Ten commandments and why Jethro was chosen as an example of spirituality

Self-Conscious About Praise


Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak, once praised someone in the presence of other people, and the person's face turned red. The rabbi told him, "You have not yet reached the proper level. Work on yourself to react to praise and insults in the same manner. Try to rise above caring whether someone praises or insults you. You are still too self-conscious about being praised."

Love Yehuda Lave

The ten Commandments, read in this week's bible portion, is in an section of the bible called Jethro. The question is asked, why name the bible portion after him? Why not the four fathers? Or Moses himself? After all the law is called the law of Moses, but we call this bible section, Jethro. Why?

According to our traditions,  Jethro, the father in law of Moses, experimented with all forms and types of worldly faiths and religions before arriving at Moshe's doorstep in the wilderness of Sinai. And, he exclaims that "only now do I know" what I am searching for and where eternal truth and soulful serenity lie.

Most humans embark on the same spiritual journey as did Jethro.  All of us are looking for the ultimate meaning of our lives and what our purpose on earth truly is.

 Some of us, like Jethro, are forced to take many detours and encounter many dead-end paths before finding our road to fulfillment.

 Unfortunately, there are many who never find their way clear of the maze of society, mores and the distractions that are the roadblocks to our search for our true selves and purpose. But many of us, again like Jethro, are able to fight our way through our previous errors of direction and reach the sanctuary of a moral life and a moral existence. Jethro stands as a living and eternal example of this great spiritual accomplishment.

In fact, for all humankind, the Lord simplified the matter with the revelation at Sinai of the Ten Commandments, an event that is described in detail in this week's portion of the bible. These bible rules address all of the challenges of life – material gain and acquisitions, paganism, falsehoods, generational interaction and respect, sexual probity and family loyalty, a day of rest and spirit and not 24/7 living, honesty and ego-centered jealousy, to name the main categories. In effect the bible provides for us a shortcut to reach the high road of accomplishment and satisfying purpose in life.

But there are those of us in life that feel themselves smarter and create their own shortcuts in life, avoiding the lessons of the Ten Commandments. The world's prisons are full of such people. The bible purposefully placed the Ten Commandments in the parsha of the story of Jethro to illustrate to us that the long road that Jethro was forced to travel in life and God's shortcut lead to the same place – to Mosses'  tent and to Mount Sinai.

As always the final choice of belief and behavior is left to each one of us individually. Fortunate are those that adhere to Sinai first and foremost without having to initially traverse the entire world of ideas and beliefs to eventually arrive at Sinai where their soul will be satisfied and their life purpose delineated clearly


Some people find their spirituality in a different way
                           6 MILLION  TOOTH PICKS -- Brings new meaning to the  word:  Patience 
            
        He's 38 years  old    
   
     It  took him 6 years to build a city with  toothpicks

He used 6 million toothpicks  and 170 litre  glue
It can take 6 months to build one  building, some of the time standing on  ladders
He workes at the museum of Science  and Technology in Syracuse , New  York
Have a look at his  creation, he has been called the most patient  man in the  world.  

 

<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smilingsmilers/join>

   
  

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The ten commandments (from our bible) are the basis for our constitution and Lighten our evaluations

Lighten Your Evaluations

Even if you find it too difficult to view certain events in a positive manner, there are variations of how "negative" you view them.

If you tell yourself, "This is awful, I can't stand it," by your own arbitrary evaluation you suffer a lot. But you can choose to tell yourself, "I find this very unpleasant, but I can still cope with it. If possible, I will change it; if change is impossible, I will work on accepting it, even if I don't like it."
Love Yehuda Lave

This week in synagogue we read the ten commandments from the book of Exodus

DID YOU KNOW  As you walk up the steps to the building which houses the U.S. Supreme Court you can see near the top of the building a row of the world's law givers and each one is facing one in the middle who is facing forward with a full frontal view ... It is Moses and he is holding the Ten Commandments!  DID YOU KNOW? As you enter the Supreme Court courtroom, the two huge oak doors have the Ten Commandments engraved on each lower portion of each door.  DID YOU KNOW? As you sit inside the courtroom, you can see the wall, right above where the Supreme Court Judges sit, a display of the Ten Commandments DID YOU KNOW? There are Bible verses etched in stone all over the Federal Buildings and Monuments in Washington , D.C.DID YOU KNOW? James Madison, the fourth president, known as 'The Father of Our Constitution' made the Following statement: 'We have staked the whole of all our political Institutions upon the capacity of mankind for Self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to The Ten Commandments of God.' DID YOU KNOW? Every session of Congress begins with a prayer by a paid preacher, whose salary has been paid by the taxpayer since 1777.DID YOU KNOW?Fifty-two of the 55 founders of the Constitution were members of the established Orthodox churches in the colonies..DID YOU KNOW? Thomas Jefferson worried that the Courts would overstep their authority and instead of Interpreting the law would begin making law an oligarchy: the rule of few over many.How then, have we gotten to the point that everything we have done for 220 years in this Country is now suddenly wrong and Unconstitutional ?Lets put it around the world and let the world see and remember what this great country was Built on The Holy Bible and belief in GOD !  ..

