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	<title>www.jewishfolsom.org | Blogs | Rabbi Yossi&#39;s Blog</title>        
	<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?p=blog&amp;AID=524209</link>
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	<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2025  9:00:00 AM</pubDate>
	
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				<publisher>Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum </publisher>
				<pubDate>Fri, 26 Sep 2025  3:11:00 PM</pubDate>
				<title>Rest? That’s for after 120</title>
				<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?P=Blog&amp;AID=524209&amp;link=138353</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://www.jewishfolsom.org/media/images/1340/OoRx13401546.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Walking pier.jpg&quot; real_width=&quot;535&quot; real_height=&quot;301&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p data-olk-copy-source=&quot;MessageBody&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;You know what I find the most remarkable part of this week&amp;rsquo;s Torah portion?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;The very first word: &amp;ldquo;Vayelech&amp;rdquo; - &amp;ldquo;And he went.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Consider this: It&amp;rsquo;s the last day of Moshe&amp;rsquo;s life. He&amp;rsquo;s 120 years old, sharing his final words with the Jewish people, passing the mantle to Joshua.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;The Torah could&amp;rsquo;ve opened with all kinds of words. Instead, on Moshe&amp;rsquo;s last day on earth, it chose one that means growth, movement and continuously refusing to settle.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;That&amp;rsquo;s truly remarkable. Even in his last hours, Moshe wasn&amp;rsquo;t slowing down. He was still moving forward. Still growing.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;He wasn&amp;rsquo;t willing to slow down even in his very last moments.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;When I was growing up in Melbourne, there was an elderly chassid named Reb Nochum Zalman Gurewitz.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Short and feisty, he was an elderly man with a snow-white beard and a fiery energy. He was always on the move. He kept a full schedule of work, study, and prayer until the very end.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;I remember someone once told him, &amp;ldquo;Reb Nochum, you&amp;rsquo;re pushing too hard. Slow down, take a rest.&amp;rdquo; His reply? &amp;ldquo;Resting we can all do after 120.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;That&amp;rsquo;s the primary message of the High Holidays: Growth. One more step in the right direction. As long as we&amp;rsquo;re alive, we must keep moving forward.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Next week Wednesday night/Thursday is Yom Kippur. The question we should all be asking ourselves is: How have I grown this past year - and how will I keep growing in the year ahead?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Everything else is commentary.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;May we all be sealed in the Book of Life.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
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				<publisher>Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum </publisher>
				<pubDate>Fri, 19 Sep 2025  12:48:00 PM</pubDate>
				<title>Warning: This post might make you think</title>
				<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?P=Blog&amp;AID=524209&amp;link=138352</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://www.jewishfolsom.org/media/images/1340/HXFE13401504.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Danger.jpg&quot; width=&quot;650&quot; height=&quot;434&quot; real_width=&quot;535&quot; real_height=&quot;357&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;baseline&quot; /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p data-olk-copy-source=&quot;MessageBody&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;In the spirit of full disclosure I&amp;rsquo;ve got to warn you - you probably shouldn&amp;rsquo;t read this post.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;It&#39;s safer that way.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Because if you actually think about what I&amp;rsquo;m about to say, you might have to, you know&amp;hellip; change something. And that&amp;rsquo;s messy.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;No, seriously - many people are perfectly comfortable cruising along in their life and prefer not to think too deeply about the direction they&amp;rsquo;re headed.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;I don&amp;rsquo;t blame them - it&amp;rsquo;s risky to think.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Because let&amp;rsquo;s face it, if we actually take an honest look at where we&amp;rsquo;re headed, we might realize we need to hit &amp;lsquo;recalculate.&amp;rsquo;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And changing course? That&amp;rsquo;s hard work.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Still here? Fine. Just don&amp;rsquo;t say I didn&amp;rsquo;t warn you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Here&amp;rsquo;s the all important question no one likes asking: Why are we here?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;There are various answers given but they generally fall into two categories: For ourselves (enjoy life, achieve something) or to serve a higher purpose (society, G-d).&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;But the truth is that neither answer alone is entirely correct, both are true to a degree.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;This is where it gets difficult, because these two values seemingly contradict each other. Nonetheless we need to live our life with a balance that reflects this dichotomous reality.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Think about it this way - if you are a healthy individual,&amp;nbsp; most likely you take care of yourself; you eat and sleep and generally take care of your physical self.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;You probably take care of yourself in more refined ways too; developing your character, advancing your career, learning new things.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;But all the accomplishment of self development is within a limited self-centered existence.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And no matter how successful you are in that realm, you&amp;rsquo;re starving yourself of the deeper, more profound - and in many ways, more important for survival - purpose-centered part of existence.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Our role as human beings - and especially as Jews - is to do more than take care of ourselves.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;We need to think about the greater reason that we&amp;rsquo;re here, to serve a higher purpose: To make this world into a G-dly place.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Every altruistic mitzvah that we do, every time we put on tefillin or light Shabbat candles, help another person or study Torah, we take another step toward achieving this goal.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;There&amp;rsquo;s a counterintuitive dimension to all this; the more we invest on the purpose centric side of our life, the more complete we become in the self-centered element as well.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;So if you feel your life has become a dreary jumble of divergent responsibilities, take some time to invest in your purpose.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Infuse your life with more value and significance and see the positive effects in every part of your life.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
