Good Shabbos

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GOOD SHABBOS
3 June 2010

Dear All,

Anyone coming to the ‘Beloved Country’ in the next two weeks from Tooo-Run-Tooo, let me know, as I need a letter brought back..Dankie smookler@netactive.co.za

The weather has cooled a bit, and a bit of unseasonal rain, BUT….should be back to sunny days sooooooooon, with the Opening of Sokka World Cup 2010 ,only 8 days away….

The ‘Rugger’ Final at Orlando Stadium was E-mazing….and IF the SOKKA can get this much GEES going, it will be a GR8888 World Cup……the whole place was packed with Bulls/Stormers stuff, and of course the Internet was ‘Kooking’ and eventually on the day, the Stadium was packed and after a hard battle the
‘Bulle’ won the Super 14 Cup. The Stormers played there hearts out, BUT….ill discipline cost them again, and I am not sure when ‘Schalkie’ is going to learn, not to play ‘Vuil’ Rugger, as he cost them penalties……The Stormers were unlucky, with some ‘Dodge’ Ref decisions, BUT…in the end, the Bulls thoroughly deserved there win and Cup…….The Stadium looked E-mazing and all you saw was Blue, as the Bulls and Stormers are Blue……..The Tri Nations should be good, with the Bokke looking like outright favourites at the moment, BUT…..PDV has decided to ‘Kak’ around a bit (just like the bulls did) and play a weird team for the Wales Test this weekend……Prediction, I have NO clue what will happen, as the Welsh are a trained unit, and we look like ‘Rabble’ on paper…..Time will tell…….and of course it is an away match………….This is like a Barbarians game…GR8888 on paper, short on practice…..Mmmmmm

The E-TV news team heard about a remarkable dog named ‘Fluffy’ who lived in Pretoria and went off to do a news clip on him. On meeting Koos, the dog’s owner, they asked him why the dog had a reputation for being so remarkable.
“Well, whenever the Bulls win a rugby match he stands on his hind legs and barks happily and then does a somersault,” replied Koos. To demonstrate, Koos turned on the TV and the Bulls had just beaten the Sharks (of course.) Sure enough, ‘Fluffy’ leapt in the air and barked joyously before performing a series of impressive somersaults.
“That’s remarkable,” said the reporter, “but what happens if the Bulls lose?”
‘I don’t know yet,’ replied Koos. I’ve only had him for EIGHT YEARS!’ (Einaaaaaaaaah..)

The Protea’s in the West Indies, have won all their matches soooo far, and are still far behind being world beaters for a long time……The pity is that they are not training ‘ encouraging new blood, and we still have Tellemaches, Gibbs and a few other has been’s in the equation. Besides kalis and AB De Villiers, not many have shown any form at Batting, and the huge variety of bowlers are just not shaping, with Steyn being the closest to a GOOD bowler, who can adjust to any type of conditions…..Very sad….time to regroup and pick some ‘Youthful’ winners (not whiners) …….

A Tennessee State trooper pulled over a pickup on the Highway. The trooper asked,
"Got any ID?" The driver replied, "Bout whut?" (Mmmmmmm….).

Sokka 2010 is HERE….. Like the ‘Chevra Kadisha’ ‘Yours Eventually’ …. Rabbi Ilan Hermann of the Lions Shul has a E-mazing programme set up for games taking place at Ellis Park (Coca Cola) Park in Dooories (Doornfontien)…. Quite E-mazing is that Doornfontein was a STRONG ‘Yiddisher’ area with MANY Yiddisher Shopkella’s, and for years, all the kosher Butchers, Poultry Shops etc were there……Mmmmm WWW… What Was, Was ….. Ilan has planned for ‘Yidden’ to come to Shul and Daven and then go across the road to the Stadium for the Games…. Contact Ilan at 082-6834100 … http://stantgsm.com/list_info.php

