I recently overheard someone saying if you invested in $1000 in Apple Computer 20 years ago you would be a millionaire today.

How important it is to make long term investments. The Torah teaches that our sights should be on long term gains.

At times we seek immediate gratification. After we will pay, but today we can’t resist.

The credit card is a good example. We buy it today, but end up paying three times the price of the object. Thank G-d, we recently paid our credit cards off. Now we just throw out the offers they send. You can’t imagine how satisfying it is – not to receive a credit card bill with 25% interest payments and some nice penalty payments to boot.

Or not going on the eating or drinking binge.

The little victories in life give us satisfaction.

Some overlook the long term gains of Mitzvahs.

Not intentionally. It just doesn’t enter their mind.

Observing Shabbat takes effort. It may easier to go shopping or watch football. But what comes from it? Peace of mind and tranquility – better family relations.

Or it might be easier to spend on excessive luxuries – than to give to charity. But Torah charity brings better fruits in the end. You helped a needy family to survive hard times.

Before you take a bite – ask if it is kosher. It might taste good – but you also want it to be good for your soul.

Before marriage – ask yourself if your prospective mate is ideal for helping you reach your and your families potential. Is it worth it – because of love or infatuation – to overlook the long-term spiritual satisfaction of the family? Before marriage the Torah outlook is to inquire about a potential mate’s values, outlook regarding Judaism, desire for growth, stability, good heartedness and good character traits. Love will eventually come. Love before inquiry leads to disappointment many times – it is putting the carriage before the horse.

Ask if it is true before you subscribe to a way of life. Don’t subscribe and then ask if it is true.

I used to be an avid TV watcher – not the level of being a couch potato – but up there. Yes – some programs were entertaining, but was it worth the opportunity cost of spending quality time with my family? I don’t know. Before choosing the tube over Torah study – ask what gain comes from each.

I had friends I loved.

They went their way. I went mine.

They became successful people financially and in their careers, because G-d blessed them for years that they worked hard.

I focused on learning Torah. Now I teach others.

Invest now for what you want to achieve.

Don’t feel badly that you didn’t invest that money in Apple. You can invest now in a worthwhile charity and get better long-term returns.

Once a rich man called up a fund raiser. He told him he had lost millions in the stock market. He proceeded to thank him for soliciting him for a major gift. He said that is the money that will remain with him in the next world.

A Mitzvah is eternal.

The world is guided by physical laws. It is one proof of the existence of G-d. Albert Einstein said “G-d does not play dice with the universe.”

There is plan and purpose in the Universe. Things do not happen at random.

Physics are laws governing physical objects – Throw something up – it will come down.

Biology is laws governing living things – White blood cells rush to repair damaged tissue.

Earth Science are laws governing the earth – Winds at different levels of the atmosphere come together from different directions create tornadoes.

There is a spiritual dimension that goes unperceived in life. Some may think that the world just acts with random acts.

Think again.

G-d runs the world with precision and exactitude.

G-d gave the power to man to shape the world – through the physical and the spiritual.

The world is also governed by other laws – spiritual laws – the spiritual dimension of the world.

One is known in the Torah as Midah Keneged Midah – “Measure for Measure.” Doing good causes good – doing bad causes bad.

Another is called Tephilla – “Prayer.” Prayer to Hash-m has the power to affect changes in the world.

The intensity and sincerity of the prayer will have an effect on the outcome. Pray for a good grade in the Math test and make the effort and it will bring fruits.

Measure for Measure works thus – Do good and it will come back to you. The same applies to doing bad. Be extra patient with someone – others will be patient with you. If one yells at a child and it is possible that soon after someone shout at them. I have observed this personally many times.

Being good – brings not only good to the world but good back to you.

Tzedaka is the word for Charity in Hebrew. It comes from the word “Justice” – tzedek. Through giving charities one makes the world more just. A poor person is given Tzedaka is allowed to support his family – that makes for a just world. Torah provides great bounty to the world. It is just for those who have gained from this abundance to give it back to the source of their blessing – Torah institutions.

Worthy charities abound. Even among the Jewish charities there are some that are more worthwhile to invest one’s money in than others. When one invests in supporting Torah, one not only helps to bring tremendous good to the world, but s/he builds their own world – their future world. The Torah is what helps make the world run.

