<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Rabbi Yehuda {Leonard} Blank MS, BCC
Vice President of Professional Development and External Affairs
Chair of the Chaplaincy Commission
Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim
917-446-2126  rablenblank@gmail.com
****April 4th, 2024, Adar 25, 5784****
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Count your blessings but don’t count your problems.

Pesach – it’s not too early.

Happiness.

Caring for others which can only bring happiness,
simchas hachaim in different ways with emunah and betachon.

==============================================

When a person is going through a difficult situation, being told everything will be all right and don’t worry is not what he/she is able to accept. Of course emunah and betachon are very important to have even during a challenging situation. Being empathetic, understanding, reassuring and compassionate are some of the most important attributes a rabbi, rebbetzin and chaplain must have. Internally, we have to be the strong ones to be able to listen and offer the appropriate guidance and inspiration with our own emunah and betachon. A challenging situation, can include many areas such as shidduchim, financial situation, illness and death and dying. There are subtopics that include many intricate, worrisome even scary thoughts of failure.  Helping to uncover and find blessings in the situation is truly important. We understand the essence of what Min HaShamayim is and what Gam Zu Latova is all about. We also have that close relationship with the Ribono shel Olam because of our own immense love and trust in H. We know how important it is to have a positive outlook in life and able to find simchas hachaim wherever we turn.  Simchas hachaim is the joy of happiness. But what is happiness and how can we find that happiness? Is it an emotional state of mind that helps us to feel good about ourselves, something taking place, or a general feeling of euphoria because of something happening or is the environment that is making us feel good? There are many solutions, many directions, opportunities or options to take to guide others even under dire or complex situations. Of course, we are mispallel to the Ribono shel Olam to have the hadracha needed for the support we must be able to give others in their time of need.

H showed Aharon Hakohein how to conduct himself after the petira of his two sons, Nadav and Avihu whose neshamos were taken when they brought the “strange fire.”. Aharon knew that life does go on and that everything is from H. Often our lives are a rollercoaster ride in dealing with certain situations. What direction a person takes can make the difference in leading a positive and meaningful life. Everything is a matter of attitude, the way a person perceives the situation. The impetus of these Moments of Inspiration articles are to find positivity and happiness in the lives of those who we minister to.  Having and giving hope is tremendously meaningful. We should try to look forward and not dwell in the past. We must hold H’s “hands” tightly and not let go for He is with us even when we feel He is hidden. We must instill that feeling to the best of our abilities for it is only with Him that hope is possible.  

During the Pesach season it is important to show appreciation to your spouse for all the preparations.  Giving support physically, emotionally and spiritually is truly meaningful. It is a fabulous time of the year looking forward to a very spiritual and delicious Yom Tov with minhagim dating back thousands of years. It is also a wonderful opportunity to help those who are homebound or have difficulty shopping and preparing for Pesach. Erev Pesach is only 18 days away. It is not too early to give thought on inviting those who are alone, singles and even newlyweds who might not have family to go to for any parts of the Yom Tov. It is also a phenomenal opportunity to invite our nonaffiliated Jewish brethren who would gain much from a Pesach Seder experience. Speaking about Pesach preparations, it really can be difficult for the elderly or those with various types of chronic pain to get a kitchen ready for the holiday. It is a tremendous chesed not to wait until the last minute to invite someone for the Seder or any of the meals.

Happiness

In general, happiness is understood as the positive emotions we have in regards to the pleasurable activities we take part in through our daily lives. Pleasure, comfort, gratitude, hope, and inspiration are examples of positive emotions that increase our happiness and move us to flourish.

The Science of Happiness in Positive Psychology 101

positivepsychology.com/happiness/

What Is Happiness?

Defining Happiness, and How to Become Happier

By
Kendra Cherry, MSEd
Updated on November 07, 2022
Reviewed by
Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS

Happiness is something that people seek to find, yet what defines happiness can vary from one person to the next. Typically, happiness is an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment. While happiness has many different definitions, it is often described as involving positive emotions and life satisfaction. 

When most people talk about the true meaning of happiness, they might be talking about how they feel in the present moment or referring to a more general sense of how they feel about life overall.

Because happiness tends to be such a broadly defined term, psychologists and other social scientists typically use the term ‘subjective well-being‘ when they talk about this emotional state. Just as it sounds, subjective well-being tends to focus on an individual’s overall personal feelings about their life in the present.  