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				<publisher>Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum </publisher>
				<pubDate>Fri, 12 Sep 2025  1:32:00 PM</pubDate>
				<title>Thundering silence</title>
				<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?P=Blog&amp;AID=524209&amp;link=137479</link>
				<description>&lt;p x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://www.jewishfolsom.org/media/images/1335/GqdK13351330.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Flag half mast black and white.jpg&quot; real_width=&quot;535&quot; real_height=&quot;535&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;When the world feels noisy, divided, and unstable;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;when we experience too many reminders of how fragile peace is and how loud the voices of anger and violence can be; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;it&amp;rsquo;s easy to feel distraught and it&amp;rsquo;s natural to wonder: what can really make a difference?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;When Aharon the High Priest experienced the sudden, tragic loss of his two sons, the verse records his reaction - just two Hebrew words: &amp;ldquo;Vayidom Aharon&amp;rdquo; - &amp;ldquo;And Aharon was silent.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;But his silence was not the silence of despair. It was the silence of strength, of inner faith, of connecting to something higher than words could ever reach.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;After the Supreme Court ruled against prayer in public schools and following the attempted assasination of President Ronald Reagan, The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the most influential Jewish leader of the 20th century, encouraged silence as an antidote.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;More specifically, he urged America to adopt a moment of silence in schools: a daily pause for children to reflect quietly, guided by their parents, on life&amp;rsquo;s deeper purpose.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Unlike spoken prayer, which can spark debate, a silent pause belongs to each student. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;No teacher can impose beliefs, no peer can intrude. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Every child is free to connect in their own way - to values, to meaning, to G-d.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;The Rebbe pressed for it to be universally adopted because giving children a habit of silence, reflection, and higher purpose is one of the strongest safeguards for a brighter, safer future.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;And this practice is not only for children. In Elul - the month of reflection before Rosh Hashanah - it&#39;s particularly appropriate to find our own &amp;ldquo;moment of silence&amp;rdquo;: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;To pause, to step away from the world&amp;rsquo;s noise, and to ask ourselves, &amp;quot;What am I living for? How can I bring more light into the world today?&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;And you can make a difference for others too. In addition to taking on your own daily moment of silence as spiritual preparation for the new year - &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Encourage your child&amp;rsquo;s school, local leaders, or representatives to implement and encourage this policy. Even one voice can make a difference.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Whether in schools or in our daily lives, when the world seems to be unraveling, there is something we can do. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;It is deceptively simple, but extremely powerful: Carve out silence, and fill it with purpose.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;As we approach the New Year, let us take moments of silence -  not filled with emptiness, but with meaning, strength, and hope. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;And may they open the way to a year of peace, safety, and revealed blessings.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
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				<publisher>Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum </publisher>
				<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2025  5:35:00 AM</pubDate>
				<title>Light in the Shadow of Darkness</title>
				<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?P=Blog&amp;AID=524209&amp;link=137480</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://www.jewishfolsom.org/media/images/1335/EepU13351335.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Light towers.jpg&quot; real_width=&quot;535&quot; real_height=&quot;535&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Today the Jewish and Gregorian calendars line up in a striking way.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;9/11 is remembered as a day of darkness. This year, with the recent wave of political violence culminating in yesterday&amp;rsquo;s tragic assassination of a political leader, the mood feels even heavier.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;And yet, on the Jewish calendar, today is Chai Elul - the 18th of Elul, meaning &amp;ldquo;the life of Elul.&amp;rdquo; It marks the birthdays of two giants of Jewish history: the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Their leadership came after a particularly brutal period of Jewish suffering, yet they infused new life and vitality into the Jewish world. Their teachings continue to inspire and uplift to this very day.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Chai Elul reminds us that even in the darkest times, sparks of light can be found. 9/11 was a day of horror, but it was also a day of extraordinary courage and selflessness.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;We, too, can be those points of light. By caring for others, offering a kind word, or extending a helping hand, we uncover the goodness in our world and empower others to do the same.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
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				<publisher>Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum </publisher>
				<pubDate>Fri, 5 Sep 2025  1:39:00 PM</pubDate>
				<title>Discrimination is good</title>
				<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?P=Blog&amp;AID=524209&amp;link=137481</link>
