Shemini
"We can lament because rose bushes have thorns or we can rejoice because the thorn bushes have roses". Abraham Lincoln
I was in Far Rockaway for shabbos when it snowed heavily. Naturally, the children wanted to play in the snow. At Shul, the Rabbi gave the best piece of Halakhic advice I ever heard. He said, don’t start the conversation by telling your kids they can’t play in the snow on shabbos. Start by telling them what they can do on Shabbos, like have a shabbos party and sing songs.
In Parashat Shmini we learn about the rules of Kosher food. The section begins by telling us what foods are kosher and then details the prohibited foods. It tells us what we can eat and enjoy then details what is prohibited. This is how we must view life.
Shlomo once visited the Satmar Rebbe and told him he had several sick children. The Rebbe asked the Shames (right hand man) to bring him a few thousand dollars which the Rebbe then gave to Shlomo. The Shames asked him the Rebbe why he needed thousands of dollars. When the Rebbe told the shamas he gave it to Shlomo the shamas was upset. Shlomo is very well off, he has plenty of money and his children are perfectly healthy. The Rav proclaimed excitedly "Thank G-D , his kids are okay, that is great news."
The Rebbe was not focused on the fact that Shlomo had deceived him . He was only focused on the positive, he was happy Shlomo's children were okay. This attitude of optimism is the key to unlocking happiness.
I was in Far Rockaway for shabbos when it snowed heavily. Naturally, the children wanted to play in the snow. At Shul, the Rabbi gave the best piece of Halakhic advice I ever heard. He said, don’t start the conversation by telling your kids they can’t play in the snow on shabbos. Start by telling them what they can do on Shabbos, like have a shabbos party and sing songs.
In Parashat Shmini we learn about the rules of Kosher food. The section begins by telling us what foods are kosher and then details the prohibited foods. It tells us what we can eat and enjoy then details what is prohibited. This is how we must view life.
Shlomo once visited the Satmar Rebbe and told him he had several sick children. The Rebbe asked the Shames (right hand man) to bring him a few thousand dollars which the Rebbe then gave to Shlomo. The Shames asked him the Rebbe why he needed thousands of dollars. When the Rebbe told the shamas he gave it to Shlomo the shamas was upset. Shlomo is very well off, he has plenty of money and his children are perfectly healthy. The Rav proclaimed excitedly "Thank G-D , his kids are okay, that is great news."
The Rebbe was not focused on the fact that Shlomo had deceived him . He was only focused on the positive, he was happy Shlomo's children were okay. This attitude of optimism is the key to unlocking happiness.
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