A Daily Dose of Kindness - Friday, October 31, 2008

======================================================================================== Sponsored: * In memory of Miriam bas Mendel ======================================================================================== Please sponsor an e-mail for only $18 contact Info@PartnersInKindness.org ======================================================================================== A Daily Dose of Kindness Friday, October 31, 2008 ------------------------------------ * A former co-worker of mine is just full of friendliness and kindness. She speaks at length to many people who would come into the credit union and often had deeper relationships with them than many of us also working there (her sales and customer service records showed that). Though we are both devoted to different religions, we always had pleasant discussions on faith and unity. One more than one occasion, she sensing I was in distress or trouble offered kind words and prayers. In fact, she had even heard I was struggling to pay for medicine, so she offered a no interest loan. She never demanded it back, always saying "when you can." I know I'm not the only co-worker or even customer she has helped in that way or a myriad of other ways. __________________________________________________________________________________   A Portion of Kindness By Rosally Saltsman These are the offspring of Noach - Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generations; (Bereishis 6:9) The verse begins by introducing Noach's offspring, but once his name is mentioned, the Torah praises him as a righteous man. According to the Midrash (Rashi), the Torah means to teach that the primary 'offspring' of the righteous are their good deeds, because the worthwhile things that a person does are his primary legacy. R' Moshe Feinstein comments on why this is so. A person should love good deeds the way he loves his own children and he should perform them out of a feeling of love, not just duty. A person should never disparage a good deed as being insignificant, just as he does not fail to love a child who lacks outstanding ability. And a person should work hard to perfect his deeds, just as he spares no effort to help his children. …Two by two of all flesh in which there was a breath of life. (Bereishis 7:15) Whenever G-d appointed someone to carry out His mission, it was often the case that he didn't accept immediately or whole-heartedly. Noach, it would appear, complied immediately and for the next 120 years was engaged in building the ark. Noach was to be responsible for every single living, moving creature that G-d had created. Considering that there are hundreds of thousands of species of mammals, fish, reptiles, birds and insects (and that's not counting those that have become extinct since then), we are talking about an enormous undertaking. But Noach didn't complain. He didn't say to G-d, "How many species of mosquito do we really need?" He didn't suggest they take only a few types of rodents, lizards and maybe a toucan. Noach held the ark door open until a pair of every last creature was safely inside. And then he took care of them all for a year. Anyone who has ever had a pet knows how much work it can be to feed and clean and care for something even as simple as a hamster. Anyone who has been to the zoo has seen for himself how many people it takes to take care of an elephant. Yet Noach dedicated himself to the care and feeding of every animal. Chesed begins in our own backyard. There are birds cold and hungry in the winter and cats looking for a drink in the summer. There are ants hoping someone will remind small children not to step on them and in some countries there are squirrels gathering nuts all summer for the cold winter ahead. If we look for ways to show kindness and compassion to all G-d's creatures, great and small, it will be easier to show chesed to the people in our lives. In A Gift Passed Along (Shaar Press), in a chapter called Rabbi Scheinberg's Laughter, Sarah Shapiro writes how Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg shlita answered a shailah of a woman who was trying to feed the neighborhood cats amid her neighbors pleas that she stop. Rabbi Scheinberg said that the pain of the neighbors is more important than the pain of the cats…but then he said I should tell my neighbor that if she has rachmanus on Hashem's creatures, then Hashem will have rachmanus on her. (p. 28) The article concludes that Rabbi Scheinberg's father-in-law, Rav Yaakov Yosef Herman, used to feed the cats in Jerusalem every day. Personally I have also experienced, shall we say, opposition to my feeding the cats in the neighborhoods in which I have lived and I have resorted to doing it underhandedly, less frequently, even surreptitiously. I guess this is an area with two sides to it but like Rav Scheinberg says, if we show kindness to G-d's creatures, he will show kindness to us and letting someone feed stray cats, birds or lizards if they so desire is also a chesed to the person since it obviously makes them feel good. G-d of all creatures…Who guides His world with kindness and His creatures with mercy." (Nishmas prayer) So he put forth his hand, and took it, and brought it to him to the Ark. (Bereishis 8:9) The dove did not find dry land. Yet Noach put forth his hand and welcomed him back into the ark. Noach's compassion teaches us that one should treat an unsuccessful messenger as well as one treats a successful one, if the failure was not his fault (Haamek Davar). In other words, 'don't shoot the messenger'. Many people will take out their frustrations on subordinates at work or their family members. Being compassionate towards other people's failings by being patient and understanding is chesed. The dove came back to him in the evening – and behold! An olive leaf it had plucked with its bill! (Bereishis 8:11) Rav Hirsch comments on Rashi that the dove was demonstrating a preference for a bitter food that it found on its own over and above the food (however tasty) that it was provided with in captivity. While providing for the needy is certainly commendable, the highest form of tzedaka is finding a job for someone and providing him with the ability to work and support himself independently. I