Same as last time.

Remember my last post from Rosh Hashana? I haven't changed my attitude and apparently, neither have they!!!
This is Chabad of Hong Kong's Sukkot flyer... Why? Why? and why??
What did the Lubavicher Lulav and Esrog do wrong to deserve the abandonment of their own people?? I personally think that the most beautiful Lulavim and Esrogim are the Chabad ones. You know, the ones with like 40 Haddasim... Whatever. That's just me. But the point I'm making is still there.

Okay. I'm rushing, but I'm still in the mood of typing just a little but more and I do have content to put up, so...


Have you seen the videos on Youtube of Ahmedinejad having a discussion session at Columbia university?? We had an excited conversation about the whole idea while watching it all last night. (Suggested watcher)

Yesterday I went to 770 for Shacharis, but I forgot to bring my passport along. I figured they'd have some sort of border control there and this is how entering 770 during Tishrei would go.

Border man (BM) - "Shalom, Darkon?"

The Mitzvah man (TMM) - "Oh right... ummmm... Right here sir"

BM - "Ein Lecha Visa Likaness!!"

TMM - "I know. I was out of town and I didn't have time to make it at the bagel shop... Anyways I'm only coming for a Shacharis."

BM - "Mah Yesh Lecha Le'declare?"

TMM - "Umm, nothing sir. I have my Tallis and Tefillin and a Ma'amor.

BM - "Biseder. Kach Hadarkon VeBruchim HaBa'im LeYisrael."

TMM - "Thank you sir."

...

That's it. Going into 770 during Tishrei is mamosh as if you're leaving USA. It's a miniature Israel in there. I was walking around yesterday and I bumped into an English speaking person at the back. It was almost the same feeling as if I'd have met an American in middle of Argentina (Know the feeling?)
I wanted to shout "Hey, fellow American!! I also speak English!! I'm so happy to meet you!! We're both in this kaka together you know??!"

Anyways. I'm off to a bris today. My daily schedule is going to be picking up my sisters and brother in law's Sukkah which they're so generously lending to us for Sukkot, buying a Lulav, Hadassim and Aravos, Schach and then putting up the Sukka... I have to go. Seriously!

Gutt Yom Tov to all. Everything Bipnimiyus!

Maccabees promotional video for Montreal Chanukah experience.

This is an awesome promotional video made by Dave for Montreal's Maccabees experience that they're doing this year IY"H.
Zvi wrote the script for it and lo and behold, it became a hit show, with 15,000 people watching it, Media coverage by TV, Radio and Newspapers... Baruch Hashem.
Aderet is producing the Maccabees video which is due to hit shelves on Rosh Chodesh Kislev!!!


YAAAAYY!!

Clip from Young Avraham.

Here's a little clip of an animated film that some professional company is putting out about the story of Avraham. It's all according to the Midrashim and is quite accurate. My brother Zvi helped write the script for the film.

The Hershcovich report #2

This video was taken at the sunset... As you see, the sailboat is moving in to the sun. I did not notice it and therefore missed an awesome photograph opportunity. I did take a picture of the sailboat after it passed the sun. The photo is somewhere down in a previous post. But it was cool!

Child's letter to Hashe-um

Pictures of High Holidays in SD and Mexico.

Kayaking in Rosarito on the Pacific ocean with Rabbi Mendy. OYSH!!! It doesn't get much better than that!

United States border from Tijuana.

Universal Studios.

Levi and Hillel!

Reizel Leah. She's an official major candidate for cutiest cutie pie on earth!

Kumzitz at the beach.

Speed boating. (I think it's symbolizes some sort of Teshuva.)

Chabad house in Tijuana, Mexico. I Davvened upstairs in this building with about 150 people attending. It was real nice.

Sea World.

Probably one of my most stunning pictures ever taken. Sunset at Mission beach.

Sunset at Mission Beach.

Chazarti LeChoref!

I came back into the cold hemisphere this afternoon, expecting to be blasted with a -10 degree Celsius chill when I step out of the airport doors. But surprisingly, it was beautiful weather (Thank Hashem).

