One more thought!

Nothing about Shidduchim. I thought of this last night and just now remembered to post it.

"Binah Yeseirah Nitnah Le'Isha"
"An added measure of understanding was given to the woman"

I think that that pretty much sums up some of the beauty of our religion.

People think that Judaism is racist, that we think of the gentiles as a lower creature than us. We don't love them as much as we love our fellow Jew and they are so upset about it.

The above statement sums up the beauty of it all.

If the sages would have told us that men are lacking in understanding... That men don't have as much understanding as the woman, then that could have been a racist comment and would beg for explanation with some 'very self esteemed' Jewish men.
Yet the Torah tells us that men have the full measure of understanding that a person is supposed to have. Men are not lacking in anything... The only thing is, that women were given an extra measure. They were given more than the norm.

That's not racist.

Gentiles are the perfect people. They are the perfect creature called the human. The have understanding. They have the potential for control etc...
Us Jews were given extra! We were gievn an added measure of holiness and responsibility.
Hence, we are the chosen nation.

It's not that Jews are human and gentiles are sub-human.
It's that Jews are superhuman and gentiles are human.

... Just thought that was a cool thought I'd share with the blawg.

One more Shidduch point to make.

Because of all of the comments and complaints about the Shidduch system and all other aspects of the global Frum Shidduch crisis... I would like to point out something that I think very important:

The set up Shidduch system that we have in our Frum circles, does not begin at dating age.
No indeedy!
The Jewish Shidduch system begins when the child is born.
I'm not talking about having marriages arranged while children are still in the womb ("Oh my gosh! I had a boy two years ago and you just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl three days ago, let's hook them up!!" I'm not talking about that.)
I am referring to the preparation and time that leads up to Shidduch dating.
We see time and again, that the classic Shadchan system works best when dealing with a Chassidishe boy and a Chassidishe girl... Yes, people who have not been exposed to such modern and vivid physicality when they were younger, tend to find their mate much easier and live happier lives because of it. That is our Shidduch system and that system should never ever change. We need to change ourselves and get back on track!! We need to banish all this exposure to such horrible Gashmius and Klipah.

"But Benny, you're being unrealistic! There is no way from stopping our Jewish world from being exposed to Hollywood and the brainwashing that it gives to the youth nowadays!!"
Bla bla bla... Yes there is a way. It's difficult. But necessary. It means genuinely following the directives and laws from our Torah, Rabonim and being Chassidim of the Rebbe. I'm not asking us to become ancient.

I'm not saying to banish internet, television and radio and turn into Shtetel Jews.
I'm saying that Television should be transformed into Rebbe video's.
- Yes, that's right. Movies are wrong! (One of the biggest problems nowadays is Frum people going around and claiming that since movies are so part of our lives, it means that they are okay and Muttar.Oy!)
I'm saying that radio's should be transformed into holy sound waves of Torah passing through the air.
- Yes, Goyishe musis is wrong!
I'm saying that the internet be used to transfer and publicize holiness and goodness to a troubled outside world.
- Yes, it should be limited and watched and certainly the games nowadays should be banned (just like movies).
I'm saying that we teach our children and drill it into them from a very young age, that all this technology is meant for us to inspire others. Not for us to get influenced by others.
I'm saying that by keeping our children very busy with doing positive things and inspiring others, it will eliminate their time and opporunities to sit and be Mekabel and soak in all the Grohbkeit that is out there, thus rusting and destroying their brain and Neshama.
It will thus make our children just as tech savvy with technology, yet naiive about such worldy things... Perhaps even knowlegable enough to diffrenciate between Physical thin air and spiritual reality, when their inevitable, independent challenges arise.

That way, when the children grow up, they tend to appreciate something that is true.
That way, when they need to date and find a Shidduch - K'Loshon collive - Size 2 means nothing to them. They see beauty for what beauty really is. No matter fat or skinny, short or tall, hairy or bald, smart or dumb... It doesn't matter. Beauty in its purest form. Beauty is something that real. It is even beyond someone having a 'good character'.

...

