Mendel Bluming | Blogger

Worst Day Ever?  By Chani Gorkin Chanie Gorkin, an 11th grader who attends the Bais Rivka  high  school and lives in the Chasidic Community of Crown Heights, posted the poem to the site poetrynation.com earlier this year Today was the absolute worst day ever And don't try to convince me that There's something good in every day Because, when you take a closer look, This world is a pretty evil place. Even if Some goodness does shine through once in a while Satisfaction and happiness don't last. And it's not true that It's all in the mind and heart Because True happiness can be attained Only if one's surroundings are good It's not true that good exists I'm sure you can agree that The reality Creates My attitude It's all beyond my control And you'll never in a million years hear me say Today was a very good day   Now read it from bottom to top, the other way, And see what I really feel abou...

I am sure that you have heard a lot about the Jewish response to difficult times in life; to tragedy, to pain to loss... But what does Judaism have to say about the response to GOOD fortune?! If everything is just awesome in your life!! Or if some aspects of your life are just phenomenally successful - what is your response meant to be? Guilt??? It should make you feel... humbled, thankful and deeply indebted and committed to your mission in life. If you give your employee a serious raise and their response is: "Wow, that is so special of you! That makes me feel so much more dedicated and committed to the company's mission!" How does that make you feel? Do you regret the raise? Of course not! You wish that you had given it sooner! When your response to G-d is that the good fortune bestowed upon you makes you feel humbled and dedicated, indebted and driven to do more, wow that is the response the Giver of those blessings was hoping for!! (Tanya Igeret Hakodesh Ch...