The Blog

As I exited the supermarket with my eight-year-old daughter, I was stopped by a political petitioner, encouraging me to sign.  After stopping at his table for a few moments, we continued to the parking lot.

My daughter wanted to know what the petitioner wanted.  I explained to her the plan that he represented, and that he wanted to get local residents on board with this proposition.

“What do we believe, is he right or wrong?” She asked, her little hand wrapped in mine.

It struck me then what innocent, fresh sponges G-d entrusts us with.  Suddenly, beyond explaining to her what I thought of the proposition involved, I was awed at how wide-open she was to listening to-and whole-heartedly accepting-whatever I was to tell her as an absolute truth.  Indeed, a few days later, I overheard her discussing what we should sign, and what we shouldn’t sign, with her carpool companions.

In a few short years, she will evolve into a passionate teenager, with many of her own opinions about life.  But right now, here she is, asking me what we believe.

If she deserves a clear opinion about a political proposition that will be obsolete in a few months, how much more so should she receive clear direction about her Jewish heritage, which is everlasting.

Let us consciously, lovingly, educate our children in what is rightfully theirs.  Let us give them the gift, the comfort, of real, absolute truth.  A good way to start is by enrolling them in Hebrew School, or better yet, a Jewish Day School.  And of equal importance, let us invite Judaism into our homes.  Let us not let it happen by default, so that when they are older they will want to know what a Torah is, or if there is any joy in Judaism.

Let us imprint in their little minds and hearts so that “even when he grows old he will not depart from it.”* 

In the immortal words of Amos's beautifully poetic prophecy:**

There will come a time…

Our children will not hunger for bread

Our children will not thirst for water

They will hunger for the words of G-d

That time is now, to answer the often-times-silent cry and yearning of our children, what do we believe?

*Written by King Solomon, in the Book of Proverbs.

**Amos, 8:11

Sukkot is a time of great joy and a celebration of unity. Two of the primary observances of the Sukkot holiday, is to eat and spend time in a Sukkah hut, and to shake the Lulav and Etrog.

Today we will focus on the Sukkah hut to learn its messages of Jewish togetherness:

1. Charity you do with your hand and your heart. Tefillin you put on your head and hand, and your stomach does a Mitzvah when you eat delicious food on Shabbat. Sukkah is the one Mitzvah where every part of your body, from the hair on your head to the mud on your shoe is all included, powerfully uniting every part of your body in one Mitzvah.

2. Most commandments have limits. Tefillin only during the day, Shabbat once a week, even charity is limited to 20% of one's earnings. The Sukkah hut also has limitation i.e., its roof cannot be higher than 20 cubits (apprx. 30 feet). However, in regards to its length and width, the Sukkah has no limit at all. Even if one were to build a Sukkah that would fit the entire Jewish nation (as of today about 14.5 million people, Kain Yirbu), uniting us, it would be Kosher.  

3. How do you do Sukkah?  By praying, playing, eating, drinking, buying, studying, selling, talking or just hanging out in it. As long as you’re doing what you’re doing in the Sukkah, during Sukkot, you get a Mitzvah. Sukkah unites all of your actions in the service of our beloved Creator.

I look forward to your comments.

The Jewish Biblical Holiday of Sukkot begins tonight Monday, October 13, 2008.

Bundled up in sweaters, millions of Jews worldwide, will be celebrating this holiday by sitting outside in their cozy Sukkah huts eating their holiday meals together with hot chicken soup. (Jews have done this every year, for over 3,000 years.)

Another great Mitzvah is to dance on Sukkot. At Chabad, the Rebbe was more specific - he wanted Jews to dance in the streets. Here is a clip from Crown Heights, Brooklyn, the "Hood" where I was born and raised, to help get you into the spirit. Enjoy!

As the sun is setting on Yom Kippur day we begin the Neilah or closing prayer, the most spiritual and meaningful service of the entire year. 

My earliest recollection of praying in a synagogue was when my dad brought me to 770 Eastern Parkway, HQ of the worldwide Chabad Movement, for the Neliah Service with the Rebbe. Toward the end of the service, right before the single blast of the Shofar which marks the end of Yom Kippur, the Rebbe began a song of victory dubbed "Napoleon's March". The Rebbe stood on his red velvet chair and over 10,000 Jews running on soul power (after 24 hours of no food or drink), sang and danced in their places. My father who was standing in the back of the packed synagogue held me above the crowd so I could see the Rebbe. The most spiritual service of the year ended with the greatest expression of joy. I was 3 years old at the time.

Every Yom Kippur, we recreate that joy right here in Thousand Oaks, CA as the sun sets over the stunning Los Robles Greens Golf Course. If there is one service you come to this Yom Kippur, make it the Neilah Service. Create memories for yourself and your children you will never forget. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Neilah begins at 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, October 9th at the Los Robles Golf Course, 299 S. Moorpark Road.

Click here to listen to the Napoleon's March.

Click here to see a video of the Rebbe encouraging the march on Purim, 1990.

A few weeks ago on September 15, 2008, the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history took place when the prestigious Lehman Brothers Investment Firm filed for Chapter 11. After 158 years, the great firm that was founded by a German-Jewish immigrant Mayer Lehman and his sons came to a sudden end.

That's what you read in the news. However, I bet you they didn't report this story.

Every Sunday without fail, Mayer Lehman would take his three youngest children (he had seven) – Arthur, Irving and Herbert – through the wards of Mount Sinai Hospital to see for themselves both the fruits and the challenges of Jewish philanthropy and to develop the rich tradition of Tzedaka.

As adults, Arthur became the family banker, Irving, a judge, and Herbert, governor of the State of New York and US Senator. All three of those boys also became major philanthropists – Arthur as a co-founder of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies and the Museum of the City of New York, Herbert a supporter of Lillian Wald’s Henry Street Settlement House and a founder of the Joint Distribution Committee, and Irving, a longtime president of the 92nd Street Y. The eldest son Sigmund was a founder of Montefiore Hospital. This part of the Lehman Brothers Portifolio is still reaping huge dividends.

So you want good investment advice? - Invest in a Mitzvah. Even in the darkest recession you'll be a winner for all eternity. 

A blessed Yom Kippur and a sweet year to you and yours. Thank you to all those that read our blog. I look forward to your comments. 

Watch a short montage of what it's like to have spent the holidays Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot with the Rebbe. Get a glimpse of the awesome joy that spending "Tishrei" in 770 is all about.

You'll also learn how being a successful businessman can sanctify G-d's name.