A Dvar Torah for Chizuk

Sitting in shul last week (I know it's overdue) something in the Torah reading hit me. There are no chidushim here. It is all based on the basic text. But it gave me chizuk, and maybe it will inspire you too.

In Devarim 30:15-16 we are told that Hashem and Moshe have put before us life and the good and death and the bad. Basically, if we follow the book that Hashem gave us, if we keep the Torah, we will get the good. If we do not keep the Torah, we will get the bad. It's just that simple. Of course, putting it into practice is not that simple, but the concept is. We also see it in the second chapter of shema that we say every day. Following the Torah gives us life and sustenance. Not following brings punishment, lack of rain, and death.

Obviously the practical application is not so easy. There are many mitzvot, tons of commandments. And it gets harder each day as the world gets more complicated. This is where the next bit of inspiration comes in. Moshe is giving his final speech to Bnei Yisrael and preparing to die. After leading the people for 40 years he is handing the reigns over to Yehoshua. Yehoshua has been second in command for a long time. He was groomed for leadership and even served as the commander of our army when Hashem told us to go fight. Yet he was unsure. Just as we are unsure now of how to follow the Torah. Just as we are not sure where we belong and what we are supposed to do. Yehoshua knew his purpose and was still scared. So Moshe told him "Chazak Ve'Amatz," Be strong and of good courage. Despite knowing his job and being prepared, Yehoshua needed support. And it happends again, Hashem also tells Yehoshua Chazal Ve'Amatz several times and promises to help him in his duties.

We should always be confident that if we keep the mitzvot and do what Hashem wants, He will help us. Hashem will show us the next step and guide us along the way.

May this year be a year of clear guidance from Above, a year when we start to fulfill our part in God's plan. A year of peace, health, happiness, wealth, success, and growth for all of Am Yisrael.

Shana Tova,
Yoram

Paying my dues

I have been working at the Golan Heights Winery for over a month now. And I don't know how much longer I'll be working there. The guy in charge doesn't seem to know from one day to the next what is going on. It's not a bad job; good, clean manual labor. I spend most of my time in the warehouse filling orders. I get to go around pulling a case of this and 3 bottles of that. It all gets stacked on a pallet and wrapped in plastic wrap. Then it waits for the truck to deliver it.

Because I am a religious Jew I also get to work in the bottling area. I have pulled several shifts in the champagne room. It's fun, and varied from the warehouse. But it usuallt means working a 12 hour day instead of just 9 and a half. Twice I even got to help remove less than perfect grapes from the Pinot Noir harvest. The Yarden Pinot Noir 2009 should be an excellent wine... if you like Pinot Noir.

But all this being said, it is still not the kind of work I'd like to be doing. Especially not at this salary. My friend pointed out that this paying my dues. Many a doctor and engineer made aliyah only to sweep streets for a while. Many of them were able to move back into their field, or something related. Hopefully I will soon be able to move back into one of my fields of interest, where I can do work I enjoy at fair compensation. I have realized that I am a chronically positive person. May this year bring forward movement and success for me, my family, and all of us.

Shana Tova.

In My Spare Time

Wow. Things have been crazy. I've been working at the Golan Heights Winery for the past month. It's a temporary job and it's hard. The shift starts at 7 am and goes until either 4:30 or 7. At least there is a ride to and from. Sometimes I work in the warehouse filling orders and working on the lines assembling gift boxes. Other times I get pulled up to help with wine making and bottling. I needed to be checked out and certifed for that work. I've done a number of shifts in the champagne room. Champagne ages in the bottles, but the caps need to be popped off and the real corks put in. There is a maching to do this, but people need to run the machines and stuff. Also, when the machines break we need to fill in. I also help select the best grapes for the Yarden Pinot Noir 2009. It's going to be very good wine. It's interesting work. I get to learn bits about wine. But it's a long day at minimum wage plus lunch either for free or really cheap. And there is not much time for phone calls to potential full time employers. Worse still, I'm often too tired when I get home to do much networking and job searching.

But I am learning a little bit more. I have a chavruta with Noach, a new Katzerin resident. we are learning gemara Bava Metzi'a. Also, Ariel and I will hopefully resume our learning and I am trying to start a few other things as well.

Ayelet is up and about more now. She is largely recovered from the birth (she had close to the 6 weeks prescribed by Olivia at Odeliya's birth) and by necessity she is doing more since I am out of the house all day. Chaviva is still living with us and is a tremendoun help. Thank God for her. She is also making her plans for the year.

Netanel is doing really well in gan. He has friends and is learning stuff. Last Shabbat he came to shul with me and davened much of his usual davening. Then he and a classmate went scouring the shul for unclaimed candies from the Shabbat chatan. That friend is coming for lunch with her family tomorrow, which should be very nice. But I will need to get back to Shabbat prep in a minute, so I'll wrap up.

I have been learning a tremendous amount about myself while working at the winery. I am basically starting at the bottom, with a temporary job as a laborer. Hopefully I will be able to build myself up pretty quickly. I keep looking for opportunities Hashem will send me. As we go into Rosh HaShana I feel like this is the most prepared I've been in years, and it's not from learning Hilchot Teshuva (although that would also be good). I have been revisting healthcare in addition to efficiency and hi-tech. I am thinking about combining the two and I may go back to school for paramedic or nursing. Of course, we need income in the meantime.

The world is open to me (the world in the molusk of my choice). I just need to find my path and have the courage to follow it. If it means starting from the bottom, so be it. But it would be okay if I could jump a few steps on the fast-track too.

Shabbat Shalom to all. come visit us in the Golan Heights,
Yoram