Post Pesach Power |
From Slavery to Freedom, Breakdown to Breakthrough. The Water is Breaking, Birthing the One and Only YOU.
So many feelings after an uplifting Passover during a war, seeing miracles in front of our eyes. We are living in historical times, and it is important to pay attention. It is also important to be present, shine your light and connect with everyone around you. I keep on meeting the most fascinating people on a daily basis. It is exciting to connect, learn about each other and partner up to create magic. This coming Shabbat I will be part of a fascinating group of people that host Shabbat lunch for the most unique souls in the heart of Jerusalem. It was such a blessing to be invited by a new friend, Rebekah Brown, that I met a few weeks before, for Shabbat Hagadol, which is right before Pesach, for her Aliyah anniversary. My friend Mordechai was the host leading all of us in holy conversation with Torah thoughts and getting to know each other, in the beautiful home of Louie Kemp, along with Daryl Dovid Temkin, who coined the term Post Pesach Power! You can get a glimpse at the link below:
https://open.substack.com/pub/rabbimordechaibenavraham/p/from-the-north-country-to-the-city
I was so inspired to be around fun, community and connections that felt like family from Jews that came from all over the world. I am so excited to be part of the team helping with meals and set up for over 50 people for Shabbat lunch at the end of this week!
More miracles, as much as we wanted the war to be completely finished, the evil distinguished, and true peace among the nations, the pause in the war has brought nice weather and a chance to pray at the Kotel last Friday before Shabbat. I always find myself needing to ask for directions as I walk in the Old City. I met an amazing family, the young father was born in Cuba, a Jewban, and came to Israel at 28 years old, and met his Mexican Jewish wife, and was with her mother and their one year old daughter. I grew up in Miami, and love Cuban culture, and they fully understand life under Communism and Socialism. What the West is romanticizing has been tried before and ends in disaster, and that is not just my opinion, it is from personal experience being born in the USSR.
So as I was walking back from the Western Wall I decided to walk through the Shuk which starts in the Mulsim Quarter, and I saw a sea of worshipers coming from their prayers at the Temple Mount. I paused to wait and watch the happy faces finally able to pray at their holy site just like me. I read the other day that 100,000 people went to pray, and this is a perfect representation of Jerusalem and Israel. God willing the extremists will be silenced, and the nations can recognize each other and live side by side.
I feel peace in the unknown, because that is where possibility exists. My friend gave me the perfect description of my point of view, positivity bias, not to be confused with toxic positivity, which is a term that never made sense to my approach. I understand that you never really know what anybody is going through, but it goes both ways. Just because I see the positive side of every situation, does not mean that I am diminishing anybody’s reality. That is how I operate in this world, and I refuse to diminish myself. That is exactly what my friend Rebekah Brown said to me the other day. She created a movement called the Olim Collective, which brings community to all of us looking for where connection meets opportunity. Real world events, classes and business networking that help us create a successful life in Israel. She told me not to diminish myself, and that it does not make sense to fit into what is. We have to create what is needed and what will be. I am excited to partner with her to launch Olim Collective after Lag B’ Omer, stay tuned. Meanwhile, you can join the active Whatsapp group, the more the merrier as we build together.
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My positive bias has my eyes wide open to miracles and connection. Ask me about the details, how my bus card appeared under a rock and how a friend that is like family shows up when life is “lifing.” I do not share the hardships, because the way I grew up, maybe it is a Russian mentality, we just deal. When I was birthing my three children, thanks to a high pain tolerance, I wanted to feel it and be present. Thanks to my one of a kind Yemenite, Israeli Doula. She inspired me to be a Doula to show women anything is possible, and it is always your choice. Informed consent, trust yourself, and for some people with a high sensitivity, pain management was the only way they could go through the process, Thank God!
What keeps me grounded? Torah study. Not kidding. I am a learner, and to learn the deep concepts and sources especially with community is so inspiring. You get to hear everyone’s perspectives, contribute and walk away energized. Every Monday, I am at my favorite 7am Chassidut class with Rebbetzin Yehudis Wisnefsky at the most delicious YOLO cafe near Mahane Yehuda.
Today is Yom Hashoah, remembering the atrocity of the Holocaust and how many looked away in those times. We see how many are looking away now, where Jew hatred makes sense to both extremes. NEVER AGAIN IS NOW. Thank God for a strong Israel, and even though the world is upside down. We are on the right side of history, loud and proud Jews shining our light bright.