HEC Thanksgiving Video

Enjoy it.  Did anyone video Rabbi Glasser's talk?

Inspiration from an Unexpected Source

A while back during Monday Morning Mussar, I quoted a passage from Andrei Agassi's autobiography "Open" about the challenges of maintaining effective teshuva.  Here it is, tell me what you think:

Change.
Time to change, Andre. You can’t go on like this. Change, change, change—I say this word to myself several times a day, every day, while buttering my morning toast, while brushing my teeth, less as a warning than as a soothing chant. Far from depressing me, or shaming me, the idea that I must change completely, from top to bottom, brings me back to center. For once I don’t hear the nagging self-doubt that follows every personal resolution. I won’t fail this time, I can’t, because it’s change now or change never. The idea of stagnating, of remaining this Andre for the rest of my life, that’s what I find truly depressing and shameful. 

And yet. Our best intentions are often thwarted by external forces—forces that we ourselves set in motion long ago. Decisions, especially bad ones, create their own kind of momentum, and momentum can be a [pain] to stop, as every athlete knows. Even when we vow to change, even when we sorrow and atone for our mistakes, the momentum of our past keeps carrying us down the wrong road. Momentum rules the world. Momentum says: Hold on, not so fast, I’m still running things here. As a friend likes to say, quoting an old Greek poem: The minds of the everlasting gods are not changed suddenly. 

By the way, the rest of the book was also surprising good and thought-provoking - I highly recommend it, even if you don't care about tennis.

Is Turkey Kosher?

Yasher koach to Rabbi Prince, Rabbi Glasser and HEC for sending us into the long weekend with a Torah perspective on the holiday.  With that in mind, check out some of Why-aanot's greatest Thanksgiving hits, including this article, a link to the New York Times, and a great post from Mrs. Cohen 2 years ago about Thanksgiving in Israel.  This year, check out this article by Rabbi Ari Z. Zivitofsky on whether or not turkey is kosher (you better read fast before dinner starts).  Maybe next year we can talk about whether football is kosher.

While we're appreciating what we have (Modim anachnu lach), it's a good time to remember those who are having a more difficult weekend.  My wife saw an amazing idea on Facebook.  Just a few minutes ago, she called a pizza store in Kiryat Malachi and ordered a pizza & soda for any family that the store owner thought could use a pick-me-up.  It was great.

Finally, I want to remind you all about our annual Black Friday Shiur tomorrow morning with Mrs. Samuels at 10:00 am at Mocha Bleu.  I gave the shiur last year, and we had a really nice mix of students from various grades, alumni and parents.  Kol hakavod to those of you who choose to spend your free time learning.
אנו משכימים והם משכימים...

Hurricane Sandy - the Aftermath by Charlie Harary

Tali Spier sent along this excellent article by Mr. Charlie Harary, who we all remember from his visit last Ta'anit Esther.  Enjoy it.  It offers much to think about both for those of us with power, and those in the dark.

Hope to see you all tomorrow.