We hope you had a great week! It's time for another shameless plug for our Return and Learn program. It's not too early to begin planning your summer. This just in from Shoshana Potts:

Uncle Moe's Engaged!

The Fellowships own Super-Madrich, Moshe (Uncle Moe) Deutch is engaged to Esther Mandel! They're inviting everyone to their "vort" this Sunday evening at 6pm at the home of the Kallah, 3384 Bedford Avenue, between L and M in Flatbush.

All of us at the Jerusalem Fellowships New York office would like to extend a hearty
Mazal tov to the Elimelechs (Chaim and Tammi) on the birth of their new baby
daughter - Sara Simcha. May she always be a source of happiness for her parents.

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Happy New Year!
Claudia Davis

HELLO!!!! Wow this is cool!

Hi, to everyone who knows me! I'm doing fine eagrly waiting for my graduation to
come this spring. I just wanted to know if anyone had a chance to go to Moshe's
house for shabbos this past December. I really wanted to go, but coulnd't make it, so
I just wanted to find out how it went. If anyone wanted to get in touch with me, my
e-mail address is mazaryay@goucher.edu.
Talk to you later,
Marina

The Three Hasidim

Three Hasidim are each talking about who has the greatest Rebbe:

The first one says: "Our Rebbe is so great, we were walking home from
schul on Shabbos and it was very hot. We said Rebbe it is so hot what can
we do?" The Rebbe stopped and he prayed. And in front of the Rebbe and
behind the Rebbe there was heat. And to the right of the Rebbe and to the
let of the Rebbe there was heat. And in the area around the Rebbe it
became cool and fresh and they all walked home.

The second one says: "That's nothing! We were walking home from schul
one Shabbos and it started to rain really hard. And we said Rebbe, we're
going to get sick what should we do?" The Rebbe stopped and he prayed.
And in front of the Rebbe and behind the Rebbe there was rain. And to the
right of the Rebbe and to the left of the Rebbe there was rain. But in the area
around the Rebbe, there was no rain, and they all walked home.

The third said, "Is that all??" We were walking home from schul on
Shabbos, and we spotted a large bag filled with gold coins that was lying in
the street. And we said Rebbe, so much money, we could do so much work
for the Hasidim, what should we do??" And the Rebbe stopped and he
prayed. And in front of the Rebbe and behind the Rebbe there was
Shabbos.....

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther. Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

GOOD MORNING! Last week's edition spoke about success not being synonymous with wealth. There is more to life than having a lot of money. (By the way, in Pirke Avot, Ethics of the Fathers, it asks, "Who is the wealthy person?" and answers, "He who is happy with his portion.")

So, what is success in life? There is a fascinating book, Lifelines -- Techniques for Nurturing Personal Growth by Avi Shulman (available from better Jewish bookstores everywhere ... or by dialing toll free to: 877-758-3242). The following ideas are drawn from Chapter 6, Defining Success .

Success is defined as 'the progressive realization of a personal predetermined worthwhile goal." Life is a journey, not a destination. If one can treasure each moment, he has a lifetime of joy and accomplishment towards his goal. People identify five major areas in their life: 1) Physical well being 2) Family 3) Spiritual/Mental 4) Personal Finances 5) Vocational.

Each area should have a goal and a plan to reach it. Without a goal, one doesn't know where to go. Without a plan one doesn't know how to go. (It is amazing the amount of effort a human being will put in to avoid thinking, setting goals and planning).

Life is like a wheel and each major area is like a spoke. There needs to be balance in the wheel. It is true and proverbial that "one never wishes on his death bed that he spent more time at the office." On the other hand, a person may realize that his greatest joy is his family and not know how to enjoy time with his kids. It takes wisdom to balance the time and wisdom to enjoy each major area.

I know a fundraiser for a major Jewish organization. People often ask him, "Were you successful?" He invariably answers, "I am always successful ... and sometimes I also raise money." Success is a matter of attitude and appreciation for what you have and for your efforts. Ultimately, whether one succeeds is out of his hands. There is a Yiddish saying that "man plans and G-d laughs." We make our efforts and the Almighty gives gifts. If we appreciate that our accomplishments are gifts, then it instills within us a sense of humility and gratitude to the Almighty. It gives us perspective.

There is a sure way to achieve greatness in life -- to do a nightly cheshbon hanefesh, an accounting of what you want out of life and if you're reaching your goals. (If you don't have goals, for sure you won't reach them.) Ask yourself four questions: 1) What am I living for? 2) What did I do today to reach my goal? 3) What did I do contrary to my goal that I need to correct? 4) What can I live for that is more important/meaningful than my present goal? Do this and you'll be a success!

TORAH PORTION: Bo, Exodus 10:1 -13:16

This week we conclude the ten plagues with the plagues of locusts, darkness and the death of the first-born. The laws of Passover are presented, followed by the commandment to wear tefillin, consecrate the first-born animal and redeem one's first born son. The Torah tells us that at some time in the future your son will ask you about these commandments and you will answer: "With a show of power, G-d brought us out of Egypt, the place of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us leave, G-d killed all the first-born in Egypt, man and beast alike. I, therefore, offer to G-d all male first-born (animals) and redeem all the first-born of sons. And it shall be a sign upon your arm, and an ornament between your eyes, for with a strong hand the Almighty removed us from Egypt." (Ex. 13:15)

The Torah states regarding the Pesach offering, "Neither shall you break a bone of it" (Exodus 12:46). What is the Torah coming to teach us about life from this commandment?

On Passover night as we sit at the Seder we are to envision ourselves as going out of Egypt and becoming free people. At the Seder, we are kings and queens; we dress royally, we act royally, we eat royally. Royal people do not break bones to suck out the marrow. Poor, downtrodden people must suck the bones to draw out all of the nourishment possible.

The outward action brings the inner appreciation. If you want to be free, act free. If you want to be royal, act royal. Likewise, if you want to be kind or to be charitable, then act that way. Eventually, your personality will be shaped by your actions. Life and growth are a process of deciding and then consistently acting in line with your decision. Decide and you can be!

Flatter me, and I may not believe you.

Criticize me, and I may not like you.

Ignore me, and I may not forgive you.

Encourage me, and I may not forget you.

- William Arthur