The Lion and the Ox: Two Modes of Jewish Leadership

Humility = Strength. Ego is the enemy, and getting ourselves out of our own way is the David/Yehuda way to incredible success/Kingship. When we uphold the image of our successful self, we can take the high road of Yosef, but sometimes the best and most powerful path forward is to admit that we are in fact powerless (this expression of powerlessness is the essence of prayer, and king David says of himself “I am prayer”). With no skin in the game we are able to humbly submit before Hashem and allow Him to lead us to great success that only He knows us to be capable of. Millions have found strength and powerful inspiration from the various twelve step programs. Step # 3, which is the crux of the program reads as follows: “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of G-d…” There's incredible power in the raw honest living that comes with genuine ego negation. The interplay between resilience and excellence Yehuda is crowned King by Yaakov at the end, but that is only after first failing to fully save Yosef, saving his life, but sent away by the brothers for failing to immediately save Yosef in such a way that would have avoided the rift in the Jewish people which is only healed by Mashiach, then personal and familial failure with Tamar, and then the crowning achievement of his admission, which paves the way for his taking full responsibility for Binyamin, and his face-off and discovery of Yosef. Yehuda and Tamar: Admitting weakness as a form of strength (Yosef, who represents strength, only emerges after Yehuda admits to his role with Tamar). Yaakov entrusts Benjamin with Yehuda and not Rueven: Responsibility as the foundation for leadership.. What makes Judah trustworthy is that he submits his entire being under that responsibility, he becomes the vessel to succeed in the mission he's entrusted with because he negates himself so powerfully. Yaakov can't bring himself to trust Reuven with the dangerous and consequential mission, as he is worried that Reuven will mix himself into the picture, and fail to bring his entire self to bear on the problems that the Egyptians will surely throw their way. Under fire, fears of failure, even legitimate ones, will hinder one's ability to focus everything they've got, and under fire you'd better have access to all your strength and focus.Yehuda, with no self in the picture, is able to decide exactly when to push Yaakov to part with Binyamin. He isn't rash. He has no need to act if it won't be 100% useful, and so he waits, patiently, for the perfect opportunity, and he gets one when the food supplies run dry.

Yosef is being led by the hand to his destiny. His descent to Egypt is the catalyst for the Jewish nation being exiled there, surviving spiritually, and ultimately emerging as a nation, and it all begins with Yosef's descent. This story is so much bigger than him! And Yosef knows this, else, he wouldn't survive the loneliness and suffering. He knows there's a big picture. And yet, he also focuses 100% on his small picture – the one in front of him today. Being the most useful servant of the depraved Potifar. Why? Because he knows that this small picture of today will build his own story, and ultimately the story of the Divine plan. How they exactly connect isn't his business at the moment, but he knows with perfect faith that they connect. The meeting point between free-will and Divine providence. The above idea leads us to a deeper understanding of the serenity prayer. We don't merely accept that which we can't control as something that is not worth focusing on, because, hey, there's nothing we can do about it anyways, rather, we accept the inevitable as part of our place in the Divine plan that is way bigger than we are. And then we get to work on the aspects that are within our control, and therefore our responsibility. Never forgetting that there is a bigger picture as well.