Two key components of happiness (or subjective well-being) are:

  • The balance of emotions: Everyone experiences both positive and negative emotions, feelings, and moods. Happiness is generally linked to experiencing more positive feelings than negative ones.
  • Life satisfaction: This relates to how satisfied you feel with different areas of your life including your relationships, work, achievements, and other things that you consider important.

Another definition of happiness comes from the ancient philosopher Aristotle, who suggested that happiness is the one human desire, and all other human desires exist as a way to obtain happiness. He believed that there were four levels of happiness: happiness from immediate gratification, from comparison and achievement, from making positive contributions, and from achieving fulfillment. 

Signs of Happiness

While perceptions of happiness may be different from one person to the next, there are some key signs that psychologists look for when measuring and assessing happiness.

Some key signs of happiness include:

  • Feeling like you are living the life you wanted
  • Going with the flow and a willingness to take life as it comes
  • Feeling that the conditions of your life are good
  • Enjoying positive, healthy relationships with other people
  • Feeling that you have accomplished (or will accomplish) what you want in life
  • Feeling satisfied with your life
  • Feeling positive more than negative
  • Being open to new ideas and experiences
  • Practicing self-care and treating yourself with kindness and compassion
  • Experiencing gratitude
  • Feeling that you are living life with a sense of meaning and purpose
  • Wanting to share your happiness and joy with others

One important thing to remember is that happiness isn’t a state of constant euphoria. Instead, happiness is an overall sense of experiencing more positive emotions than negative ones.

Happy people still feel the whole range of human emotions—anger, frustration, boredom, loneliness, and even sadness—from time to time. But even when faced with discomfort, they have an underlying sense of optimism that things will get better, that they can deal with what is happening, and that they will be able to feel happy again.

Types of Happiness

There are many different ways of thinking about happiness. For example, the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle made a distinction between two different kinds of happiness: hedonia and eudaimonia.

  • Hedonia: Hedonic happiness is derived from pleasure. It is most often associated with doing what feels good, self-care, fulfilling desires, experiencing enjoyment, and feeling a sense of satisfaction.
  • Eudaimonia: This type of happiness is derived from seeking virtue and meaning. Important components of eudaimonic well-being including feeling that your life has meaning, value, and purpose. It is associated more with fulfilling responsibilities, investing in long-term goals, concern for the welfare of other people, and living up to personal ideals.

Hedonia and eudemonia are more commonly known today in psychology as pleasure and meaning, respectively. More recently, psychologists have suggested the addition of the third component that relates to engagement. These are feelings of commitment and participation in different areas of life.

Research suggests that happy people tend to rank pretty high on eudaimonic life satisfaction and better than average on their hedonic life satisfaction.2 

All of these can play an important role in the overall experience of happiness, although the relative value of each can be highly subjective. Some activities may be both pleasurable and meaningful, while others might skew more one way or the other.

For example, volunteering for a cause you believe in might be more meaningful than pleasurable. Watching your favorite tv show, on the other hand, might rank lower in meaning and higher on pleasure.

Some types of happiness that may fall under these three main categories include:

  • Joy: A often relatively brief feeling that is felt in the present moment
  • Excitement: A happy feeling that involves looking forward to something with positive anticipation
  • Gratitude: A positive emotion that involves being thankful and appreciative
  • Pride: A feeling of satisfaction in something that you have accomplished
  • Optimism: This is a way of looking at life with a positive, upbeat outlook
  • Contentment: This type of happiness involves a sense of satisfaction

How to Cultivate Happiness

While some people just tend to be naturally happier, there are things that you can do to cultivate your sense of happiness. 

Happiness is something that people seek to find, yet what defines happiness can vary from one person to the next. Typically, happiness is an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment. While happiness has many different definitions, it is often described as involving positive emotions and life satisfaction. 

When most people talk about the true meaning of happiness, they might be talking about how they feel in the present moment or referring to a more general sense of how they feel about life overall.

Because happiness tends to be such a broadly defined term, psychologists and other social scientists typically use the term ‘subjective well-being‘ when they talk about this emotional state. Just as it sounds, subjective well-being tends to focus on an individual’s overall personal feelings about their life in the present.  

Two key components of happiness (or subjective well-being) are:

  • The balance of emotions: Everyone experiences both positive and negative emotions, feelings, and moods. Happiness is generally linked to experiencing more positive feelings than negative ones.
  • Life satisfaction: This relates to how satisfied you feel with different areas of your life including your relationships, work, achievements, and other things that you consider important.