				<description>&lt;p x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://www.jewishfolsom.org/media/images/1335/FOLE13351338.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Umbrella color.jpg&quot; real_width=&quot;535&quot; real_height=&quot;379&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Yes, discrimination is good. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;In fact, it&amp;rsquo;s an essential part of life. You literally can&amp;rsquo;t do anything without it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Of course, I&amp;rsquo;m not talking about discriminating against people. I&amp;rsquo;m talking about discrimination when it comes to values, ideas, life choices, and priorities.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Life itself is built on discrimination. At its core, discrimination simply means recognizing and understanding the difference between one thing and another.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;This week&#39;s Torah portion instructs regarding ensuring that an accessible roof must have appropriate safety railing installed. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;In addition to the actual mitzvah, the verse is reminding us of something deeper: the importance of discrimination. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;There are certain values and ideals that we need to create a protective barrier around, ensuring that they remain at a distance. Other ideas we can and should allow to influence us. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Every choice in life is also saying no to other choices. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Before we can evaluate which life choices to embrace and which to discriminate against, we have to ensure we have an appreciation of what&amp;rsquo;s truly valuable in life. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Then it&amp;rsquo;s imperative to discriminate and determine, does this choice align with my values and priorities?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;When the Torah instructs us regarding the fence around our roof, it&amp;rsquo;s reminding us regarding the importance of discrimination. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;The railing around the roof is not just a safety measure - the Torah isn&amp;rsquo;t simply sharing building codes.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;It&#39;s a reminder that we must be deliberate in how we live, discriminating wisely between what lifts us up and what could pull us down.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;And for the record, not making any choice regarding how to live and just &amp;ldquo;going with the flow&amp;rdquo; is a choice too. Just not a good one.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;So as we step into the second week of Elul, heading toward Rosh Hashanah, it&amp;rsquo;s time to sharpen our discrimination. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Build some fences. Tear some down. And make sure the life you&amp;rsquo;re saying yes to is actually the one you should be living.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
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				<publisher>Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum </publisher>
				<pubDate>Fri, 29 Aug 2025  12:44:00 PM</pubDate>
				<title>Simple, not easy</title>
				<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?P=Blog&amp;AID=524209&amp;link=137482</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://www.jewishfolsom.org/media/images/1335/oWHX13351345.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Plant.jpg&quot; real_width=&quot;535&quot; real_height=&quot;357&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Saying &amp;ldquo;thank you.&amp;rdquo; Apologizing. Spending time with family. Expressing love. Simple gestures but not necessarily easy to do.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Living a healthier lifestyle; sleeping more, eating better and exercising regularly. All simple choices, but not always easy to accomplish.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Focusing on what we need to do now and not worrying about or trying to control the future. Simple in theory, but definitely not easy to achieve.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Our Torah portion reminds us of Moshe&amp;rsquo;s instruction to the Jewish people as they were about to enter the land: Be simple. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;After warning them about falling for the false comfort of the various types of &amp;ldquo;future tellers&amp;rdquo;, Moshe tells them תָּמִ֣ים תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה עִ֖ם ה&amp;rsquo; אֱלֹקיךָ - &amp;ldquo;You must be tamim with the L-rd your G-d&amp;rdquo; (Deut. 18:13).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Translations of tamim vary&amp;mdash;&amp;ldquo;perfect,&amp;rdquo; &amp;ldquo;whole,&amp;rdquo; &amp;ldquo;complete,&amp;rdquo; &amp;ldquo;wholehearted.&amp;rdquo; But Rashi tells us that here the intention is simple or sincere: &amp;ldquo;Conduct yourself with Him with simplicity and depend on Him, and do not inquire of the future.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Trust (bitachon) is more than an attitude, it is a spiritual posture, the deep awareness that G-d is guiding every detail of life. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;It&amp;rsquo;s simple. Release the illusion of control and embrace what we can and must do: the next good deed. Here and now.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;But it&amp;rsquo;s anything but easy. It&amp;rsquo;s difficult to let go of control, even when that control is nothing more than an illusion.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Simplicity and trust does not mean resignation. Simple trust in G-d imbues us with a fiery refusal to accept the world&amp;rsquo;s brokenness. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Trust propels us to action: to increase Torah and Mitzvot, to reject injustice, to add kindness and to prepare the world for Moshiach.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;While it might not be easy, it is definitely simple.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
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				<publisher>Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum </publisher>
				<pubDate>Fri, 22 Aug 2025  2:49:00 PM</pubDate>
				<title>Was it a car or a cat I saw?</title>
				<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?P=Blog&amp;AID=524209&amp;link=137483</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://www.jewishfolsom.org/media/images/1335/qiss13351350.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Mirror man.jpg&quot; real_width=&quot;535&quot; real_height=&quot;341&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;I don&amp;rsquo;t drive a racecar, nor operate radar. But I do enjoy a palindrome or two.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And I&amp;rsquo;m not confusing cars and cats, I&amp;rsquo;m just using a sentence that reads the same forwards as it does backwards.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Why? Because I want to bring your attention to a profound palindromic message embedded in this week&amp;rsquo;s Torah portion.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;The portion begins with the words: רְאֵ֗ה אָֽנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה See, I place (i.e. give, Notayn) before you today a blessing and a curse.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;The Hebrew word, Notayn, give, (or Nossayn, in the traditional pronunciation) is spelled here as a palindrome.