We're back in Crown Heights, getting ready for a full year ahead.
The next few things I'm looking forward to is attempting to build a Succah, trying to have at least one meal inside of it and then getting the Hecht over to Montreal for the second days of Yom Tov.

We got a 350$ phone bill today.

I'm posting pictures of our trip to Diego... It was amazing!!

Gmar Chasima Tova!

I had tons of ideas for a post, but I'm having way too much fun to actually sit down and think up all the things that passed through me these past few days.

But here's a thought: Chinese food makes its eater capable of doing whatever he wants. All he has to say is that he's just eaten Chinese food. I figured that out last night when we ordered chinese at Shanghai on Pico Blvd.

"Uh, Excuse me sir. You realize that you are urinating all over the sidewalk in front of everyone"
Holding stomache
"I know. I'm sorry. It's just that I've just had some Chinese."
"Oh. I'm sorry. I understand!"

Anyways, today we went Kayaking in Mexico... Unbe-freeking-lievable!!! We did Kaporres and I'm now updating the blog.
A Gmar Chassima Tova to everyone.
May you all be sealed with a phenomenal year in every aspect.

"HEY BUDDY!!! Do you realize that you're lying in the middle of the highway!! You'll get yourself killed!!!!"
Holding stomache
"I'm sorry. It's just that I've just had some Chinese..."
"Oh. sorry!"

Hey!!! Diego is a Spanish name!

Seaworld, Speedboating and watching the sunset at the Specific Ocean - We are having a total blast here in California. Today we head out to Los Angeles (Not sure what we're going to do there, but it's 'Doch' Los Angeles. Then on Thursday, we go Kayaking in Mexico. I'm so excited.
(Stam... I still don't know Kol Nidrei too well)

Anyways, things here are going great thank the good Aibishter.
Last night I went to the Soccer game. There's this Mexican Jewish Soccer league which most of the Shluchim here joined. They made like this Rabbi team. It's really cool. So I went yesterday and played with them. We lost 6-4, but it was coo'!

Hmmm, What else? I am awake at 7:45am. How weird is that? I just couldn't sleep I guess.

In a couple of days I will stand in front of an entire congregation and try to ask Hashem to forgive me for all the transgressions I have done throughout this past year (Including not going to the Ohel to visit "someone"). I don't think I will be standing there ashamed at myself for the imperfectly spiritual year that I arranged for myself. I will probably even be slightly proud of myself if my Hineni - the prayer that the Chazzan sings before Mussaf - comes out nice. If Neillah sounds okay, I know I'll walk around after Yom Kippur beaming at myself, patiently waiting for everyone to come get a lick at my toes ("Don't Push!! Everyone will get a chance!! We're going to allow licks on a first come, first serve basis!!)... Gosh! I'm such a Gloob!!!

I'm speaking sarcastically. But there is definitely some truth in it. It's ironic.
My point is, this Yom Kippur I'll try to think about the previous paragraph sometime in middle of Hinneni and Neillah. I will try to focus more on the content of the words, instead of the tunes. I will ask Hashem to truly forgive me for not treating him properly this past year...

Alright. Breakfast is ready! GTG!

(See what I mean by Ironic??!!)

p.s. pictures will be coming.

Rosh Hashana in Tijuana!!

Rosh Hashana was awesome! I love Mexico. I love San Diego. I love all the other things that I once mentioned I love on this blog.

I hate missing flights. They are very annoying. But the Hashgocho Protis of missing the flight was in two ways.
First of all, we got home after the missed flight and I found that the new blackberry phone which I had ordered online a couple of days ago was sitting at the front door. Imagine if we would have gotten the flight. I would have had to wait another ten days to get the phone.
Second of all, we were finally able to go to the Ohel and ask for a good year from our Master, Teacher and Rebbe (Long live he, forever and ever!)
It was really very refreshing to finally be at the Ohel again.

Rosh Hashana here was awesome (I think I said that already). Davvening was cool, the food was incredible (Best Challah and Cholent I ever tasted!!!) and the people were really nice - So is the Chabad House.