YOU Write the Script of Your Life. We discuss how staying above your circumstances, by being rooted above your circumstances. That way you can *choose* to define your reality, and not let reality dictate to you what your life is. We return to the life of biblical Joseph. The great commentator, Malbim, writes that Yosef acted based on the needs of the situation, not his own personal preferences. He treated those who were socially needier than he was with compassion, while he treated his equals with strength. This is something that was misunderstood by his brothers. From Joseph we learn that focused Action = success. Marry the potential to the proper area of actualization and stick with it. Success is not a product of random chance! With focused efforts, we marry our potential to its soulmate –the fertile grounds of actualization.   We must see our circumstances as the setting for focused action that will build our reality --today is only a springboard for tomorrow..  Having a growth mindset isn't only about one's skill set and strengths, but in truth it's really a global idea. How do you see the world?  We get into how being able to choose, and being able to focus action to build the future, tie together to be one concept. Today things are only the way they look because you haven't brought your free-will to bear yet.    Interestingly, as we've mentioned twice, this futuristic view actually makes it easier to accept circumstances as they are today, and not rebel against the will of God in giving us our personal package of reality. Joseph accepts his reality 100% and then he gets to work, seeing where this reality will take him. Todays reality is just a stage, and it setup comes from above; there's nothing I can do about changing things as they are NOW, so why bother? It's inspiring to follow Joseph down to Egypt and watch as he finds success in all circumstances via complete focus on the present. Hashem is creating my reality. It is exactly as it should be, so focus 100%. Despite being ‘out of a job' --Potifar purchased Joseph for immoral purposes, but was struck by a impotency--, Joseph focuses on the task at hand, and becomes chief of staff -- he gives everything his best effort and reaps the rewards. Joseph realizes the power of getting to work on the reality right in front of you. There's no reason to search for opportunity. The opportunity in front of us is where we must start. If we begin, the rest will follow.

In episode #2 we discussed how to balance ambition and acceptance. Accept the reality of today, including the things you don't love, and by accepting them, you keep them from overwhelming your entire worldview, which in turn allows you to move forward. Acceptant mindfulness has two components: One, the embrace of what there is to love in life, and two, the acceptance of the difficult and painful. We learned how Joseph was a master of this craft, and how he helped keep things straight for his mother, at the same time, he expanded his fathers mission. We have learned of Joseph as a youngster. We saw what he meant to his parents and got to peek at his potential. But now is the time to see this great tzadik emerge. What happens to us when we leave the cute childhood behind and try to make our dreams come true in the ‘real' world? How do our childish dreams translate into actionable goals? The Start of Dreams:  Step one: be present. Being present to the moment gives you the peace of mind to sense the quiet voice of inner power and potential. It is only through an honest, realistic view of our current standing that we can hope and yearn for more. Otherwise our dreams are completely non-realistic. Dreams shouldn't contradict reality, they should expand reality.  Now we can begin to dream, not as a total fantasy but a dream of expressing our truest essence.  Joseph was a dreamer, so are many, the difference is that his dream of greatness and leadership came to fruition. His dreams are prophetic, yet still require time and process to become actualized. Joseph's brutally honest appraisal and acceptance of reality led him to a deep, faith-based sense of where he was at the moment and where he needed to go -- this being the basis of true dreams. This then allowed him to dream, to see well beyond the horizon of his present circumstances. In turn, it gave him the courage to face his most trying moments. Because he wasn't limited by that moment, he saw way beyond it to a better tomorrow.  What are dreams? Dreams and imagination work through imagery, the polar opposite of purely abstract intellectualization (Moreh Nevuchim 2:73). On a more basic level, thinking with images only, is symptomatic of being enmeshed in the physical world. But Yosef is able to show that even here on this earthly land of dreams, if the earthly is fully aligned with the spiritual, there is pure, unadulterated, spiritual truth. Dreams are imaginative, the furthest possible from reality, and yet for Yosef, dreams represent the truth, and he is able to carry the emes to the farthest places, most distant from the Source –Hashem.   Kabalistically, Yosef represents the attribute of Yesod, which connects heaven and earth. Yosef the dreamer stands at the border of freewill/malchut and divine knowledge/higher realms: Creativity Vs. Structure. Acceptance Vs. ‘pushing forward'. This is the tightrope that Joseph walks. Yosef has the potential for perfect alignment, he can realize the Will of Hashem by his own self development without there be any contradiction between his will and that of his Creator. His free will and the realm beyond it meet in his dreams. He can realize the deepest Will that originates from far beyond self, with the daily building blocks of exercising his own power.    What it has to do with us. Rav Tzadok Hakohen writes that we each have a dream, a secret yearning to be a king or queen. This isn't a result of visiting Buckingham, but an expression of a yearning that has roots deep within our psyche. You see, our soul, our deeper self, is rooted beyond the superficial reality. The dreamer faces two major challenges. One, uncovering our inner essence which is deeply veiled by the busyness of life, and muffled by the incessant chatter of the ego. Two, even when we get a glimpse of our inner essence, when we hear the faint sounds of our soul, we have little idea how to translate it to the ‘real'...