With ‘Min Dae’ (few days) left, the place is starting to look good, with the Highways, weeded and all Drek taken away…….The Stadiums are really GR8888888, and only time will tell whether we can get the people to the games and back in time……..Not sure what the problems are, BUT…last years Confederation Cup, was painless and I actually never felt any extra traffic, congestion etc…BUT…the last few Games at Sokka City have caused HUGE delays, especially with the ‘Ein Geshpart’d’ (obstinate) locals who have to drive right up to the stadiums….I reckon that to get there on time, leave early, and make use of PUBLIC transport and Park & Rides, which seem to be working well, and the Manne say that you get to see the full games……for the BEST view of the SOKKA 2010 Stadiums, ‘Gib A Kuk’…..360 Degrees…..E-mazing
http://stadiums.in3sixty.com give a few moments to load..E-mazing

The young man from Mississippi came running into the store and said to his buddy, "Bubba, somebody just stole your pickup truck from the parking lot!" Bubba replied, "Did you see who it was?"
The young man answered, "I couldn't tell, but I got the license number (DUKSTUK…).

Looks like Chaos ahead at the Innesfree Sokka Park in the Heart of Sandton…as it stands now, the fences around the Park are very low, and if they do not have proper control the 20,000 allowed will swell to 50,000 and then there will be chaos…… The Innesfree Park is the one closest to Sandton City & Alexandra, and I reckon that it is going to be VERY popular during the Sokka 2010, and the poor neighbours will not get much sleep…and the Vuvuzella’s are going to be heard ALL the time for the next month. Innesfree is a’Lekker’ Sokka Village viewing area……Oey vey….I took some pictures of the area which is being completed, with the Stage for the big screen in place ……. Pictures; http://stantgsm.com/list_pics.php My Chaver Derek from MPR hiring is doing a few of the tents…..looks like there could be many tents going up…..massive generators have been set up……………
Sooooo many of the NEW Hotels are still trying furiously to complete their alterations, before their guests arrive…..Einaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah…The Park Inn in Catherine Drive being one, that has shot up over night, BUT…….is not complete and they have boasted that it is full up for the Month….????? A Gentile website to visit http://www.iafrica.com/worldcup/ The ‘Yiddisher’ site www.jewish.com and the BEST diary at http://www.marca.com/deporte/futbol/mundial/sudafrica-2010/calendario-english.html If you keep this one on your Komputta , you will NEVER be lost….

The Comrades Marathon, this year was run from Pietermatitzburg to Durban. A distance of 89 gruelling kilometres. …. Chabad Umhlanga embraced the event. www.chabadnc@global.co.za Shul services were well attended .
On Sunday morning, bright and early, Shlomo Wainer and ‘bogrim’ from the USA and Australia headed off to Hillcrest. They set up their gazebo at the 30 kilometer to go mark. Many runners ran past and greeted the enthusiastic Chabadniks and shouted "pray for me Rabbi". Others stopped for water, vaseline, a boiled potato etc. More importantly, 29 ‘Yids’ stopped, davened and put on Tefillin. It was as if they had received a spiritual injection which enabled them to complete their race, and achieve their personal goals.This is the 15th consecutive Comrades that Chabad Umhlanga has been on the route supporting runners with sustenance, brochas and mitzvahs. The winner was a ‘Zim-BOB-Wean’…who won last year also……. Stephen Muzhingi (55925) finished in 5:29:01

Doctor, Doctor I keep thinking I'm a dog.
Doctor: Sit on the couch and we will talk about it.
But I'm not allowed up on the couch!

The Sandton Shul this week, has SPECIAL guests from Selwyn Segal who come for a Shabbos every year, and the Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldtein will also be attending to make it a VERY special Shabbos at Sandton……..All welcome….. ‘OUR’ Rabbi Siggy Suchard went to Mauritius to do the Chasener for the Miller family from Sandton Shul, and they all had a glorious time…….Mmmmmm, time I went on a visit…????

A group of Alabama friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day.
That night, one of the hunters (Tommy) returned alone, staggering under the weight of an eight-point buck. "Where's Henry?" the others asked.
"Henry had a stroke of some kind. He's a couple of miles back up the trail,"
the successful hunter replied.
"You left Henry laying out there and carried the deer back?" they inquired.
"A tough call," nodded the hunter. "But I figured no one is going to steal Henry!"
( Do they get ‘Doffer’ (Stupider)..???) …………….

I am selling my ‘Cuzzies’ Daughters Car, and you can ‘Gib A Kuk’ at picture www.stantgsm.com/cars goes very well, and has Tukka been looked after over the years….would make a excellent ‘Collectors Piece’ or transport to get around Joburg…..It is Automatic……..Contact me at ; 082-4547860

Interesting ‘Schtiekel’ on Yiddish………….
http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/58240/young-israelis-turning-to-yiddish-in-search-for-roots/

O Sole Mio - Helfgott, Adler, Schachat - Impromptu Encore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7aTOvZgv7I&feature=player_embedded

Only 10 years old……E-mazing voice…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibNeGq4Ygp4

Whew, King David Victory Park is on a roll with Dean Heyman, KDVP winning GOLD in Kata at the National KWF Karate championships, with Daniel Katz also of KDVP, as runner up! Dean is an Einingkel of my Chaver ‘Doc’ Rene & Yvonne Heitner……Mazeltov to both ‘Boytjies’ on a GR88888 achievement……..see they are carrying on the Karate tradition @ VP, with Shane Dorfman having been there a few years ago, and is a Karate ‘Boff’, as is his Dad Malcolm…..

Rabbi Motty Berger, a well-known Discovery lecturer, once had a young Chinese artist by the name of Jin Gan living in his house. Now Jin Gan was a very bright fellow who had come to America to study.
He was very eager to learn the English language, so every day he read the entire front page of the New York Times. After a while, he began to notice that there were three countries that almost always made the headlines:
The United States, the Soviet Union and Israel.
Not being very familiar with Israel, Jin Gan asked Rabbi Berger where this country was. Rabbi Berger pulled out a map and pointed to the Middle East.
"You see the brown space over there?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, that's Egypt. Now you see this country over here, the little green area?"
"Yeah."
"That's Syria. Now, come a little closer. You see this little thing over here, this dot on the map? The one that's so small, the cities have to be written out in the Mediterranean Sea? That dot there -- that's Israel!"
"That's Israel?" he says. "I can't believe it! That tiny dot is the country that makes the front page every day? How many people live there?"
"Oh, about 5 million Jews."
"Five million Jews? In a recent census conducted in China, there are now over one billion, one hundred million Chinese -- with a statistical error of 48 million! That means," he said, "that there are 12 times as many people statistically unaccounted for in China as there are Jews in Israel!"
If you want to read a story about China you have to turn to Page 17 in the New York Times. To get on the front page, they have to kill thousands of students in Tiananmen Square. For Israel to get on the front page, you need six kids throwing rocks at a Chevy. Why is this?
Somehow, small as we are, the world is always watching. ( Sooooo true….Jin Gan)

The ‘Humanitarian’ situation is really shocking on the Sea near Gaza…..Not sure what ‘WE’ can do any more, as the ‘Drek’ of the World are ganging up against Israel, and there tactics leave a lot to be desired…….who knows what the next trick will be, BUT….they are prepared to sacrifice innocent women & children, so that the ‘Mumzers’ can get away with murder…….funny how there have been threats against the Sokka 2010, by the very same Drek, BUT….our ‘Men from the Ministry’ reckon there is nothing to worry about….hope they are right…….

An old Jewish grandfather was taking care of his two young grandchildren. One of the children asked him how old his grandfather and grandmother were. The grandfather looked at his grandson and sighed.
"We're so old that when we were your age, the Dead Sea was only sick, not dead."

Popped into the joint Bat mitzvah of Kaitlin Tolkin and Jenna Gellman at the Killarney Country Club and it was really a GR8888 looking Simcha, the Décor by Michelle Gordon of Finer Details looked E- mazingly pink….Jeremy Kusner was the Disco and the Batty ‘pumped’……..Mazeltov to the Gellman & Tolkin families, and to Jack & Jill Kussel who are all from the Sandton Shul….Mazeltov to both families…Pictures ; http://stantgsm.com/list_classifieds.php

Had a request from a Sydney reader to ask if there is anyone out there looking for staff, as times are ‘Shwer’ (hard) and a lot of Yidden are looking for employment during the recession …Please e-mail me, and I will pass it along.. smookler@netactive.co.za In the ‘Beloved Country’ there are quite a few organizations that source employment for the community, and two of the main ones are The Chevra Kadisha thru’ their Staff wiZe’ section and ORT JET, who have a good insight into many of the ‘Yiddisher’ business needs…….

The lawyer was advising his pretty client.
“When we go to court I want you to wear a short skirt.”
“But they are not in style,” she protested.
“Do you want to be acquitted?” asked the lawyer. “Or do you want to be in style.”

Long shot here…
Lezelle , who is ex Pretoria is looking for an old teacher of hers ( +/- 1982) at the Capital Park Primary School is in Pretoria….Lezelle lives in Vancouver these days…..I tried Yvonne Kaplan, Ronnie’s wife, soooo if you have any details, send me an e-mail to smookler@netactive.co.za

The WOW (Women of the World) Auction only closes on the 10th. June, soooo ‘Gib A Kuk’ on the Website and put in an offer www.womenoftheworld.org.za

I went to the Ort Jet breakfast on Tuesday, and Theo Rutstein (nephew of the Sun King- Sol Kerzner) of Teljoy was the speaker, and it was a very informative talk on Solar Heat, which Teljoy are distributing……..Wow, from TV’s to Cell phones to Solar…reckon it is the way to go, with POWER, becoming a luxury in the ‘Beloved Country’…… Pictures ;http://stantgsm.com/list_pics.php

Groups of Americans were traveling by tour bus through Holland ..
As they stopped at a cheese farm, a young guide led them through the process of cheese making, explaining that goat's milk was used. She showed the group a lovely hillside where many goats were grazing.
'These' she explained, 'Are the older goats put out to pasture when they no longer produce.' She then asked, 'What do you do in America with your old goats?'
A spry old gentleman answered, 'They send us on bus tours!

It was Clifford and Shelly Gruskin’s Zunnele Benji’s Barmitzvah this week, and what makes it special was that their last Barmy was the Evening of the 2007 World Cup final…and of course when we won, it turned into an E-mazing, electric affair……this Barmy was on the evening of the BULLS GR88888 win, and it was just as E-mazing, with Incredible Décor by the ‘MASTER’ Gideon…it was quite E-mazing, and every table was superb…….The Marathon Man (Johnny Birin) was at his best, and it Tukka ‘rocked’…….for the record, Shelley (Balser) Gruskin was a Stan & Pete waitress over 20 years ago……Mazeltov to the whole ‘ Mishpocha’…..Pictures ; http://stantgsm.com/list_classifieds.php

The Highlands North High School reunion takes place on the 30th June at the Killarney Country Club….. http://stantgsm.com/Highlands.html for details. Has anyone got a Picture of the Shooting Team, or the Band Drum Major…..? ‘Amolikke Yoren’ Highlands had an E-mazing Shooting section, and ‘OUR’ Band was top of the pops……we had a guy by the name of Mario ‘Bobba’, and I think they kept him back for 10 years, sooooooo that he could run the Band….other schools like KES, Jeppe , etc .kept GR88888 Rugger / Cricket Shpielers back, which makes more sense ( ???????) ……

Mrs. Cohen went into Yves Laurent Couture, called over a salesman, pointed to white wool designer dress on a mannequin, and said,
"Hey Sonny boy, so how much is the dress on that store dummy over there?"
"That dress is $899.95, Madam," sneered the rather snotty salesman.
"Oy! For $99.95 I could get the same dress at S. Klein's downtown!"
"But Madam," said the salesman,
"You'll find that the dress at Klein's is recycled wool.
This original is 100% pure virgin wool."
"So for $800 I should be caring what the lambs do at night?" (Oey vey)….