The following is a list of Jewish Charities that provide Torah education to Jewish people of all backgrounds. The list is not exhaustive –

Yeshivas
Yeshiva Shor Yoshuv – A Yeshiva for Advanced and beginning Students in Torah Learning
Aish HaTorah – Educational Torah programs in Israel & the US
Ohr Somayach – Educational Torah programs in Israel & the US
Mir Yeshiva – A Top Yeshiva Program in Israel and the US
Rabbinical Seminary of America – A network of Torah institutions throughout the US and Israel
Yeshiva Primary – A Jewish Day School program for Students from Public schools
Mesivta Tiferet Torah – A Yeshiva in Queens
Yeshiva Mikdash Melech – Yeshiva geared to Sephardic Students in Queens and Israel
Yeshiva Or Haiim – In Queens for Students of all backgrounds
Yeshiva Ohr HaChaim – Yeshiva Program in Israel headed by Rabbi Reuven Elbaz
Beth Midrash Govoha – a Great Yeshiva in Lakewood founded by Rabbi Aharon Kotler

Jewish After School Programs
Ohr Binyamin – Creates Hebrew School programs for children in Jewish Schools and in Public schools to educate them in Mitzvot Observance
Jewish Education Program of Long Island – Jewish After School Program for Public School Children
Jewish Education Program of Queens – Jewish After School Program for Public School Children
Jewish Education Program of Brooklyn – Jewish After School Program for Public School Children
Jewish Education Program of Westchester – Jewish Outreach Program in Westchester

Outreach Organizations
Ohr Binyamin – Gives away free Torah materials to help any Jew observe Torah easily
Hitdabroot – An organization that teaches Torah via TV and other media
Aish HaTorah – Has Centers Around the US and World to Teach Torah
The Shabbos Project – a project to teach and help Jewish people to observe Shabbat in it’s entirety together in South African
Chazaq – an organization dedicated to teach Torah in the greater Queens community

Jewish Day Schools and Camps
Nechomas Yisroel – Provides Financial Aid and Other help in Enrolling Children in Jewish Schools.
Camp L’man Achai – Provides Financial Aid and Other help in Enrolling Children in Jewish Schools. Rabbi Shmuel Kleinman
Al HaMaayan – Network of Torah Schools in Israel – that was under guidance of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, ztz”l
Otzar HaTorah – Network of Jewish Day Schools in France and Morocco

I believe it was a recent Friday Afternoon, after food shopping for Shabbat, when I met Joe*, outside the Kosher Supermarket.

He was sitting on a chair collecting funds for himself. He told me his story.

With regret in his voice of his past – he told his reason for his woes – his poverty, lack of a stable job and lack of a wife. When he was young he had somehow angered his mother on a number of occasions. Apparently, his mother – fed up with her son’s behavior – cursed him. This is why, he said he remained in his dire straits.

Trying to console him, I offered him some simple advice. Every year most synagogues, before the new year – Rosh Hashana – and before Yom Kippur do a nullification of vows and nullification of curses. I mentioned to him that every week – on Friday mornings – at our synagogue we do the same. I told him to attend and perhaps it would help bring some respite from his challenges.

He agreed to come. Many weeks passed and I did not see him at the synagogue.

I forgot about him.

Just recently I saw a stranger enter the synagogue – waiting for the service to begin. He became impatient and wandered off to another synagogue in the neighborhood. It was Joe. Before I had a chance to catch him – to tell him to stay to listen to the “nullification of vows and curses” – he left.

Perhaps his situation would have improved had he heard the nullification. Perhaps his situation was due to his lack of effort. Or perhaps because of his lack of enthusiasm in sincere prayer to Hash-m (G-d). Perhaps it was partly due to his mother’s curse.

But let’s say his life would have changed – little by little. One small step – of being patient – could have lead to improving of his lot.

We have our own package that stops us from reaching our heights. A reason to blame our lack of success or lack of happiness. We talk others down. When really we should bring ourselves up by rising to the challenge.

It starts by taking one small step in the right direction and praying to Hash-m to help us in our endeavor. G-d wants both from us.

G-d’s calculations for the situation of man are perfect. The problem that we have is – we don’t always understand his equation. Praying for true guidance and seeking guidance from Torah authorities are essential ingredients to lead us to the road to our own personal redemption.

* Names changed to protect identity.

Moshe (Paul) Reichman, z”l – former CEO of Olympia & York – the worlds largest Real Estate Development Company, had his humble beginnings in Gateshead Yeshiva in England.

As a young Yeshiva Bachur (Lad), he was assigned the task of bringing bread from the local bakery for the Yeshiva. Every Day diligently he would go to the bakery and bring bread to the Yeshiva. His fellow – another Moshe – Moshe Sternbuch was assigned the task of waking up the Yeshiva Boys for the Morning Prayer.

Their Rebbe – Rabbi Schneider – gave them each a blessing. To Moshe Reichmann – that would bring the bread – he blessed him that he should become wealthy to the point of becoming world renown. And to the other Moshe – Moshe Sternbuch – he blessed him that he should become a great Torah scholar – becoming world renown. Both Blessings were fulfilled.