have set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. (Bereishis 9:13) A rainbow is supposed to rouse a person to do teshuva (Sforno); to remind man of the contract G-d has made with him. There are few things as breathtaking as a rainbow. Yet it is a symbol of a covenant, G-d's signature if you will. We make a lot of contracts in our lives; verbal agreements, written contracts, promises, deals. When we seal these, wouldn't it be nice if we could do so with something as beautiful, meaningful and everlasting as a rainbow? Wouldn't it be nice if our word were as solid as a rainbow is ephemeral? If our signature and our word held the awe-inspiring quality of a rainbow? And if we signed our name on checks, on letters and on contracts with the same sensitivity to beauty and meaning as the rainbow represents? The whole earth was of one language and of common purpose. (Bereishis 11:1) When people speak the same language they have a common mindset. It would appear that there are more than 70 languages. Sometimes it seems that everyone speaks his own language and communication gaps turn into chasms. Making an effort to understand someone else's language and respond to him accordingly is very important. People often don't feel understood and trying to understand someone is truly chesed of epic proportions. Many people hear others, some even listen to them but understanding someone and making them feel understood is truly an art in chesed. We don't have to always agree with everyone but when they see you are trying to understand them, it removes a burden from their heart. Trying to put yourself in someone else's shoes and understanding where they are coming from is truly kindness. Removing your own shoes first, is humility. From Rosally Saltsman's new book, A Portion of Kindness, now available for order. E-mail "Rosally Saltsman" <rosally_s@yahoo.com>. You can see her other books at: http://www.shemayisrael.com/publicat/rosallysaltsman/ You can download one of her stories at: http://www.shemayisrael.co.il/publicat/schwartz/6B/Eric.pdf __________________________________________________________________________________ Explore the Jewish Shabbos! Try it yourself! Visit: http://www.shabat.co.il/ (This website is great, but it has periodic technical problems) Best Wishes to all for a Shabbos of peace! ______________________________________________________   Quote of the Week: When a poor person comes to you, if you are able to give, then give to them immediately, do not make them wait. (Avot DeRabbi Natan, 17:2) HISTORICAL NOTES: Avot DeRabbi Natan is the first and longest of the Minor Tractates of the Talmud, and was probably compiled between 700 and 900 of the Common Era. It is often thought of as a commentary on the Mishnah Avot. Rabbi Nathan was a tanna of the third generation (2nd century of the Common Era), the son of a Babylonian exilarch. The exilarchs were direct descendants of the Jewish royal dynasty of King David and King Solomon. For unknown reasons, Rabbi Natan left Babylonia to settle in Israel, where he was made chief of the school at Usha. Some say that Rabbi Nathan could not have been the only author of Avot DeRabbi Natan.. This quote has been provided by the moderator of: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RealEstateOfManhattan/ ______________________________________________________   Shortly after my wife's tragic death, I started two organizations in her memory, called "A Tradition Of Kindness" and "Partners In Kindness." We encourage people around the world to do an act of kindness each day. Our first project is called A Daily Dose of Kindness. Each day people report acts of kindness to us and we report anonymously to the list what people have done. These stories give you ideas and the urge to act yourself. It is pretty contagious. Hundreds of new subscribers are joining every week. Just send us your story about an act of kindness that you have done that you would like to share with others. It does not matter if it is something big or very small. Stories will be distributed to this list anonymously to protect everyone's privacy. Names of people, places, and other details mentioned in the stories may also been changed to protect privacy We also feature job postings. So far, the postings have been for jobs in the United States, Israel, and the Former Soviet Union. Please pass the emails along to any of your friends and family who may also be interested! Visit our websites: http://www.TraditionOfKindness.org (Jewish) In place of fear we must feel pride. In place of desperation we must show concern for our fellow Jews. One of the fundamental principles of Judaism is kindness; we need to teach this to our people and to the world. Subscribe to our free "Daily Dose of Kindness" daily e-mail and our Job Postings e-mail for jobs in the US and around the world. http://www.PartnersInKindness.org (Non-Sectarian) Kindness is like music, art, sports or any other discipline -- it can only be mastered with practice, training, and lots and lots of encouragement. Subscribe to our free "Kind Words" weekly e-mail featuring stories and kindness techniques from Zelig Pliskin. Although the content of these e-mails contains copyrighted material, Partners in Kindness allows users who register at our website to reprint them in print, on a website, or on an e-mail distribution list at no cost. The archive for A Daily Dose of Kindness e-mails is located at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aDailyDose Partners in Kindness and A Tradition of Kindness are dedicated in memory of my late wife, Shoshana (Hayman) Greenbaum z"l. Shoshana was murdered by a suicide bomber. She was one of over 100 victims that were killed or injured at 2:00 P.M. on August 9, 2001 at the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem. Shoshana had the rare ability to serve as a role model for kindness and Godliness to thousands of people. For more information contact Shmuel Greenbaum Info@TraditionOfKindness.Org All the best B"SD, Shmuel Greenbaum _____________________________________________________________________________ To un-subscribe send a blank e-mail to: aDailyDose-unsubscribe@atraditionofkindness.org To subscribe send a blank e-mail to: aDailyDose-subscribe@atraditionofkindness.org