Which reminds me, that telling someone that their wife should be physically beautiful to them is important and the right thing.
Telling them that physical looks isn't everything, because eventually, after 4 kids the woman will be ugly, is the wrong thing. That is first of all not necessarily true. It also makes the wrong message. That is not why someone should define beauty by the girls character.

And so, in conclusion...
If you were brought up Chassidish and at least 'know' what is true, then you should not have a hard time finding your Bashert and appreciating her for what she is forever. Shadchan or not.
If you were exposed to a more physical definition of beauty and that is what's important to you, then you should know your failing... Know that you have a problem - Not the system - and learn lots and lots of Chassidus, until when you finally date, you can honestly say that the woman you marry is beautiful, because she IS beautiful.
Also because she is smart.
Also because she is Beautiful.
Also because she is caring.
Also because she is perhaps fun.
Also because she is Chassidish.
Also because she has good character.

Beauty is everything.

I am extremely tired and very thinky today.

Ciao. Hasta manana.

New, awesome website.

You must-to check out this new website and make a purchase...

In response to comment #1... hehe

Well, I'm not sure I was clear on my opinion in the previous post.

First of all, before we start anything, what in the world is the "Shidduch system" that everyone has problems with anyways?
Is there an official manual on how to set up a Shidduch for Chabad people or even Frum people at that? No!! There is no manual!!
The Shidduch system is a very general ideology that has developed over hundreds and hundreds of years and has statistically been proven to be the most successful and long lasting union maker in the world. Nobody can argue that.
The only better and longer lasting marriage rate in the world is probably the religious islam's. They don't have any divorce rate, because when you would think they are about to divorce, all of a sudden the woman turns up headless or something, so divorce is not neccessary (I say this perhaps with some exaggeration...)
In our world, the divorce rate is from the lowest that there is. Blame it on Taharas Hamishpocha. Blame it on the pressure to remain married. Blame it on the Shidduch system. Whatever it is, it's working.

Next point - Our sages tell us that the boy is actually supposed to pursue the girl as someone would search for a lost gem... Look in all the letters of the Rebbe dealing with Shidduchim. So right there, things are way different nowadays. With the whole 770 architecture and the girls side of this Shidduch crisis, a guy simply needs to sit in 770 and learn a Sicha. By the morning, there is already a list of girls who he is going to be dating... Again, with slight exaggeration.

The point is, nowhere in the manual of Shidduchim does it prohibit a girl to learn of a boys existence and take interest in him, then to pass over her interest to the Shadchan and have the Shadchan set up the Shidduch. Same is vice versa.

I worked in the museum several years ago. My wife (G-d bless her) worked in the museum. There was chatter about hooking us up. There were thoughts about hooking us up.
Someone called the Shadchan and the rest is history. I do not consider myself someone who cheated the Shidduch system.

The girl on collive who complained had a problem with the entire Shidduch system. She wants official policy to be freestyle dating for everyone. She wants to be able to see a guy on Kingston, strike up a conversation and let history be made.
I'm sorry, that would never ever work. Go to the village in Manhattan, look at all the young professionals who do this all day and see for yourself
(But you can't compare!!! The Village is a bunch of non religious people. They are not dating seriously!! whatever)

There are Shidduchim that are made outside of the system. I am not saying that they are wrong and will never work. Chas Veshalom!! I know many people who hooked up and are happily married and will IY"H be forever and ever! But the point at hand is, that if we were to make freestyle dating the official policy, then the percentage of people who take dating as a joke and fun concept would dramatically increase.
Meanwhile, those people who date outside of the system, if they are serious about it, it can work out just as well.
The chances are alot smaller that they will be serious about dating for marriage purposes. But if they are genuinely serious about their dating, then Kol Hakavod! It can be great.

The girl from the comment on collive obviously dated some guy who was from the minority of Bochurim that are looking for fun dating and using the Shidduch system for their benefit. She had a bad experience and is blaming the entire system, instead of blaming herself, the boy, the lack of honesty in the 'set-up' etc...

And so I conclude, before we go out and decide to paint the entire world a different color, because we think that it's purple, we might want to change the 'purple' lenses on our glasses and see that the problem is us and not a bigger and better system.

Zuntig in Cabos.