Moshe Reicmann related later in his life “I wish I was the one that went to wake up the students.”

The whole life of Moshe Reichmann – revealed where his heart was. He eagerly desired to support and learn Torah. Though he achieved tremendous financial success – he still remained a Ben Torah (Torah Learner) at heart. When he was in yeshiva – he didn’t think of going into business. He “wanted to something for the world.” When he did go into business he said often that the best training for business was learning Talmud (Gemara).

Once he went to the Gadol HaDor (One of the Greatest Rabbis in the Generation) Rav Shach. He asked him “I have enough wealth to support myself and my family and their families for the next generation – can I stop doing business to learn Torah all day?” Rav Schach said “You must continue doing business because – you are helping to hold up the world of Torah with your philanthropy.”

Yes. Holding up the Torah World. But not only the world of Torah, but the world at large – for great abundance and good is provided to the world from above due to the people who learn Torah. If Gentiles knew how much good comes from the people learning Torah – they would eagerly motivate us to learn it.

Thus he was a master builder – not only a builder of Sky Scrapers – but of Torah institutions and goodness in the world.

He helped to build Otzar HaTorah – a Jewish School system of many Torah schools in Morocco and France – for young children. He worked together with Rabbi Aharon Monsonego.

His relation in building schools with Rabbi Aharon Monsonego – chief Rabbi of Morocco – had it’s beginnings when they were both single. Once, when Reichmann was visiting a town in Morocco, Rabbi Monsonego invited Reichman to stay at his small room. He told him “I am sorry I have not much, but whatever I do we will share.”

For dinner he had a box of sardines and bread for himself. He gave half of the sardines and the bread to Moshe. He only had one bed, so Rabbi Monsonega gave it to Mr. Reichman to sleep in. Their relationship forged, together they toiled to build Otzar HaTorah school system.

Mr. Reichmann spoke used to speak dearly of the years that he spent studying Talmud and building Torah schools in Morocco. “I think that what I did in those years was a greater achievement than what I have done since,”

Mr. Reichmann gave millions of Dollars yearly to support and start new synagogues, schools, and Torah institutions. His humility, his impeccable honesty, Jewish philanthropy, eagerness to help Torah causes and his fellows will be missed by thousands.

Rav Schach – who was Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevehz Yeshiva – who was occupied studying and teaching Torah almost all day – in B’nai Brak – said to Moshe Reichmann – “I don’t know who has a greater share in Olam HaBa (the World to come.) But I do know that I have a greater share in Olam HaZeh (this world).” Because Rav Schach – had the great pleasure of learning Torah all day. Apparently Reichman agreed.

On October 11-12, 2013 – in a historical event in South Africa, lead by the Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein thousands of Jews took upon themselves to Observe the Shabbat Together in it’s entirety. Jews from all over the spectrum participated. Comedians, Radio Personalities, Doctors, Lawyers all came together showing unity and comradery in observing the special gift to the Jews – the day of Rest – the Shabbat.

Together they observed all the Jewish Laws associated with Shabbat. No cell phones, no TV, no initiation of electricity – and were ecstatic and enthusiastic to do so.

The Torah states – “If all the Jews observed One Shabbat – the redemption would come immediately.”

We see signs that Jewish women of today are starting the redemption process – as the Torah states – “Due to the Merit of the Righteous Women, the Jews were redeemed from Egypt. In the Future due to their merit, they will also be redeemed.” In Egypt the Jewish Women encouraged their husbands in the field burdened with slave labor to not lose hope and continue a normal life.

The Shabbos Project – Keeping it Together – was initiated by women preparing Challah for Shabbat.

The Great Street Challah Bake

The preparation for the day started with the Women Baking Challah (Bread for Shabbat). Over 2,500 people participated in this event the day before Shabbat. Each woman was provided with a bowl, with the ingredients for Challah – Flour, Oil, Water, Yeast and Salt. Each one prepared their own. The South Africans closed off the streets for this great event.

The next day lit the Shabbat candles and went to the Friday night services at a local synagogue. Together they feasted for the First Shabbat meal – consisting of meat, wine & song with great company, a spirit of togetherness and holiness. Shabbat morning, the participants walked to their closest synagogue – rather than using a car – in accordance with Jewish Law. Some walked miles. They attended the morning services, followed by the afternoon meal – consisting of delightful food and more song.

When the Shabbat was over – after they said Havdala (the conclusion of Shabbat prayer) they were privy to a Jewish concert with thousands saying bye to the Shabbat Queen.