Another definition of happiness comes from the ancient philosopher Aristotle, who suggested that happiness is the one human desire, and all other human desires exist as a way to obtain happiness. He believed that there were four levels of happiness: happiness from immediate gratification, from comparison and achievement, from making positive contributions, and from achieving fulfillment. 

Happiness, Aristotle suggested, could be achieved through the golden mean, which involves finding a balance between deficiency and excess.

Signs of Happiness

While perceptions of happiness may be different from one person to the next, there are some key signs that psychologists look for when measuring and assessing happiness.

Some key signs of happiness include:

  • Feeling like you are living the life you wanted
  • Going with the flow and a willingness to take life as it comes
  • Feeling that the conditions of your life are good
  • Enjoying positive, healthy relationships with other people
  • Feeling that you have accomplished (or will accomplish) what you want in life
  • Feeling satisfied with your life
  • Feeling positive more than negative
  • Being open to new ideas and experiences
  • Practicing self-care and treating yourself with kindness and compassion
  • Experiencing gratitude
  • Feeling that you are living life with a sense of meaning and purpose
  • Wanting to share your happiness and joy with others

One important thing to remember is that happiness isn’t a state of constant euphoria. Instead, happiness is an overall sense of experiencing more positive emotions than negative ones.

Happy people still feel the whole range of human emotions—anger, frustration, boredom, loneliness, and even sadness—from time to time. But even when faced with discomfort, they have an underlying sense of optimism that things will get better, that they can deal with what is happening, and that they will be able to feel happy again.

Types of Happiness

There are many different ways of thinking about happiness. For example, the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle made a distinction between two different kinds of happiness: hedonia and eudaimonia.

  • Hedonia: Hedonic happiness is derived from pleasure. It is most often associated with doing what feels good, self-care, fulfilling desires, experiencing enjoyment, and feeling a sense of satisfaction.
  • Eudaimonia: This type of happiness is derived from seeking virtue and meaning. Important components of eudemonic well-being including feeling that your life has meaning, value, and purpose. It is associated more with fulfilling responsibilities, investing in long-term goals, concern for the welfare of other people, and living up to personal ideals.

Hedonia and eudemonia are more commonly known today in psychology as pleasure and meaning, respectively. More recently, psychologists have suggested the addition of the third component that relates to engagement. These are feelings of commitment and participation in different areas of life.

Research suggests that happy people tend to rank pretty high on eudemonic life satisfaction and better than average on their hedonic life satisfaction.2 

All of these can play an important role in the overall experience of happiness, although the relative value of each can be highly subjective. Some activities may be both pleasurable and meaningful, while others might skew more one way or the other.

For example, volunteering for a cause you believe in might be more meaningful than pleasurable. Watching your favorite tv show, on the other hand, might rank lower in meaning and higher on pleasure.3

Some types of happiness that may fall under these three main categories include:

  • Joy: A often relatively brief feeling that is felt in the present moment
  • Excitement: A happy feeling that involves looking forward to something with positive anticipation
  • Gratitude: A positive emotion that involves being thankful and appreciative
  • Pride: A feeling of satisfaction in something that you have accomplished
  • Optimism: This is a way of looking at life with a positive, upbeat outlook
  • Contentment: This type of happiness involves a sense of satisfaction

How to Cultivate Happiness

While some people just tend to be naturally happier, there are things that you can do to cultivate your sense of happiness. 

Pursue Intrinsic Goals 

Achieving goals that you are intrinsically motivated to pursue, particularly ones that are focused on personal growth and community, can help boost happiness. Research suggests that pursuing these types of intrinsically-motivated goals can increase happiness more than pursuing extrinsic goals like gaining money or status.4

Enjoy the Moment

Studies have found that people tend to over earn—they become so focused on accumulating things that they lose track of actually enjoying what they are doing.5

So, rather than falling into the trap of mindlessly accumulating to the detriment of your own happiness, focus on practicing gratitude for the things you have and enjoying the process as you go. 

Reframe Negative Thoughts

When you find yourself stuck in a pessimistic outlook or experiencing negativity, look for ways that you can reframe your thoughts in a more positive way. 

