Dear Friends,
During times of stress, people tend to be more critical of others. We have to make sure not to fall into this trap and avoid criticizing others whenever possible.
6 Ways to Kick the Criticism Habit
Have a great week,
Yaakov
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Iyar: Enhancing Our Relationships
Dear Friends,
This post is about the Jewish month of Iyar as it relates to The Chazak Plan: A 12 Month Journey to Spiritual Strength.
Rosh Chodesh Iyar begins Thursday night, the 23rd of April and lasts for two days.
The period known as The Omer occurs during this month. During part of The Omer, we commemorate thousands of Rabbi Akiva’s students who died in a plague. The Talmud teaches that the plague occurred because the students did not treat each other with proper respect.
This month, we focus on treating others well and enhancing our relationship with them.
Our relationships play a pivotal role in either enhancing or negatively affecting our emotional, physical and spiritual health; toxic relationships drain us, while healthy relationships nourish us.
Make a list of your key family, work and social relationships. Decide which ones to strengthen or repair, which ones need better boundaries or for you to distance yourself from, and ways to foster new healthy relationships.
Input into your checklist the following practice or a related one: At least once a week, schedule one-on-one time with someone in your life to strengthen that relationship; shut off your cell and give him or her your undivided attention.
In addition, this month, work on being less critical of others. Start by focusing on the person of whom you are most critical. Consider using your checklist and check off each day you were able to avoid criticizing them.
Questions for the month:
“Which of my relationships do I need to strengthen? What is the first step to doing that?”
“Which relationships need better boundaries or for me to distance myself from? What is the first step to doing that?”
“Which person in my life am I most critical of? For this month, am I willing to commit to give them at least as much compliments as criticisms?”
Read up on the type of relationship you are currently dealing with. Here are links to Aish.com articles on specific relationships:
Dating
Marriage
Parenting
Relating to your parents
Take care and may God grant us success in the coming month,
Yaakov
This post is about the Jewish month of Iyar as it relates to The Chazak Plan: A 12 Month Journey to Spiritual Strength.
Rosh Chodesh Iyar begins Thursday night, the 23rd of April and lasts for two days.
The period known as The Omer occurs during this month. During part of The Omer, we commemorate thousands of Rabbi Akiva’s students who died in a plague. The Talmud teaches that the plague occurred because the students did not treat each other with proper respect.
This month, we focus on treating others well and enhancing our relationship with them.
Our relationships play a pivotal role in either enhancing or negatively affecting our emotional, physical and spiritual health; toxic relationships drain us, while healthy relationships nourish us.
Make a list of your key family, work and social relationships. Decide which ones to strengthen or repair, which ones need better boundaries or for you to distance yourself from, and ways to foster new healthy relationships.
Input into your checklist the following practice or a related one: At least once a week, schedule one-on-one time with someone in your life to strengthen that relationship; shut off your cell and give him or her your undivided attention.
In addition, this month, work on being less critical of others. Start by focusing on the person of whom you are most critical. Consider using your checklist and check off each day you were able to avoid criticizing them.
Questions for the month:
“Which of my relationships do I need to strengthen? What is the first step to doing that?”
“Which relationships need better boundaries or for me to distance myself from? What is the first step to doing that?”
“Which person in my life am I most critical of? For this month, am I willing to commit to give them at least as much compliments as criticisms?”
Read up on the type of relationship you are currently dealing with. Here are links to Aish.com articles on specific relationships:
Dating
Marriage
Parenting
Relating to your parents
Take care and may God grant us success in the coming month,
Yaakov
Saturday, April 4, 2020
What Worked for Our Ancestors: 5 Lessons from the Exodus
Dear Friends,
This Wednesday night, April 8, is Passover.
What Worked for Our Ancestors: 5 Lessons from the Exodus
Take care and have a Chag Kasher Vesameach!
Yaakov
This Wednesday night, April 8, is Passover.
What Worked for Our Ancestors: 5 Lessons from the Exodus
Take care and have a Chag Kasher Vesameach!
Yaakov
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Nourishing Yourself with Faith During Difficult Times
Dear Friends,
These are difficult times and we are all struggling, each in our own way.
Nourishing Yourself with Faith during Difficult Times: Part I
Nourishing Yourself with Faith during Difficult Times: Part II
May God strengthen us and redeem us, individually from our challenges and collectively as a nation, during this month of redemption.