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Obtain a Free Shabbat Candle-lighting Kit – the Shabbat Care Package at Our Site

Rabbi Ezra Attia, was a head of the Yeshiva (Rosh HaYeshiva) of Porat Yosef in Israel. He had a star student that was extremely gifted, bright and diligent. One day he noticed that his student was absent.

Inquiring, He found that his student was at his father’s grocery store. The Rosh Yeshiva went to the store. He found his student with an apron, tending the store. Rabbi Attia asked “what brings you here? We did not see you at the Yeshiva?”

“My father needed me to help in the store.”

Rabbi Attia asked him for his apron and wore it himself. He said “I’ll take care of the store – You go and learn Torah.”

When the student’s father saw the Rosh Yeshiva with the apron, he was puzzled. “My Honorable Rabbi, what makes you don this apron?” he asked sheepishly.

He replied “Your son is brilliant. I told him to go to the yeshiva to learn Torah while I will tend to the store.”

The father was taken aback “No. I will not hear of it. Please forgive me. I will send my son to the Yeshiva and find someone else to take care of the store.”

That student eventually became Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, ztz”l. He helped thousands to enroll in Torah Schools – by going door to door to explain to parents the importance of a Torah education.

He became the Chief Rabbi of Israel. He guided and inspired people, politicians, doctors and rabbis.

He started an organization that created a network of Torah schools in Israel. He taught Hundreds of thousands of people Torah weekly. He was instrumental to give pride to Jews in their Judaism and Sephardim in their heritage. He learned Torah many hours a day learning the works by heart. He gave guidance to thousands of people yearly. He loved his people and helped them however he could.

At his funeral – according to conservative estimates – 850,000 people attended. The greatest amount of people at a funeral in modern-day Israel.

A short summary.

What gave him this power? What gave him this vision? What gave him this perseverance?

His dedication to learning Torah.

Learning Torah helps a person grow and allows a person to reach their potential and purpose in life.

If we were to imagine if Rabbi Ovadia Yosef – stayed as a clerk in his father’s store – what would he have accomplished? Perhaps he would have taught some people Torah and become the head of his father’s company. Perhaps 800 people would have attended his funeral.

But he reached heights uncommon for the common man through – Torah learning – especially the learning of Talmud.

This is the secret for a person to become a success.

In society – some people say clothes make the man or money makes the man. But we can easily discount this. Let’s say a person has the most expensive suit’s – $20,000 – tailor made. He is a billionaire. Is he a success? Many would say – yes.

But what if he is rotten with his employees, yells at his wife and children constantly and uses scheming tactics to make money?

Success? Obviously not. A person’s growth depends on becoming a greater human being. According to Torah this is comprised of three things:

1) Doing the Positive Commandments – this includes being a good person
2) Avoiding the Torah Prohibitions – this includes not being a bad person
3) Achieving one’s Purpose in life

Torah study is so essential – as we see in the example above.

For men – Talmud study is recommended. There are many orthodox synagogues that offer Talmud study courses. One can also learn over skype or over the phone with a partner.

For Women – It is recommended that they learn Jewish Laws that pertain to them and other Torah Topics – like Parasha – weekly Torah reading. Torah Books abound for women at most Torah bookstores.

For Gentiles – it is recommended that they learn the laws of the 7 Noahide Comandments with a reputable Torah scholar or organization.

A peaceful forest.

A serene landscape.

A cool, autumn beach.

Places for Jewish meditation.

A calm room will also do.

Sit. Alone. Quietly. Close your eyes.

Close your phone.

Let the world out.

Let your hopes and thoughts in.

Relax.

No one in the world can see you.

Except Hash-m – the good G-d.

Pray to Hash-m. Anything that you want. Repeat it. Say it again. Say it differently. Express your heart to Him. Plead, argue, cry. Say thank you. Express your hopes, desires and fears.

Let positive thoughts pour over you.

Think of yourself. Think of how you are and how you can be, how you would like to be.

Work on one aspect at a time. Being less angry. Being more kind.

This is Jewish Meditation. It is called Hitbodoedut. Meaning secluding oneself.

Many Tzaddikim – righteous Jews – use this method to improve themselves. Some would take one hour a day to reflect. But starting with 5 minutes is fine.

Society and the race of life keeps a person busy. They say – “Don’t stop.”

“Be Busy.”

Too busy for free thinking.

Too busy to reflect on where your are, who you are and where you want to go.

Hitbodedut is a solution.

Tell life to stop for a moment to see where you are heading. Is it the right path? Is it the right path for you? is it the path that G-d wants from you?

You deserve to be the captain of the ship called life.