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Life is not filled with objective blessings and curses; G-d guides us through life and we choose how to perceive it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;If we observe life through the lens of blessing, we experience blessings. And the opposite is true if we do otherwise.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;We experience life as we choose to perceive it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;That&amp;rsquo;s not to say that everything is always rosy. But what we highlight, what we give our attention to, is what becomes the defining part of our story&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Just yesterday I heard someone relating about their fathers experience in the holocaust. He would talk about how a Nazi guard threw a raw potato at him. A cruel and degrading gesture - but one that saved his life, since he then had food for the day.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;On a similar note, our Torah portion discusses the mitzvah of giving Tzedakah. The same Hebrew letters we discussed above, נתן, Natan (or Nosson) mean to give.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;We often think about giving as depleting our resources when we give. And of course when we give our time or attention, food or money to another, we no longer have that time or that money.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;But the Torah reminds us that giving is never one-sided. Like the palindrome itself, what we send out comes back to us. Often in ways far greater than we expect.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Our perspective shapes our reality. Our giving shapes our returns.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And while G-d controls the world, we hold the power to choose how we experience it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
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				<publisher>Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum </publisher>
				<pubDate>Fri, 15 Aug 2025  1:52:00 PM</pubDate>
				<title>If Moses&#39; spoke to us today</title>
				<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?P=Blog&amp;AID=524209&amp;link=137484</link>
				<description>&lt;p data-olk-copy-source=&quot;MessageBody&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://www.jewishfolsom.org/media/images/1335/MepO13351351.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Man looking up.jpg&quot; real_width=&quot;535&quot; real_height=&quot;357&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p data-olk-copy-source=&quot;MessageBody&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&amp;ldquo;But, I need it!&amp;rdquo; is an expression that my kids like to use.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And they roll their eyes when I prompt them to consider if it&#39;s a real need or just a want.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;But it&amp;rsquo;s not just kids. &amp;ldquo;I need a new car&amp;rdquo; usually means my car is a few years old, I&amp;rsquo;m bored of driving it, and there are some cool new features that would be fun to have.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;ldquo;I need a new phone&amp;rdquo; usually doesn&amp;rsquo;t mean my current one doesn&amp;rsquo;t work, and &amp;ldquo;I need a new shirt&amp;rdquo; likely doesn&amp;rsquo;t mean I have nothing to wear.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Modern American life is often criticized as overly consumeristic&amp;mdash;and there&amp;rsquo;s certainly truth to it. It&amp;rsquo;s no surprise that our perception of &amp;ldquo;needs&amp;rdquo; shifts as our wealth increases.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;In fact, this is exactly one of the warnings Moses shared with our ancestors as they prepared to enter the Holy Land for the first time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;To paraphrase: &amp;ldquo;You will have beautiful homes, plenty of food, growing herds, and everything you have will increase.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Then Moses warns: &amp;ldquo;And you start feeling proud and self-important, forgetting the L-rd your G-d, who brought you out of Egypt, out of slavery&amp;hellip;&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&amp;ldquo;And you&amp;rsquo;ll think to yourself, &amp;lsquo;I&amp;rsquo;m the one whose own strength and hard work earned me all this wealth.&amp;rsquo;&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Then he reminds them: &amp;ldquo;But remember the L-rd your G-d&amp;mdash;it&amp;rsquo;s He who gives you the ability to earn wealth, so that He can fulfill the promise He made to your ancestors, as He is doing today.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;While Moses&amp;rsquo; speech, found in this week&amp;rsquo;s Torah portion (Deut. 8), sounds like pure admonition, it&amp;rsquo;s actually a guide on how to live well with blessing.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;It&amp;rsquo;s about maintaining a healthy relationship with our possessions so they don&amp;rsquo;t end up defining or controlling us.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;After listing specific examples of wealth - homes, food, herds etc - the Torah adds something broader: &amp;ldquo;and everything you have will increase.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Commentaries explain this refers to the lifestyle changes that often come with success. People shop in different stores, move to different neighborhoods, and refine their tastes.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;The question is: As our physical lives improve, are we also growing spiritually?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;The Torah&amp;rsquo;s guidance is clear: As &amp;ldquo;everything you have&amp;rdquo; increases, your mitzvot, your kindness, your Torah study, your generosity, all need to increase too. Otherwise, we risk slipping into the illusion that our success is ours alone.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Yes, our effort matters - but it&amp;rsquo;s only the vessel.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;The blessing comes from G-d. It&amp;rsquo;s possible to work endlessly and still not see results; it&amp;rsquo;s also possible for unexpected blessing to flow in with minimal effort. The Source is always Above.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Maintaining this perspective helps us keep a healthy attitude and a positive relationship with the &amp;ldquo;things&amp;rdquo; in our lives.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;It encourages gratitude instead of feelings of lack and guides us to make wiser, more thoughtful decisions as we navigate daily life.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
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				<publisher>Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum </publisher>
				<pubDate>Fri, 8 Aug 2025  11:38:00 AM</pubDate>
				<title>The Secret to Greater Gratitude</title>
