Be Happy

I really hope you manage bezras Hashem to weather this difficult storm. I hate to tell you this, in such a difficult time, but realise the other siblings may be hurt and confused and need mentoring. Hatzlocho

Sam 2: Find something small every day to say “Thank You” to Hashem. I am sure you will feel a lot better. I began by saying “Thank You Hashem that I got up this morning”.

I have come through a life threatening illness plus losing a very good job. My life really looked and felt black. I still have black and difficult days but looking for something to Thank Hashem for and this has made me realise – Wow He does care, and I do have what to be grateful for.

Prunes help the digestive system work better because of their fibre content.Prunes also have a high antioxidant content.

Did you try Davka writer?

I have a nephew who got polio from the polio vaccine. The whole extended family still vaccinate our children. It is far too risky not to.

Please make sure the children are well enough for their vaccinations. ALSO: always check that the vaccination is in date.

When I went to vaccinate one of my kids I asked to see the date. The doctor assured me he had just received the batch. The whole stock the doctor had received that day was out of date…..

THis thread hurts. I get really upset to hear someone say:”I’m lazy, or tired or can’t be bothered”. After fighting for my life for two years having gone through 4 major operations and harsh treatment i say to you Appreciate and be grateful. B”H you can – get up in the morning go to work,do what ever needs doing. Appreciate and get up and do.

No No No! Since when do we shake hands with strange man? Did not the Purim Nes come about because Mordechai stood up for what is right and was the only one who would not bow down to Haman?

The Duke of Wellington came to visit our workplace. He stretched out his hand to shake mine. I explained that I was unable, for religious reasons. He accepted it. My boss came back to me in a rage how I could do such a thing. On Leaving the Duke asked why he had not been told that he was not supposed to shake our hands. He mentioned that he admired me!- Thank Goodness – My boss had to calm down!

Paysach Krohn tells a story of a nursery class having a Shabbos Party. The child playing the Tatty stands up to make Kiddush. He wipes his brow and says “oi hob ich gehat a shvere voch” (Oh have I had a hard week) Is this how we greet the Malochim? Is this how we instil the beaty of Shabbos?

One of the many magnets on my fridge says: “Why regret growing older? It is a privelege denied to many?”

OY Vey. While speaking to your boss, or your Rebba, or an important client would you interrupt and speak to someone else???

Smile – Unknown author

A little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the elementary school.

As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child.

Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming sword, would cut through the sky. Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child’s school.

As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. Another and another were to follow quickly and with each the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile.

When the mother’s car drew up beside the child she lowered the window and called to her, “What are you doing? Why do you keep stopping?

The child answered, ” I am trying to look pretty, Hashem keeps taking my picture.

May Hashem bless you today as you face the storms that come your way…

And don’t forget to SMILE!

Yam Hamelech -It works!

If you google “Dr Bo’s diet” you will get a page where you can enter your area and they will tell you the closest MD

Nottelling – I heard a shuir from Paysach Krohn. He said:

“A person will only hurt your feelings if you let them.”

I am super sensitive (I feel for you) and try to remember this all the time. It helps to get difficulties into perspective.

Don’t let comments hurt you, and try to give person the benefit of the doubt. Maybe not feeling well? up at night etc. Hatzlocho

Make sure the girl trully forgives him and he forgives the girl. One hears even nowadays the consequences, when there is not true forgiverness. Best of Luck

I have never had a TV so don’t feel I can give an honest opinion. I would like to share this email I received some weeks ago:

THE STRANGER

— Author Unknown

A few months before I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the world a few months later.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me the word of G-d, and Dad taught me to obey it. But the stranger.. He was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn’t seem to mind.

Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to her room and read her books (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honour them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home… not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our long-time visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.

My Dad was a teetotaller who didn’t permit alcohol in the home, not even for cooking. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked… and NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you were to walk into my parent’s den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name?….

We just call him… “TV.”

He has a younger sister now. We call her “Computer.”

You also have to be careful of any wheat germ additions (usually shampoo)

I received the following email. I think especially before YomTov it is a great reminder:

“An Open Letter To My Neighbour in Shul”

My Dear Chaver,

Please excuse me for not signing this letter. Were I to do so, everyone in shul would know that this letter is being written to you, and I do not want to cause you public disgrace.

I have known you for many years and I value our relationship. Hopefully, you feel the same towards me. Your commitment to Limud Torah and your unrestrained gemilas chesed are truly enviable. In fact, I had even hoped that by sitting next to you in shul some of your midos would rub off on me.

