Is being nice so hard? I wonder. I think for some people it is. Makes me sad. Don't people realize that they can accomplish far more by being nice? Whats the old saying.. "You catch more flies with honey, then with vinegar." How true!! I am amazed too often how many people fail to know proper etiquette. Are we going back to Caveman times? Where has please and thank you gone? Why do so many people walk around with such a sense of entitlement? We were all put on this earth together.. Some of us have less.. Some more.. Some are prettier.. Some are larger.. Some smaller.. No one has the right to treat anyone different because of any of these circumstances. But unfortunately they do! Be nice or leave as the sign in my house says!!
Have fun! I always do!
RISA
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Monday, February 19, 2007
Easy Living
I cannot even imagine what the world would be like without the Internet. Mostly I love the convenience of shopping online. Last week I signed onto Amazon and was able to order Treats for the Pooches.. Cereal in Individual Cups (like they sell in the deli's)... Wee Wee Pads for Carrie Bradshaw who doesn't quite understand the idea of "doing her business outside"... K Cups for the Keurig Home Brewing System www.keurig.com. Crystal Light "On The Go" packets too! Everything went into one shopping cart and was one transaction even though the items were shipped from several different vendors. Easy Easy Easy!!! All from the comforts of your own couch!! Getting back to Keurig!! I have to send a special thanks to Benjy, who is my sons best friend! Benjy told me about this machine and it has changed our regular coffee making routine. We love it and all the choices of coffees and teas you can order. One cup at a time! Choice of sizes too! A must buy!
Have fun! I always do!
Have fun! I always do!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
"One Person can make a Difference"
I can hardly remember a time when I wasn't actively involved in some organization or cause. Years back when I wasn't able to make significant financial donations I just gave my time. I remember getting involved along with my friend Debbie in the JDRF walkathon on Long Island shortly after I was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. Now I am fortunate that I can give my time and money too. There is something out there for everyone who wants to be involved with making this world a better place, helping those in need, effecting change at a grassroots level, donating time and of course money. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by lots of people who do this on a daily basis. Whether it is spending time with the mentally ill, volunteering at your child's school, volunteering in a not-for-profit thrift shop, organizing fundraising events, volunteering at a hospital, championing causes and feeding the poor you are making a difference. So what about all the other people out there who for one reason or another never quite find the time to volunteer or never quite find a few extra bucks to donate?? I don't understand that! I don't know what bothers me more.. I think its the donating money! That's very easy. No excuses!!! You don't have to give your time and its very easy to make a donation these days. Especially online. Most organizations have websites and you can easily donate right on the website.
I encourage you all to pass this blog around.. Lets make sure all those who can are reaching into their pockets and giving to the causes that have meaning for them. I think my "cage" was rattled recently after making follow up calls for my children's school for their Annual Campaign. I was shocked and saddened to see how many parent's had not stepped up to the plate to make a donation. The campaign was structured starting at $18 all the way up to 5 figures... So each person could participate at a level they were comfortable with. What a tough sell!!! Oh well....
Have fun! I always do!
RISA
I encourage you all to pass this blog around.. Lets make sure all those who can are reaching into their pockets and giving to the causes that have meaning for them. I think my "cage" was rattled recently after making follow up calls for my children's school for their Annual Campaign. I was shocked and saddened to see how many parent's had not stepped up to the plate to make a donation. The campaign was structured starting at $18 all the way up to 5 figures... So each person could participate at a level they were comfortable with. What a tough sell!!! Oh well....
Have fun! I always do!
RISA
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Breast Feeding in Public
While eating lunch today at Baby Moon Restaurant in Westhampton Beach I noticed at a table right across from us a woman breast feeding her baby. I thought she was just holding the baby until I noticed the entire side of her shirt pulled up. I felt this was extremely inappropriate to be doing in the middle of a restaurant without covering herself. Maybe I am old fashioned in this sense but I feel there is a time and place for everything.. OK maybe not a time when you have a hungry baby but that is your problem.. the entire restaurant doesn't have to be part of it. I guess if she covered herself with a blanket it wouldn't have bothered me as much.. Maybe?? Then she even talked on the cell phone and drank a cappuccino at the same time. I guess this would be an example of multitasking at its best... Feeding your baby... while feeding your self while talking on the phone... Needless to say I think people need to be more aware of the shared space we all inhabit!
