The Blog - Chabad of Thousand Oaks

Sunday, March 29, 2009 - 9:27 PM

I love shopping at Whole Foods. It turns the necessity of food-shopping into a luxury. From the cozy, dim lighting and glossy wooded floors, to the fresh and fragrant herbs, fruits and vegetables, to the newest holistic vitamins and cosmetics, to the creative varieties of foods all beautifully displayed, and of course, the hot tea...it is an experience for the senses!

I love the concept of "Whole Foods." And their idea of "Whole Pantry" and "Whole Body"... What would constitute a "Whole Life"? How does one define that?

I like to think that "whole" means "complete." Including the best of all worlds, within the realm of possibility. So that a "whole" apple would be brand-new, vibrant in color, crisp, juicy and organic. So that a "whole" exfoliating spa treatment would be naturally fragrant, soothing, and full of benificial minerals.

I like to think that a "Whole Life" would include both physical and spiritual wellness. The physical efforts enhance the quality of life, and the spiritual efforts give meaning to living it.

And that G-d created us with an innate desire to find meaning, so that we might use it to come closer to Him.

A "Whole Life" in the spiritual realm means different things for different people. For some, it means improving, enhancing their closeness. For others, it means continuing to search for Him.

But for all of us, a "Whole Life" must include actualizing our awareness.

Learning about the nutritional value, and then eating it.
Wanting the benefits of exercise, and then doing it.

Searching for Him, and never giving up the search.
Yearning for more closeness, and then doing the things that bring us closer.

Taking care of the body, taking care of the soul.

Including the best of both worlds, within the realm of possibility.

Striving to live a Whole Life.

The Knowledge of Your Love

Tuesday, March 3, 2009 - 9:22 AM

When I was a child, living in New York, my relationship with my parents involved the constancy of their presence in day-to-day life. Now, living in California, it involves the constancy of their absence in day-to-day life. And it’s always sad to travel back home after visiting with them, back to that awareness.

Because I don't have their day-to-day presence, other dimensions in our relationship have become more distinct.

Like the power of not only feeling their love, but knowing of it.

I can’t talk to them (often).

I can't see them.

They are not a physical part of my day-to-day life.

Yet, as I live far away, carpooling my children, celebrating Shabbat, going shopping, or sitting in a park, the knowledge of their love surrounds me with feelings of well-being.

Just knowing that there is someone who loves - on good days and on bad days, when my life feels serene, and when my life seems like a mad jungle - makes me feel secure and cared about in a sometimes-jumbled world.

And these feelings of security, of being loved and cared about...transcend all that is transient. No one and nothing can take that love away.

I think about the 'parent' of us all.

Sometimes, we might feel that He is intensely with us. Acknowledge Him. Talk to Him.

And then there are times when we might feel intensely far away, in the middle of stressful times.
When we don't always acknowledge Him. Talk to Him. See Him.

But to know, or even to hope, that we are loved, cared by Him, during weathers of sun and storm, can make all the difference.