Osprey in Action and having your needs me

For a little laugh: Jackie Mason from 1961

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYYKKEe9CLY
Having Your Needs Met

"I have exactly what I need," the Torah master told a former student of his.
The student who had not seen his teacher for a number of years visited him to seek advice on a complex matter. The student was financially successful and was grateful to his teacher for what he had taught him in the past and for the advice he just had given him.
"My dear teacher, my business is going well and I would like to repay you. Please accept a check from me as a token of my gratitude."
"My beloved student," the great spiritual teacher replied, "I see that you sincerely want to give me a large amount of money. But I truly have all that I need."
"But look how few amenities you have in your house. And everything you do have is old," the student insisted. "Please take this check. I already have enough money to retire. It would give me great pleasure to help you out."
"But I don't need to be helped out. What I have is exactly what I need to have to fulfill my mission in life. I will be very pleased if you gave the money to a young couple about to get married who need to set up a home. But I lack nothing."
The spiritual awareness that you have what you need is a foundation for happiness. You might feel you need more and have a right to put in the effort to try to acquire what you wish. But before, during, and after your efforts realize that whatever you have is exactly what you need. When you truly need more to fulfill your life's mission, you will get it. But the Power Above is the only One Who really knows when and what that is. Your trusting Him will ensure you a happy life

Love Yehuda Lave

 Subject: Osprey in Action

This is a truly incredible video.
best viewed in full screen mode...enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/nA3LtXnNIto?feature=player_embedde

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GREAT TRUTHS 1. In my many years I have come to a    conclusion that one useless man    is a shame, two is a law firm,    and three or more is a congress.    -- John Adams 2. If you don't read the newspaper    you are uninformed, if you do    read the newspaper you are    misinformed. -- Mark Twain 3. Suppose you were an idiot. And    suppose you were a member of    Congress. But then I repeat    myself. -- Mark Twain 4. I contend that for a nation to try to    tax itself into prosperity is like a    man standing in a bucket and    trying to lift himself up by the    handle. --Winston Churchill 5. A government which robs Peter to    pay Paul can always depend on    the support of Paul. -- George    Bernard Shaw 6. A liberal is someone who feels a    great debt to his fellow man,    which debt he proposes to pay off    with your money. -- G. Gordon    Liddy 7. Democracy must be something    more than two wolves and a sheep    voting on what to have for    dinner. --James Bovard, Civil   Libertarian (1994) 8. Foreign aid might be defined as a    transfer of money from poor    people in rich countries to rich    people in poor countries.    -- Douglas Case,    Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University. 9. Giving money and power to    government is like giving whiskey    and car keys to teenage boys.    -- P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian 10. Government is the great fiction,      through which everybody      endeavors to live at the expense      of everybody else. -- Frederic      Bastiat, French economist(1801-1850) 11. Government's view of the      economy could be summed up      in a few short phrases: If it      moves, tax it.  If it keeps      moving, regulate it. And if it      stops moving, subsidize it.      --Ronald Reagan (1986) 12. I don't make jokes. I just watch      the government and report the      facts. -- Will Rogers 13. If you think health care is      expensive now, wait until you      see what it costs when it's free!      -- P. J. O'Rourke 14. In general, the art of government      consists of taking as much      money as possible from one      party of the citizens to give to      the other. --Voltaire (1764) 15. Just because you do not take an      interest in politics doesn't mean      politics won't take an interest      in you! -- Pericles (430 B.C.) 16. No man's life, liberty, or      property is safe while the      legislature is in session.      -- Mark Twain (1866) 17. Talk is cheap, except when      Congress does it. -- Anonymous 18. The government is like a baby's      alimentary canal, with a happy      appetite at one end and no      responsibility at the other.      -- Ronald Reagan 19. The inherent vice of capitalism is      the unequal sharing of the      blessings. The inherent blessing      of socialism is the equal sharing      of misery. -- Winston Churchill 20. The only difference between a      tax man and a taxidermist is that      the taxidermist leaves the skin.      -- Mark Twain 21. The ultimate result of shielding      men from the effects of folly is      to fill the world with fools.      -- Herbert Spencer, English            Philosopher (1820-1903) 22. There is no distinctly Native      American criminal class, save      Congress. -- Mark Twain 23. What this country needs are      more unemployed politicians      --Edward Langley,            Artist (1928-1995) 24. A government big enough to give      you everything you want, is      strong enough to take everything      you have.  -- Thomas Jefferson 25. We hang the petty thieves and      appoint the great ones to public     office. -- Aesop FIVE BEST SENTENCES 1. You cannot legislate the poor into    prosperity, by legislating the    wealthy out of prosperity. 2. What one person receives without    working for, another person must    work for without receiving. 3. The government cannot give to    anybody anything that the    government does not first take    from somebody else. 4. You cannot multiply wealth by    dividing it. 5. When half of the people get the    idea that they do not have to    work, because the other half is    going to take care of them, and    when the other half gets the idea    that it does no good to work    because somebody else is going to    get what they work for, that is the    beginning of the end of any nation!