Who was Joseph? Paradigm of discipline and focus? Starry eyed dreamer? Brilliant visionary?  Joseph's personality develops from day one, and can be derived from his very name. “And she (Rachel) called his name Joseph (yosef, to add) for G-d has gathered (asaf)  my shame.” Joseph, it turns out, relates both to adding and to gathering. He defines, gathers, directs, ensures that nothing gets lost, and then with every ounce of good conserved and every bit of bad contained, Joseph is ready to add. Joseph's name contains two fundamental truths: One, for goodness to thrive, evil must be kept at bay. Sure, it'd be great to vanquish all negativity, put all evildoers behind bars, and get on with our work. But that has little to do with reality. Instead, evil should be defined, understood, and promptly banished i.e., limited as much as possible; it has its powers, but the key question is: do we add to its strength? Do we give it larger-than-life powers? Joseph understood the power of limiting evil to be no more than it is on its own. “You want to mess with G-d's world? You won't get any attention or help from me,” says Joseph.  As we travel through life, we will face challenges. A key question we must ask ourselves is, how much of this is true in objective reality, and how  much have I contributed to the problem by treating the issue as something greater than it truly is? Sure, it may be a problem, but is it really all encompassing? Joseph teaches us to allow our troubles to occupy the real estate they actually occupy and not an extra inch.  The second lesson is that abundance, expansive blessing, and enduring greatness don't grow out of thin air. There's no magic potion, formula, program, book, or weekend retreat that can create success for you. Success and greatness are about growth. Growth, by definition, requires a starting point, a seed. You are the seed of your own future greatness. Only by discovering your roots, and working to conserve and focus the power within, can you discover that, in fact, there are no limits or borders to what you can achieve. The abundance of Joseph arises only from the focus of asaf.  What's remarkable is that all this begins before Joseph has made a single choice. It all lies in his name, in his inner potential. While Joseph's identity and strength were unique, there's nothing unique about this story. Every human being has an incredible and absolutely unique potential for greatness. Can we reconstruct Joseph's path to the throne, and recreate it in our own lives? The answer, I believe, is a resounding yes!  The very first thing we must do is find our inner sanctuary and guard it for all we are worth. Maybe you have a particular interest in one act of service or another? Perhaps there's a talent waiting to be discovered that will empower you as an individual, and allow you to find your voice for the betterment of the world around you? Maybe there's an aspect or book of ancient Torah wisdom that fascinates you? The key idea is that the starting point is in front of you. You can only begin from the present, so be mindful of where you are now. If you can ensure this tiny but most vital part of your personality remains pure, unsullied by anger, unharmed by critics, and at once strong and vulnerable, you have your seed. Then you must get to work. The seed isn't to be protected for eternity, it is there to grow into something formidable. But the real world doesn't allow for purity! True, but the game of life isn't all or nothing. Even one droplet will be enough to get you going. The soul is all encompassing. It is one. By touching a part you've touched the whole. If, for only one moment, you manage to hear the voice of your soul, you will have your marching orders. That is only the beginning. The next step is growth. Ask, how can I expand this talent of mine. How do I ensure that I hear the whisper of my soul more often, and how...

