WARNING- A different workload 

Today is Sukkot a Jewish Holiday where we are to recognize that G-D protects our walls and as such, we create a primitive to dwell in over a 7 day period; that is at least according to my interpretation. One of the requirements for this holiday is not to do LABORIOUS “work” which gives me G-D willing some leeway. How I define that as work that is I’m not permitted to do work above my normal “pay grade”. So I will still go to work and fulfill all my basic “chores” but not seek extra work that I normally strive to do.  Trust me this is harder than you might think for a person like me not in the sense of lifting but one who has a type “A” personality. I’m already feeling guilty for arriving at work after Shul.  Balancing my secular work and the one of faith is something that is very confusing but adding the word “LABORIOUS” makes it a bit easier for me to pull.

P.S.-  Laborious Work= requiring much work, exertion, or perseverance: a laborious undertaking. characterized by or requiring extreme care and much attention to detail: laborious research. characterized by or exhibiting excessive effort, dullness, and lack of spontaneity; labored: a strained, laborious plot

I decided to eat in NYC without traveling that far as I visited Nova Kitchen. This restaurant had all the ambiance, style, and pricing of any upscale NYC restaurant within a manageable distance.  The food was served in an artistic fashion as was the look of the entire restaurant. Due to NYC style pricing, I stayed with the appetizer selections, cocktails, and of course a selection or two from the dessert menu.  The menu consisted of many items you would see on the island of Manhattan as well. Yet the only food that dominated my taste buds was the mushroom ravioli.  The truth is in the end though as I wouldn’t go to NYC to visit a restaurant every day the Nova Kitchen appears to be a similar destination.

**1/2 – You can add an extra star for the ambiance and to be honest, I might have to add any extra star once I delve into my wallet and grab the main course.

You can do whatever you want as long as you can deal with the consequences. The reward and punishment for said actions can be dealt with by those closest to you such as family/friends or can occur behind concrete walls as well, 6 feet under or be a higher authority in a different realm altogether. Many times you might assume your action and words will be dealt with more strictly than actually occurs and that might be the power others have over you. Power is something anyone can yield if they believe a higher authority is calling them to act and they, therefore, are not afraid of what society will reign down on them here.  It is the 5 letter word that can change everything or in another’s hands keep you suppressed for good. Power how far do you believe you should go!

I stood in a 6×6 prison cell in which it appeared I would be locked away for a crime I could not even imagine let alone commit never thinking this would be my impetus for “change”.  This was the path I and Joseph walked together and although his lead to an incredible journey that changed everything mine also took me down a path I never expected.

Joseph told his brothers that in his dream that the path they were on was going to be lead by him and they hated him for it as this was not in their “cards”. Change is scary and sometimes only can occur when something unexpected is thrown in one’s lap.  Joseph never dreamed that the ability G-D gave him to interrupt dreams would not only free him from a prison cell but have him lead one of the greatest nations of his times. This change came from one of the darkest spots in his life. Thank G-D he and the nation embraced this incredible change which in a sense led us to the steps we are on now.

I never realized that once the false charges were dropped that I would feel freer than ever!  It opened the door to me that life could change in a minute and I needed to grab the key to the opportunities that laid ahead of me instead of waiting to see if someone would open the door. Sometimes the door might lead to a much smaller room than expected but there are more keys ahead. For G-D sometimes leads us through many a stormy path as this is the only way we will accept the “change” we need to embrace.  Our shul, community, and nation have gone through many a stormy path the question is whether we will see the shiny keys and grab them.

Oh, you think you’re the more intelligent race but we’ve been here for 1000 years spying on your every move. Yes, we were sent as robots to spy on you until the day when we gather enough information for the invasion.  If you ever looked closely you could see the mechanical way that we move and understand our true mission but “you’re just too smart” to see what’s right in front of you. Cute you little squirrel and chipmunk who were built for a more devious mission.

FOOTNOTE-  This is not a true story but watch them carefully and you might believe it is so.