“I am convinced that the jealous, the angry, the bitter and the egotistical are the first to race to the top of mountains. A confident person enjoys the journey, the people they meet along the way and sees life not as a competition. They reach the summit last because they know God isn’t at the top waiting for them. He is down below helping his followers to understand that the view is glorious where ever you stand.”
SHHAAAAAAAAAALOMMM SWEEEETEST FRIENDSSSS!!!!
EXCIIIITTTIINNNGGGGG!!!
WE MADE IT!!
Another year!!!
I often think of Walter Alston, the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers who signed 23 one year contracts. We too, get a one year contract. And we are not even aware if we got the extension. We only find out at the end of the year when we begin to worry if it will be extended ANOTHER year....
So Baruch Hashem we are HERE חיים וקיימים!!! Not something to be taken for granted!!
About 15 years or so ago, I was really low on money and needed new glasses. What is a man to do?? Holding up the glasses store was not an option. I had no previous experience in such heists. Besides the other issues. Then out of the blue my Pop [zol zein gezunt!!!!] gave me a few hundred shekel!!! WALLA!!!! New glasses for me. ליהודי היתה אורה!!!
I have worn these glasses just abt. every waking moment. Strangely, when i sleep, my eyes are closed, the room is dark and my glasses are off - I can see PERFECTLY [in my dreams]. But when I am awake, I REALLY need them. Thank you Hashem, thank you Dad and thank you inventor of glasses!!!
Recently however, I have had trouble with the small print. Uh Oh!! So I went to the local optician [a Rebbetzin to a chashuv Rov, mother of like 23 בלע"ה, and businesswoman - a real powerhouse] and she explained that with my old age [soon I will אי"ה hit a yovel!!!!], the small print becomes fuzzy. So I need to get multifocals enabling me to see distance, read, and look at the computer [which is what I spend most of my time doing].
Why am I telling you this??????????????
I don't know!!
No - I DO know. There is a LESSON here!!!
What is Hashem telling me??????
First and foremost he is telling me to get new glasses!
He is also telling me that I am not getting younger [as if anybody is...] so I either do Teshuva or die a Rasha-Am-Ha-aretz. I get it and ACCEPT the charges [but don't call me collect b/c I might not accept the charges. Do people still call collect?? Is it 1982 anymore?? I hope it is b/c I totally miss President Reagan who - for a Gentile - wasn't such a bad President. Plus - everything in life was free for me back then. All on the house. Today - I'm the house
].Another message I get is to have a BETTER EYE!!! As we Jews call it עין טובה. Looking at others with a positive perspective. Desiring that things be good for them. That they succeed and prosper.
The Gemara [RH 25A] relates that Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi once said to Rabbi Chiya: Go to a place called Ein Tav [עין טב] and sanctify the New Moon there, and send me a sign that you have sanctified it. The sign is: David, king of Israel, lives and endures. The Sfas Emes explains that the Gemara is alluding to the fact that to sanctify the new month and year one needs a עין טב - a good eye!!!
He adds in the name of his zeide the Chiddushei HaRim that on Rosh Hashana we need to have an עין טובה even towards the nations of the world. On R"H EVERYONE is being judged. Who for life, who for death, who in famine, who in corona, who in collapsing buildings, who in cancer, who in earthquakes, who in terrorist attacks and who in car accidents. SCCCAAAARRRRYYYY!!! So we need to have an עין טובה to EVERYONE. We ask in our davening ובכן תן פחדך ה' אלקינו על כל מעשיך - EVERYONE should fear Hashem. And if we have an עין טובה for others, Hashem in turn will have an עין טובה for us!!!!!
So even if you are not getting new glasses - we can all use better eyes! NO MORE JEALOUSY!!! Instead - לפרגן לזולת which is hard to translate into English but it means to be really pleased when you see you friend [or enemy!!] doing well.
A good place to start is with YOURSELF!!! Drop the constant self criticism!!! Love yourself JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!!! Then work on unconditional love for your spouse, children, siblings etc. etc. It is a GREAT way to live!!!
May we all merit to have an INCREDIBLY sweet new year and see מעלת חברינו ולא חסרונם - our friend's positive qualities and not the opposite!!
Much love,
Me