The gift of life is the gift of opportunity. The choice is ours. Should we aim for greatness, or satisfy ourselves with mediocrity?  Choosing to pursue greatness is only the beginning. From the start, distractions and frustration litter the road before us. How we deal with these impediments will define the type of life we build. How we respond to this question isn't a personal matter, because the person we become for ourselves is the person we become for others. Successful leadership is simply successful living, perhaps with bigger and broader stakes. The aim of this (podcast) is to showcase two approaches to success – on a personal and leadership level. There are two pathways up the mountain: the path of focused strength, and the path of resilience. The former is the path of Yosef and the latter is the path of Yehuda and his descendant King David. Yosef was a tzadik; the paradigm of moral strength, he always managed to turn dust to gold. As a young slave, recently torn from his family, he does well enough to become head of household for an important court official. Handsome, uber successful, and lonesome at the age of seventeen, he had the inner strength and focus to resist the daily advances of his master's wife.  Yosef teaches us to set our moral compass early in life, and never waver. He knew where he wanted to go, and nothing could distract him. Yosef was a dreamer, he had ambitions, and he set out to conquer them. Calm and composed, he had an intuitive sense of who he was, and the faith to know that he would eventually arrive. Failure was simply not in Yosef's lexicon.  Yehuda and David, on the other hand, were all about resiliency. While Yosef taught us how to avoid failure, Yehuda and David taught us how to succeed despite and indeed because of failure.  Yehuda was seduced by Tamar. Compounding the problem was the very difficult choice he faced: admit to it, or see an innocent woman killed. He admits to his lapse, and from this embarrassing union Mashiach is born. Resiliency isn't about recovery but about transformation. Yehuda uses a powerful formula of humility, faith and hope to bounce back from failure stronger than ever. There are the things we excel at. There are times and situations that bring out the best in us. We must grab those opportunities and soar. But there are also moments that test us, and sometimes we fail.  Yosef and Yehuda, resilience and excellence, aren't mutually exclusive. With Yosef as our guide, we discover our strengths and learn to focus our efforts where they matter most. But what happens when we fall - and if we travel the road to greatness, we will falter. It is inevitable. But - does that spell the end?  Do we stop dreaming, stop trying? Yehuda and David teach us to dust ourselves off, get up, and get back to work. We will prevail because it TOO, is inevitable. One day in the future, we'll look back at this moment, not as our greatest failure, but as the catalyst for our greatest success. Let's see how these two approaches play out in some common scenarios.  Scenario number one: A corporation achieves major success, but confidence quickly gives way to arrogance, and high standards to a stifling bureaucracy. Leadership has forgotten that the past should inform, but not define, the future. The great poet John Keats advised that we acquire 'Negative Capability'. According to Keats we need to fight the need for control. Our ego loves a nice clean explanation. It delights in saying, “I got this.” Instead, we should suspend our judgment and humbly embrace uncertainty. With humility, we sneak a peek at that which is beyond us. It puzzles us; it annoys us; it stretches us beyond our comfort zone. It challenges us to rethink our paradigms. Our deeply held beliefs, indeed our entire world, comes under careful scrutiny. Yesterday, we had a nice neat way of explaining the world, but today we're simply confused. Initially, this process will be...

A Tale of Two Kings

Death and The True Meaning of Life. After 12 chapters of describing the futility of life, Kohelet closes with a discussion of death. But once again, the lesson is about the greatness of purposeful living. Life is eternal. It is the empty pursuit of pleasure and power that is empty.

Impactful Living By Giving

The Reactive Cynic.Solomon's begs us to consider the following two extremes: The successful person who knows they have something unique to contribute and they go ahead and work it, until at last, success --Proactivity at its best. The other fellow says, why work if I can just talk. But eventually, feeling the emptiness of a life of idle chatter, the lazy fool, now broke, can do no better than blame everyone around him for his woes.

The Evil House Fly:

Why does the promised youth fail to live up to their potential? It's not for lack of talent, but for lack of understanding. Talents, like everything else, need to be managed, otherwise they can be as more liability than asset. ---Ecclesiastes/Kohelet 9:11-18 I have further observed under the sun that The race is not won by the swift, Nor the battle by the valiant; Nor is bread won by the wise, Nor wealth by the intelligent, Nor favor by the learned. For the time of mischance comes to all. And a man cannot even know his time. As fishes are enmeshed in a fatal net, and as birds are trapped in a snare, so men are caught at the time of calamity, when it comes upon them without warning. This thing too I observed under the sun about wisdom, and it affected me profoundly. There was a little city, with few men in it; and to it came a great king, who invested it and built mighty siege works against it. Present in the city was a poor wise man who might have saved it with his wisdom, but nobody thought of that poor man. So I observed: Wisdom is better than valor; but A poor man's wisdom is scorned, And his words are not heeded. Words spoken softly by wise men are heeded sooner than those shouted by a lord in folly. Wisdom is more valuable than weapons of war, but a single error destroys much of value.