				<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?P=Blog&amp;AID=524209&amp;link=137485</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;img src=&quot;http://www.jewishfolsom.org/media/images/1335/xUvX13351352.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Gratitude.jpg&quot; real_width=&quot;535&quot; real_height=&quot;357&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p data-olk-copy-source=&quot;MessageBody&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;We expect to be paid for our work. We expect loans to be repaid. And when someone makes a promise, we expect them to keep it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;When those expectations are met, we&amp;rsquo;re happy.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;But when we don&amp;rsquo;t get paid, when money isn&amp;rsquo;t returned or when people let us down, we naturally get upset.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And over time, as life goes smoothly with good health, steady work, a roof over our head - we begin to expect it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;We start to subconsciously feel entitled to it. And when reality doesn&amp;rsquo;t match our expectations? We get upset and frustrated.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;In this week&amp;rsquo;s Torah portion, Va&amp;rsquo;etchanan, Moses makes his final plea to G-d to enter the Land of Israel.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Our sages note that the word Va&amp;rsquo;etchanan is linked to the Hebrew for &amp;ldquo;gift.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Moses wasn&amp;rsquo;t citing his lifetime of achievements or his steadfast leadership. He simply asked G-d to grant him entry as a gift.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;He understood that G-d didn&amp;rsquo;t owe him anything.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;That&amp;rsquo;s always the case. Are we ever owed anything by G-d?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;His reality is utterly beyond ours; our finite actions are, by comparison, completely insignificant.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;No matter how influential we may be, no matter how many likes, views or reposts we get - it&amp;rsquo;s all negligible compared to G-d&amp;rsquo;s reality.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;The fact that our actions carry any cosmic weight at all is only because G-d chooses to value them. (Itself a powerful notion to consider).&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Moses modeled this humility when he asked to enter the land as a gift.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And it&amp;rsquo;s a transformative mindset worth adopting.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;When we let go of entitlement, we stop feeling cheated when life doesn&amp;rsquo;t go as planned.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And when we remember that G-d owes us nothing, our gratitude and joy can only grow.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
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				<publisher>Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum </publisher>
				<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2025  2:59:00 PM</pubDate>
				<title>Boundaries and Breakthroughs (and Everything in Between)</title>
				<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?P=Blog&amp;AID=524209&amp;link=136297</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;img src=&quot;http://www.jewishfolsom.org/media/images/1329/PcAV13290809.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Breakthrough.jpg&quot; width=&quot;550&quot; height=&quot;740&quot; real_width=&quot;535&quot; real_height=&quot;720&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Photo by &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://unsplash.com/@rapol?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_source=unsplash&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://unsplash.com/@rapol?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_source=unsplash&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Rafael Pol&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://unsplash.com/@rapol?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_source=unsplash&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt; on &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://unsplash.com/photos/architectural-photography-of-lighted-buildings-oNwYXoyVbwc?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_source=unsplash&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Unsplash&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;span id=&quot;docs-internal-guid-602561fc-7fff-816e-3cc6-895482096055&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Many of us struggle with feelings of inadequacy. We look around, compare ourselves to others, and quietly tear ourselves down.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt; &lt;span id=&quot;docs-internal-guid-602561fc-7fff-816e-3cc6-895482096055&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span id=&quot;docs-internal-guid-602561fc-7fff-816e-3cc6-895482096055&quot; style=&quot;&quot;&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Why is this? I&amp;rsquo;ll leave that to the psychologists among us.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;span id=&quot;docs-internal-guid-602561fc-7fff-816e-3cc6-895482096055&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span id=&quot;docs-internal-guid-602561fc-7fff-816e-3cc6-895482096055&quot;&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;But what can we &lt;em&gt;do&lt;/em&gt; about it? This week&amp;rsquo;s double Torah portion, Matot-Masei, offers a powerful perspective.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;At the start of Masei, the Torah outlines the journeys of the Jewish people from Egypt to the Promised Land, a total of 42 stops. Some were brief; others lasted for years.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;But the wording the Torah uses to introduce them is curious: &amp;ldquo;These are the journeys of the Israelites who left Egypt.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Journeys&lt;/em&gt; - in the plural - as though every one of the 42 stops was part of leaving Egypt.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;But practically speaking, they left Egypt at the very beginning. Once they crossed the border, they were no longer in Egypt. Why describe the entire journey that way?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And more importantly, what&amp;rsquo;s the lesson for us? Because if it&amp;rsquo;s in the Torah, there &lt;em&gt;is&lt;/em&gt; a lesson. That&amp;rsquo;s what the Torah is: timeless guidance for life.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Egypt, as a country, is a location. They left it physically as they crossed the border. But in Hebrew, the word for Egypt, Mitzrayim-מצרים, also means &lt;em&gt;boundaries&lt;/em&gt; or &lt;em&gt;constraints&lt;/em&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Egypt isn&amp;rsquo;t just a place. It&amp;rsquo;s a mindset. It&amp;rsquo;s everything that holds us back or makes us feel small.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Our job is to leave &lt;em&gt;that&lt;/em&gt; Egypt. Not just once, but over and over again.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Every time we stretch past a limitation; whether emotional, spiritual, or practical, we&amp;rsquo;re taking another step on our personal journey out of Egypt.