A Daily Dose of Kindness - Thursday, October 30, 2008

======================================================================================== Sponsored: * In memory of Miriam bas Mendel ======================================================================================== Please sponsor an e-mail for only $18 contact Info@PartnersInKindness.org ======================================================================================== A Daily Dose of Kindness Thursday, October 30, 2008 ------------------------------------ * On a business trip to the East Coast, I recently spent a couple days staying with a close friend, her husband, and her 1 1/2-year-old daughter. Since my friend's husband works long hours as a doctor and my friend had a few day-to-day things to deal with during my visit, I was more than happy to step in and help out with taking care of her daughter. Apparently, my friend wasn't used to having someone around to play with, bathe, and feed her daughter. As a result, she was very appreciative of the kindness. __________________________________________________________________________________ Quote of the Week: When a poor person comes to you, if you are able to give, then give to them immediately, do not make them wait. (Avot DeRabbi Natan, 17:2) HISTORICAL NOTES: Avot DeRabbi Natan is the first and longest of the Minor Tractates of the Talmud, and was probably compiled between 700 and 900 of the Common Era. It is often thought of as a commentary on the Mishnah Avot. Rabbi Nathan was a tanna of the third generation (2nd century of the Common Era), the son of a Babylonian exilarch. The exilarchs were direct descendants of the Jewish royal dynasty of King David and King Solomon. For unknown reasons, Rabbi Natan left Babylonia to settle in Israel, where he was made chief of the school at Usha. Some say that Rabbi Nathan could not have been the only author of Avot DeRabbi Natan.. This quote has been provided by the moderator of: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RealEstateOfManhattan/ ______________________________________________________   Shortly after my wife's tragic death, I started two organizations in her memory, called "A Tradition Of Kindness" and "Partners In Kindness." We encourage people around the world to do an act of kindness each day. Our first project is called A Daily Dose of Kindness. Each day people report acts of kindness to us and we report anonymously to the list what people have done. These stories give you ideas and the urge to act yourself. It is pretty contagious. Hundreds of new subscribers are joining every week. Just send us your story about an act of kindness that you have done that you would like to share with others. It does not matter if it is something big or very small. Stories will be distributed to this list anonymously to protect everyone's privacy. Names of people, places, and other details mentioned in the stories may also been changed to protect privacy We also feature job postings. So far, the postings have been for jobs in the United States, Israel, and the Former Soviet Union. Please pass the emails along to any of your friends and family who may also be interested! Visit our websites: http://www.TraditionOfKindness.org (Jewish) In place of fear we must feel pride. In place of desperation we must show concern for our fellow Jews. One of the fundamental principles of Judaism is kindness; we need to teach this to our people and to the world. Subscribe to our free "Daily Dose of Kindness" daily e-mail and our Job Postings e-mail for jobs in the US and around the world. http://www.PartnersInKindness.org (Non-Sectarian) Kindness is like music, art, sports or any other discipline -- it can only be mastered with practice, training, and lots and lots of encouragement. Subscribe to our free "Kind Words" weekly e-mail featuring stories and kindness techniques from Zelig Pliskin. Although the content of these e-mails contains copyrighted material, Partners in Kindness allows users who register at our website to reprint them in print, on a website, or on an e-mail distribution list at no cost. The archive for A Daily Dose of Kindness e-mails is located at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aDailyDose Partners in Kindness and A Tradition of Kindness are dedicated in memory of my late wife, Shoshana (Hayman) Greenbaum z"l. Shoshana was murdered by a suicide bomber. She was one of over 100 victims that were killed or injured at 2:00 P.M. on August 9, 2001 at the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem. Shoshana had the rare ability to serve as a role model for kindness and Godliness to thousands of people. For more information contact Shmuel Greenbaum Info@TraditionOfKindness.Org All the best B"SD, Shmuel Greenbaum _____________________________________________________________________________ To un-subscribe send a blank e-mail to: aDailyDose-unsubscribe@atraditionofkindness.org To subscribe send a blank e-mail to: aDailyDose-subscribe@atraditionofkindness.org

