You Talk like Obama

I was schmoozing with an acquaintance the other day, and the conversation's topic was educating the youth. In the heat of the conversation I presented what I considered the principals of education, and they are; infusing the youth with passion, vision, self esteem and hope.

At the last word, my conversationalist interrupted me, and said: "Relax with your words, you're starting to sound like Obama".

It wasn't the first time I heard of the term "Obama talk" i.e. a whole bunch of charismatic-flowery-feel-good words, that get you all excited and hyped up for the moment, but without solid ideas behind them. You know what I mean.

Oh yes, it's nice to bring change and to have hope, but first and foremost a leader must have a vision, built on step-by-step methods, through which to achieve this "change".

Take Moses for example. He had gathered the Jews "Vayakhel", after they have gone through the "eight terrible Bush years" – the sin of the golden calf. G-d had just forgiven them, and it was time to bring the "glory" back to the nation (the nation he was once proud of).

It's now time to present the speech, in which he will lay out his plan for rebuilding the 'once glorious nation to which the whole world trembled'. Tell me if you were the speech writer, what would you come up with?

Most probably something like this: "Ladies and gentleman, the time has come for change. We must stop the war with the Amaleikites, instead we should sit down at the UN and work out a deal. I will end racism amongst the people, there will be the rights to those whose ancestors were Jewish, and those terrorists who wish to destroy us: all are equal!

"What we need more than ever is change! We must reverse back to our beautiful past… and to do that we need hope…"

Ok, I'll stop the tape here, I'm sure these speeches are coming out of your ears.

Typical for leadership babble?

Not by Moses! His first talk is all but flowery; it is short sweet and straight to the point: "Six days a week you work and on the seventh you rest! Don't light a fire on Shabbat!"

You want change? Do a Mitzva.

Lectures on hope should be kept to the clergy. A politician should put forth ideas. Maybe then there is hope for change.

The one Word not found in the Jewish Dictionary

A Catholic priest, a Protestant minister, and a rabbi are discussing what they would like people to say after they die and their bodies are on display in open caskets.

Priest: I would like someone to say "He was a righteous man, an honest man, and very generous."

Minister: I would like someone to say "He was very kind and fair, and he was very good to his parishioners."

Rabbi: I would want someone to say "Look, he's moving."

***

How much lower could have they fallen?

They had been at the greatest divine revelation in history, barely over a month ago, and now they created a golden calf and cried "this is your G-d", and within just a few hours have committed the three gravest sins; idolatry, murder and adultery!

Many reasons are given for this disastrous mood swing, but all agree it was sin, a big mistake… So here comes the huge question: when you write a book, the title tells you in one or two words what the story is all about, so let's see what the title of this disturbing part of history is: Hmm… the name of our Torah portion, ye the one in which this tale is transcribed in such detail, is "Ki Sisa"; which translates nothing less than; "when you will rise".

RISE!? RISE!? For crying out loud!

The sin that infuriated G-d so much, and on first thought He wanted to kill every Jew! Rise?

Moses smashed the tablets when he saw the camaraderie around the golden calf, that's how serious it was!

Rise?

Yes! Rise!

Our sages teach us that every fall helps us climb higher, and every failure is a stepping stool for future growth. We grow from mistakes and become better people through struggle, if we choose to…

Thanks to the sin of the golden calf, we gained the day of Yom Kippur when G-d cleanses us for our sins. Thanks to the broken tablets we received the second set of tablets with so many more Mitzvos!

And the list of honey that poured out this sour story is very long indeed…

So back to our question what does sinning got to do with rising? Once again we'll use the Yeshivish logic (making 360° twists with the thumb) to put forth the answer;

If you say, that failure leads to success, in essence you are saying that……… failure is success and fall is rise.

Simply: There is no such thing as a failure! – If you choose!

Ki Sisa! Yesterday you blundered? Today you climb higher!