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And as soon as we&amp;rsquo;ve broken through one boundary, that new space becomes our new normal&amp;hellip; which means it&amp;rsquo;s time to grow again.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;So if you&amp;rsquo;re feeling inadequate, measuring yourself against someone else&amp;rsquo;s accomplishments and feeling like you fall short, remember this idea.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;G-d never intended the journey from Egypt to Israel to be a single leap. It was always meant to unfold step by step.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Each of us has our own &amp;ldquo;Egypt&amp;rdquo; to leave. Our own boundaries to outgrow. And our own milestones to reach. If you&amp;rsquo;ve taken a step forward, that&amp;rsquo;s what matters.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Instead of measuring yourself against someone else&amp;rsquo;s finish line, look at how far &lt;em&gt;you&lt;/em&gt; have come. How many inner Egypts have you left behind?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And even if, at times, you&amp;rsquo;ve taken a step backward, that too is ultimately part of the journey. The Torah doesn&amp;rsquo;t ignore the low points.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Among the 42 journeys are stops marked by sin, rebellion, and failure. And yet - they&amp;rsquo;re still counted. Still part of the path toward the Holy Land.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;The main thing is to keep going. And keep growing.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
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			<item>
				<publisher>Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum </publisher>
				<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2025  9:09:00 AM</pubDate>
				<title>The secret to becoming an overnight success</title>
				<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?P=Blog&amp;AID=524209&amp;link=136235</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;img src=&quot;http://www.jewishfolsom.org/media/images/1328/SGGQ13286698.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Consistency.jpg&quot; width=&quot;550&quot; height=&quot;309&quot; real_width=&quot;535&quot; real_height=&quot;301&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p data-olk-copy-source=&quot;MessageBody&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;If I asked you to identify the most significant verse in the Torah, which would you choose?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;There are many to choose from, maybe the Shema or the first of the Ten Commandments; maybe the Exodus or the Creation. Maybe &amp;ldquo;Love your fellow as yourself&amp;rdquo;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;All of these seem fitting. In fact, when the sages of the Talmud discuss this question some suggest verses similar to those mentioned above.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;But the verse they ultimately choose, found in this week&amp;rsquo;s Torah portion, comes as a surprise at first:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&amp;ldquo;The one lamb you shall offer up in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer up in the afternoon.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;The verse describes the daily sacrificial offering in the Temple, the Korban Tamid. A twice daily lamb offering.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;While the Temple service is significant, what would prompt the sages to suggest this verse as being most significant?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Nowadays it seems that we&amp;rsquo;re so distracted by overnight success that we forget what it takes to get there.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;In a world obsessed with viral hits and instant results, it&amp;rsquo;s easy to forget the truly significant factors that truly drive accomplishment.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Behind almost every &amp;ldquo;overnight success&amp;rdquo; is either years of unseen work&amp;hellip; or a miracle. Either way, it&amp;rsquo;s rare. And we can&amp;rsquo;t depend on it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;The Korban Tamid reminds us of what actually builds a life of meaning: consistency.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Consistency isn&amp;rsquo;t glamorous or exciting. Consistency doesn&amp;rsquo;t lead headline stories or go viral.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;But Hashem doesn&amp;rsquo;t ask for extraordinary stunts. He asks us to show up. He asks us to be present. Every day - especially when it&amp;rsquo;s not exciting.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Real success - in spirituality, relationships, character, or career - is built the way the Korban Tamid was offered: steadily, faithfully, one small act at a time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Because at the end of the day, the most impressive thing isn&amp;rsquo;t going viral.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;It&amp;rsquo;s being there, every single day, &amp;ldquo;in the morning&amp;hellip; in the afternoon&amp;rdquo;, for something higher than yourself.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
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				<publisher>Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum </publisher>
				<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2025  2:49:00 PM</pubDate>
				<title>What do you see?</title>
				<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?P=Blog&amp;AID=524209&amp;link=136045</link>
				<description>&lt;p data-olk-copy-source=&quot;MessageBody&quot; style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://www.jewishfolsom.org/media/images/1327/RjBv13274212.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;anika-huizinga-RmzR87vTiYw-unsplash.jpg&quot; width=&quot;550&quot; height=&quot;367&quot; real_width=&quot;535&quot; real_height=&quot;357&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;Photo by &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://unsplash.com/@iam_anih?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_source=unsplash&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Anika Huizinga&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt; on &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://unsplash.com/photos/selective-focus-photography-of-woman-holding-clear-glass-ball-RmzR87vTiYw?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_source=unsplash&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Unsplash&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p data-olk-copy-source=&quot;MessageBody&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Join me for a little experiment.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Look around the room and notice how many brown objects you can identify.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Now, without glancing around again, how many red items did you see?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Consider this: you probably didn&amp;rsquo;t even notice the red items when you were looking for brown. Did you?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;And most importantly, you likely counted some tan items as brown. And probably considered some burgundy items as red. Am I right?