A Daily Dose of Kindness - Tuesday, October 28, 2008

======================================================================================== Sponsored: * In memory of Miriam bas Mendel ======================================================================================== Please sponsor an e-mail for only $18 contact Info@PartnersInKindness.org ======================================================================================== A Daily Dose of Kindness Tuesday, October 28, 2008 ------------------------------------ * I learned something important about the proper way to do acts of kindness after helping two friends to cope with serious illnesses. When a family is undergoing a crisis, G-d forbid, people are often inspired to do unsolicited acts of kindness. Sometimes, however, this can be overwhelming to the family. Family members may be inundated with well-meaning phone calls, or food that they do not want or need. Therefore, it is important finding out what the family needs, and respect their wishes and their privacy. One of the best acts of kindness a close friend can do is to act as the family liaison, and for community members to be kindly informed to direct their inquiries and offers of help to this intermediary.

A Daily Dose of Kindness - Monday, October 27, 2008

======================================================================================== Sponsored: * In memory of Miriam bas Mendel ======================================================================================== Please sponsor an e-mail for only $18 contact Info@PartnersInKindness.org ======================================================================================== A Daily Dose of Kindness Monday, October 27, 2008 ------------------------------------ * During our picnic dinner at an outdoor concert, my 11 year old son saw a man going through the crowd asking for money. He did not want to finish all the fixings for a sandwich so he made another sandwich and brought it over to the man to share in our dinner. __________________________________________________________________________________ Quote of the Week: When a poor person comes to you, if you are able to give, then give to them immediately, do not make them wait. (Avot DeRabbi Natan, 17:2) HISTORICAL NOTES: Avot DeRabbi Natan is the first and longest of the Minor Tractates of the Talmud, and was probably compiled between 700 and 900 of the Common Era. It is often thought of as a commentary on the Mishnah Avot. Rabbi Nathan was a tanna of the third generation (2nd century of the Common Era), the son of a Babylonian exilarch. The exilarchs were direct descendants of the Jewish royal dynasty of King David and King Solomon. For unknown reasons, Rabbi Natan left Babylonia to settle in Israel, where he was made chief of the school at Usha. Some say that Rabbi Nathan could not have been the only author of Avot DeRabbi Natan.. This quote has been provided by the moderator of: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RealEstateOfManhattan/ ______________________________________________________ Shortly after my wife's tragic death, I started two organizations in her memory, called "A Tradition Of Kindness" and "Partners In Kindness." We encourage people around the world to do an act of kindness each day. Our first project is called A Daily Dose of Kindness. Each day people report acts of kindness to us and we report anonymously to the list what people have done. These stories give you ideas and the urge to act yourself. It is pretty contagious. Hundreds of new subscribers are joining every week. Just send us your story about an act of kindness that you have done that you would like to share with others. It does not matter if it is something big or very small. Stories will be distributed to this list anonymously to protect everyone's privacy. Names of people, places, and other details mentioned in the stories may also been changed to protect privacy We also feature job postings. So far, the postings have been for jobs in the United States, Israel, and the Former Soviet Union. Please pass the emails along to any of your friends and family who may also be interested! Visit our websites: http://www.TraditionOfKindness.org (Jewish) In place of fear we must feel pride. In place of desperation we must show concern for our fellow Jews. One of the fundamental principles of Judaism is kindness; we need to teach this to our people and to the world. Subscribe to our free "Daily Dose of Kindness" daily e-mail and our Job Postings e-mail for jobs in the US and around the world. http://www.PartnersInKindness.org (Non-Sectarian) Kindness is like music, art, sports or any other discipline -- it can only be mastered with practice, training, and lots and lots of encouragement. Subscribe to our free "Kind Words" weekly e-mail featuring stories and kindness techniques from Zelig Pliskin. Although the content of these e-mails contains copyrighted material, Partners in Kindness allows users who register at our website to reprint them in print, on a website, or on an e-mail distribution list at no cost. The archive for A Daily Dose of Kindness e-mails is located at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aDailyDose Partners in Kindness and A Tradition of Kindness are dedicated in memory of my late wife, Shoshana (Hayman) Greenbaum z"l. Shoshana was murdered by a suicide bomber. She was one of over 100 victims that were killed or injured at 2:00 P.M. on August 9, 2001 at the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem. Shoshana had the rare ability to serve as a role model for kindness and Godliness to thousands of people. For more information contact Shmuel Greenbaum Info@TraditionOfKindness.Org All the best B"SD, Shmuel Greenbaum _____________________________________________________________________________ To un-subscribe send a blank e-mail to: aDailyDose-unsubscribe@atraditionofkindness.org To subscribe send a blank e-mail to: aDailyDose-subscribe@atraditionofkindness.org