today, I was in the Mikvah drying myself, taking my time and just minding my own business when it hit me. No I didn't see him, I SMELLED him, a teabag would be an under statement. A shower would NOT fix the situation, this poor fellow who was maybe 20 years old required an extreme makeover.

Which begs the question: were showers and laundromats and barbers an invention made solely for the use of the USA???? (United States of America [or Africa, now that we are slaves to the negro])




Just a side note, the Otzar Hachocma library (otzar.biz) is offering a free download of the online version of their library (it's pretty much the same as the hard drive version, only slower since it's pulling data of an online server, not an external hard drive), it will be able to be used till their new version is released around Chanukah time.

However you can till then browse, print and even save the books you want as PDF so it can be with you for ever. for download click here.

WE HAVE CHANGE

A few years ago, a group of Israeli Bochrim in an attempt to make the world a better place, embroidered Yechi on the top of the Paroches in 770. The Gaboim were a bit upset that they weren't asked before, however on of the Rabonim at the time said that since it is already there, they shouldn't remove it.

Since then, at times that the Paroches had to be changed, the Bochur in charge of changing the curtain would slide in the new one before fully removing the old one, thus the Yechi Paroches was never actually removed.

Yesterday the Paroches was changed, from the white Tishrei one, to the blue winter one, the Bochur that changed it, must be a rookie, he removed the old Paroches entirely and only then (after cleaning, the metal polls) placed the new blue Paroches.

I guess there are new rules for change...

I actually took a picture of the naked Aron Kodesh with my phone, but for some reason it isn't there. Probably it's time for a new phone. Now if the U.S. is ready for an African-American president, maybe I'm ready for an African-American[black]berry.

What can i say: Bloomberg 2013!!!

G-d's Secretary

Bochrim HATE people who pose as G-d's secretary.

I was seating today in 770 at my place, waiting for my Chavrusa to show up for Chassidus. I had an open Torah Or, while i was waiting, a passing by Bochur sat down next to me, and we started discussing today's elections.

There was this Ba'al Habos (Lav davka employed, I'm writing Ba'al Habos since he happens to be married) who bent over my Torah Or, as if to be reading, and asked: "are you discussing whats written in the sefer?!"

As would be expected, i ignored that synam (Nusach Acher: Psynam, Ubisforim Shelonu Kosvim Bli "P"), however, he went on to be Lochem Milchemes Hashem, and closed my sefer!!!

My belief is, that if you don't get a salary from Hanhalla - it's none of your business what I'm doing during seder, and if you want a job in Yeshiva, Fax in your resume.

Obviously this issue doesn't include the 'Tfilin straitenrs' or 'Amen shouters' which are Kovea Bracha Leatzman.

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