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genetically engineered salmon nearing approval--IS IT KOSHER? thoughts from friends

How Jackie Mason become a Comedian after being a Rabbi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPLDYt4PGZU


What Would My Greatest Role Models Say to Me?


Ask yourself this valuable question: "What would my greatest role models say to me now?"

Think of different people you respect and admire, both people you now know and people you've known in the past. Think of people whose books you have read or whose recordings you have heard. Think of great people in the past that you now wish you could have learned from in person.

It's helpful if you write down a list of the names of these great teachers and role models. Now review your list and ask yourself about each one: "What are some of the main lessons this person would teach me?"

You can have many inspiring and enlightening self-conversations by imagining that the greatest people who ever lived were asking you questions. So ask yourself, "If so and so were to ask me an insightful question about myself and my life, what do I think he would ask me now?"

When you use your imagination and stored knowledge to have self-conversations with great people, you will find yourself having many meaningful and inspiring self-conversations about important topics and subjects.
Love Yehuda Lave

UP TO OUR GILLS IN TOXINS AND GMO SALMON WITH BOTTOM FEEDER EEL GENES. Currently protest action is being taken.

This is a photo by Andy Martinez of the Eel Pout Bottom feeder that has been Genetically Mixed with Atlantic Salmon Genes to produce a New Fast Growing Super Size Supermarket Offering ready by 2014 with FDA Blessings. The FDA has already approved this fish that will be imported from Panama. The Alaska Wild Caught Salmon Industry is a bit concerned that this further contribute to their economic woes. It will not be Labeled in the Store, simple offered as Farm Raised. Only the remaining Wild Caught Salmon will be GE Free. Does this sound Kosher?

Lisa Goldwag Kassner, San Fernando Valley Co-Coordinator
Los Angeles County Label GMOs Campaign coordinator is concerned that many Jewish People do not know that eel bottom feeders are part of the new GE Salmon. She is specifically asking Jewish people and others concerned about what they put into their bodies to take action. Eel is not a Kosher Fish. If a mere 300,000 more people had voted Yes on Prop 37, at least we would have started to Label GMOs.

http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=2029557

EMAIL FROM LISA KASSNER

I want to forward as well this Email from

Lisa Kassner_The Label GMO Campaign Coordinator for the San Fernando Valley-and LA County.:

Begin forwarded message:

From: Lisa Kassner-Labelgmos <labelgmos80@gmail.com>

Subject: TIME DATED: help pls: treyf? genetically eng.salmon nearing approval - health&env issue too

Date: January 25, 2013 3:14:19 PM PST

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Bcc: plantyourdream@cox.net

My dear Jewish friends who care about GMOs,

We don't have much time to make the Jewish community aware that genetically engineered salmon with eel genes (flier attached with FAQs) is NOW being considered for approval by the FDA.  The comment period ends on February 25. They are not getting a lot of input and we need to change this.

Is this fish kosher?  There is no firm across the board from the Jewish leadership about whether it is or it isn't.  But I can tell you this.  The general response among Jews is: "Yuck, I don't want to eat that!"  But without labeling, we won't know if we are eating it or not.  We went for labeling in Prop. 37 but the health and environmental issues surrounding this fish indicate it would be great to keep the AquaBounty salmon off the market altogether. 