These days, people on earth are crazy... and it all unfolds in front of me, while I sit here at the computer in Cabo San Lucas, biting my nails and drinking yummy, hot chocolate that Sonia made for me.

I've realized in the last few days just how quick people jump to judge systems and organized patterns that have been around for many, many years.
Let me give you some of these cases.
1. Last week, I listened online, while Barack Obama criticized the American health care system and pledged to work on an American "tax-paid" healthcare system.
While he obviously ignored the fact that millions and millions of people around the world flock to the US to get medical help, because that's the only place that will get the job done efficiently. He also seemed to me like a person who is blinded by his intense desire to control the citizens of 'his' country.
Now, while I agree that the healthcare system in the United States has many flaws and needs to be worked on urgently, in order to save lives of sick people who cannot afford coverage etc... I strongly maintain my opinion and knowledge that the "SYSTEM" of the healthcare idea is a perfect system.
Having a private healthcare system that gives millions of people the ability and 'choice,' to choose what kind of healthcare they want, thereby affording them their right to freedom and liberty is an essential part of America. If the insurance agencies are regulated properly, so that they do not end up exploiting the consumer (and the other way around, if regulations are set up, which would allow insurance agencies leeway with regard to silly medical malpractice lawsuits against them), then all would be lots more in order. But please, PLEASE! don't change the entire direction and system of the healthcare service. It will make people slaves to the country and take away their freedom.
2. I read the other day on Collive.com, about some girl who writes to the Shidduch blogger how she is having trouble dating and therefore thinks that the entire system that is set up for Frum dating is totally messed up. She attemps to solve the problem by suggesting that they totally remodel and redesign the approach to dating.
I couldn't believe the things I was reading. This girl is having a problem dating... Perhaps because she has issues. If she doesn't have issues, then the boy maybe has issues. If they both don't have issues, then they just didn't click and they should go out with other people.
But because this little 'pitzel' girl didn't have a good dating experience, therefore the entire Shidduch system of dating is MESSED UP??!!! Who the heck does this girl think she is?!!
I was fuming. People are so quick to jump to conclusions and decide what's best for everyone else.
3. Some woman (who's pops is Jewish) comes by the house today and we talked for almost four hours. During the conversation, she starts telling me how she is Jewish and she doesn't care what anybody tells her.
I tried to explain her that a person is only Jewish is their mom was Jewish, which she already knows... But she proceeds to interrupt me and tell me that she doesn't care what anybody else says. She is Jewish.
I was only able to smile at her and think to myself "Ummmm... Okaaayyy... Whatever"

How do we respond to that?
Every time I opened my mouth to respond logically how that makes absolutely no sense, she would cut me off with her "I don't care. I'm Jewish"

Anyways.

Tonight was a tough night for me. I had to finally do it.

There is a Bar Mitzva in two and a half weeks. Up until about a week ago, it was supposed to be a Kosher Bar Mitzvah. But I found out, that the woman is not able to make the Bar Mitzvah Kosher. It's too difficult for her to do it here in Cabo, where there is no Jewish establishment. You know... Hotels don't have the right equipment and stuff to supply Kosher.
I understood her. I wouldn't have been able to do the Hashgocho. I am going to be with the Bar Mitzvah boy the entire prayer etc... and I can't be running back and forth from the kitchen to the Shul.
So I told her that I understand and all. But then, when I got back home, I began to get noivous.
Anyways, on Friday things got worse.
I called a rov and asked him what I should do. He told me that if the Bar Mitzvah is not Kosher, then I cannot attend.
1 - It's not right for them to welcome their son into the Jewish faith with a non-Kosher festive meal. It is absolutely anti-Jewish.
2 - It would make a statement in the fresh and tender community, that the Rabbi is fine with showing up and validating events that are not Kosher. Which means that people here don't ever need to put in an effort to make their events Kosher.

I needed to tell her.

