Olive Oil and You
Here is a powerful and universal message from Chanukah, the miracle of light. Chanukah celebrates one days worth of olive oil burning for eight days bringing light to the darkness, literally and metaphorically.
Of all the special qualities of a pretty and delicious olive, its essence is found in its oil when lit, producing its light. In order to get to the olives essence, it must first be crushed to produce the oil. So too in our lives, we sometimes are or feel crushed – by pain and suffering, loss, struggle, and disappointment – and just like the olive, it is then that our essence can be revealed. It is in those moments that you may find your essence and with it bring your light to the world.
Happy Chanukah
and to all a good light
Happy Double Day of Giving Thanks
We so quickly and casually say “Happy Thanksgiving” that we often miss and forget that it’s a day for actually giving thanks. Of course, so is every day and we begin everyday with Thanks.
This year brings a very interesting confluence of holidays. This year Thanksgiving is celebrated on the first day of Chanukah. Some have taken to calling it Thanksgivukkah. This is the first time that this has happened since 1888. It is not possible to actually know when this will happen again, although some estimates put it at 2146, and some say not for 77,798 years.
More important than when this might happen again, is to reflect on what the meaning of these two holidays have in common. The Pilgrims celebrated their fleeing from religious persecution and arriving in the new land where they had the freedom to practice their religion. One of the miracles of Chanukah was the fight and victory against religious persecution.
This year brings us a double reminder to be thankful, what to be thankful for, and of the precious freedom to be thankful.
How interesting that this year brings us this double message. Why this year?
Thank You for being a friend of The Spinning Rabbi (and Fred Fox)
Happy Chanukah
Happy Thanksgiving
You Don’t Have To Be Jewish To Eat Latkes 2013
Chanukah begins Wednesday night 11/27. It is a celebration of many miracles. From the victory of a small band of men fighting for their religious freedom against a very large and well equipped army, to one days worth of olive oil used to light the Menorah lasting for eight days. The miracle of the oil represents the victory of light over darkness. At nighttime, Jews place their lit Menorah in doorways or windows to bring light to the dark street and to all who see it. On the Menorah is a head candle called the Shamash, which is used to light all the other candles. A candle lights other candles without losing any of its own light. Each of us can be like the Shamash and bring light to all whose lives we come into contact with. When we are like the Shamash, not only do we keep our light, we actually shine brighter. We all have that power through acts of goodness, kindness, and charity.
“Light vanquishes the darkness.” – Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, The Rebbe
“From one burning candle many candles are lit, yet its own light is not diminished.” – Numbers 11:17
Happy Chanukah
and to all a good light
Your Reality TV Show (Episode 3)
On your Reality TV show, giving the power to define you to your audience could also mean you are succumbing to the values and mores of the time, rather than what is right and good throughout time. When you succumb this way, you will again always be chasing rather than finding happiness.
How can one be happy when they are doing that which they intrinsically know they shouldn’t be doing. Life is not a popularity contest, although wouldn’t it be nice if doing what is right, simply because it is right, was more popular?
We could use the Biblical Abraham here as a role model. Abraham is often described as gentle, kind, gracious and courageous. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks goes a little further and describes Abraham as having lived the “heroism of ordinary life, being willing to live by one’s convictions though all the world thinks otherwise, being true to the call of eternity, not the noise of now.”
“What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right.” – Albert Einstein
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.” – Thomas Jefferson
“Set your course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship.” – Omar N. Bradley
Very Important
On your show, always remember to keep a smile on your face
“Always wear a smile. The gift of life will then be yours to give.” — Rebbe Nachman of Breslov
Heart and Soul
Your Reality TV Show (Episode 2)
If you don’t like what you see on your Reality TV show, ask yourself the following: do you want people to see what you think they want to see, or do you have the courage and conviction of letting them see the true you?
“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” – Dolly Parton
Don’t confuse what you truly want people to see, the real you, with what you think they want to see. Seeking popularity and fame via your reality show means giving others the power to dictate who you are, or should be. When you give up that power, you will always be chasing popularity and never find true happiness. Have the courage to show and be your true self. You’ll be surprised at how many more tune in.
“One who desires the attention of others, has not yet found himself.” – Rabbi Shlomo Wolfe
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” – Dale Carnegie
“If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of me.” – Dwight L. Moody
Stay tuned for Episode 3
Heart and Soul
Your Reality TV Show (Episode 1)
With all the popularity of Reality TV shows, imagine for a moment that your life was a reality show. What and how would you want people to see you? Does that match what they are seeing? Let’s go a step further, imagine that you suddenly got amnesia and you are watching the reality show of your life, what would you think of the person (which is you) that you see? Would you want to watch your show again? Would you make changes? What would they be?
“Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.” – Leonard Cohen
Heart and Soul
Stay tuned for Episode 2
“Only You”
The Jewish people are about to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, generally known as the Jewish New Year. Rosh means head, so that Rosh Hashanah actually means “Head of the Year”, rather than New Year. This is an interesting distinction. It reminds us that all thought flows from the head to be acted upon. The head of the year creates the rest of the year with the thoughts of how one wishes for that year to unfold. It is then up to you to follow the path of action with the same passion throughout the year as you felt at the head.
Rosh Hashanah commemorates not the first day of creation as the Birthday of the World, but the creation of mankind, Adam (and Eve) on the sixth day. One might ask, why was Adam created alone rather than one of many. Adam was created with a purpose and he knew it. Being only one, only he could accomplish his purpose. All depended on him. If we think of ourselves as an Adam, then we realize that our purpose is ours alone and all depends on each of us. We can’t expect someone else to do it for us. Sing along “Only you can make this world seem right / Only you can make the darkness bright / Only you and you alone!” The Platters
The Creation narrative says “In the beginning the Almighty created. .. . ” to teach us that He only created the beginning. The remainder is left to us. — Rebbe Leibele Eiger of Lublin
Being the Birthday of the World and Mankind, it is looked upon as a renewal. We are not tethered to the past. We leave the past behind and create the present, starting from the head.
“To be or not to be is not a question of compromise. Either you be or you don’t be.” – Golda Meir
“Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art.” – Leonardo da Vinci
“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” – Plato
Or maybe, the reason Adam was created alone was so that he couldn’t kvetch, go to a therapist, and blame his problems on his parents or someone else!
L’Shana Tova
Heart and Soul
The Spinning Rabbi - Heart & Soul 