The goal here is let people know this issue even exists, and to encourage them to act now.  You can help by:
1. Pursuing press coverage - Below is a letter I wrote to the Jewish Journal.  Can you similarly pursue press coverage or Jewish community awareness on this issue in your area?  I have attached a sample letter to the editor but it does not touch on the Jewish issues.  If you need help on what to write, please let me know. 
2. Handing out fliers - see attached flier
3. Telling people about this issue in any way you can - even a simple rally could help (info attached)
4. Doing the suggested ideas below.

What are the goals in what you do? The actions most encouraged among the public at this time are:

1. comment on Food and Drug Administration docket
http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=FDA-2011-N-0899-0001

For the required field "Organization Name," please enter "Citizen."

2. call President, U.S. Senators and your Congressional representative to urge them to urge the FDA to not approve this fish
3. NEW!  participate in a campaign petitioning, calling and writing supermarkets to ask them if they would carry genetically engineered salmon when it comes available, and tell them we won't shop in their store anymore if they do.  This is in hopes of keeping it from being sold, and such campaigns have had success before. Organic Consumers Association www.oca.org is coordinating this campaign.  Here's a link:

http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50865/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=9314

4. attend or organize a rally in your area on February 9 - or Sunday February 10 -    see: facebook.com/GMOFreeWorldGDA
flier

NOTE: If this fish makes it onto the market, it won't be labeled in the U.S. (except in Alaska) so to avoid it, you'd have to avoid all farmed salmon.  Boycott of farmed salmon is a potential idea.  But it's environmentally important this fish doesn't get that far.

I hope I can count on you!  Do write me and say hi and let me know.


All the best to you and your family, and Shabbat Shalom!


--
Lisa Kassner
San Fernando Valley Co-Coordinator
Los Angeles County
Label GMOs Campaign - www.labelgmos.org
"We have the right to know!"
818/831-8657

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Lisa Kassner-Labelgmos <labelgmos80@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jan 25, 2013 at 2:20 PM
Subject: treyf? genetically engineered salmon nearing approval - coverage for Jewish, health & env.issue needed
To: Jonah Lowenfeld <JonahL@jewishjournal.com>, Rob Eshman <robe@jewishjournal.com>


Dear Rob and Jonah,

I am writing to ask you to provide some coverage on the very current issue of genetically engineered salmon.  As you may recall, I was the co-author of the article on labeling of genetically engineered foods for the Jewish Journal in October.

You probably know that the FDA is moving forward with approval of the AquAdvantage salmon with poutfish (eel) genes.  Right now we are in the public comment period regarding environmental safety, and as soon as the end of February, the FDA may make its decision.  There are serious health, environmental concerns about this fish.  Despite the hundreds of consumer, environmental, health, animal rights & other organizations who have filed arguments and hundreds of thousands of individual comments the FDA has received, they are still moving forward without even a full environmental impact report or adequate health studies.  The attached 2-page flier has FAQs on this issue.

As you know, there is a definite Jewish angle on this issue.  Because Prop. 37 did not pass, this fish will not be labeled beyond being "farm raised."  MANY JEWS WILL NOT WANT TO EAT THIS FOOD.  It goes beyond whether mashgichim approve it or not.  And MANY JEWS DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM.  The L.A. Times didn't even mention the eel genes in their article on 12/21/12 on this issue. 

If the Jewish community knew about it, we would speak up.  I know you at the Jewish Journal care about the needs and interests of our community.

Would you consider:
attending and reporting on our Global Day of Action rally which will take place on Saturday, February 9
   see: facebook.com/GMOFreeWorldGDA - it will be in Santa Monica at 11 a.m. till approximately noon or after
writing an article
printing a guest editorial from me
printing a letter to the editor from me
 

I look forward to hearing back from you. Thank you so much for your consideration.
--
Lisa Goldwag Kassner
San Fernando Valley Co-Coordinator
Los Angeles County
Label GMOs Campaign - www.labelgmos.org
"We have the right to know!"
818/831-8657

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Tourist video- ISRAEL-Small and Outstanding!!! Pre- Spring holiday in Israel called Tu b Shevat

  Focus On Building Your Self-Image


Whatever you focus your attention on, you increase.

This one principle is the key to mastering any trait and skill.