So tonight, I called the mom up and kindly visited her at her home.
I explained to her, that as difficult as it is for me to get mixed into the families private Bar Mitzvah arrangements, I will simply not be able to show up to a non Kosher event... Unless she agreed to put in the extra effort (and $700US) to make it Kosher.
I was shocked at how accepting she was of my speech and she told me that she will make sure that it's Kosher no matter what.
The only thing is, I'm supposed to help ease the burder on her. That means that I'm going to be working my tuches off in the next couple of weeks.
Another Hashgocho job. Yay!!

...

In other news. We finally found a farm, about 15 minutes from us, where we can go and watch them milk the cows and take their milk. The farmer even told me that he would throw in a whole bunch of freshly laid eggs too. How happy and lucky I am.

Tisha B'av is coming up. I am not excited at all, to say the least. This place is hot. When I say hot, I mean the hottest climate that I have ever been living in by far. I sweat and sweat and sweat.
An average day here is about 110 farhenheit. It's absolutely Meshugeh.

As far as fundraising is concerned, I'm going crazy too. I never thought that it would be this difficult to pick up a phone and ask people for money to help support our community.
That being, especially since every Friday night, when I ask people how business is doing, they all tell me the same thing "Horrible!!"... "There's no money at all"... "It's just starting to pick up slightly"...
Now tell me, how am I supposed to call these people two days later and ask them to give me money??!!

...

This past Shabbos was our busiest yet... Also difficult as anything.

On Thursday, at about 12pm, the water in our home goes off. The day was difficult because of it. Our house was a mess. To top it all off, when the cleaning lady came, she wasn't able to mop the floors or wash the dishes. Again, there was no water.
I went to the water company and asked what this is all about. The lady told me that they were working in the Center of the city and the water would be back on at night.
Lo and behold, at about 9pm, the water went back on. Yay!
At 12am - midnight, - the water shuts off again. Shux!
The next morning, there is water again. Yay!
At about 9am, the water goes off again. Shux. Actually, big shux. It's Friday and we have lots of cooking and cleaning to do.
I telephone the water company about it. After about an hour, the woman tells me that the water is going to be off for the rest of the day, but it will be on in the morning. I need to be strong, because I'm not expecting Sonia to be strong on this real busy Friday.
So I quickly think. I run to the store and buy 80 liters of water... That's 8 huge 10 liter water bottles.
We will use 1 bottle each to shower. 1 or two bottles to wash the minimal amount of dishes and floors.
Then we will put a bottle in each bathroom, and tell congregants to pour a bunch of water into the toilet when they finish using it, apologizing at the technical difficulty that we are having.
We are also supposed to have guests for Shabbos. So that will stink!

Before Shabbos, our cleaning lady tells us that there's a truck that can come and fill up our water cistern outside for about $100US. I agree. We can't slap our congregants with this inconvenience.

An hour and a half later, the truck shows up and he charges me only $80US. Nice of him.

A half hour before Shabbos, Sonia had arranged a pre-Shabbos kiddie program. Four Goyim showed up.
Friday night was nice. The Minyan showed up at 'Al tira'... But the meal was inspiring and fun.
Shabbos day... This was the first time that I had tried to get a Minyan for Shabbos day together. I made phone calls on Friday, and about 12 people had told me that they will show up. only 4 people were there, including myself and the Shabbos guest.
We Davvened and it was nice. But I was sort of upset. One day we will have a nice Shabbos day Minyan though. You'll see.

Meanwhile, I'm going to try and arrange a Shabbos day minyan once a month.

Anyways, that's about everything going on in my life now... tty.

Gutte nacht.
I will try and update this a bit more often. You know. Like twice a week instead of once.

Sonia doesn't let me post on the blawg now!

I know I haven't kept in touch with all for quite sometime now. I've been busy reading other blogs.
Sonia is not letting be blawg now, because I need to be up at 6am, to go watch another farmer milk some more cows.
You see, THIS is what makes Shlichus so hard. That I can't even blog, due to commitments and requirements.
If I lived in Crown Heights, I would have been able to blog now, because I would have also been able to sleep in tomorrow.

(Kidding Sonia)

Gutte Nacht to all. Maybe Mitzaei Shabbos I will update this thing-a-bob!

Good Shabbos!!

And to think that this guy is my brother!!

I know I know. The 9 days... I love him.

Came across this. Thought it worth sharing

The walker, with details... Visual details.

A Milky Sunday.

The bucket of Kosher milk.

The generous cow. Notice our distance. I was totally not afraid, it was the wife and kid.

The milking. Oh stop giggling there in the back!! Grow up!

And as you can see, I'm very engrossed in watching the process, making sure that no pig fat is poured into the Milk. Kidding. It was nice to watch.

...

This past Sunday was the first time that we had the opportunity to actually get milk that was Cholov Yisroel and Kosher. I'm talking about the real thing.
We woke up very early on Sunday morning (I'm talking 6:30am early) and travelled with our good friend Jonathan P about 45 minutes out of Cabo. It was in the mountains and it was absolutely beautiful. Fresh air and emptiness beautiful.
We went to a farm 'rancho' and watched the farmer milk his cow. Being that it was our first time and it was bit late when we arrived, most of the cows had already been milked and this one last one was left. She had recently given birth and therefore didn't have too much milk. The majority of her milk had been given to her little calf. But the farmer promised that next time we come, he will be more ready and prepared for us.
The milking process was interesting. We boiled the milk afterwards, bottled it and brought it home. It tastes thick and creamy... Nothing like the 2% Mehadrin milks that we used to drink at home. I don't like the taste to be honest. But Sonia says that with time, once I get used to this milk I won't be able to taste the processed, store bought milks anymore. This is doch the real deal!!

We'll see.

But this is Shlichus life I guess. It's exciting and thrilling all the same.

I need to start fundraising desperately.
I will try and explain to the public what goes through my mind when I'm phoning someone to ask for a donation... Perhaps ten years down the line, I will look back at this post and laugh. Laugh at the irony of my silly, naiive mind, which was so terrified of fundraising. Obviously, the humor then will be mainly because I will have been an extremely successful fundraiser with lots and lots of money. kidding. For real. I was kidding. I just need money to survive and for the Cabo Jewish Center to thrive... Hey! Maybe that's a good motto for me. "Help my family survive and the Jewish center thrive"... naaaa

If the person answers the phone...
I usually want him to get the impression that I am not in it for the money, so I will not mention money on the first phone call. BIG MISTAKE I know... But what can I do. Like Sonia tells me, she heard from the wife of another Shliach "Sometimes my husband un-fundraises." You know, when the guy pulls out a hundred dollar bill and we refuse to take it, based on our principal that we are not in it for the money but rather for the soul. True... Ober Doch!
... Then again, I haven't yet had a case where someone from the community picked up the phone and I needed to ask them for money.

If I get the answering machine...
Right away my brain starts whirring... I figure that the guy saw my caller ID and refuses to pick up the phone, knowing that I'm going to ask him for money. Should I call with that anonymous code? That'll make things worse, because when the guy picks up and sees that it's me, I seen like those sleezy people who know you don't want to speak about it, buy anonymously manipulate you to follow their desires. I don't want to be that person.
Having said that, I usually leave a message on their phone. It's easier than having to wait for their uncomfortable reply and make me look like a fool (Well of course the economy has taken a downturn and you can't donate now and I should come back in like ten years!! How stupid of me to think otherwise!!)
The problem with leaving a message, is that I've left several messages on a couple of phones already and the people never call back. It makes me feel even more uncomfortable calling them again and seeming like a constant nag on their shoulder, reminding them to give us money... It kills.

Sometimes I resort to sending emails. Those are easy, but the same thing happens. When the person doesn't reply, I right away get all self conscience about it and figure that the person is trying to avoid me and I begin feeling like I'm some sort of selfish, money guzzling monster.

I even begin blaming myself, questioning my justice in fundraising. Am I really working as hard as I possibly can for this?? Are my days so full, that I have no time to myself and can therefore ask someone from the community to help out financially??

In case you're going to comment with solutions and criticism... I know the solution. I know all the theory. Perhaps it's good to hear it anyways, perhaps it won't help a thing. I don't know. Fire away!!