People have a natural negativity bias, or a tendency to pay more attention to bad things than to good things. This can have an impact on everything from how you make decisions to how you form impressions of other people. Discounting the positive—a cognitive distortion where people focus on the negative and ignore the positive—can also contribute to negative thoughts.

Reframing these negative perceptions isn’t about ignoring the bad. Instead, it means trying to take a more balanced, realistic look at events. It allows you to notice patterns in your thinking and then challenge negative thoughts.

Impact of Happiness

Why is happiness so important? Happiness has been shown to predict positive outcomes in many different areas of life including mental well-being, physical health, and overall longevity.

  • Positive emotions increase satisfaction with life.
  • Happiness helps people build stronger coping skills and emotional resources.
  • Positive emotions are linked to better health and longevity. One study found that people who experienced more positive emotions than negative ones were more likely to have survived over a 13 year period.6
  • Positive feelings increase resilience. Resilience helps people better manage stress and bounce back better when faced with setbacks. For example, one study found that happier people tend to have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and that these benefits tend to persist over time.7
  • People who report having a positive state of well-being are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors such as eating fruits and vegetables and engaging in regular physical exercise.8
  • Being happy may make help you get sick less often. Happier mental states are linked to increased immunity.9

How to Be a Happier Person

Some people seem to have a naturally higher baseline for happiness—one large-scale study of more than 2,000 twins suggested that around 50% of overall life satisfaction was due to genetics, 10% to external events, and 40% to individual activities.10

So while you might not be able to control what your “base level” of happiness is, there are things that you can do to make your life happier and more fulfilling. Even the happiest of individuals can feel down from time to time and happiness is something that all people need to consciously pursue.

Cultivate Strong Relationships

Social support is an essential part of well-being. Research has found that good social relationships are the strongest predictor of happiness. Having positive and supportive connections with people you care about can provide a buffer against stress, improve your health, and help you become a happier person.

In the Harvard Study of Adult Development, a longitudinal study that looked at participants over 80 years, researchers found that relationships and how happy people are in those relationships strongly impacted overall health.11

So if you are trying to improve your happiness, cultivating solid social connections is a great place to start. Consider deepening your existing relationships and explore ways to make new friends. 

Get Regular Exercise

Exercise is good for both your body and mind. Physical activity is linked to a range of physical and psychological benefits including improved mood. Numerous studies have shown that regular exercise may play a role in warding off symptoms of depression, but evidence also suggests that it may also help make people happier, too.

In one analysis of past research on the connection between physical activity and happiness, researchers found a consistent positive link.12

Even a little bit of exercise produces a happiness boost—people who were physically active for as little as 10 minutes a day or who worked out only once a week had higher levels of happiness than people who never exercised.

Show Gratitude

In one study, participants were asked to engage in a writing exercise for 10 to 20 minutes each night before bed.13

Cunha LF, Pellanda LC, Reppold CT. Positive psychology and gratitude interventions: a randomized clinical trial. Front Psychol. 2019;10:584. Published 2019 Mar 21. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00584

Some were instructed to write about daily hassles, some about neutral events, and some about things they were grateful for. The results found that people who had written about gratitude had increase positive emotions, increased subjective happiness, and improve life satisfaction.

As the authors of the study suggest, keeping a gratitude list is a relatively easy, affordable, simple, and pleasant way to boost your mood. Try setting aside a few minutes each night to write down or think about things in your life that you are grateful for.

Find a Sense of Purpose

Research has found that people who feel like they have a purpose have better well-being and feel more fulfilled.14 A sense of purpose involves seeing your life as having goals, direction, and meaning. It may help improve happiness by promoting healthier behaviors. 

Some things you can do to help find a sense of purpose include:

  • Explore your interests and passions
  • Engage in prosocial and altruistic causes
  • Work to address injustices
  • Look for new things you might want to learn more about

This sense of purpose is influenced by a variety of factors, but it is also something that you can cultivate. It involves finding a goal that you care deeply about that will lead you to engage in productive, positive actions in order to work toward that goal.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

The hierarchy of needs suggests that people are motivated to pursue increasingly complex needs. Once more basic needs are fulfilled, people are then motivated by more psychological and emotional needs.

At the peak of the hierarchy is the need for self-actualization, or the need to achieve one’s full potential. The theory also stresses the importance of peak experiences or transcendent moments in which a person feels deep understanding, happiness, and joy. 

Positive Psychology

The pursuit of happiness is central to the field of positive psychology. Psychologists who study positive psychology are interested in learning ways to increase positivity and helping people live happier, more satisfying lives. 