E-mazing how some topic’s just seem to be soooo popular, when ever mentioned, and the ‘Krok’s’ Mock wedding, always ignites such nostalgia ..and after mentioning it last week, in wishing the ‘Broers’ Happy Birthday, a flood of E-mails arrived….I will mention what I remember about the ‘Simcha’…it was created to bring in funds for charity, which it certainly did, and also to bring something E-mazing to the ‘Yiddisher’ population in the ‘Beloved Country’ and they picked the ‘TOP’ Business men at the time, to takepart, which was a HUGE drawcard, and the Krok’s, Ellerines, Lubners, etc, etc were all in…and I think they had a few shows at the Sandton Sun and Connoisseur Hotel in Doories, which was the ONLY Kosher Hotel left, run by the Rothstein family…..(Gloria’s Caterers)…….. BUT….the Main performance was at the ‘old’ Civic Theatre in Braamfontein, and it was ‘Tukka’ and evening to remember, with all the Food coming onto the Main Table on the Stage, and all the Guests joining in a ‘Goodbye Columbus’ Buffet……and Gertie Auerbach was involved in the Directing of the show…….What an event that was….Reckon it could never be redone…….My Chaver Stan Gordon made a Video of the ‘Mock Wedding’…
and that is why, the World chose www. For the Internet ….What Was, Was..
Must say there were one or two weddings before The Mock Wedding, and I catered at one in NEW Springs Civic Centre (+/- 25 years ago), which was pretty good, BUT……there will always only be the One & Only ‘Krok’ Mock Wedding…
Last night I went to the Civic to see ‘The Boys in the Picture’ and it Tukka brought back memories of that ‘Humungous’ stage, which we used to serve the graZe at the ‘Mock Wedding’ Amolikke Yoren………The show was VERY good, and the stage settings E-mazing…Only problem are the seats….my Tochus is still num….. Today, Gertie Awerbach launched her ‘Cookbook’ and had a Cooking demo also……..

Seuntjie vra: Hoekom het tannie nooit getrou nie?
Ag... sê sy, ek het 'n papegaai, 'n hond en 'n kat.
Saam is hulle nes 'n man.
Die papegaai vloek, die hond poep en die kat loop saans rond. ( Bkagat….GR8888 one).

Real ‘KAK’ article in this month’s Noseweek, about the Bok ‘Rugger’ legend, Wilf Rosenberg, and one hopes that the truth actually comes out eventually….. www.noseweek.co.za ….. I am sure there will be many more stories relating to it……names quite a few Main Manne….????????????

Cops with a sense of humour… (are there any…?????)
"You know, stop lights don't come any redder than the one you just went through."
"Relax, the handcuffs are tight because they're new. …
They'll stretch after you wear them a while."

"If you take your hands off the car, I'll make your birth certificate a worthless document."
"If you run, you'll only go to jail tired."
"Can you run faster than 1200 feet per second? …
Because that's the speed of the bullet that'll be chasing you."

"You don't know how fast you were going? ….
I guess that means I can write anything I want to on the ticket, huh?"
"Yes, sir, you can talk to the shift supervisor, but I don't think it will help. …
Oh, did I mention that I'm the shift supervisor?"

"Warning! You want a warning? O.K, I'm warning you not to do that again or I'll give you another ticket."
"The answer to this last question will determine whether you are drunk or not. …
Was Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog?"
"Yeah, we have a quota. Two more tickets and my wife gets a toaster oven."
Kevin Shapiro, a young man, passed away little over a year ago and his friends have decided to honour him through the writing of a Sefer Torah. His father is also currently very sick and unfortunately only has days, maybe weeks at most, to live. A beautiful website (www.kevinstorah.co.za) has been set up through which one can make pledges for letters, parshiyot and books of the Torah as well as for the Choshen, Yad and Keter… The Torah will be ‘mobile’ & used throughout Effrikka……..
FOR the MOST ‘Jacked up’ Yiddisher Wedding registry, ‘Gib A Kuk’   at;
www.lechaim.co.za ………….Run by Young Yiddisher ‘Boychix’ ……

Mazeltov to Elise (Baron) and Mark Jankelowitz on the birth of their Princess this week in the ‘Beloved Country’…….Mazeltov to Louis and Cynthia Barron and Ray & Cheryl Jankelowitz (Oz)…….The Barron’s stay in Joburg and their Zunnelle Greg is married to Jan (Wainer) whose Mom is June Edelmuth’s Schvester (Oz)….. Ray’s Late Dad Phil was the Chairman of the Old Jewish Guild, and the whole family were into Bowls in a big way….Ray’s Boet Selwyn is the last of the Siblings left in the ‘beloved Country’….Mazeltov to the whole ‘Mishpocha’…………..