Hope to be in touch with you dear blog more often.
I have two Bar Mitzvah classes tomorrow
I have to do the weekly shopping with Sony. It's Tuesday. Big sales at Wal Mart and Sorianna. So we stock up on everything.
I have to prepare the CABO'lah class tomorrow.
I have to make copies for the CABO'lah class tomorrow
I have to deliver the CABO'lah class tomorrow night. My guess is that I will be busy.
I should also make some fundraising phone calls.

Not much of an update.

Lately, I've been taking a nap during the afternoon hours of the day. It's not very useful for me. It makes me stay up until all hours of the night, not able to sleep.
We are beginning to get busy and that's a good thing. But my lazy genes, which by the way I've made really good friends with recently are expressing their disagreement with my new working patterns. I don't know how I'll be able to keep busy, but still stay friends with my lazy genes.

Hmmm

It's official

Kovi walks!

Here is my post for the week...

I know I know. I barely post anymore.
Finished the email, I'm getting ready to go shluff and I will post some stuff that were on my mind as of late.

Zvi writes me in an email that I should use this blog to inspire. I don't know. I've never been pressured to use this blog for anything other than letting loose.
Perhaps.

Shlichus here has its moments. There are times when I wonder if I'm on Shlichus because I am purely given over to the Rebbe's inyonin and his vision, totally throwing every part of my being into the job at hand and selflessly loving every single Jew here in Cabo... Or perhaps, it may be a bit more traditional... Maybe I was just brought up in a Lubavich system, where helping people is part of the norm and we don't think twice when it comes to moving across the world, to religiously and socially (close friend socially) desolate places. Maybe I'm here and it's only because I was brought up to not think too much about it and get depressed over it.

But then I think that the Yetzer Hora has taken over and given me these doubts. Have I acheived truth if I banish these doubts from my mind, or have I shrunk my mind to an even lower level of 'closed-mindedness' with this total shutting off my mind from rational thought and challenging mental discussion with myself? This should be called doubt sheb'doubt!!

I don't know.

The only thing I DO know is that my fast went incredibly easy. It was hot outside. Very hot outside I should say. I Shvitzzed.
But the fast was so easy, because this was the first time I actually did what I probably was supposed to do when a fast day comes along.
Instead of sitting around, lying around and looking at video's on youtube or other stuff which waste time as opposed to utilize it... I began my day with davvening, then at 12pm, I went and learned with a boy for an hour for his Bar Mitzvah. After that, I paid a debt at the Casa Dorada hotel, which was outstanding since our Pesach Seder (I used the money that I had for our electric bill. But Hashem will help me pay the electric bill too. Maybe I will pay the elec. bill with this months rent money. hehe). After all that, at 3pm I came home and had a meeting with some dude who wanted me to put an advert on his website. I won't.
At 3:30pm, I left to deliver food to some Jewish dude who needed Kosher food in the Hilton. From there I went on to the Palmilla's and learned with a Ba'al Habos for about an hour and a half, arriving home at 6:50pm.
I was supposed to have a 7pm meeting with some guy who wanted to know if his last name is Jewish, but the guy never showed up.
After this stressful day, I realize that this was a spiritually uplifting fast day experience that I enjoyed. It kept me busy doing the right things, and it didn't even give me time to think about how hungry I really was.

I realized how hungryI was, when I tasted Sonia's supper tonight. WOW!! She made the best bread I have ever tasted!!

And for a closing thought: Do we need to say Slichus on Shlichus? I mean we have everything already. We've even added an 'H'!!

And for a closed thought. I once put this video up on the blog (way back). I am putting it up again, because I thought of an awesome comment. Check it out!



This is what my Davvening sometimes sounds like.

Accuweather is scary here in Cabo!

I just read on accuweather.com that tomorrow's real feel temperature here in Cabo is supposed to be 54 Celsius and 130 Fahrenheit.

Funniest ever!

Kovi again

Kovi walking

The post...