Rather than focusing on mental pathologies, the field instead strives to find ways to help people, communities, and societies improve positive emotions.”

 

From 102 Stories That Changed People’s Lives, Volume 2 ,by Rabbi Tzvi Nakar , Tfutza Publications. “Matzos for Pesach” Pages 311-314. “The following story took place on Erev Pesach 2021. An avreich from Elad, who had moved there from France several years before, related that another avreich from Yerushalayim call him and said, “I know you’re learning in kollel and that you moved to Eretz Yisrael from France. It’s Erev Pesach and I know there are a lot of expenses, I’m interested in helping you out.

The avreich from Yerushalayim drove to Elad and gave the avreich from Elad a package with all kinds of food products for Pesach with the best kosher certification. In addition, there were two pounds of hand matzah.

All this occurred three days before Pesach. The avreich from Elad had already purchased his matzos two weeks before Pesach and had no need for the extra matzos. He asked his friends and neighbors if any of them needed hand matzah but everyone told him, “We already bought our matzos for Pesach.”

On Erev Pesach one can’t do any melacha after chatzos. But since that year Erev Pesach fell on Shabbos, they were allowed to do melachah until the commencement of Shabbos that Friday. At two o’clock on Friday afternoon, the avreich’s wife asked him to run to the store to buy more laundry detergent. She wouldn’t be able to do laundry on Chol Hamoed, and she needed to get all the laundry done before Yom Tov, but she had used up all her detergent. 

“It’s two o’clock. Which store will still be open now”? 

“Look, I really need the detergent, “she insisted. “Please try.”

He left the house, went to the store, and of course, the store was closed. He began heading back to his car when he heard someone knocking loudly on the door of the store. He turned around to see what was going on and noticed a Jew who looked like a construction worker standing outside the door to the store.

The avreich went back to the store’s entrance. “Why are you knocking on the door?” he asked the other man.

“My boss made me put in extra hours before Pesach and I didn’t have enough time to buy matzos for Pesach. I don’t know what to do. I thought if I knocked on the door, the storekeeper might still be inside and open the door for me.”

The avreich from Elad said, “Follow me home in your car. I have matzos for you. Hand matzos with the best hechsher.” 

The other man followed him home, blessing and thanking him as he happily took possession of the matzos.

The avreich later told the story to Rabbi Mordechai Malka, the rav of Elad, and Rabbi Malka provided a penetrating insight. If the Jewish construction worker had arrived at the store, found it closed, and left without knocking on the door, the avreich wouldn’t have known that he needed matzos.

In truth, this Jew had matzos prepared for him, matzos that Hakadosh Baruch Hu had set aside just for him. They were waiting for him in Elad, and when did he receive them? When he saw that the doors were closed and yet didn’t give up, thinking someone inside might open the door for him. The moment he oo

A person needs to show Hakadosh Baruch Hu that even if we see that everything is not working out the way we want, we need to make the effort and persist, and then we see that Hakadosh Baruch Hu prepares for us everything we need.

From Night of Emunah: Haggadah shel Pesach, byt Rabbi Binyomin Pruzansky, ArtScroll Series, Mesorah Publications Ltd, Pages63-64, “Coming Together” “Rav Elimelech Biderman explains the concept behind breaking the middle matzah with a parable: Two friends were parting from each other. In order to ensure that they would not forget each other, they took a picture of themselves together and cut it in half. Each would hold this half in his pocket, and when they would meet again in the future, they would join the two halves together again.

Similarly, when we break the matzos, we hold onto one part and the other we store away as the afikomen, as if we are giving it to H to hold. In this way, we signify to H that we won’t  forget Him; we commit ourselves to follow His Torah and keep His mitzvos. We “meet” H throughout the year, each time we serve Him. Every mitzvah puts the picture back together, establishing our closeness once again.

In our long galus, Klal Yisrael at times feels distant from H. On a personal level, as well, we sometimes feel that distance. We await the moment when the afikomen comes out of hiding-the time of the geulah- when the picture will be made whole forever.”

From “At the Maggid’s Seder by Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn ArtScroll Series, Mesorah Publications Ltd. “Doing  More for Those Who Have Less” Pages 28-30 “In discussing the essence of ecstasy on Yom Tov, the Rambam (Hilchos Megillah 2:17) writes, “There is no greater and more glorious joy than to gladden the hearts of the poor, the orphaned, the widowed and the converts. For one who gladdens the hearts of these unfortunate people is similar to the Shechinah.”