Well, lots of thoughts went through my 'Keppeleh' over the Yom Tov, but I don't really remember them and ever if I did, I'd probably be too embarrassed to share them with everyone.

Anyways... Will post more as things continue. I'm in Diego for the next week and some things on our itinerary include: Sea-world, Los Angeles, Swimming, wave-running and some other cool activilies!!

A gutt Gebentcht yohr to all!!!

What's to say?

Did anybody guess what's happened?
I'll give three guesses...
...
No, nice try though. Two more guesses.
...
No way! I haven't done that in like ten years!!
...
EuuuucchhhH!!! I can't believe that that was your last guess you sicko. I thought better of you (?)

alright. That was silly. But seriously - Since we got married three and a half months ago, we took six flights together (That's me and my loving wife). But here's the weird part... two out of those six flights we missed. Well, our sixth was supposed to be tonight, with a JFK-San Diego bound US Airways flight at 5:55pm on Sept. 11. But we missed it. We were running around as usual and we got to the airport 10 minutes after the check-in closed.
They gave us both another flight for tomorrow morning at 6:45am. This time we'd better make it. Otherwise we're going to be spending RH with all the Israeli's. We don't want that.

So... Rosh Hashana. Hashem judges us. He puts on his bit "Kaviyochol'dike" wig and sits up on that scary podium with his huge gavel.
"ORDER IN THE COURT OF HIGH!!!" a heavenly voice bellows, burning up all the whispering angels in the back row.
"THIS COURT WILL COME TO ORDER, WHILE WE JUDGE... HMMMM... THE MITZVAH MAN!!"
... Why can't I get the feeling of Rosh Hashana anymore. Why is it so much harder to get these feelings inside. When I was in Yeshiva, inspirations to be better were almost a daily occurrence. There was lots of Isarusa DilEilah goin' on back then.
It doesn't seem to be happening as much nowadays. Where is the inspiration? Where is the loving flame that I once had flickering inside my heart? Where is the little voice inside me that whispers to me in Yiddish? (?HUH?)

So, tomorrow I'm off to San Diego, then we'll drive down to Mexico for the High's.
Am I supposed to be excited that I'll be Davvening in Mexico this year because it's such a cool place to go?

I'm just tired and listening to music. You get the drift?

Anyways... A Gutt Yohr to everyone. Lots of blessing for the coming year.

From my heart, I wish everyone a year:

Of Goodness.
Of Happiness.
Of Health.
Of Spiritual completeness.
Of Physical completeness.
Filled with Chassidus and Rebbe.
Where we live with the Rebbe every single moment of every single day.
Where we don't lose our flame inside!! (HEEEELPP!!)
Of success in whatever we put our hearts and minds to, as long as it's good.
Of free will. That way, when we make the right decision, we get a bigger reward.
Of the right decision.
Of bigger reward.
Filled with smiles.
Filled with friendship.
Filled with warmth.
Filled with passion.
Filled with love.
Filled with Nachas from all our surroundings.
Filled with Nachas from ourselves.
Where we feel accomplished at the end of each day.
Of Moshiach!!!

Yechi Hamelech and a Ksiva V'Chasima Tova! (Oops! Am I being politically incorrect there?)

Video in the Zula on Motzaei Shabbos!!

Stam... A new thing I'm trying. The Hershcovich report

Last thoughts before I hit a certain sack.

So... I just got back from the L'chaim of a really close and dear friend of mine. We haven't necessarily been in contact with each other too much (you know, calling each other every other day), but I still consider him a close companion if he may.
Shloimy Minkowitz just had his L'chaim after getting engaged to Chanelle Shaffer and I would like to publicly wish them Mazel Tov, with lots of happy, healthy, Nacha'dike, Gezunte'dike years together with Parnoso B'Harchovo and only Simchas by them and by all of K'lal Yisroel.

That was from the heart!


And now from the Tush ( - The usuals - )
I really don't like vongo (ViHameivin Yovin). It's a very anti 'days of Slichos'dike' program on the computer. It's not helping my Teshiva schedule one bit and it's quite frustrating.