Have fun! I always do!
RISA
Have fun! I always do!
RISA
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Weekend Roundup Feb 4th....
Friday night services at The New York Synagogue celebrating Shabbat Shira (the Sabbath of Song) were a true celebration!! We had the pleasure of listening to Cantor Netanel Hershtik and two incredible Cantors from Jerusalem, Cantor Yakov Rosenfeld and Cantor Tzvi Horowitz. The congregation was filled and everyone was truly mesmerized by the voices.
On Saturday, Jeff and I had the pleasure of meeting Senator Barack Obama, Democratic Presidential Candidate at a very intimate fundraiser for him hosted by major players in the tech world. http://pulverblog.pulver.com/I was thoroughly impressed by Senator Obama who answered all the questions asked of him with "thought-out" responses and truly spoke from the heart. He did not once "bash" any of his opponents but spoke at length about his vision on many pressing topics. I encourage you to find out more about this very intelligent and dynamic man who also shares a day that is very dear to me.. August 4th which is my birthday and his too!!
Hmmmm Saturday night and A Frozen Pipe... As we pulled up to our house in the Hamptons very late on Saturday night.. Really Sunday morning at around 1:00AM we noticed a flood in our driveway. Not a good sign!! We went into the house to hear the sound of a river flowing in our garage. I opened the garage door and was in shock!! A pipe had burst in the bedroom above our garage.... Water was pouring through the ceiling of the garage onto the cars and pieces of the ceiling had fallen down too... The bedroom carpet had turned brown and was soaked.. OYYY not a fun thing to walk into at 1:00 AM... Luckily with the help of our plumber by phone we found the shut off for the water for that part of the house... Then went to bed... So all will be fixed... Aggravating yes but nothing we could do... Confucius says: Make sure your heating system is always working when it is very cold outside :-)
In and Around Westhampton Beach....
Even on a blustery cold day like today.. There were still people walking around and shopping in WHB. I stopped at some of my favorites... Fahrenheit 451 and chatted with Liz.. Hugged Sammy (her dog) and bought the boys some cool jeans... Then headed over to Lavish Beauty... Randi is the best. She has all the latest body products.. Makeup from Trish McEvoy and Scott Barnes.. Bliss Products and Several Unique Fragrance Lines. Also Bond 9 Fragrances which is one of my favorites!! If you can't get out to WHB check out the website at www.shoplavishbeauty.com Then off to The Beach Bakery for a soda and some rainbow cookies for Dylan.. Many of the stores are closed for the season but there's still plenty to see.
Have fun! I always do!
RISA
On Saturday, Jeff and I had the pleasure of meeting Senator Barack Obama, Democratic Presidential Candidate at a very intimate fundraiser for him hosted by major players in the tech world. http://pulverblog.pulver.com/I was thoroughly impressed by Senator Obama who answered all the questions asked of him with "thought-out" responses and truly spoke from the heart. He did not once "bash" any of his opponents but spoke at length about his vision on many pressing topics. I encourage you to find out more about this very intelligent and dynamic man who also shares a day that is very dear to me.. August 4th which is my birthday and his too!!
Hmmmm Saturday night and A Frozen Pipe... As we pulled up to our house in the Hamptons very late on Saturday night.. Really Sunday morning at around 1:00AM we noticed a flood in our driveway. Not a good sign!! We went into the house to hear the sound of a river flowing in our garage. I opened the garage door and was in shock!! A pipe had burst in the bedroom above our garage.... Water was pouring through the ceiling of the garage onto the cars and pieces of the ceiling had fallen down too... The bedroom carpet had turned brown and was soaked.. OYYY not a fun thing to walk into at 1:00 AM... Luckily with the help of our plumber by phone we found the shut off for the water for that part of the house... Then went to bed... So all will be fixed... Aggravating yes but nothing we could do... Confucius says: Make sure your heating system is always working when it is very cold outside :-)
In and Around Westhampton Beach....
