Mendel Bluming | Blogger

The nature of worry is to enlarge the importance of the matter at hand and exaggerate it in one’s mind until it reaches a point where it seems to be an insurmountable obstacle. The result is that we just continue to worry without being able to do anything constructive about the matter.    King Solomon states in his Book of Proverbs: “When there is worry in a man’s heart 'yesichena'; let a good thing gladden it” (12:25).  One meaning of the word ‘yesichena’ is to suppress and divert. In the context of ‘suppress-divert’ it means not to let the mind think about it since the core of worry is exaggeration and the more one thinks about it the more it is magnified.  But how do you succeed at doing this? The second phrase of the verse explains: by diverting the mind to a positive or ‘glad’ matter.  Diverting the mind by thinking of a joyous matter is attainable because we naturally want to feel good. Once we focus on a happy thought it reduces the matter we are worrying about t

The Talmudic sage Rabbi Yochanan taught: There are three keys that G-d holds, and never hands over to anyone else. They are the key to rain, the key to childbirth, and the key to revival of the dead. No matter how advanced our society becomes, no matter how much progress we make in technology and science, and no matter how many superstitious magic tricks we perform, some things are simply out of human control. The mystery of creating new life still baffles us. The greatest doctors cannot explain why some people conceive a child with ease, while others have so much difficulty. We are privileged to live in a time with so many options for assisted fertility. But in the end only G-d can decide when a baby is to be born. The key to life is in His hands. As with the beginning of life, so with its end. Despite all the medical advancements and extended life expectancy, we still can't bring someone back from the dead. We believe the time will come when G-d will revive the dea

Take a dreidel and spin it. It's fascinating. You never know which side it will land on. It could fall on the Gimmel, which means you win, or the Shin, which means you lose. It seems totally random. You just spin and something happens. But really it isn't. Every spin has an exact amount of kinetic energy to cause a measured number of turns. The table surface provides an exact amount of friction, and the air pushes the dreidel in a certain way, so it falls exactly as it is supposed to. Nothing is left to chance. Life is like that. It may seem random sometimes. Things just happen, you win or you lose, it falls this way or that for no apparent reason. But that is not really so. There is a divine hand spinning the world. Every turn is deliberate, every experience you have is supposed to happen, and whether you win or lose, there is a reason behind it. There are no self-spinning dreidels. There is always a hand behind the spin. And you are exactly where you are meant t

On Chanukah we celebrate the menorah that is the central symbol of the holiday, not the astounding military victory and attainment of freedom. Because freedom is only worth what you do with it, how you live your life as a result. Because you are free do you kindle the menorah of spreading light and holiness in the world? Money and freedom are just energy... how you use them is what matters. Rabbi Mendel Bluming serves the Jewish community in Potomac Maryland. Menachem Mendel Bluming and his wife invite you to join the communal menorah lightings