Oren Moshe Krombein's opsherenis was held in London. Oren is the son of David and Heidi (Krombein) Piha.  Officiated by Rabbi Alan Plancey ex Rabbi of Borehamwood Shul, now a Councillor for Hertfordshire. Held at the home of Rabbi and Rebbetzin Silkin in Elstree.  Everyone enjoyed the opsherinis which was followed by a fancy dress party for the kids. Pictures http://stantgsm.com/list_classifieds.php

Happy 50th. to the twins, Leonard & Philip Carr……..Philip flew in & out for a family get together, which was ‘Tukka’ that ONLY family, BUT…that is a big gathering, as Leonard is married to the Late Rabbi Azriel Goldfein’s daughter, and Bless them, it is a HUGE family…..Did Leonard’s wedding many years ago in Alberton….Leonard actually writes every week in the Daily Times……
Philip is of course a Simcha Coordinator ‘Extraordinaire’ and his work is ‘Tukka’ E-mazing, where the Décor and ambience of each and every Simcha is unique and Dazzling……. http://www.philipcarr.com.au Had a Koch about the industry, and the conclusion was ‘Yids are Yids’ where ever you are in the World…..
Happy Birthday to a special set of Twins, and although they are totally different in their daily goings on, they are IDENTICAL in their lives……if that makes sense....

Mazeltov to   Kelly ( Rothschild) & Dean ( Kaye) on their engagement this week….. Dean and my Zunnelle Martin have been Chavers since nursery School, and Mazeltov to parents Jeff & Jenny Kaye and Joe & Tessa Rothschild………We have known the Kayes for many years. Mazeltov to the whole ‘Mishpocha’.

Mazeltov to Bev (Marcus) & Darren ( Gorelick) on their engagement today ..
Mazeltov to Marcelle (Kugel from Welkom - Ganz) & Gerald Gorelick (Windhoek) and Avril & Gerald Marcus (Joburgers) ……Gosh remember going to Welom over 30 years ago to do a Barmy for the ‘GANZ’ Clan, and have not stopped since…..Mazeltov to the whole ‘Mishpocha’……..
Mazeltov to Simone (Kaye) & Brett Simon on the Chasener in London recently……. Brett is ex Durban, and his dad Allan (ex Highlands North High) & Mom Denise are still in Durban…Allan played Cricket for Balfour park and Northern Transvaal B ‘Amolikke Yoren’…… Simone is from London…Mazeltov to the whole ‘Mishpocha’….Pictures ; http://stantgsm.com/list_classifieds.php
The easiest way to source Simcha ‘Wekkers’ & suppliers is to ‘Gib A Kuk’ at ; http://www.stantgsm.com/simcha/sg.htm

MANTIS SECURITY TIP (Call 011- 487-1000) of the week;

Security will focus on trends at Sokka 2010

Be VERY careful when dealing with tickets, whether buying or selling ..

Lot of ‘Shysters’ around, and will FLEECE you... Only deal with OFFICIAL channels for tickets, as you might arrive without a seat…..

Do not take ANY forbidden things into the stadiums…….

Always book & plan your route there and back to games…..

DON’T just ‘sommer’ take ANY kind of transport…..

When visiting the Game Parks, beware of pick pockets, and only carry the minimum of valuables…..These are not only warnings for Sokka 2010, BUT…are applicable anywhere in the World……

Forewarned is Forearmed…………….

