Check out this link.  If you click on the graphic that says “Rock Stars: Then and Now” (about half way down the page), you will be treated to a great slide show that compares a bunch of rock legends in their “heyday” and then shows you a disquieting photo of their present appearance.  We tend to hold ingrained images of these people in our minds and forget that they are human like you and I and actually age…sometimes quite poorly.  Towards the end I actually found myself wincing with each “Now” pic.  There is something that is rather jarring about seeing formerly beautiful things withered and spent looking (though in fairness some have arrived in better shape than others).

I realized that I had taken an unfair, almost judgemental (and certainly irrational) position regarding these folks…as if they had no right to change.  The boyhood rock groupie in me wants to preserve some of these people like Lenin in his mausoleum and there is something in their transformation that reminds me of what lies down the road for all of us.  Of course we all know it but when we’re young it seems very distant and unreal.  When we approach middle age and discover that it’s suddenly hard to keep weight off and that our hair is much thinner than we ever expected it to be and that those sharp features our faces used to possess have softened, it dawns on us that we are not immune.

Rabbi Avigdor Miller had a great way of looking at this and wrote about it in a book called Rejoice O Youth!  He wrote that there are two worlds-one revealed (the one we live in) and one concealed (sometimes called The World to Come).  Our proper place is actually in the concealed one but we are here to train…to learn the lessons we need to in order to transition to the next world which contains no physicality to fade and grow old.  It would be very tough for an average person to give up the beauty and potency of their bodies and therefore make the transition process traumatic.  Seen from this perspective, it is a kindness that we grow old.  By the end, we will have much less of an emotional connection to our physical selves and may even be happy to leave it behind when our hour arrives.

Rosh HaShana is next Wednesday night.  It is also known as “Yom haDin” the day of judgement.  Maybe this slide show can serve as a reminder that it’s the way of all flesh to go in one direction only and that now is the time to focus on those things that truly make our time here worthwhile.

Please join us for High Holiday Services at The Aish Center.  We’d love to see you…

Shabbat Shalom

I couldn’t help but be struck by that tendency in full bloom in the Wall Street Journal’s news video about Atami, Japan, a resort town that has recently catered to thousands of paying male tourists on vacation with their computer game-generated girlfriends.

As one hotel manager in Atami said, “We try not to ask too many questions because we want them to be able to remain immersed in that game world.”

It’s to that propensity within us that the Torah speaks when it says in this week’s portion, “I have placed life and death before you…and you shall choose life!”

My teacher, Rabbi Noah Weinberg, may his memory be a blessing, used to give me a hard time about that.  “Wake up!” he’d say.  “You want to be alive or dead?  Choose or escape?”

Where in our lives are we vacationing in our own Atami, Japan?

Shabbat Shalom,

Henry Harris

Mr. Segal founded the New York Private Equity Forums, America’s best attended national funding venue for early and later-stage companies. Mike has more than 25 years of senior management, corporate governance, entrepreneurial and investment banking experience. He created the investment banking firm of M.J. Segal Associates in 1987 and since 1992 has specialized in researching opportunities in both private and public companies.

Segal attended the Wharton School and is a graduate of The New York Institute of Finance.

Tuesday, September 14
7pm Cocktails
7:30 Speaker
Cost: $10
SPECIAL: Half price till 1pm, Wed., Sept. 8

RSVP only: Call 212-579-1388
Business dress required
(Denim not permitted in Club)

Get your Jewish mensa moving with our mind-bending challenge.

Exercise some introspection and New Year’s visions with great pre-holiday workshops.

Be a part of the journey at some inspiring and enjoyable holiday experiences.

Shana Tova!

Henry Harris

A king once announced that whoever would reach the top of a very high tower by his deadline would succeed him. Many lined up to try. The bell sounded and they raced to climb the seemingly endless tower.

Hours passed and most of the people lost hope of making it to the top in time. Two men were still climbing when one said, “I’ve had it! Look, there’s only 10 minutes to go and we are no where near the top! This king is mocking us! I have no more strength for this, I’m done!” and he left.

The last man was also exhausted but he declared, “My king is a loving king and I trust that he did not set us up to fail. I’m going to keep on going and even though I have no idea how, I am totally open to the possibility that I can get to where I need to go in time.” Just as he finished speaking he got to the next level and found a door with a sign: “Express elevator to the top.” He took it and reached the king who was waiting for him with open arms. “I am SO happy that you didn’t give up! Now you can receive my blessings!”