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;In other words, we see what we&amp;rsquo;re looking for.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;This is not only true about colors. When we&amp;rsquo;re focused on something, especially an idea or feeling, we subconsciously find ways to confirm it all around us.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;We don&amp;rsquo;t perceive the world in an objective manner. We perceive the world in a way that reflects our mindset.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Our perspective doesn&amp;rsquo;t just color our experience, it creates it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;The way we see the world shapes what we feel, how we act, and ultimately, the reality we live in.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Shift your perspective, and you shift your life.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;If we choose to look for goodness, kindness, and blessing &amp;mdash; we&amp;rsquo;ll begin to see it everywhere.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&amp;ldquo;Living in the real world&amp;rdquo; is not an objective experience, it&amp;rsquo;s shaped by our mindset.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;This theme is reflected in our Torah portion, Balak. The Torah relates that G-d doesn&amp;rsquo;t see negative in the love of His life, the Jewish people.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;Hashem only sees the good in us. Hashem made it that Bilaam could only acknowledge the good within us.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;And we too, should look at ourselves - and each other, the way that Hashem looks at us; with positivity. Only seeing the goodness that we possess.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;That&amp;rsquo;s how we&amp;rsquo;re meant to see ourselves, and one another.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;To see the world with Hashem&amp;rsquo;s eyes: To notice the good. To highlight the light. To focus on the blessings.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;; font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;And when we train our minds to look for the positive, we begin to live in a world filled with it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
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				<publisher>Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum </publisher>
				<pubDate>Fri, 4 Jul 2025  1:50:00 PM</pubDate>
				<title>Freedom is just the beginning</title>
				<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?P=Blog&amp;AID=524209&amp;link=135851</link>
				<description>&lt;p data-olk-copy-source=&quot;MessageBody&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://www.jewishfolsom.org/media/images/1326/JmUP13267212.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;US Flag.jpg&quot; width=&quot;535&quot; height=&quot;401&quot; real_width=&quot;535&quot; real_height=&quot;401&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p data-olk-copy-source=&quot;MessageBody&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Today, America celebrates freedom.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Independence and freedom, by definition, is often messy and imperfect. But the blessing is that it is within our collective control to perfect.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Freedom perfected is not just the absence of tyranny, but the G-d-given right to live with purpose and to build a better world.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Freedom is not just the absence of oppression, it&#39;s living with a higher purpose.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Freedom is not just freedom&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;from&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;- it&amp;rsquo;s freedom&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;to&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Freedom to live by mission, not just by impulse.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Freedom to rise above our limitations and be who we were truly created to be.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Freedom to reveal the Divine within the mundane and to transform darkness into light.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;True freedom is internal. A person can live in a free country and still be enslaved - by fear, by habit, by ego.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And one can be physically restricted yet spiritually free.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;So as we celebrate the founding of this great nation, let&amp;rsquo;s ask ourselves:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Are we using our freedom to fulfill our higher calling?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Are we shaping a society of morality, compassion, and G-dliness?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Are we building not just a free life - but a purposeful one?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;This July 4th, may we rededicate ourselves to the ultimate vision:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;A world where liberty is guided by light, where freedom is paired with purpose, and where each of us is empowered to be a lamplighter in our surroundings.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Because true independence comes not when we&amp;rsquo;re free to do whatever we want - but rather when we choose to become who we&amp;rsquo;re meant to be.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
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				<publisher>Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum </publisher>
				<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2025  8:55:00 AM</pubDate>
				<title>More Than You Know. Greater Than You Imagine</title>
				<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?P=Blog&amp;AID=524209&amp;link=136046</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://www.jewishfolsom.org/media/images/1327/Qdxp13274217.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Rebbe4.jpg&quot; real_width=&quot;535&quot; real_height=&quot;357&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Last night, we had a remarkable event. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;It was incredibly powerful to hear their stories (and the many others that were shared afterward).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And it reignited my conviction that we are all capable of so much more than we allow ourselves to imagine.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;As we prepare for Gimmel Tammuz - the anniversary of the Rebbe&amp;rsquo;s physical passing this Sunday - many are focused on memorializing the Rebbe.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;But I don&amp;rsquo;t think we should be memorializing the Rebbe.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;I want to live like the Rebbe. I&amp;rsquo;m striving to live with the Rebbe.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Because the Rebbe wasn&amp;rsquo;t just a charismatic or visionary leader.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;He wasn&amp;rsquo;t just a man of profound insight or someone with an uncanny ability to form deep, personal connections with everyone he met.