[Note - This is the Bar Mitzva Parsha of yours truly and this is the speech I wish I would have said instead of the one I actually said which was written for me by a cousin. That was the first and last time I used the services of a speechwriter. Unless I get elected Prez.]
“My advice is, never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time. Collar him!”
― Charles Dickens,
SHHHHAAALLOOOMMM SWEEETEST FRIENDSSSS!!!
The pasuk talks about the exchange between Avraham and the angels and says
וְאֶקְחָ֨ה פַת־לֶ֜חֶם וְסַעֲד֤וּ לִבְּכֶם֙ אַחַ֣ר תַּעֲבֹ֔רוּ כִּֽי־עַל־כֵּ֥ן עֲבַרְתֶּ֖ם עַֽל־עַבְדְּכֶ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כֵּ֥ן תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃
And let me fetch a morsel of bread that you may refresh yourselves; then go on—seeing that you have come your servant’s way.” They replied, “Do as you have said.”
The great Rav of Risha [גליציה] Harav Aharon Levin הי"ד [his grandson is the famous lawyer Nat Lewin] explained the words "do as you have said" based on the pasuk in Mishlei:
חֲכַם־לֵ֭ב יִקַּ֣ח מִצְוֺ֑ת וֶאֱוִ֥יל שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם יִלָּבֵֽט׃
He whose heart is wise accepts commands, But he whose speech is foolish comes to stumble.
And let me fetch a morsel of bread that you may refresh yourselves; then go on—seeing that you have come your servant’s way.” They replied, “Do as you have said.”
The great Rav of Risha [גליציה] Harav Aharon Levin הי"ד [his grandson is the famous lawyer Nat Lewin] explained the words "do as you have said" based on the pasuk in Mishlei:
חֲכַם־לֵ֭ב יִקַּ֣ח מִצְוֺ֑ת וֶאֱוִ֥יל שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם יִלָּבֵֽט׃
He whose heart is wise accepts commands, But he whose speech is foolish comes to stumble.
He whose heart is wise does the mitzva RIGHT away. The foolish one comes to grief b/c he procrastinates and never gets anything done!! He SAYS I will do it tomorrow which turns into two days which turns into next week which turns into never. [See the Peirush HaGra]
The angels said "כן תעשה כאשר דברת" - You will do as you said. You are Avraham!! You get things done IMMEDIATELY. You aren't one of those big talkers "Don't call me I'll call you. The check is in the mail". You DELIVER!!!
כן תעשה כאשר דברת!!!!
GOOD NEWS!!! - You can turn him/her into your BIGGEST SUPPORTER and he/she can lead you on the road to success!!!
HOW?
One way - By following the advice of the old Nike ads - JUST DO IT!!! Stop pushing off important tasks!!!
Some wisdom from the Greek Stoic Philosopher Epictetus [he lived at the time of חורבן בית שני and spoke a mean Greek but didn't know how to use a computer for the life of him]
“Now is the time to get serious about living your ideals. How long can you afford to put off who you really want to be? Your nobler self cannot wait any longer. Put your principles into practice – now. Stop the excuses and the procrastination. This is your life! You aren’t a child anymore. The sooner you set yourself to your spiritual program, the happier you will be. The longer you wait, the more you’ll be vulnerable to mediocrity and feel filled with shame and regret, because you know you are capable of better. From this instant on, vow [בלי נדר!!] to stop disappointing yourself. Separate yourself from the mob. Decide to be extraordinary and do what you need to do – now.”
― Epictetus, The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
As of this writing, we don't know who will be inhabiting the White House for the next four years. But frankly sweet friends - that is not really our business [unless you are one of the two candidates or their immediate family members:-)]. We voted [if we did] and we move on to MORE PRESSING MATTERS, things that are WITHIN OUR CONTROL. One of those things is to take advantage of every minute of our lives and not live according to the adage that "Never push off until tomorrow what you can push off for two days". NOW is the time. And time is short because LIFE [like Musgsy-le Bouges] is short. SEIZE THE MOMENT!!! CARPE DIEM [Latin]!! CHAP AREIN [Chinese]!! Aprovechar el momento [Washington Heights-ese]!!
Have a GREAAAAAT SHABBOSSSSS and may we all merit to be כן תעשה כאשר דברת people and do what we said we would do swiftly!!!
LOVE AND BLESSINGS FROM THE PLANET MARS
[I came here on vacation to escape Corona. I kept pushing it off b/c I was having trouble getting a flight but I finally made it! I am enjoying the quiet but the atmosphere is TERRIBLE!!].
For an audio shiur on the parsha - here.
As of this writing, we don't know who will be inhabiting the White House for the next four years. But frankly sweet friends - that is not really our business [unless you are one of the two candidates or their immediate family members:-)]. We voted [if we did] and we move on to MORE PRESSING MATTERS, things that are WITHIN OUR CONTROL. One of those things is to take advantage of every minute of our lives and not live according to the adage that "Never push off until tomorrow what you can push off for two days". NOW is the time. And time is short because LIFE [like Musgsy-le Bouges] is short. SEIZE THE MOMENT!!! CARPE DIEM [Latin]!! CHAP AREIN [Chinese]!! Aprovechar el momento [Washington Heights-ese]!!
Have a GREAAAAAT SHABBOSSSSS and may we all merit to be כן תעשה כאשר דברת people and do what we said we would do swiftly!!!
LOVE AND BLESSINGS FROM THE PLANET MARS
For an audio shiur on the parsha - here.