But one thing that disturbs me greatly is your talking during davening. At first, it was barely more than a word or two to amplify a facial expression. But now, you begin conversation almost as soon as you come into shul.

I am not calling this to your attention, now, to give you tochacha (reproof). Certainly, my own slate is not nearly clean enough to make a reckoning for you. But I just want to let you know how your talking in shul is affecting me.

First and foremost is Shmoneh Esrei. You probably assume that I am very well off financially, and in other ways, too. But I have some very pressing personal problems, which even my best friends know nothing about. Now, considering my pekle, I don’t stand Shmoneh Esrei nearly as long as I should, but somehow you always seem to finish ahead of me. I realize that you are trying to talk quietly, but since you’re standing right next to me, it disrupts my entire kavonah (concentration). Sometimes, I get so angry with you that I feel like blurting out in the middle of my Shmoneh Esrei, “Why don’t you just go outside to talk? I can’t walk out now; but you can!” And who knows if my tefillos are not being answered because of inadequate kavonah? Of course, I am not blaming you for my tzoris, but since Shmoneh Esrei is my chance to plead for some mercy, I would appreciate it if you would conduct the conversation outside, and then come in for Kedusha.

Next is Chazoras Hashatz, when the chazan repeats the Shmoneh Esrei. Even though I am aware of the bountiful reward to be earned with each omein, I am, unfortunately, far too lax in responding properly. Nevertheless, when I hardly hear the chazan above your schmoozing, I end up losing out on even more omein opportunities.

Now, you might argue and say that you are talking to the man on the other side and not with me. yes, that is true. But I also have an inclination to schmooze in shul. When I see you practically smacking your lips over a delicious interchange, I am tempted to join you. Sometimes, I tell myself that I will only listen to your conversation. Than I find myself an accomplice, by encouraging you with my interest. At other times, however, I even find myself sucked into actively participating in the conversation, which I had promised myself only to overhear.

The krias haTorah is difficult enough to follow, with the inevitable noise of foot shuffling, coughing, and (in the summer) air conditioner blowing. But when that combines with your conversation, I go home each Shabbos wondering whether or not I have been yotzei krias haTorah.

Finally, I must say that our shul is a very special one. We have some excellent shiurim, a highly respected Rabbi, and a minyan full of bnei Torah. In general, there is a fairly good decorum in our shul, compared with many others. So I suppose I could just change my seat. But at this point, it would be too awkward to explain without embarrassing you or myself.

Our shul, in many ways, is truly a mikdash me’at – a sanctuary in miniature. But whenever I am about to reach the full appreciation of that, especially on Shabbos, your talking cools me off.

The other day, you asked me why I don’t bring my five year old son to shul more often. I told you that he’s still too young. Now I’ll tell you the real reason. He still feels kedushas beis hamedrash – the sanctity of the place – when he walks in. Even after davening, he whispers in shul. If I bring him every week and sit him down between us, I am frankly afraid of your example. How can he retain his reverence for shul if he observes your behaviour? Each Shabbos he begs me to take him along and I’m running out of excuses.

You don’t owe me any respect. And you may feel that my kavonah does not take precedence to you socializing. But think of our children in shul. What will become of their davening? I see you are already having trouble controlling some of your children in shul. Whenever you are not schmoozing with a friend, you are reprimanding your children. Yes, their conduct is reprehensible, at times; but where do you think they learned to be callous towards kedushas beis hamedrash?

In writing this letter, I have tried to avoid giving away my own identity or that of our shul. If others read this letter, however, they may waste time trying to figure out whom this letter was meant for. But you know. Wishing you and your family all the best.

Name and City Withheld by request

In Bnei Berak and frum area of Yerushalayim all shops are closed. Groceries and Pharmacy open a few hours a day. during Chol Hamoed.

All shopping clothes etc should be done before YomTov.

Make jigsaws, or phone family and friends on the other side of the ocean who are still up due to 5-7 hour difference – time zones.

Do something special that you know would bring Nachas and would be a zechus for your mother A”H

I think it is very special to greet everyone especially on Shabbos. My husband said “Good Shabbos” to a yid who looked at him amazed and asked “Do you know me?”

“Sure” said my husband “You were standing behind me at Matan Torah!”

NOPE, you have to give money TODAY to a poor person to have done the mitzva. Today is such a great day – the same koach as Yom Kippur so anyone who asks for money you should give even a small coin. When we stretch out out hand and ask Hashem for what we want we also want to be answered not with a card!

U.K