Even on a blustery cold day like today.. There were still people walking around and shopping in WHB. I stopped at some of my favorites... Fahrenheit 451 and chatted with Liz.. Hugged Sammy (her dog) and bought the boys some cool jeans... Then headed over to Lavish Beauty... Randi is the best. She has all the latest body products.. Makeup from Trish McEvoy and Scott Barnes.. Bliss Products and Several Unique Fragrance Lines. Also Bond 9 Fragrances which is one of my favorites!! If you can't get out to WHB check out the website at www.shoplavishbeauty.com Then off to The Beach Bakery for a soda and some rainbow cookies for Dylan.. Many of the stores are closed for the season but there's still plenty to see.
Have fun! I always do!
RISA
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
The House of Love and Prayer... A Play about the life of Shlomo Carlebach
I was very fortunate to be in the audience of the 3rd night of a 3 night NYC run of The House of Love and Prayer.. The Life, Music and Stories of Shlomo Carlebach. The 2 1/2 + hour performance was thoroughly engaging and delightful from the start. The music had the audience clapping and tapping their feet. As the show ended and the crowd rose to a standing ovation I felt like I could have listened to the music all night long...
A little info on the life of Shlomo Carlebach from Wikipedia....
Shlomo Carlebach's ancestors comprised one of the oldest rabbinical dynasties in pre-Holocaust Germany.
Shlomo Carlebach was born in Berlin, where his father, Rabbi Naftali Carlebach, was an Orthodox Rabbinic Authority. The family fled the Nazis in 1933 and lived in Baden bei Wien, Austria before coming to New York City in 1939. His father became the rabbi of Congregation Kehilath Jacob, a small synagogue on West 79th Street in New York's Upper West Side; Shlomo and his twin brother Eli Chaim took over the rabbinate of the synagogue after their father's death in 1967.
Reb Shlomo studied at several high-level Orthodox yeshivos, including Yeshiva Torah Vodaas and Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin in Brooklyn, New York, and Bais Medrash Gevoha in Lakewood, New Jersey. His voice and musical talents were recognized quite early during his days in yeshiva, when he was often chosen to lead the services as a popular Hazzan ("cantor") for Jewish holidays.
As is engraved on his tombstone, he became a devoted Hasid ("disciple") of Rabbi Joseph Isaac Schneersohn (1880-1950) the sixth Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch. From 1951-1954, he subsequently worked as the first emissaries (shluchim) of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, until he departed to form his successful model for outreach, literally teaching hundreds of thousands of Jews worldwide
Reb Shlomo and his wife, Neila, had two daughters, Nedara (Dari) and Neshama. Neshama Carlebach is a songwriter and singer with her own following who has written and sung many songs in her father's style.
He died suddenly of a heart attack while travelling on an airplane to relatives in Canada. Seated next to him was the Skverer Rebbe, they were singing the Rebbe's favorite melody, which Shlomo had composed.
Reb Shlomo was very close with many famous Hassidic Rebbes, including the Amshinover Rebbe and Bobover Rebbe. Shlomo is regarded as one of the most successful Kiruv personalities of the 20th century, second only to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, reaching many Jewish souls through his outreach, music and teaching.
Carlebach's approach towards kiruv, or Jewish outreach, was often tinged with controversy:
"He operated outside traditional Jewish structures in style and substance, and spoke about God and His love in a way that could make other rabbis uncomfortable."[3]
At times, he would encourage mixed (men and women) dancing at his concerts and would often kiss woman upon greeting them:
"He was known for literally embracing his female followers—a forbidden practice among Orthodox jews. His standards of comportment were viewed as being too lax by Orthodox colleagues, distancing him from the Haredi establishment which adheres to the laws of shomer negiah (whereby physical contact with a member of the opposite sex is only permitted with one's spouse and very close relatives). An anecdote is told that when Carlebach was asked about his lack of adherence to the laws of shomer negiah by one yeshiva student, he responded (in a manner very uncharacteristic to him), "When your foolish rabbi knows as much as the average gentile about the Torah, come back and ask me the same question."