Sunday morning last week, we headed off to the airport and missed our flight.
We were on time, but our 15 month old son, Kovi was missing his landing paper that the customs in Mexico had given him when he landed here 4 months ago... Okay, we were the ones to blame. We lost the paper.
The people at the check in counter told us that we would need to go to the customs desk all the way on the other side of the airport and get a new paper. "It's a whole process and by the time we get back, it'll be too late. The gate will be closed" they say to us apologetically, but firmly.
I ran as quickly as possible and got the papers. When I got back, there was still 40 minutes to the flight. The people behind the counter refused to make an exception for us, claiming that it's too late. The flight is already full and they will not let us on the flight. (They knew we came with over an hour to the flight and with 40 minutes left to takeoff, it should have been such a probelm. Especially with the tiny size of the airport... Anti Semites :))
I called the airline office and complained. The airline manager spoke with the guy behind the desk over the phone. As soon as the guy hung up the phone, he began desperately working to reroute us.
We ended up flying to San Diego, Chicago (waited in the airport for 7 hours) and then finally arriving in Montreal on Monday morning at 9am, instead of Sunday night. Not too bad for bad luck.

We were at home until Tuesday night, when we drove to NY for Gimmel Tammuz and to buy all the things we needed to stock up on for Cabo.

Wednesday was busy in NY. Shopping, getting insurance for the wife and kid, more shopping and catching up with friends. We then crashed by Sonia's sister in Queens. Tough day and I was exhausted.

Thursday, I went to 770, then left to the Ohel at 12pm. 2 hour waiting line and a quick pass by the Rebbe and then we came back. We arrived in CH at 4:30pm.

Left CH and headed for some small city east of New Haven, Connecticut for Moshe Rubin's wedding.
We came about 8:30pm, just bit late. The meal was just beginning. The wedding was beautiful and we got to stay overnight at the Hotel. Shkoyach Mosh. That was really amazing.

Friday morning, we get up at around 7:30am and pack into the car to get ready to head back to Montreal for Shabbos. I figured that since New Haven is two and a half hours North'ish from NY, it's gotta' be almost halfway to Montreal, which would mean that the trip should take roughly 4-5 hours (Montreal-New York takes 6 hours).
Leaving at 8am, I figured that we would be in Montreal before 3pm and I would be able to play hockey on Friday afternoon.
But I was shocked and upset when I turned on the GPS at 8:15am in the car and it told me that our arrival time would be at 4:30pm.
I was ticked. That would mean that the trip is 8 hours. I had grossly miscalculated the trip and I had acted only on my silly speculation.
I decided that instead of following the GPS, which would lead me to Albany and up the regular highway - BORING!, I would make the best of our 'ruined' trip and go north, through the nice country roads.
Sonia didn't like the idea, but let me do it anyways.
I should've listened to her. I got lost and it rained. We ended up arriving at 6:30pm, with 2 hours left to Shabbos and a half hour to return the rental car. It was very hectic to say the least.

Sunday I played hockey finally and am still suffering from it.
I haven't played hockey in so long, that I guess the whole myth of getting out of shape actually might have some truth to it... I was on the rink for about ten minutes (Bli Guzmah), and I needed to head off to the side to throw up. Yes! Throw Up!!! I was so overworked.
But I got back on the rink and played for about another hour or so before I was gone! Totally gone.

My bones still ache from that game. But it was well worth it. I had a really good time playing and really miss the game.

Anyways, after another tough trip back, we finally arrived in Cabo on Tuesday afternoon tired, but home.
Tuesday night we had a nice and really interesting Tanya class.
Wednesday night (last night), Sonia made her first womens event. They baked Challah. Sonia taught them the whole Kabbala of Challah and stuph. It was so cool man! and from what I hear, people absolutely loved it.

That was pretty much our trip and some of the details.

But on to some other thoughts that I would like to share with the blog.

1 - Tonight I saw something emotionally frustrating. I was in WalMart waiting at the checkout line, and there was this 'couple-of-month-old' baby in front of me. She was a cute Mexican baby and all. The thing that grossed me out and made me cringe, was that she had two earings in each ear. She wasn't like some weird tribal religious Mexican baby that needs to have double piercings in her ear for whatever weird reasons. She was just a regular, innocent baby with a regular Mexican mom holding her... Except that her mom had apparently allowed her and chosen for her to have two piercings in each ear. It was absolutely unappetizing to look at. I tried smiling at her parents when they looked at me... You know, the polite smile that you give to parents when you want them to think that you think their child is adorable? That kind of smile, but inside I was throwing up.
How could her parents do such a horrible thing to her at such a young age? Maybe they should have put some sort of tatoo on her as well!!

