Parshas Haazinu Torah message

Yom Kippur preps... And other stuff goin' on.

2 days left to Yom Kippur and I don't know how I will survive the upcoming Day or Repentance... Both physically as well as spiritually.

I am in no way ready to confess my sins, repent and become a better person.

I also have no idea what I'm going to do to keep the crowd entertained this year... That is, if I even manage to bring a crowd to Shul.

Talk about lowering standards. For us here in our tiny community, if 15 people show up to Shul, we've already had a 'crowd' and are quite content and pleased with ourselves. Oy!

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Kids are BH a bundle. Joy, stress, frustration, nachas... A mix of everything. It keeps like exciting no doubt.

We took Menny down from the top bunkbed for the last couple of weeks and boy have we suffered from it. With Menny on the same level as Kovi, come bedtime and they both stay up entertaining each other for three to four hours. I know it's not like they have school early the next morning, but it's still frustrating when we can't get our little peace and quiet time in the evenings.

So finally, tonight I had had it. I fixed Menny's bed on the top of the bunk and that's where he promptly fell asleep, about five minutes after his crying spell, wanting to return to his bed beside his dear brother Kobi. As a loving father I would hear none of that nonsense and had to almost literally hold myself back from succumbing to the pitiful wails of my suffering child. But as I said, after five minutes, the crying subsided and both Menny and Kovi fell asleep rather easily. Quite amazing I must say. I suppose we will keep the sleeping arrangements as they should be, separated.

Although the two boys playing together until all hours of the night does bring back some fond memories of myself and my older brother Zvi and the trouble we would cause when it came our bedtime each night. We must've caused our father much grief each and every night with our giggles and squeals of excitement until all hours of the night. I now know what it feels like, but instead of really getting upset about it, I seem to appreciate it, having gone through that faze with my brother myself.

***

Anyways, I'm listening to these amazing niggunim now. Some Chassidishe niggunim can actually pull at your heartstrings. They are that hartzig and amazing.

Benny

This Past Week's Torah Thought

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In G-d we Trust

This past week, the GOP Republican convention in Tampa, Florida took place. Yes, Presidential elections are back in the news and what an exciting fight that always turns out to be. If you like watching Wrestling, Boxing and Ultimate Fighting matches, then the US Presidential elections is like the longest and most exciting match to keep up with. Take a huge tub of popcorn and watch the news for the next five months. The drama, tension and emotional rushes are sure to keep you entertained.

But on a serious note and, keeping away from taking a political stand, I did find one of the speeches in particular to be quite moving. Marco Rubio, a Senator from Florida gave one of the introductory speeches, and in it, he proudly declares faith in G-d as one of the cornerstones of American life.

"We are special because we've been united not by a common race or ethnicity. We're bound together by common values. That family is the most important institution in society. That Almighty G-d is the source of all we have," Rubio stated.

He continued, "Special, because we've never made the mistake of believing that we are so smart that we can rely solely on our leaders or our government. Our national motto is "In G-d we Trust," reminding us that faith in our Creator is the most important American  value of all."

What a bold statement to make! Nowadays, it is quite rare for a politician to take such a stand. Invoking G-d's blessing, declaring our unwavering faith and trust in G-d Almighty seems to be swiftly moving to the brink of extinction in American politics. Unfortunately, many seem to think that G-d is too ancient an idea to bring along in our progressing society.

Many forget that faith in G-d was one of the founding principles upon which America was founded. It is also an idea that is so central to the success of America. Just look at what is engraved on every single US coin. "In G-d we Trust." Without trust in G-d, we are nothing.

Trust in G-d is crucial from a religious as well as ideological perspective. But to a significant degree, I think it is also a fundamental element that allows us to excel and become successful, making it crucial on a selfish level too.

When one has absolute trust in G-d, then the problems in life, those realities which tend to challenge us and 'ruin our days' don't seem impossible to overcome anymore. Having faith brings a calm to our lives. It makes us content and grateful for what we were given, as well as giving us something to lean on when we are hit with struggles and challenges. If G-d is watching over us and G-d is good, then whatever is to happen in life - even if it is beyond my understanding, - is for the best. So it's not worth it to stress and sweat the challenges.

I always found the words In G-d we Trust engraved on the coins to be a very impressive display of faith. Of all places to declare that belief, putting it on money seems to be the most gutsy. They could have kept it in the constitution or printed it on their flags, but they chose to put it on their money. It says lots about the values of a country, when they put belief in G-d on the thing that tends to pull us as far away from G-d as possible. Perhaps the most stressful challenge in life is the pursuit of money. Money can be looked at as idolatry, when considering how much it is served and coveted, taking priority to holier, loftier pursuits. By remembering that it is ultimately G-d who decides how much money we will earn and how our lives will turn out - always for our best, - then we are able to maximize our potentials, becoming better spouses, friends, businessmen and people.

So if times are tough for you, (especially here in Cabo, where everyone is bracing themselves for a month or two of quiet and lack of cash flow,) remember that even money declares our trust in G-d almighty and his wonderful plan to life. It will all turn out for the best, I promise.

Midnight... Yet I remain awake

For some reason, sleep and me don't get along. We are always battling. The late nights come and try to force my eyelids to shut and get some well deserved rest. Yet my body fights and rejects sleep. I don't know why. Precisely when I begin getting tired, my mind gets triggered to remind me of all the silly, yet important things that I need to still do... For example updating the blog. It is a silly thing, but it is of course important, if only for my mind at midnight when my eyelids are drooping in surrender.

Oh well. I should really do the right thing. I do need to wake up early tomorrow morning to get some milk from the farm. I suppose I will log off and go to sleep. Finally.