I had the pleasure of listening to Rabbi Naftali Citron, Spiritual Leader of The Carlebach Shul this summer at The Hampton Synagogue. Rabbi Citron is the great nephew of Reb Shlomo. The Carlebach Shul www.carlebachshul.org is located on West 79th Street in New York City.
Have fun! I always do!
RISA
A little info on the life of Shlomo Carlebach from Wikipedia....
Shlomo Carlebach's ancestors comprised one of the oldest rabbinical dynasties in pre-Holocaust Germany.
Shlomo Carlebach was born in Berlin, where his father, Rabbi Naftali Carlebach, was an Orthodox Rabbinic Authority. The family fled the Nazis in 1933 and lived in Baden bei Wien, Austria before coming to New York City in 1939. His father became the rabbi of Congregation Kehilath Jacob, a small synagogue on West 79th Street in New York's Upper West Side; Shlomo and his twin brother Eli Chaim took over the rabbinate of the synagogue after their father's death in 1967.
Reb Shlomo studied at several high-level Orthodox yeshivos, including Yeshiva Torah Vodaas and Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin in Brooklyn, New York, and Bais Medrash Gevoha in Lakewood, New Jersey. His voice and musical talents were recognized quite early during his days in yeshiva, when he was often chosen to lead the services as a popular Hazzan ("cantor") for Jewish holidays.
As is engraved on his tombstone, he became a devoted Hasid ("disciple") of Rabbi Joseph Isaac Schneersohn (1880-1950) the sixth Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch. From 1951-1954, he subsequently worked as the first emissaries (shluchim) of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, until he departed to form his successful model for outreach, literally teaching hundreds of thousands of Jews worldwide
Reb Shlomo and his wife, Neila, had two daughters, Nedara (Dari) and Neshama. Neshama Carlebach is a songwriter and singer with her own following who has written and sung many songs in her father's style.
He died suddenly of a heart attack while travelling on an airplane to relatives in Canada. Seated next to him was the Skverer Rebbe, they were singing the Rebbe's favorite melody, which Shlomo had composed.
Reb Shlomo was very close with many famous Hassidic Rebbes, including the Amshinover Rebbe and Bobover Rebbe. Shlomo is regarded as one of the most successful Kiruv personalities of the 20th century, second only to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, reaching many Jewish souls through his outreach, music and teaching.
Carlebach's approach towards kiruv, or Jewish outreach, was often tinged with controversy:
"He operated outside traditional Jewish structures in style and substance, and spoke about God and His love in a way that could make other rabbis uncomfortable."[3]
At times, he would encourage mixed (men and women) dancing at his concerts and would often kiss woman upon greeting them:
"He was known for literally embracing his female followers—a forbidden practice among Orthodox jews. His standards of comportment were viewed as being too lax by Orthodox colleagues, distancing him from the Haredi establishment which adheres to the laws of shomer negiah (whereby physical contact with a member of the opposite sex is only permitted with one's spouse and very close relatives). An anecdote is told that when Carlebach was asked about his lack of adherence to the laws of shomer negiah by one yeshiva student, he responded (in a manner very uncharacteristic to him), "When your foolish rabbi knows as much as the average gentile about the Torah, come back and ask me the same question."
I had the pleasure of listening to Rabbi Naftali Citron, Spiritual Leader of The Carlebach Shul this summer at The Hampton Synagogue. Rabbi Citron is the great nephew of Reb Shlomo. The Carlebach Shul www.carlebachshul.org is located on West 79th Street in New York City.
Have fun! I always do!
RISA
Sunday, January 28, 2007
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