The Father of the Rothschilds

This week we read a story about Maier Anschel Rothschild - the founder of the Rothschild banking dynasty.



This story is taken from volume 4 of The Storyteller by Nissan Mindel

Waking Up Angry

Ed: What follows are some personal thoughts, but I thought that perhaps my lessons learned would help someone else

Today I woke up angry, and that's good. I was angry at me for forgetting who I am and what my strengths are. Sometimes something is hard because you are making a big difference and changing something that needs changing. And sometimes things are hard because your doing it wrong.

For me, it was the latter. The problem with a decent amount of competency and stubborn headedness is that most things that you put your head to you can do reasonably well, even if its not your thing to do. The only problem is that it takes all your time and energy and you aren't doing what you are good at and can make a difference doing.

Somewhere along the way I got back to my younger self and was trying to hang out with the cool kids. I'm not one of the cool kids, and I probably never will be, and trying to be there is just saying cool is the only way to be.

Instead teaching classes that people clamor for (I have 2 emails in my inbox and one person who pesters me once a month to see if I'll teach again) I've been busy organizing things and running events, and at the same time being behind scenes too much to be very visible, unless you were paying attention.

Sometimes its your smallness that gets you to realize that you're on the wrong path. And I guess that's what it was for me. I need my projects to give me a sense of overall benefit, and yes, I like continued recognition (as long as people are still talking about what I did.) Teaching and virtual worlds, and blogging all give me that feedback. So does participating in things like Seesmic and the other social parts of Web 2.0 - for the fun of it.

So it's time for me to stop trying to be all that I can be, and instead be me. Sometimes you have to stretch beyond what you can do, but sometimes you have to come home and focus on who you are and what benefits you.

Goldie's Stories - A Little Light Dispells a World of Darkness

This week we read the story that is in the epilogue of the book Truths Revealed: Modern Stories of Miracles & Faith which is written by a friend of mine. It is a story about darkness and light.



This story is from the epilogue of the book Truths revealed: Modern day stories of faith & miracles by Tzvi Jacobs

Goldie's Stories - Episode 23

In today's story we complete the stories from Legends of Judah the Macabee with the story of the Miracle of Chanukah.

If you haven't caught the whole series here are the links to the series in order.

The Rise of Antiochus Epiphanes
The Hellenizers
Antiochus Takes Action
The Death of Eleazar the Priest
Hannah and Her 7 Sons
Rebellion in Modiin
The Death of Matisyahu
Judah the Maccabee Goes to War

And today - The Miracle of Chanukah



This story comes from Legends of Judah The Maccabee
by S. Skulsky

Goldie's Stories - Episode 22

Today's story is a continuation of the book, Legends of Judah the Macabee, Today we read chapter 8 - Judah the Macabee goes to war.



This story comes from Legends of Judah The Maccabee
by S. Skulsky

Goldie's Stories - Episode 21

Today we continue the daily story from an adaptation of Aggadot Yehuda Ha Makkabi. Today's story is about the passing of Matisyahu.



This story comes from Legends of Judah The Maccabee
by S. Skulsky

Goldie's Stories - Episode 20

Today's story, the continuation of the history and story of a Chanukah - Rebellion begins in the mountain town of Modiin.



This story comes from Legends of Judah The Maccabee
by S. Skulsky