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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 […]

Leadership at its Finest Shabbat Shalom and Chag Purim Sameach – Happy Purim! I hope this finds you all well. Good leaders…well, you know them as soon as you see them. It’s the white collar CEO or manager who goes down to the factory floor, takes off his coat and tie, rolls up his sleeves, and jumps in on the assembly line because a lot of the workforce is out with the flu. It’s the exhausted and hungry Army Officer and Senior NCO who still doesn’t eat until they are sure that all their subordinates have eaten first. And it’s the high school principal who jumps in and subs a class when one of her teachers has to leave abruptly because of a family emergency. No matter how bad or miserable things get, good leaders represent for us a glimmer of light. They inspire us to achieve what we didn’t […]

Shabbat Shalom! I hope this finds you well. If there’s one thing most people can’t abide by, it’s one-sided relationships. People can’t stand by and watch a girlfriend who puts all the hard work, time, love, and effort into her relationship while her ungrateful boyfriend contributes nothing, all the while sitting back on his recliner in his man cave, drinking beer, eating nachos, and playing video games. Equally, people can’t stomach a boyfriend who gives and gives and gives while his girlfriend simply expects to be pampered and waited on hand and foot. The same can be said of a lazy employee, an indifferent employer, an obnoxious and rude customer, or a neglectful proprietor and disinterested merchant. Sadly, we have all experienced this at some point or another. We are not wrong for expecting a certain basic level of commitment, concern, support and basic gratitude from those with whom we […]