Saturday, November 29, 2008

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 . . .

Friday, November 28, 2008

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.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

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!!!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Sleep is GOLDEN



Back to out regular posts later today.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

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????

Sunday, November 16, 2008

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.

Friday, November 14, 2008

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 . . .

Thursday, November 13, 2008

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...

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

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.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

my first post


ummm

web stats

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.

Monday, November 10, 2008

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!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

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.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

"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.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

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!!!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

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.