Mexico is coming up. We're outa' here on Tuesday. I'm excited about it.
Okay... Whatever. I'm dead tired. I'm going to hit the sack. Vechulu Vechulu Vechulu...


The singing tonight was absolutely amazing.

Some thoughts.

Wooohooo!! (Okay. I shouldn't have done that.)

Steven at the wedding. Why am I only in the background?? Wasn't it my wedding after all.
See that's just it. Steven seems to be taking over my spotlight slowly and ever so cautiously. He thinks I don't realize it. But I know exactly what's going on!!!



Anyways, back the matters that matter most. My thoughts from today.
I began Kollel a couple of days ago, which means that I think more. At least I think I do! (See?! Oh my gosh! It's working already!!!)

Anyways, the point is; when is it, that people begin thinking that they're too smart to be people again?
What I mean to say is, you know the way kids are so innocent. You tell them something and they get excited from it. You tell them that they're cool, they believe you and begin jumping around ecstatic about their coolness. They are so not trying to be more than what they really are. Not trying to outdo themselves. Not trying to outdo their friends. Innocence.
Once people get older, they begin thinking that they're too cool to be fooled by these little compliments. They start realizing the 'truth' about everything around them. They see what the world is really made of and they become too smart to enjoy life.
This morning, I was Davvening in 770 and I saw this teenager walk in to Davven. But he looked like he was way too cool for anyone. He looked like he was on top of the world (It looked like he thought he was).
Do you ever see a grown up girl (LiHavdil Bein Ish L'Isha) who is also too full of herself. She's too cool to speak to the lower, not as cool friends... etc... You get the point...
... So anyway, as I watched this teenager Davvening, I wondered to myself "Does this kid ever look into the mirror at home, make a stupid face and laugh? Does he perhaps still take out his Lego box from underneath his bed and try to make a castle? Maybe he still thinks that he'll be a male ballerina one day and secretly practices his 'moves' behind the confines of his bedroom door when nobody is home."
Where is the innocence that children had?? Children still have it, but only as children. When does this wonderful happiness from the sun rising each morning come from??

That's what I thought about today. I've decided to try and get that 'zest' back into my life. I will try to concentrate more on the brightness of life. I will ignore those haughty feelings that come into me, telling me that I'm "passed that stage. I will smile at people around me and even at myself more often... Whatever."
Maturity is just an excuse for power!!! (hey, that's a good line!)

Hmmmm, what else?


My wife makes the most amazing Kugel.
We're eating Shabbos day in our apartment. So we bought Cholent from 'Dovid Malka' (20$ for a tiny tub???), the wife made Kugel, Chocolate cake, Gefilte fish... Oh man, it will be awesome!

I've been wondering what the best order to put the love phrases would be...
I guess it's like this:
I love Hashem. I love the Rebbe. I love the wife. (Good jew)
I love Hashem. I love the wife. I love the Rebbe. (Major Snag)
I love the Rebbe. I love Hashem. I love the wife. (Major dish!!!)
I love the Rebbe. I love the wife. I love Hashem. (Chassidishe heretic)
I love the wife. I love the Rebbe. I love Hashem. (Backwards priorities)
I love the wife. I love Hashem. I love the Rebbe. (Fraie Snag)
... Any comments?

They're at it again.

SHLICHUS FOR BOCHURIM IN HONG KONG

Chabad of Hong Kong is looking for two motivated and mature bochurim to assist with Community Programming.

Responsibilities include managing Bar Mitzvah Club, Shabbos Children’s Programs, Tzivos Hashem, and planning Childrens’ Social events. Shiurim and Mivtzoim with Adults is also a possibility.

An attractive package will be offered to qualifying bochurim.

For more information please contact rabbi@chabadhk.org.

Taken from Shmais... Oish... They really need outside help. Will someone please go there and help them out?!

Pros and cons.

Hillel Polichenko in London by Yisroel Meir's wedding.

Picture has nothing to do with post.

So I'm just trying to figure things out... A very random post.

Reasons to have a blog private before marriage:
1) Don't want people to know what goes on in your single life. It could affect your Shidduch and Zivug possibilities.
2) People judge you alot faster.

