Lack of gratitude is at the root of discontent. In order to be consistently serene, we must master the attribute of being grateful to the Creator for all His gifts. As the Torah (Deuteronomy 26:11) states, "Rejoice with all the good the Almighty has given you." This does not negate our wanting more. But it does mean that we have a constant feeling of gratitude since as long as we are alive, we always have a list of things for which to be grateful.
Love Yehuda Lave
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| |  by Yvette Alt Miller | |
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Author Biography: Yvette Alt Miller earned her B.A. at Harvard University. She completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Jewish Studies at Oxford University, and has a Ph.D. In International Relations from the London School of Economics. She lives with her family in Chicago, and has lectured internationally on Jewish topics. Her book Angels at the table: a Practical Guide to Celebrating Shabbat takes readers through the rituals of Shabbat and more, explaining the full beautiful spectrum of Jewish traditions with warmth and humor. It has been praised as "life-changing", a modern classic, and used in classes and discussion groups around the world. | |
Netanyahu: Israel 'Adds Life' on Remembrance DayIsrael "adds life" while hate-filled terrorists try to "take life," PM Netanyahu said on Remembrance Day at Mt. Herzl. By: Hana Levi Julian Published: April 22nd, 2015  PM Binyamin Netanyahu lays a wreath at Mount Herzl to honor victims of terror on Israel's Remembrance Day. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu focused special attention in honoring the victims of terror Wednesday at Remembrance Day ceremonies at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl military cemetery. Joining the prime minister for the ceremony were President Reuven Rivlin and IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot. Both lay wreaths for the victims of terror. The designation is a relatively new addition to ceremonies that once were held to commemorate only the fallen among Israel's soldiers. It was recognized, however, that those who die simply because they are citizens of the state are as worthy of being a "soldier of Israel" as any uniformed defender. Bereaved Israelis flocked to the graves of fallen soldiers at the cemetery, paying their respects to troops killed in wars since 1860 as well as victims of terror. Since the close of Israel's War of Independence in 1948, 2,538 have died in terrorist attacks – including 31 in the past year alone. The hatred of terrorists "is blind; for them we are all targets," the prime minister said in addressing participants. "While they try to take life, we add life." He listed the attacks in the past year in which precious Jewish lives have been stolen and blood shed in the State of Israel by murderous terrorists. There is no difference between IDF soldiers on the homefront or those in the field, civilians involved in their daily affairs or those serving their time in army reserves, he said. All are targets. But the prime minister also warned that the radical Islamist terror once believed to be exclusive to the Middle East has made its way abroad and now has spread to Europe. Attacks against Jews in countries like France – where the week-long reign of terror in Paris horrified millions this past January and left more than a dozen people dead – are becoming more common. Four people died at the Hyper Cacher kosher grocery store during that massacre. Such activity, said Netanyahu, perversely seems to draw the admiration of many of Israel's neighbors, rather than disgust. "They admire murderers," the prime minister noted. "The more they murder, the more they admire them." For Israel to achieve peace with her neighbors, he said, they must "stop the incitement and the admiring of murderers. That's not how you make peace." About the Author: Hana Levi Julian is a Middle East news analyst with a degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Southern Connecticut State University. A past columnist with The Jewish Press and senior editor at Arutz 7, Ms. Julian has written for Babble.com, Chabad.org and other media outlets, in addition to her years working in broadcast journalism. |
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