Death happens once on the macro level, but many times on the micro level. Disappointment, failure, setbacks are all forms of micro death. Many have lost all ambition because they've been burned once too many. Life is eternal; life is ever fresh and novel, it just awaits actualization. It's time to reengage with life, and live each moment as a completely unique opportunity for creative expression.

The rules of success are universal. The marshmallow test, which displays one's ability to delay gratification, may predict a future doctor who can endure med school, who saves lives for a living, or the drug lord, who patiently ascends to power, and who may kill to earn his bread. There seem to be many paths to success. The key is simply to choose one. In the face of the prosperous wicked, why oh why should we choose the path of good? Further, how can we have confidence that what we see as good is indeed good? Enter King David. In his death he taught that the "live dog is better than the dead lion." There may be many roads to success, and there are various ways to assert oneself, but there's only one source of life. You may have sculpted your body, achieved brilliance in your field, and developed an exquisitely beautiful personality, but did you create your own life?! By focusing excessively on our own accomplishments, on our personal power, we exhaust ourselves. We move further and further from the simple, raw power of life itself.

Happiness is a choice

There's incredible power within. The million dollar question is how to unleash it? Solomon's answer: Good habits, even one obsessively good habit. Good deeds center us, allowing the whisper of our inner voice to be heard. Develop an OCD like relationship with ONE good habit, it'll change the entire trajectory of life for the better.

John Keats spoke of ‘Negative Capability' — as explained by Robert Greene in Mastery. Our ego loves to explain and define. This leads to complacency, to a complete lack of sustained growth. Humility is the key. We can humbly recognize our complete insignificance before the Infinite. We know nothing. Now, we can rethink, redefine, everything. The sky is the limit. We no longer feel the need to hold onto our rigid thought patterns. Photo by https://unsplash.com/@cristofer?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Cristofer Jeschke) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/searching?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash)

Life's the greatest teacher. Trial and error; seeing the good and the bad; comparing and contrasting; matching the the puzzle piece with it's true place; all create and build wisdom. Just start; you'll make mistakes, but you'll learn, and that's the whole point. Focus consistent effort in the right place, and you'll see success. Potential is a puzzle piece too, and it needs the right soil to bear fruit. Ecclesiastes/Kohelet 7:21-29 21) Finally, don't pay attention to everything that is said, so that you may not hear your slave reviling you; 22) For well you remember the many times that you yourself have reviled others. 23) All this I tested with wisdom. I thought I could fathom it, but it eludes me. 24) [The secret of] what happens is elusive and deep, deep down; who can discover it? 25) I put my mind to studying, exploring, and seeking wisdom and the reason of things, and to studying wickedness, stupidity, madness, and folly. 26) Now, I find a woman more bitter than death; she is all traps, her hands are fetters and her heart is snares. He who is pleasing to God escapes her, and he who is displeasing is caught by her. 27) See, this is what I found, said Kohelet, item by item in my search for the reason of things. 28) As for what I sought further but did not find, I found only one human being in a thousand, and the one I found among so many was never a woman. 29) But, see, this I did find: God made men plain, but they have engaged in too much reasoning. We will be taking a short break until April (Verses by Sefaria--Photo by https://unsplash.com/@aginsbrook?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Anthony Fomin) on Unsplash)

