Tikkun Olam

I searched for this report on NPR but couldn't find it. What's the reference? This morning--at least, I think it was this morning (I had one glass of wine last night), I heard on Morning Edition (at least, I think it was on Morning Edition. Same reason as above) to which I awaken every morning-because music would send me back to sleep-a very interesting report through my sleepy stupor.  It questioned the premise that positive thinking is best for a good life. Yes, you read that right.  It questioned whether people who are 'glass half full' people really see reality.  It questioned the premise that people who tend to be depressed, are not living in the real world.  You know how psychological gurus, preachers,Chassidic and other spiritual leaders always emphasize the positive? They tell you to 'think positively,' 'don't be negative,' or 'depression is a sin?'  The question was asked, who is in touch with reality more, sad and depressed people,...

No matter what we encounter in our lives, events and happenings not of our choosing, we still have a choice: how to react to them.  Victor Frankel, in his book Man's Search for Meaning, expresses this very concept: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” What do happy people do that ordinary, grumpy people don't?  Take a look at this and see... 22 Things Happy People Do Differently This article is from Chiara Fucarino. Enjoy! Disclaimer: This article is not intended to address those with clinical depression or other mental illnesses. Photo by Rosie Hardy There are two types of people in the world: those who choose to be happy, and those who choose to be unhappy. Contrary to popular belief, happiness doesn’t come from fame, fortune, other people, or material possessions. Rather, it comes from within. The richest...

My daughter woke me up this morning, calling from Israel before 7:00 a.m. my time.  She does that sometimes.  Occasionally, it's because she plumb fergot the time (excuses, excuses) over here, 7,000 miles away from her.  On other occasions it is because something is wrong: she is very sick, perhaps with her gastrointestinal problems which she has quite often (a complication of RSD/CRPS), Or she needs financial help, or technical advise (the latter not often, because she is pretty tech savvy; her father, though, is the family Tech Guru). And sometimes she calls early for a good reason.  That was the case today.  She called to tell me about her day: the myriad things, errands, shopping, cleaning her apartment, doggy care for her crazy little Jack Russell terrier, Reggie--that she does when she feels better and her pain is more under control.  Now, what do I do when I'm on the phone? I listen, and occasionally try to get a word in edgewise.  Other than...

I just read my daughter's RSD Blog, and although I had spoken to her about the 4th of July barbeque right after it was held at her Tel-Aviv apartment, and knew what had ensued, I was very moved by what she wrote about it, and decided to post it in it's entirety here.  This is my daughter, in a wheelchair for a year with a so-far incurable nerve disease called RSD/CRPS (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome), whose life changed in an instant due to a relatively minor car accident from "normal," to disabled, at the age of twenty-three. Please visit her blog, My Personal Battle with RSD .  Here is her 4th of July post. Perfection, Bliss, and a `whole’ lot of Soul… This past 4 th of July, I bore witness to the most beautiful and pure thing anyone could ever possibly view.  Some people might say that that is a bit extreme of a statement. These people are right. It is incredibly extreme. But, it is true. Imagine seeing a s...

Shades of this idea have been written about before, such as how Jews value life above all else, and how Israelis seem to be high on the happiness meter.  Here comes an article from the Asia Times (written 13 May, 2008) about how, because of the knowledge that we are a covenental people , we have a long-term view of life, with the Jewish People as a nation (rather than as individuals) having an eternal existence, chosen by G-d. According to the author of this article (written only as "Spengler"), at its 60th Independence Day in 2008, Israel was the happiest nation on Earth .  Although it was, as it is now, surrounded by enemies sworn to annihilate her, it was (and still is) one of the 'wealthiest, free-est and most highly-educated' nations, to paraphrase the author--and its citizens have a higher life-expectancy than either Germany or the Netherlands. He writes: Can it be a coincidence that this most ancient of nations [1], and the only ...

I found some meaningful videos that I think express some of my thoughts and feelings about Jewishness, spirituality, and the importance of happiness--the latter of which is extremely relevant to my family at this difficult time for us.  We should watch this, and catch the beat!  ( and the achdut, too!)    My daughter has created a  RSD/CRPS Awareness page on Facebook, here.  Please LIKE it, and send it to all your friends.  Maybe, with more awareness leading to research, we can stop this debilitating disease. And now, on to the videos! On Being Jewish: Judaism: Connecting the Physical with the Divine: It's a Mitzvah to be HAPPY! *(hat tip to the Azooooolai family for the Ya'alili video--thanks, guys!)

(nablopomo day 28) According to a new Gallup Poll, Israelis are happier than. . .their American counterparts!  Forbes Magazine published a Gallup Poll which surveyed the 'happiness quotient' of populations of various countries. The answers had a "life evaluation score" with the highest score being the happiest. Israel came in at number 8, tied with Canada, Australia and Switzerland.  The United States came in 14th. Note that most of the African countries come in dead last: the lowest third of the scale, indicating the least happiest.  I have reprinted the table in part here, below, through number 26. Wealth also figures in the results: generally, the richer the country, the happier its inhabitants. However, riches do not explain it all.  The United Arab Emirates, wealthy as they are, came in at number 20, and Saudi Arabia, at 58. There is a very telling comment in the comments section, on why Israelis are happier than other populations.  I took the l...

Go to Shiloh Musings or Me-ander to see the latest Chodesh Adar Tov edition of the weekly Jewish Blog Carnival, Haveil Havalim ("vanity of vanities"). And, since Adar ushers in the month of Purim and happiness, tarbu b'simcha while you're reading it! משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה!!!

My husband and I now have a NEW BABY GRANDDAUGHTER in Jerusalem!!! She was born about an hour ago, and I am plastered on the ceiling!!! Will posts pics of baby sister as soon as I get them; the following are pics of her Abba and her Big Brother! (oh, and Haveil Havalim #243 is up at Ima on & off the Bima . Go, read--but first wish me a MAZAL TOV!!!)

I am a SAVTA again, number four (4)! My son (Nathaniel Blumenstein) and his lovely wife Noodles (sister-in-law to Toodles) gave birth on Shabbat to their first child, a BOY, weighing in at 3 kilo, 180 gram, at Shaarei Tzedek hospital in Jerusalem (which my Great Grandfather helped build!) Baby, mother & father are exhausted but doing (baruch Hashem) fine. I wish I could be there. . . And thank you to Suzie, their meyaledet* , who Nathaniel said was absolutely fantastic! It's a small world. . . (Suzie, of course I'm gonna blog about it. Hey, I didn't even know you read my blog; thank you for that, too!) *midwife

I am dumbfounded and proud to announce that someone I know and love, Nathaniel Bloomenstein, has created his second (the first one hadn't been active, but might be again soon...) blog. It is all about Torah, Ohr Chadash, and the environment. The name is Ofakim Hadashim, which means 'new horizons' in English. Please check it out (flock to it in droves!) here . Nathaniel, you just made my day (and I'm going to a job fair, so there is even more 'hope' in the air). I'm so happy, I think I'm gonna bake a cake: