From My Notebook

Explores the importance of  recognizing that each person has a unique set of abilities that can shine while working together. 

Explores being comfortable in who you are rather than being pressured by others.  

Explores the importance of embracing leadership and knowing when to delegate responsibility.  

Explores what we can learn from making grilled cheese sandwiches and how it can relate to our doing our best to do the right thing.  

Explores the importance of striving to do what is right even when it isn't easy and being okay with the results.  

Explores the importance of knowing who you are and not being influenced by the words of others. 

Explores being importance of being organized and the role of tzitis as a reminder to act appropriately.  

Explores judging others with good intentions and seeing the best in everyone.  

Explores how important each and every person is, and importance of letting people know what they mean to you. 

Explores the greatness of women and the important role they play in the world. 

Explores the different levels of love between parents and children and G-d and people.  

Explores life lessons we learn from our children, not being worried and instead cultivating our faith in G-d.

Explores the deliciousness of chocolate lave cake, and what how we can learn from the rich chocolatey gooey center.  

Explores the disease tzaras, speaking negatively about others, how the Kohein cures tzaras, and how things aren't always what they seem. 

Explores the uniqueness of tofu and what we can learn from the versatility of this special ingredient. 

Explores the song sung on Pesach, Dayeinu, and what it means for it to 'be enough."

Can someone like Pharoh (the king of Egypt who caused the Jews so much strife) change and if he did would we be willing to invite him to our house?  A question only a child pure of heard could ask. 

Pesach cleaning can be intense as we search how homes and aim to get rid of every piece of chametz.  But what are we really trying to accomplish?  Spring cleaning is more of a spiritual cleansing than a physical cleaning as we aim to rid ourselves of our ego. 

  Success is not only measured by how much we achieve but by how hard we try. 

We never know the influence that a simple act of kindness will have on someone else's world.  One good deed really can change the world. 

The common response when someone thanks you for doing them a favour is "don't mention it."  Why don't we want them to mention it?  Is there a deeper way of connecting with someone that is above 'mentioning it?" 

The zoo is an exciting place filled with exotic animals, live shows, and new experiences.  Why is it more exciting to see a grizzly bear at the zoo than seeing a grey squirrel on your front lawn?  What we experience infrequently is often exciting and what we engage in regularly we view as mundane. How do we infuse excitement into our everyday life?

Cellphones can now do so much more than just make phone calls; and yet they still need to be charged in order to be used.  We are no different.  In order for us to maximize our potential and actualize our abilities we need to recharge.  So how do we do this?

Why was the Torah first given to the women and then to the men?  Women are the support system of the family and it is only with their guidance and motivation that men succeed.  Women aren't afraid to do what needs to be done. 

While changing our clothes might assist in our transformation, in order to have a long last change it must come from within.