What's the key to living a balanced life? It's staying above your circumstances. That way, the choice remains yours. You decide when to be soft, when to be strong, when to let go, and when to hold on fast. You are above definition, because human greatness cannot be pinned down to any one definition. Don't make the mistake of defining yourself, or others, by actions. While actions are an expression of where you may be today, they don't truly reflect what you can be tomorrow. Ecclesiastes 7:15-20 15) In my own brief span of life, I have seen both these things: sometimes a good man perishes in spite of his goodness, and sometimes a wicked one endures in spite of his wickedness. 16) So don't overdo goodness and don't act the wise man to excess, or you may be dumfounded. 17) Don't overdo wickedness and don't be a fool, or you may die before your time. 18) It is best that you grasp the one without letting go of the other, for one who fears God will do his duty by both. 19) Wisdom is more of a stronghold to a wise man than ten magnates that a city may contain. 20) For there is not one good man on earth who does what is best and doesn't err. Photo by https://unsplash.com/@greg_rosenke?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Greg Rosenke) on https://my.captivate.fm/s/photos/tight-rope?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash)

Since we all have our own perception of things, how can we truly empathize with others? The wisdom of humility teaches us that reality is much deeper and goes much further than we can ever truly grasp. The other person's perspective, though very different than yours, is just as valid. Take a look around the room and realize that each person has their own inner world. That world is reality to them. Appreciate it, respect it, embrace it. Ecclesiastes 7:10-14. 10) Don't say, “How has it happened that former times were better than these?” For it is not wise of you to ask that question. 11) Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and even better, for those who behold the sun. 12) For to be in the shelter of wisdom is to be also in the shelter of money, and the advantage of intelligence is that wisdom preserves the life of him who possesses it. 13) Consider God's doing! Who can straighten what He has twisted? 14) So in a time of good fortune enjoy the good fortune; and in a time of misfortune, reflect: The one no less than the other was God's doing; consequently, man may find no fault with Him.

Seeing the big picture will change your life for the better. It will: 1) Improve your relationships as you realize the eternity of human interactions. 2) Allow you to see the inevitable frustrations of life as opportunities for humility and greatness. 3) Focus more on recreation and less on mindless entertainment, and so much more! Photo by https://www.pexels.com/@simonmigaj?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels (Simon Migaj) from https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-red-jacket-standing-outside-of-cave-in-front-of-three-mountains-949193/?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels (Pexels)

If you find yourself focusing too much on structuring your life, you might just miss the real you. You are really thoughtful and compassionate. The real you has a deep desire to contribute and serve. Too much noise and superficiality will hide the true you from sight. Over focusing on structure will lead you to think that you're in control. Let go and let God; and He will guide you in becoming the very best you.

Ambition and drive can lead to greatness or ruin; what's the key to proper ambition? Man is all about potential; not for some ‘out there' achievements, but to express one's true inner greatness. Learn to differentiate between pure ambition and its false counterpart, and you will change the world for the better.

Ecclesiastes/Koheles 5:7-19. If you see in a province oppression of the poor and suppression of right and justice, don't wonder at the fact; for one high official is protected by a higher one, and both of them by still higher ones. Thus the greatest advantage in all the land is his: he controls a field that is cultivated. A lover of money never has his fill of money, nor a lover of wealth his fill of income. That too is futile.  As his substance increases, so do those who consume it; what, then, does the success of its owner amount to but feasting his eyes?  A worker's sleep is sweet, whether he has much or little to eat; but the rich man's abundance doesn't let him sleep.  Here is a grave evil I have observed under the sun: riches hoarded by their owner to his misfortune,  in that those riches are lost in some unlucky venture; and if he begets a son, he has nothing in hand.  Another grave evil is this: He must depart just as he came. As he came out of his mother's womb, so must he depart at last, naked as he came. He can take nothing of his wealth to carry with him.  So what is the good of his toiling for the wind?  Besides, all his days he eats in darkness, with much vexation and grief and anger.  Only this, I have found, is a real good: that one should eat and drink and get pleasure with all the gains he makes under the sun, during the numbered days of life that God has given him; for that is his portion.  Also, whenever a man is given riches and property by God, and is also permitted by Him to enjoy them and to take his portion and get pleasure for his gains—that is a gift of God.  For [such a man] will not brood much over the days of his life, because God keeps him busy enjoying himself. (courtesy of Sefaria)

