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“Don’t worry about it, you’ll figure it out.” Shabbat Shalom and Chag Paseach Kasher v’Sameach! I hope this finds you all well. There is probably no worse statement or refrain in the entire history of mankind’s presence in the workplace than, “don’t worry about it, you’ll figure it out.” Seriously, if you’re in the hospital, would you want a couple of brand-new residents to stick you with some unknown quantity of only God-knows-what because this is what the attending said to them when they asked for help and guidance?    Would you want to be anywhere near a building site after a foreman tells a construction worker who’s on his first day on the job to go into the cab of a wrecking ball crane and get started with this mantra? Or, would you want to get back into your car after a junior mechanic was feeling overwhelmed, and when […]

Vayikra: Dust Yourself Off and Get Back on the Horse Shabbat Shalom! I hope this finds you all well. Many moons ago, back when I was a gawky teenager in my senior year of high school, I gave a ride home to two fellow seniors. I thought I was so cool, so great driving other folks around. I was so consumed with this sense of adolescent hubris and youthful arrogance that as I turned right at a red stop light, I literally didn’t think to look to my left to see if there was any oncoming traffic. We almost got hit and I had to peel off the road to avoid a collision. I was beyond ashamed and embarrassed, and my classmates were visibly shaken by the experience. Ridden with guilt, I told my dad (of blessed memory) what happened as soon as I got home, handed him the car […]

God: with us both day and night Shabbat Shalom! I hope this finds you all well. There are two stories that always provide me with incredible inspiration. The first was during the Vietnam War. When an American pilot was shot down behind enemy lines in the densely forested and inhospitable jungles of that country, a vast network of aircraft and highly trained and motivated personnel sprung into action to help safely recover the downed pilot and prevent his capture. This included light observation planes whose pilots risked life and limb to communicate with the pilot on the ground and guide his steps as he made his way to a pick-up zone; heavily armed gunships; fighter jets and attack aircraft whose crews kept the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong at bay; and finally, helicopters with special operations rescue crews onboard who would ultimately make the extraction. When any of these […]

Time, Talent, and Treasure: “According to the labor is the reward.” Shabbat Shalom! I hope this finds you all well. My wife and I love looking up and trying workouts that are designed and recommended by those in the know – be they fitness gurus, celebrity personal trainers, social media influencers, championship sports teams, and elite military units. Why? Because they’re fun to try, we enjoy the challenge, and they force us to dig deep and push ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. There’s one workout I’ll never forget seeing (although, sadly, I can’t find it on YouTube anymore). A group of Marine option NROTC midshipmen are about to commence a grueling circuit workout of planks, lunges, curl-ups, push-ups, rope climbs, weight lifting, and, of course, constant running throughout. Their trainer, a seasoned Gunnery Sergeant, calls them together and says, “You’re going to get out of this what you put […]