Especially your own.

Let the waves of water sooth you

but not be your guide.

You decide.

You be you.

So that which yesterday you said “I’ll do tomorrow” – do today.

and since “Tomorrow is a better day” – be happy Today.

🙂

Freedom.

Everyone wants it – but what is it?

There is freedom of action, freedom of choice and freedom of self.

In essence they are all related.

Freedom of Action

Freedom of action — is being able to do what one wants to do without being constrained. This category also includes freedom of speech and thought.

Freedom of Choice – the right of a person to choose between right and wrong.

Freedom of choice is having two choices before person and being able to choose the right one. For instance if a moral choice is before a person and they choose in an intelligent manner. Choosing the proper thing, and the right and moral thing to do, they make a proper choice.

According to Torah, everyone has Freedom of Choice. G-d gives every person the opportunity to choose.

If one chooses the proper thing to do — he or she will be rewarded — either in this world or in the next or both. And if they make the wrong choice morally, they will be punished — but each individual has a choice to do what they want.

Choosing the right thing makes a person reach a higher level of freedom of self.

When a person has a moral dilemma – There are forces pushing him to do the right thing (Conscience – Yetzer HaTov / Good inclination) and forces pushing him to do the wrong thing (Yetzer HaRah – Evil Inclination – which pushes a person towards the bad). He or she must choose. Only a moral dilemma allows a person to achieve a higher freedom of self. Why? Because there are two forces pushing them in opposite directions. And one chooses between the two.

Freedom of self — is being in Control of Oneself – having freedom from dependencies and vices.

What is True Freedom?

What is true freedom? Of the three – freedom of self.

Why?

A person can have freedom of choice and freedom of action and still be an alcoholic. An alcoholic is dependent on his vices.

If a person has freedom of choice – One is not necessarily a free person.

One’s Job in the World
A person’s job is limiting his freedom of action to choose what is good according to Torah.

There is a window of actions that a person is able to do.

Some will never kill but will steal a person’s purse. Some will never steal a purse but will take office supplies from work. Some will not take office supplies, but will take hour “coffee breaks.”

Rabbi Aharon Heymann, a Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva of Epinay in France, said on one of his French “D’var Torah” lectures “he would never steal a purse so he had no freedom of choice with respect to grabbing a person’s purse. But he would not be able to let himself die for God.“ The freedom of choice stands at the point between the two points of moral decision-making.

A person’s job in this world is to remove his freedom of choice for bad. How? By inculcating into one’s being proper values, making the right choices and by learning Mussar / Jewish Ethical Works to the point to — not to have “the choice” to do bad. For instance — to not steal, to not lie, to not cheat.

One’s Job is also to open their choices to good. — to observe Shabbat, to learn Torah, to keep kosher, to be a better person.

By this one becomes more free.

Who is more free? A person who needs to steal or needs to drink or needs to smoke or to overeat or one who can control themselves and abstain?

Freedom can only be proven in a choice between right and wrong. Choosing between pizza or spaghetti is not a real freedom of choice decision. It is choosing of a preference. It is freedom of action, but not really freedom of choice.

Animals do not have freedom of choice. If you put a a steak or grass in front of a cow – it will likely choose the grass. This does not mean it is free. It means it chose what it preferred. It is freedom of action but not freedom of choice.

Little by little a person, who limits their choices of right and wrong to do what is right, becomes a free man.

This is the the reason that Torah gives a person true freedom. A Person becomes a master over choosing what is right and a master of control over one’s self.

This is the explanation of what it says in Pirkei Avot / Ethics of the Fathers (chapter 6:2):

Rabbi Yehoshua son of Levi said ”Each day a Heavenly voice comes out from the Mount Horeb, and says ‘woe to the creatures, from the insult of the Torah’, for whoever does not occupy himself with Torah is called “reproached” [nazuf] …

and it says “and the tablets [of the Law – the ten commandments] they are the work of Hash-m (G-d) – and the writing is the writing of Hash-m – inscribed [charut] on the tablets ”

Do To not read [it as] “charut” [inscribed] rather as “cherut” [freedom]. For the only one who is considered to be a free man is one who occupies himself with Learning Torah . And who ever occupies himself with learning Torah Behold he is elevated as it says from “Matanah [gift] to nachliel [inheritance] and nachliel [heritage] to bamot [heights].”

(Bamidbar / Numbers 21:19 quoted in Pirkei Avot 6:2)

Meaning that through the gift of Torah, one has a personal heritage of it. When one occupies oneself with it they reach higher heights in self-actualization. It is through this process of choosing the right from the Torah, that a person reaches their potential.

Torah allows me to be free and to be me.