#mentsch

[benryzhik]

A huge thank you to all who attended the Nosh with a Mentsch kickoff event co-hosted by Moishe House. Thanks to Jewish Colorado's Young Adult Department and JNF for helping get the word out as well. The room got a taste of what I personally have been feeling with some of these mentors since I met. They have lived through amazing times and it is my goal to being the community together and capture those stories before we don't have the opportunity. Yesterday was a huge success and we have 10 people signed up to volunteer for this local service project. Stay tuned for more information on the project through social media or contact me directly at [email protected] #gingigadol #greenberet #veteran #veterans #fuldafoundation #nonprofitorganization #nonprofit #jews #jewishwarveterans #moishehouse #jewishcolorado #jnf #mentsch #inspired #humbled #motivation #humpday #inspiration #denver #colorado #coloradolife #denvercolorado (at Denver, Colorado)

[eretzyisrael]

Robin Williams and the Jewish Problem

There's this old joke about a teacher assigning her students with the task of writing about elephants. The French child wrote about the love life of elephants, or some such thing. The Italian wrote of what elephants ate - all stereotypical responses. As for the Jewish child, he wrote, "The Elephant and the Jewish Problem." I don't know why I thought of that - maybe I'm looking for a smile. I heard that Robin Williams had died on the way into work this morning....they discussed his talents, his movies. Said he had three children. And then the inevitable conversation, "I heard he was Jewish," said one newscaster. "No, his wife is Jewish," responded the Hollywood-based reporter. "So, his children are Jewish," said the first. "No, he was married three times. His current wife is Jewish; his children are from a previous marriage. But he was a mentsch [a good person]." Maybe that sums up so much - he was a mentsch in a world where there are so few. He was so much a part of my growing up...so many movies, so many smiles. I always thought he was the most human of men, the smartest, the best. He never struck me, as George Clooney did, as full of himself but rather full of talent. He made America laugh - better I can say of few men. May his memory be blessed and may whatever tormented him in life, leave him alone in death. May his family be comforted - few live as full a life as he did. He gave great meaning to so many roles, each a message for all of us.

[jlisf]

Lesson 4 Review

The Jewish Definition of Being Human  While society uses the term "he's only human" to justify faults that may come naturally to us, in Judaism a Mentsch literally means 'being human' yet has the opposite connotation. Unique from all other creations, we have the ability to use our mind to control our instinctive nature and make our decisions with proper thought. Man as Communicator Although the virtue of man is the mind, in Kabbalistic literature the Human being is referred to as a Medaber, an Articulate Communicator. To speak is to communicate and relate to another person. In order to do so, we must use thought in our communication in order to have a productive relationship, personal or professional. Speaking without this 'thought' is not communication as we are simply expressing ourselves without taking another person into account. Being a Mentsch means to be human by considering your surroundings and those you connect and communicate with.  Anger; The Anti Mentsch Most recognize the corrosive nature that anger can have on a relationship. But many of us struggle to control our emotions. By implementing the 'mentsch' concept we can focus on elements that will diffuse most issues and remove negative emotions and anger.

Consider using these tools; a. Do we have all the facts of the situation? b. Have we viewed the situation as part of the larger picture? c. Do we give our spouse the same considerations which we give ourselves in similar situations? Appreciation & Gratitude To appreciate our spouse, use a similar tool of focusing on the wholeness and benefits that we receive from our marriage. Do not isolate issues, take view of the bigger picture that your relationship offer, and just as you look beyond your own flaws use the same 'tunnel vision' on your spouse and only see the good. So by using the human capacities of our mind, and implementing a Mentsch mentality, we can surly have a beautiful marriage.