Thought, speech, action. That is the magic formula of human effectiveness. Speech is the most powerful human faculty, and Solomon's enjoins us to use it well. Keep your mouth from being rash, and let not your throat be quick to bring forth speech before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; that is why your words should be few. Just as dreams come with much brooding, so does foolish utterance come with much speech. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. For He has no pleasure in fools; what you vow, fulfill. It is better not to vow at all than to vow and not fulfill. Don't let your mouth bring you into disfavor, and don't plead before the messenger that it was an error, else God may be angered by your talk and destroy your possessions. For much dreaming leads to futility and to superfluous talk; rather, fear G-d. Our minds might be flooded with anxious and confusing thoughts. But we get to choose which thoughts to develop and verbally express, and which thoughts to discard. Choose your words carefully. Only make commitments that you know you'll carry out, and you will become a new person.

What is so terrible about old age? Why does Solomon use age to differentiate between the good and evil inclinations? Youth relates to development, where a person looks to bring forth their potential, to give to the world around them. Old age analogizes the person who sees themselves as fully developed, who now looks to the world to serve them. You are as old or as young as you make yourself to be.

There are three ways to live life. 1) Open to exploring anything and everything. 2) Closed and rigid. 3) The middle road, expanding frontiers, but connecting it all back to one's core identity. Solomon leads us from tragedy to jealousy, in an effort to teach us the secret of the middle road. A short life lived with integrity is more valuable than a long life filled with anger and envy. Choose quality over quantity, but remember that the road to true quality is via quantity -- consistently sticking with good habits until you can do them with purity and the best intentions.

Is Life worth living? Are there unique moments that make life more meaningful? What about the rest of life? Shammai and Hillel debated for three years and concluded that "it would be better for man had he not been created." (Eruvin 13b) Ben Ish Chai explains: Hillel focused on the view from our world, where a majority of life is spent on mundane and often frustrating pursuits. Shammai sees it in the world-to-come perspective, there everything will be shown to have been worthwhile. Today we rule like Hillel, but in the world-to-come we will follow Shammai.

Each and every person is an entire world. Find your voice, find your soul. Every soul is uniquely suited for a particular mission. To shine it's light in a very specific corner of reality. Find your light, the world is waiting.

Why does opportunity chase some and flee others? Do entrepreneurial legends roam the streets looking for opportunity? The secret ingredient is time. It can be your best friend or your worst enemy. It is up to you. Chapter three of Ecclesiastes provides new insight into timing, and how to use it for your benefit.

Human beings have a transcendent soul. The Greek's believed that the soul/intellect was a 'child' of the human being. Learn the Torah view on this fascinating subject, from the great Rabbi Yehoshua of the Talmud. Tractate Bechoros 8a-b, relates the incredible story of Rabbi Yehoshua and the sages of Athens. 16th century Maharal of Prague gives us insight into the deeper meaning of this cryptic passage. Photo credit: elements-five-digital. Anna Kaminova.

King Solomon worries about his successor. Would he build on the foundation he'd inherited, or would he destroy it? The anxiety of the mega wealthy and mega successful: what will be with their life's work after they're gone? The lessons Solomon teaches go beyond the challenge of wealth. They teach all, the wealthy and the poor, how to live a focused and successful life. How to ensure that YOU are living YOUR own life.

Life is the greatest teacher. King Solomon, who lived life to the fullest, shows us how to live and how to learn. His encounter with Ashmedai, recorded in the Talmud (gittin 68a), is a fascinating lesson in the value of knowing your limits.

Why is there suffering in this world?! Solomon's answer: the Divine nature of creativity. We can either mirror the creative energy of our Source, or stubbornly crown our ego as king. The former path brings blessings to the world; the latter brings suffering.

A brief summary of this episode

Behind every physical phenomena is a deep spiritual reality. This is true about everything, and especially true of the human being. Discover the three levels of human soul: survival, motivation/movement, and the intellect.