Reasons to have a blog public before marriage:
1) Don't give a kak about what people think. Any problems that you face are not affecting someone else' life and privacy. It's all you and who gives a flying goose peckle.

Reasons to have a blog private after marriage:
1) Don't want people to know what goes on in the private life. If there is a problem with anything and it's put on the blog, then someone else' life is also being publicized and you can be messing with someone else' privacy.
2) In a case where one wants to put up the deepest secrets of his heart, then publicizing such feelings can be harmful to both parties of the relationship.

Reasons to have a blog public after marriage:
1) Who gives a kak about marriage? It's over and done with already.


Okay. that was that.

It was interesting. A couple of days ago, this football player got sacked for arranging and directing dog fights. 'Something' Vick had to get up in front of all the media after his courtcase and apologize.
I was driving back from Myrtle beach then, so I got to hear the radio pretty much all day.
It was funny how, listening to every talk show host which spoke about his "apology to the nation," it came out that every single word which was uttered during that apology was totally stupid, ignorant and foolish.

Between Mark levin, Sean Hannity and some other New York talkshow host on 740am, this man was so silly.
I sort of felt bad for him.
Here was this football player, turned into a total fool for lying to the referee's and the whole football association. He was made an idiot in front of the entire America. He decides to publicly humiliate himself and admit his wrongdoings and humbly accept his prison sentence and everyone is making him into total Chreff!
I don't know. I just felt bad for him.

Hmmmm.

The wife made this incredible supper tonight in honor of the birthday. Shish-ka-bub. I think I had like ten of them. Amazing...

The whole family came over and surprised me too.
I also hear that tomorrow, a huge parade will be taking place for all the blacks on Eastern Parkway in honor of my birthday... How exciting!!! YAAAAAY!

Last post of this year for me.

Well, this is probably going to be my last post as a 27 year old ( - ha, just kidding. But I'm not telling how old I really am).
Tomorrow is my Yom Holedes. I will be completing another year in this world and entering an entirely new level of Avoda.
Since I'm not too good at the mental Cheshbon Hanefesh thingy, I guess writing down a miniature Cheshbon is coo'.
This past year, hmmmmm. Am I supposed to be nice to myself and my ego when I make this Cheshbon or perhaps I should trash myself and my spiritual situation throughout the entire year so that I can guarantee a better one to come.

1) Birthday, return from Hong Kong
2) High Holidays in Dayton Ohio
3) Sukkot in Montreal
4) Preparing for Maccabees
5) Doing Maccabees
6) Getting my Dor Yeshorim done (what??!! That counts!)
7) Engagement (Obviously preceded by dating)
8) Matzah Bakery and learning in Beis Ayol at the JCM
9) Bubby passes away
10) Pesach at home
11) Chosson classes and museum work
12) Lag BaOmer with the Kalla
13) Shavuos and the Ofruff
14) Trip to Italy and not for touring and fun
15) The most memorable day of my life (13 Sivan 5767)
16) Trip to Israel with the wife and bestestest tour guide in the world
17) Trip to London for brother in law's wedding
18) Trip back to New York
19) Moving into new apartment (with backyard!)
20) Go to Montreal twice in one week
21) Six day trip to Myrtle beach SC
22) Back and ready to begin brand new year!!

I guess that's it. My year in review with only 22 highlights. You think a good Hachloto would be to make sure that by next year I'll have 23 highlights to post?
I don't know.
It's been a crazy year, but IY"H this year will be the most amazing one yet.
I will make Hashem and the Rebbe proud of me.
I will Davven better
I will learn better
I will think better thoughts
I will smile more
I will be serious more
I will be nicer to those around me
I will try to help every single person that I come across with whatever I can
I will try and be more caring, loving, devoted and friendly with everyone I know (especially you-know-who)
I will help bring Moshiach closer
I will try and wake up a little earlier on Shabbos morning to be able to learn something.

Okay, for those of you who thought that the last Hachloto sounded the most do'able for me... Ech'crew you! (Youch! There goes my "be nicer to people" Hachloto)


Gosh I am so tired. In case this post makes absolutely no sense, disregard it all.