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;The Rebbe is the Moses of our generation.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Yes, that&amp;rsquo;s a bold statement. Moses redeemed the Jewish people from Egypt, gave them the Torah, and led them through the desert for 40 years - right up to the border of the Promised Land.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;But even more than that, Moses introduced the Jewish people to G-d. He taught them to trust in G-d, to rely on Him.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Moses spent years as a shepherd - first of sheep, then of people. He nurtured the Jewish people&amp;rsquo;s innate faith and helped them recognize G-d&amp;rsquo;s hand in their daily lives.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And Moses gave them the tools to carry on - even after his passing - and enter the Land of Israel.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;The Rebbe did the same.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;He guided - and continues to guide - the Jewish world.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;After the devastation of the Holocaust, the Jewish people desperately needed redemption. We needed leadership.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;The Rebbe provided that leadership - not only with direction, but by awakening a deeper faith and trust in G-d within every Jew.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Just like Moses.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;But the Rebbe didn&amp;rsquo;t stop there. He envisioned a world of peace and unity, where Divine consciousness fills the air, and kindness and goodness are not only spoken about, but lived - each and every day; the era of Moshiach. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;The Rebbe brought us to the cusp of redemption - right up to the threshold of the era of Moshiach.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And now, our job is to take the world across the finish line.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;My hope is to integrate the Rebbe&amp;rsquo;s teachings and ideals into my own life - and to inspire others to do the same.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;31 years after the Rebbe&amp;rsquo;s physical passing, I&amp;rsquo;m not looking to remember the Rebbe.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;I&amp;rsquo;m looking to live with the Rebbe.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; x1vvkbs=&quot;&quot; xtlvy1s=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a tabindex=&quot;-1&quot; xdj266r=&quot;&quot; x14z9mp=&quot;&quot; xat24cr=&quot;&quot; x1lziwak=&quot;&quot; xexx8yu=&quot;&quot; xyri2b=&quot;&quot; x18d9i69=&quot;&quot; x1c1uobl=&quot;&quot; x1hl2dhg=&quot;&quot; x16tdsg8=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And through that, help usher the world into the Messianic era.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
		</item>
		
			<item>
				<publisher>Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum </publisher>
				<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2025  9:00:00 AM</pubDate>
				<title>When will you start paying attention?</title>
				<link>http://www.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?P=Blog&amp;AID=524209&amp;link=136047</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;img src=&quot;http://www.jewishfolsom.org/media/images/1327/zwpW13274226.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Soroka Hospital.jpg&quot; width=&quot;550&quot; height=&quot;550&quot; real_width=&quot;535&quot; real_height=&quot;535&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p data-olk-copy-source=&quot;MessageBody&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Lately, a number of people have told me they&amp;rsquo;ve stopped following the news from Israel.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Honestly, I couldn&amp;rsquo;t believe it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Some are simply so disengaged - they don&amp;rsquo;t even know what&amp;rsquo;s going on.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Others admit they&amp;rsquo;re overwhelmed with fear. And the easiest way to cope? Tune out. Look away. Hope it all just goes away.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;But it&amp;rsquo;s time we start paying attention.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Not just to the headlines - but to the miracles.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Every day, there are stories that defy logic. Just this week:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;A man got up to use the restroom - while he was away debris slammed into the exact spot where he had been sitting.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;A rocket crashed into a dense residential area - landing in the one undeveloped empty lot, untouched for years because of a legal battle.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Another missile hit an open field, just down the block from residential buildings and across the street from a synagogue and youth center.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Despite the Iranian regime&#39;s best efforts - Hashem intervened and countless lives were saved.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And then there&amp;rsquo;s Soroka Hospital in Be&amp;rsquo;er Sheva. Late Wednesday night (local time), it sustained a direct hit.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;But miraculously, the old surgical unit - just evacuated the night before - was empty.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Massive damage. A few minor injuries. No loss of life.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;These aren&amp;rsquo;t just fortunate coincidences. These are miracles. Modern-day, Biblical-proportion miracles.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And while the war is being fought with physical planes, weapons, and soldiers, the true ammunition behind our success is spiritual.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Every mitzvah, every extra bit of light, adds protection for our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;So do something.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Put on tefillin.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Light Shabbat candles.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Say a prayer.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Or&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a data-auth=&quot;NotApplicable&quot; href=&quot;https://link.jewishfolsom.org/go.asp?li=7C69A9EFB7C801FC9374860E5F0D153B&amp;amp;ui=CE89FFB81D8A4D3A05B55484A267FE0B&quot; title=&quot;https://link.JewishFolsom.org/go.asp?li=7C69A9EFB7C801FC9374860E5F0D153B&amp;amp;ui=CE89FFB81D8A4D3A05B55484A267FE0B&quot; data-linkindex=&quot;0&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;and choose any mitzvah to dedicate.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;Let&amp;rsquo;s flood the world with goodness.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &#39;Trebuchet MS&#39;;&quot;&gt;And let&amp;rsquo;s pray that even before Shabbat, we merit the ultimate miracle: the coming of Moshiach - Now.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
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