Be ‘Wakker’ & ‘StreetwiZe’ all the time…………

From Stan and the Clan.
smookler@netactive.co.za
PRO – Stan & Pete Caterers (Corporate) and Medical Aid Broker Supreme!!
Cell- 082-4547860

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The ‘Stan The Good Shabbos’ Joke Book is now available at Major Bookstores around the ‘Beloved Country’ and also on Kalahari.net …sooo get yours, and eventually when I have recovered my outlay, I can consider a second book….

CLICK HERE Also now available in Irvine at the African Hut www.africanhut.com

Please remember that the VORT comes in after the sign off, and is a self standing item…

Check out the new Archive Section
on the website where you can view past pictures from Engagements, Weddings, Anniversaries, Births, Bar Mitzvahs / Bat Mitzvahs, and many other Jewish Simchas

Click here to view

Parsha of The Week

Rabbi Yossy Goldman,
Sydenham Shul,
C/O ‘Beloved Country’
Heads Up!

Perspective. What a difference it can make. How we look, where we look and the way we look at things always colors our impressions.

In this week’s Parsha, the word Ur’eetem – And you shall see, occurs twice. The first is at the beginning in the story of the spies sent by Moses to investigate the Promised Land, and the second time is at the very end, in the chapter of Tzitzit. Inthe first verse, Moses instructs the spies And you shall see the land, what is it…are the people strong or weak…is the land fertile or lean…are the cities open or fortified? In the second verse, we are commanded concerning the fringes on our Tallit and told And you shall look upon them and remember all the commandments of G-d and fulfill them.

The same word, Ur’eetem, is used both times; yet look at the stark contrast between these two chapters. The first time, with the spies, it turned tragic. Their negative report of the Promised Land caused the people to cry for no good reason and G-d said that day would become a time of “weeping for generations.” Indeed, it was Tisha B’Av, and the resulting 40-year delay in entering Israel was to be the first of many national calamities to befall our people on that same day. The second time, however, it is a good thing. Looking at the fringes is a way to remember all G-d’s commandments and to observe a G-dly life.

It all depends on how we look at things. It all comes down to where we go looking. To see the land is to see earthiness, a materialistic perspective. To see the tzitzit is to gaze at a mitzvah of G-d, a heavenly perspective.

Ever watch an army of ants at work? Isn’t it fascinating how they march in a straight line? Such disciplined workers, it is quite amazing. Ants, you see, have one-dimensional vision. That’s why they follow their noses and the guy right in front of them. They have no peripheral vision and therefore no distractions from their single-minded, though limited, perspective.

I remember a farbrengen in Yeshiva in Montreal when I was a student. Reb Velvel Greenglass, a revered mentor, was waxing lyrical on the difference between a human being and an animal. The animal was created in a horizontal line. The cow, naturally, looks downward, at the grass. Munching grass is its full-time occupation. All a cow thinks about all day is its food. Ever see a cow looking up at the sky and pondering the meaning of life? Human beings, however, were created in a vertical line. It is much easier for humans to look upward, to be pensive and to contemplate that which is higher and more meaningful. (I guess that’s why the chimps and baboons that stand vertically think they are gantze mentschen.)

To be people of vision we must look upward. There is a higher purpose to life. There is a deeper meaning to what meets the eye. The whole concept of Kabbalah and Mysticism is based on the principle of the metaphysical. This fundamental principle is that there is not only the self-evident body but also the invisible soul; not only the universe but also a cosmic plan and a profound reason for every experience in life, whether it be obvious to us or not.

If we only look at the land, at that which is earthly and material, the world is crass and careless, helter-skelter and hollow. But when we raise our sights and lift our heads heavenward we see so much more. When we utilize our unique human mind power and spiritual potential, we can better discern the wood from the trees, the lofty from the low. The Sages of the Talmud noted that by looking at the tzitzit, we not only see the commandments of G-d but we discover G-d Himself, hence the singular Ur’eetem Otoi.

I guess, where you look always determines what you find.

Let’s not look for excuses. Don’t opt for the easy way out. Let us learn from the men in the wilderness who could have had every excuse in the book and yet happily chose to look for a new mitzvah and to share in the good deed of their community.

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