Take care,
Yaakov
These are difficult times and we are all struggling, each in our own way.
Nourishing Yourself with Faith during Difficult Times: Part I
Nourishing Yourself with Faith during Difficult Times: Part II
May God strengthen us and redeem us, individually from our challenges and collectively as a nation, during this month of redemption.
Take care,
Yaakov
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Discover Your Inner Peace
Dear Friends,
Now is a stressful time for all of us.
Now is a stressful time for all of us.
You might find this breathing exercise helpful:
Think while slowly breathing in, “God is with me” and while slowly breathing out, "I am at peace" or "I can handle this."
Rosh Chodesh Nissan begins Wednesday night, the 25th of March and lasts for one day.
Think while slowly breathing in, “God is with me” and while slowly breathing out, "I am at peace" or "I can handle this."
Rosh Chodesh Nissan begins Wednesday night, the 25th of March and lasts for one day.
Saturday, March 14, 2020
Staying Calm and Not Panicking
Dear Friends,
As we struggle with this worldwide plague, it's very easy to fall into the trap of panicking.
In last week's Torah portion, we read about how the Jews panicked when Moses did not return from Mount Sinai when they expected him to.
Panic led to them worshiping the golden calf.
During this stressful time, let's try to stay calm and act rationally. There are rational steps we can take, such as making sure we have adequate supplies of essentials, frequent hand washing etc.
Some of us may be staying home for Pesach for the first time in a long time. Making Pesach at home is very doable, especially if you start early, write out a plan, buy what you need early and have a Rabbi you can call with any questions. The following article may be helpful in cleaning for Pesach:
https://outoftheorthobox.com/how-to-clean-for-pesach-passover-in-one/?v=7516fd43adaa
While we deal with this challenge, let us also include spiritual methods, such as reciting Psalms with intention, doing acts of kindness (such as calling and offering help and emotional support to the sick, elderly, single parents and those who live alone), increasing our charity, and picking one area of observance to strengthen as a merit for all of us.
Here's a relevant article:
Who Caused This Crisis?
May God soon remove this plague from our midst and bring a speedy recovery to the sick.
Take care,
Yaakov
As we struggle with this worldwide plague, it's very easy to fall into the trap of panicking.
In last week's Torah portion, we read about how the Jews panicked when Moses did not return from Mount Sinai when they expected him to.
Panic led to them worshiping the golden calf.
During this stressful time, let's try to stay calm and act rationally. There are rational steps we can take, such as making sure we have adequate supplies of essentials, frequent hand washing etc.
Some of us may be staying home for Pesach for the first time in a long time. Making Pesach at home is very doable, especially if you start early, write out a plan, buy what you need early and have a Rabbi you can call with any questions. The following article may be helpful in cleaning for Pesach:
https://outoftheorthobox.com/how-to-clean-for-pesach-passover-in-one/?v=7516fd43adaa
While we deal with this challenge, let us also include spiritual methods, such as reciting Psalms with intention, doing acts of kindness (such as calling and offering help and emotional support to the sick, elderly, single parents and those who live alone), increasing our charity, and picking one area of observance to strengthen as a merit for all of us.
Here's a relevant article:
Who Caused This Crisis?
May God soon remove this plague from our midst and bring a speedy recovery to the sick.
Take care,
Yaakov
Saturday, March 7, 2020
The 2 Forms of Divine Providence: Purim and Passover
Dear Friends,
During this difficult time, we pray for those who have been infected by the Coronavirus and that its spreading should come to an end.
It is times like these where it is hard to see the Divine providence with which God runs the world.
During this time period, many years ago in Persia, the Jews also struggled to see Divine providence, when a decree of annihilation was issued against our people...
The 2 Forms of Divine Providence: Purim and Passover
Have a Purim Sameach,
Yaakov
During this difficult time, we pray for those who have been infected by the Coronavirus and that its spreading should come to an end.
It is times like these where it is hard to see the Divine providence with which God runs the world.
During this time period, many years ago in Persia, the Jews also struggled to see Divine providence, when a decree of annihilation was issued against our people...
The 2 Forms of Divine Providence: Purim and Passover
Have a Purim Sameach,
Yaakov
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