This is a little clarity reminder that G-d has infinite ways to get you an express elevator to where you most need to go as long as you don’t give up. G-d has the greatest blessings waiting for you. He is waiting for you to trust in His infinite love.

From this place of trust in His love we can make it to Rosh Hashanah resolved to not give up on going to G-d, improving ourselves and embracing others.

If you would like more of these clarity insights, please join us TONIGHT, Tuesday, Aug. 31, for a special workshop, Creating Your Spiritual Business Plan.

Warmly,

Tzipora Harris

Tuesdays, 8pm
8/31: Rosh Hashana: A Year to Fall in Love With
9/7 No Class
9/14: Yom Kippur: The Gift of Transformation

Cost: $10 per class
Where:
1) In person: The Aish Center, 313 W. 83rd St. (West End/Riverside)
2) By Teleconference: Info given upon registration

*SPONSORSHIP: Email dcraus@aish.com to dedicate a class in memory of a loved one, for a speedy recovery, for finding one’s soulmate or any other special blessing for yourself or others. $50 per sponsorship.

The story of Rahamim Melamed Cohen, in the video link attached, is a blow away.  It’s testimony to a person’s capacity to see the majesty of his own mission, no matter how feeble his circumstances.

On the first Rosh Hashana in creation, the first humans with soul were put in to this world.  Once again, this Rosh Hashana, our life will be given anew.  What determines the power, resourcefulness, wisdom, and staying power of that gift of life?  How much we want a powerful, resourceful, wise, and resilient life. 

Fortunately, most of us are not confronted by the difficulties of Dr. Cohen, but his simple message of small, unstoppable acts of gratitude and concern for others is the stuff that heroes are born from.

Shabbat Shalom,

Henry Harris

Yesterday my son woke up with this weird and nasty looking rash on his shoulder so we decided to take him to a doctor.  As we’re up in the small hamlet of Bondville it took a while to track down someone to go to and being the big city folks we are, we became concerned that the skill of the hick doctor might not be up to snuff and maybe we’d be better off just calling our local doctor at home.  (I sort of had a Doc Baker from Little House image in mind and that he would want to apply a bread poultice to it or some leeches or something).

When we arrived there we were surprised to discover that the Doctor was actually a professor emeritus of Harvard/Deaconess hospital!  You see, that seemed impossible to me as I was only able to see the situation through my “snob” colored glasses.

How often do we judge people or situations way before we really have any facts about them?  Pretty often I’d say.  How many people do we sum up as being this way or that without even having a conversation with them?  The truth is that we are so accustomed to acting this way that it’s become second nature…we hardly even give it a thought.  But if you’re interested in learning something about yourself, take note of the number of people and circumstances that you deem “bad, annoying, stupid, exasperating, etc” as well as the opposite.  The way we judge is the way that we view ourselves.

In psychology it’s called projection and in Torah parlance it’s called “kol ha pasul, b’mumo pasul” (everyone who disparages others, disparages themselves) or as I recently read, “if you spot it, you got it”.  Happy people tend to think that things basically work out and view others as basically good.  Less happy people are always on the lookout for how others are conniving or incompetent and tend to see everything as going wrong.

The Mishna in Ethics of our Fathers teaches us to be “dan l’kol echad l’kaf zechut” (to judge everyone favorably).  Rebbe Nachman, the founder of Breslov Chassidut even applies this to those who are totally evil!  So whether you do it because it is spiritually and psychologically beneficial, because it’s pragmatic or because in the end it’s a nicer and more satisfying way to live, now is the right time to work on it. How should we start?  By recognizing that when we start tensing up with that “I hate you” feeling, have a good long look at yourself first and see if you don’t have the exact same issue.

If anyone is interested in learning more about this topic please email me at ajacobs@aish.com.  In the mean time here’s one of those short videos with poignant music and nice pictures.

I love this message: slow and steady, patient and celebratory wins the race.

Meanwhile, check out our full High Holidays SCHEDULE for services/classes, etc.  Whether you want

• to get Really Deep Stuff on Yom Kippur,
• explore The 4 Steps of Taking Responsibility for Your Life,
• or Create the Year You’ve Always Dreamed of,

there’s a whole lot happening in and out of services at Aish this High Holidays.

For pre-Holiday workshops, check out Mondays (8/30, 9/13, 7pm) and Tuesdays (8/31, 9/14, 8pm) HERE.

Bring on the Sweet New Year.

Henry and Tzipora Harris