Dateline: Feb 12, 2010

People tend to want to blame others for things that don't necessarily go according to plan. Truth be told, this is not a good approach to life. If one never takes responsibility for their actions, one can always pin the blame on someone or something else. Or one could do what the Torah tells one to do, namely "own" it. Without taking this initial stage one will never be able to properly grow and mature.

Dateline: Jan 29, 2010

Today, it happened. As the minutes were ticking away, without any hesitation, someone began B'rchot in the minyan without being asked. They merely looked at the clock and saw that it was time, and even though, the "designated davener" was in the room, but not yet ready to lead, the person correctly began the service. This is another example of "be the man!"

Dateline: Jan 28, 2010

The Rabbis in the Ethics of the Fathers state "Where there is no man, strive to be the man." This pithy statement is explained in the following manner: when no one else is stepping up to the "plate" to do the job, don't just sit there like everyone else, get involved and get the ball rolling. I was recently talking with a friend who was relating that their synagogue wasn't growing. I asked, "And what have you done to help solve the problem? There was dead silence on the other side.
We can blame others for the state of affairs or we can begin to take responsibility, like the people of Massachusetts, and get involved. Just think what would happen if my friend would just bring one person to a Shabbat service and Kiddush each week. Would it not give the shul a new chance at life. Just one person doing one positive act can and does go a long way.