As for the title (what's the connection to the article?);

The word not found in the Jewish dictionary is: Failure.

Yankel & Haman

Purim is one day in the present month of Adar when we are commanded to drink L'chaim and be merry.

Once upon a time there lived a Jew by the name of Yankel, who had a custom that he would drink and drink throughout the entire month of Adar. When asked by the townsfolk to explain the logic behind the month-long-non-stop marathon of endless booze, he willingly offered his thoughts:

"Listen people, on Purim we celebrate our salvation from total annihilation, when the terrible Haman schemed to kill all the Jews on one day, the thirteenth of Adar.

"And I ask you; why for all times sake, did Haman plan on killing millions of people on one day, and not over a longer period of time? A week, a month…. Why in one day? What's the rush, it would seem close to impossible to carry it out, so why the 'one day kill all' deal?"

By now a large crowd had joined the spectacle, here was the town drunkard putting forth a Talmudic discourse. Wow! Even the learned amongst them were listening with full attention.

"My dear friends", cried Yankel with a thumb swinging high as if he was lecturing to a hall packed with Yeshiva students;

Haman was no dumbbell! He knew good and well, that throughout history, in many instances of danger for the Jewish people, G-d had come to the rescue. He had a suspicion that it might repeat itself on his plan.

"So Haman said to himself; if a miracle does happen, I will only give them one day to celebrate!"

By now Yankel was standing tall and shouting for all to hear: "I know of Haman's plan, therefore I drink for the entire month."

***

When Adar enters, we add in joy.

This year we have not one but two months of Adar, totaling 60 days of nonstop joy and happiness.

Everyday we add, we climb another rung on the ladder of happiness, higher and higher we grow, wider and wider the smile widens. Not because of the money in the bank, but despite of it. It is happiness from within – being happy with our (a)lot, and singing the never ending song of praise to the Almighty, for all He's done and continues to do, for me and you.

And the happiness shall never stop, for soon the day will come when "our mouths will be full of laughter", with the coming of Moshiach, which is gonna happen real soon.

That cheap!

Joey had swallowed a nickel and his parents were frantic. "Cough!" "Oh Gosh what are we gonna do?" "This is terrible!"

After a few moments when the situation was just getting worse, the father decided to take things in his own hands, so he started slamming Joey on his back, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Finally the nickel came flying out. With a sigh of relief the parents put down the frightened child, and went back to their duties in the kitchen.

Joey's younger brother David who had watched it all, walked over to his parents and asked if he can have a private meeting. "Why, of course!" they said.

"Mom and Dad, I decided that from now on, I will only eat bread and butter, I will bye only one pair of shoes every two years! I'll even sleep on the floor!"

The parents were confused: "Joey, what happened? No bed, no food? Are you becoming a saint?"

Joey quietly responded: "I saw how both of you became so frantic over a nickel, and I realized how terrible our financial situation really is!"

***

We all have perceptions. I look at an object and see one thing and you look at it and see something else entirely, if not the total opposite.

To illustrate the point, let's take a look at the holy temple the subject of the weekly portion. There is the way I see it, I as in; the basic and external perception. And then there is the true way, the way g-d sees it.

I see a magnificent structure of gold and silver, and I wonder; what is this all about? Is G-d so high maintenance?

The true way to look at it: who was gold and silver created for if not to beautify the service of the creator!

I see mass slaughter of animals, and a river of blood, making it an eerie seemingly non-holy scene.

The true way to look at it: this is a reflection of man sacrificing his personal animal, his life source, his own flesh and blood, for a higher cause.

I hear phenomenal classic music, and heart warming singing and harmony from the mouths of the Levites.

The true way to look at it: These are heavenly tunes, aimed at pulling at the Jew's soul strings, and bring him closer and more open to his true self.

There is deeper meaning to all that occurs, to every leaf that falls and every war fought.

Open your eyes to the deeper realm and you will find the reason and purpose for it all.