Hence, as a Yom Tov approaches, we must consider the downtrodden and those who have less than we do. The following story of wisdom and insight is a case in point. Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Friedman, the Rav of Santov, in Lakewood, New Jersey, recorded this episode on his weekly discourse, Noam Siach, no 39.

Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Aurebach (1910 – 1995), of Shaarei Chesed, Jerusalem, was venerated for both his prodigious Torah knowledge and his remarkable compassion and sensitivity. Nearly half a million people attended his funeral.

One year, Rav Shlomo Zalman called his nephew, R’ Michel, and asked him to come to his home on Erev Pesach after burning his chametz. “ I need a favor from you,” the great Gaon said.

R’ Michel realized that it must be important, for his uncle would not impose on him Erev Pesach unless the matter was urgent. However, R’ Michel was quite surprised when he met Rav Shlomo Zalman that morning. The Rav had many sealed envelopes on the table, addressed to various families in Jerusalem. Rac Shlomo Zalman said, “Please deliver these envelopes before Yom Tov!”

Glancing at some of the names and addresses, R’Michel  recognized them to be among the poor families that had received money for food and clothes for the holiday. “But, Uncle,” R’ Michel protested, “many of these people have already received money from numerous kimcha d’pischa [lit./ flour for Pesach] organizations for their Yom Tov needs. Why is so important that they get these envelopes today? Surely they have bought enough most of their provisions already?”

Rav Shlomo Zalman smiled and wished his nephew “Good Yom Tov,” but he did not respond to the question. R’Michel dutifully took the envelopes and went on his way. He went from house to house, and as he delivered each envelope, he explained to the recipient that he was on a mission from Rabbi Zalman.

One man opened the envelope immediately, even before R’ Michel left his doorstep. R’Michel was startled to see tickets to the Gan HaChayot, the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem, as well as additional funds for Yom Tov expenses.

When a second and third person opened their envelopes and R’Michel saw the same type of tickets and cash, he was baffled. Tickets to the zoom are what Rav Shlomo Zalman wanted families to have on Erev Pesach? Weren’t there more important things to think about? And besides, why couldn’t these tickets be delivered during Chol Hamoed? 

R’Michel delivered all the envelopes and decided he would visit his uncle on the first day of Chol HaMoed. When he arrived, he said to his uncle, “Please forgive me for asking, but some people opened their envelopes in front of me and I saw that you had sent them tickets to Gan HaChayot. What was the rush to get the tickets to the zoo to all those families on such a busy Erev Yom To?”

Rav Shlomo Zalman smiled warmly, as he always did, and said, “Almost all families take their children on outings on Chol HaMoed. Just imagine, if the tickets hadn’t been delivered before Yom Tov, the children of these poor families would have talked with their friends on Yom Tov. They would have heard how excited their friends were about their Chol HaMoed trips, but these poor children wouldn’t be going anywhere! This would have caused hard feelings between these children and their parents as the children will feel deprived. This would have ruined not only their own simchas Yom Tov [joy on the holiday] but the simchas Yom Tov of their parents.

“Now, these children were able to tell their friends that they. too, would be going someplace special on Chol Hamoed. Imagine how happy they were on Yom Tov and imagine the happiness in the home.”

R’ Michel looked at his uncle in awe. Only he could have thought of that- and that is what made him so beloved and so revered by all of Klal Yisrael.”

From Rabbi Frand on the Parshah, by Rabbi Yissocher Frand, ArtScroll Series, Mesorah Publications Ltd. Shemini, Page 158. “The dedication of the Mishkan was, therefore, a time to remember that in Judaism there are roles. There are roles for Kohanim; there are roles for Levites; there are roles for men; there are roles for women. Not everyone is alike. Not everyone has the same duties and responsibilities. Not everyone is going to get the same benefits and privileges. Everyone must be content with the role H has assigned to him.”

May we be zoche to bring meaning, happiness, understanding, kindness and goodness to our spouses, to our families, to each other and to Klal Yisrael. May we find much happiness in our own lives as well. May our kesher with the Ribono shel Olam be close and His love for us continue forever. May there be Shalom al Yisrael, with Am Yisrael Chai and Chaveirim Kol Yisrael.

Sincerely, Rabbi Yehuda Blank