2 - While driving to the Ohel on Gimmel Tammuz with my brother in law Lazer, we had an interesting discussion, about the many different perspectives that Gimmel Tammuz can have for different people.
For example, a person who lived every day with the Rebbe, he must miss the Rebbe terribly and want to see him and hear him again so badly. For him, Gimmel Tammuz is a sad and tragic day.
For a child, who's parents and Mashpi'im have perhaps seen the Rebbe, the intense yearning to see the Rebbe is not as clear and conscienciously felt. In fact, everyone tells him that now, after Gimmel Tammuz, the Rebbe doesn't have any limitations and can be everywhere in the world and give more and more power to his Chassidim. For this young child, Gimmel Tammuz is a day of immense spiritual opportunity. There is no time to be sad and cry, we need to capitalize on this golden chance that we have during these 24 hours.
For a Jew who is brand new to the whole Lubavich thing, Gimmel Tammuz is the day that the Rebbe lost all boundries and is able to directly affect a Jew in the farthest reaches of the world, because of his lack of physical, bodily limitations. For this Jew, it is a day of happiness and great joy.

This was the irony of the day that we discussed. I was thinking about it and almost came to the conclusion that it's true. Where do I stand? I don't feel like I miss the Rebbe. I keep telling myself that Gimmel Tammuz to me is the day that Rebbe lost his physical boundries and maybe I should even be happy... Did I get it all wrong? Why was I Bichlal going to the Ohel on Gimmel Tammuz? Most probably because everyone else is and I don't want to seem like a loser outcast.

Anyways, these were all thoughts swirling around inside me. But some small sense of clarity slowly seeped into my head and heart as I walked by the Rebbe.
I waited on line for 2 hours, watching the inspiring video's and being around hundreds and maybe thousands of other Jews from all walks of life.
It was while I was the 'next on line' to enter the holy of holies and be face to face with my Rebbe, that I realized that Gimmel Tammuz is about this very moment and I felt it!
Looking at all the other people inside the Ohel with me, I was surprised to see that everyone without exception was solemn. From Eltere Chassidim, to young Bochurim, to clean shaven Jews with beenies and even non observant Jews inside the Ohel who have never ever met the Rebbe to know who he was... Everyone without exception deeply missed the Rebbe and wished to be able to speak with him and see him face to face. It was only for about two minutes. I felt it too. It was a sudden gush of 'missing the Rebbe' that I felt come upon me, and the rest of my Gimmel Tammuz was changed. I was inspired.
The earlier discussion came very clear to me.
Yes, on regular days we may all have different feelings and perspectives with regard to our connection with the Rebbe and how we should feel about this dark, dingy Golus. But when it comes to the moment of truth, when you're standing in the Ohel and looking at the stone, the longing for the Rebbe comes gushing forth, irrelevant of whether or not you knew the Rebbe personally, or you saw him only once in your life, or you even only know about him through a video and some Rabbi telling you about him. You miss him and wish to be together with him again.

Those are some thoughts. I'm dead tired and I need to also go on Mivtzoim tomorrow. Ciao and I hope to be able to update this more often

Shabbat Shalom.

Oh, and Kovi officially walks now. I'll post a video of it too.

The first ever Cabo Jewish Centers women's event!

Sonia designed and set up the entire thing. It was gorgeous!! Five women showed up ("Drai fun zei zainin geven emesse fun unzere") and they all had a wonderful time.

Pineapple cake, Chocolate cake, oatmeal cookies and vegetables. Orange juice, water and sodas. It was in memory of Reizy Ob'm

"Der froy vos iz der tzveiter fun der links iz nisht fun unzere. Di alle andere zainen geven gutte yidden!"
They baked Challa.

the Bar-b-q that our family had on the night that we arrived. The 'Gantze mishpuche' came over... Even Auntie Mary. It was great. This is unfortunately the only picture that we took of Montreal. It shows you just how busy we were.

Keinahora poo poo poo!