A person who focuses on building his self-image will eventually think like a person who has a positive self-image. He will feel like a person who has a positive self-image. He will speak and act the way a person with a positive self-image speaks and acts.
Love Yehuda Lave

ISRAEL. In English   http://www.youtube.com/embed/AoizSL-TEJQ?efeature=player_embedded The division between death of the plant life during winter and its rebirth starting in spring is celebrated by the Jewish holiday of Tu B Shevat. It is considered the day when the sap in the trees wakes up and starts the rebirth. it was yesterday, Saturday  1/26/13 here in the US.  Photo Essay for Tu B'ShvatPho                         Michelle Baruch is a nature photographer and private Israeli tour guide.

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Just in Time for Passover - Martha Stewart's Streit's Tour and Chess makes you smart

See Others As They See Themselves

Develop the habit of seeing other people as they see themselves. All anger, hatred and quarrels arise simply because a person views the situation from his own perspective, and fails to see the viewpoint of the other person.

For example, if a poor person asks someone who is wealthy for financial assistance, the wealthy person might view the request as insolence and become angry. The poor person feels insulted and perplexed. He thinks to himself, "The Almighty has given him so much, why doesn't he share what he has with me?" They separate from each other with a quarrel and mutual bad feelings. If each would try to understand the position of the other, however, even though they still might not agree, the majority of conflicts and complications that arise in interpersonal relationships could be avoided.

The next time you find yourself in a potential quarrel with another person, view the situation from his perspective also. Then step out of the picture and try to view the situation objectively as if a third party was viewing both of you. Notice the difference that this makes!

Love Yehuda Lave

Grandmaster Chess Project to Show How Chess Makes You Smart

By: Malkah Fleisher

Published: January 23rd, 2013

An Israeli Chess master, and the University of Haifa have teamed up to prove that chess can make you smarter and better adjusted

The Grandmaster Chess Research Project will investigate the role chess-playing skills can contribute to social and scientific development, and made lead to the development of Hebrew-language educational products teaching and drawing on chess as a way to enhance cognitive abilities.
According to a report by Israel21c, the project will examine how chess players achieve in the fields of language, math, and other academic arenas.
The report states that numerous studies on the benefits of chess have already shown that the game improves reading abilities, and is associated with higher grades in school, as well as improved concentration, self-discipline, logic, and other behaviors.
Israeli interest in chess has grown significantly since Gelfand's second-place win at the Chess World Championship.

About the Author: Malkah Fleisher is a graduate of Cardozo Law School in New York City. She is an editor/staff writer at JewishPress.com and co-hosts a weekly Israeli FM radio show. Malkah lives with her husband and two children on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

just in time for Passover Click here: YouTube - Martha Stewart's Streit's Tour

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Did he say, "one and a half miles" ??? and Be preapared for the unexpected

 Be Prepared for the Unexpected


A popular observation states, "Nothing is as easy as it looks. Everything takes longer than you expect. And if anything can go wrong, it will, at the worst possible moment."

When you are mentally prepared for events (without being nervous or anxious), you will find them much easier to cope with. If you always expect things to work out the way you wish, ask yourself what is the basis for your expectations. When you realize there is no basis for such an expectation, you will find it easier to give that up.

Love Yehuda Lave
STUDENT WHO got it all wrong, but did he? 
 
I would have given him 100% !!!

Q1. In which battle did Napoleon die? 
*his last battle

Q2. Where was the Declaration of Independence signed? 
* at the bottom of the page

Q3. River Ravi flows in which state?
* liquid

Q4. What is the main reason for divorce? 
* marriage

Q5. What is the main reason for failure? 
* exams

Q6. What can you never eat for breakfast? 
* Lunch & Dinner

Q7. What looks like half an apple?
* The other half

Q8. If you throw a red stone into the blue sea what it will become? 
*  It will simply become wet

Q9. How can a man go eight days without sleeping ? 
* No problem, he sleeps at night.

Q10. How can you lift an elephant with one hand? 
*You will never find an elephant that has only one hand..

Q11. If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in other hand, what would you have ? 
* Very large hands

Q12. If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall, how long would it take four men to build it? 
* No time at all, the wall is already built.

Q13. How can u drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it? 
* Any way you want, concrete floors are very hard to crack. 

B"H

Oh, My Gosh!!!! Amazing what an amazing story. Scroll below. D.

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Caught 1-1/2 miles offshore while Fishing (after the fires in Southern Calif). See what the fires brought! What is that? Look in the middle.

      

       Can it be, really?    Look third picture down.

 
      

       It's a DEER!  Son of a gun!

      

       Not too much of a struggle?  Poor guy!

      

         She was very glad to be on board. No doubt!!!

      

       She was sooo tired and was glad to get into our boat and rest!

         And yes, we turned her loose when we got back to shore.

       Just try beating this Fish Story!

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