“I want to get across the importance of caring for employees. We said, ‘let’s stick by our employees, who have been with us many years, because they’re relying on us to eat.’”

DAVE GORDON

It has been a full year since the lockdowns, social distancing, and quarantines became a part of everyday life in America, even though months earlier COVID-19 had begun its rapid spread in other countries. The destruction in the virus’ wake was not just sickness and death. Dramatic financial hardships hit at well, with millions of people losing their jobs, their businesses, and even their assets, due to the economic tailspin.

Yet, others discovered alternate paths to survive financially – and even to help others survive financially, as well.

Joseph Shamie and his company are one of many examples.

Shamie, a beloved community philanthropist, is President of Delta Enterprises, the world’s largest manufacturer of cribs and baby furniture.

Fortunately, Delta Enterprises prepared for changing conditions caused by the pandemic even before the mandated shutdown. Employees were provided laptops to ensure they could work remotely and were trained using trial runs even before the work-at-home regulations went into effect.

But Coronavirus wrought some challenges that could not be surmounted. The current pressing concern is that many shipping lines have dry-docked their vessels, Shamie explained, due to tightening COVID-19 regulations.

“If you had goods, there weren’t enough vessels [to transport them], so they had to raise their prices for when they had them available. China became the biggest exporter, even more than before,” Shamie noted. “They started charging quadruple – maybe more. With this backlog, there was a bidding war, just to get a vessel, to get your goods here.”

To make matters worse, consumer prices have not changed, which would have compensated for the losses.

Additionally, there is congestion at the U.S. port, because of sudden weather changes.

As of early February, Bloomberg reports there were three dozen docked ships, not able go back to China to reload. In addition, UPS and FedEx are backlogged. “This is because more people are buying online than ever before,” Shamie said. “So, logistics, due to the pandemic, has become the biggest issue out there.”

Yet despite it all, Shamie took great care to weather the storm with a steady hand, making sure his team of 120 people were taken care of.

When the pandemic issues came to the fore, he and his brother Sam decided not to lay off anyone, and they did not reduce salaries. “I want to get across the importance of caring for employees. We said, ‘let’s stick by our employees, who have been with us many years, because they’re relying on us to eat.’” Shamie noted that this was all done at a cost to the company.

“Don’t abandon them when there is an issue, and when they need us most,” Shamie said. “Do this because it is the right thing to do. And guess what. You will build a more loyal team.”

Citrus-A-Peel – Douglas Hartt

Small businesses had their own hurdles, as well, and some like New Jersey’s Citrus-A-Peel thankfully have been able to pivot their services.

Douglas Hartt is the CEO of Citrus-A-Peel, a carpet and upholstery cleaning company. The company was forced to adapt because the Covid-19 reality made the carpet and upholstery cleaning industry almost non-existent. People were no longer ready to allow strangers into their homes, for obvious reasons, not to mention the issue of shrinking dispensable incomes.

“Nothing was coming in, and I knew nothing would come in for a little while. I became a fulltime dad,” Hartt said.

Then, two months later, a daycare center called to use his disinfecting and cleaning services, and something clicked. He made cold calls to other daycares, and this has become his mainstay. As of late, he reached out to previous customers to let them know of all of the precautions that are being taken – including personal protective gear, latex gloves, and sterile boots. This knowledge helped to assuaged the customers’ fears.

Fireside Strategic – Dan King

Another entrepreneur found his new niche by leveraging what is now so often used during the pandemic: virtual meetings.

Dan King, co-founder of Fireside Strategic, began his professional life as a corporate lawyer, and never imagined that his career would take him to creating webinars for CEOs. After months of research with his business partner, they were ready to launch their new company in March of 2020. Their goal was to create an agency that would represent executive and leadership coaches selling their services to larger companies.

But as launch week hit, so did the alarms of Coronavirus. “In the midst of so much business uncertainty, we figured organizations would probably be reducing discretionary spending on things like performance coaching, so we threw our research out the window,” says the Brooklyn-based entrepreneur.

“At first, we had no idea what to do instead. So, we decided we’d better talk to a whole bunch of potential organizational customers and see how we could help.”

King and his business partner came up with the concept of hosting their own video cast for CEOs – much like a podcast, but via webinar – and teaching businesspeople how to do the same. Ninety interviews and a year later, they have thus far interviewed a billionaire, some top Silicon Valley founders, and the current #1 Amazon bestselling author in the management segment.

“An interview show for us is first and foremost about meeting and learning from a fascinating person. If you ask thoughtfully, it’s a very easy way to connect with extremely high-level people, since you are creating content for them, and helping them get their message out. Once you’ve got that initial connection point, you can nurture the relationship towards a sale, a referral partner, an advisor, and so much more,” King noted.

“In the middle of the pandemic when there is just so much pain and suffering, it’s hard to carve out a space to celebrate what is beautiful in the moment. There is always going to be a reason for optimism. There is always going to be some meaning, and from that meaning a possibility for optimism. So, we can give guests the experience of celebrating what is awesome about what they are doing.”

The Take-Away Message

We can all learn some lessons from these entrepreneurs, those who have been able to brainstorm ways to modify their business model to survive the “new normal.” It should give us all hope, that even when we hit a wall, know that there is a way around it, over it, or through it. It takes trust in Gd, some pro-active changes on our end, and the knowledge that, as King David once said, “this, too, is good.”

What are the health advantages of optimism and how does one adopt an optimistic approach to life?

1. Optimism is the belief that things will work out in the best possible manner. Optimists tend to believe that they will successfully overcome obstacles and will achieve their goals. For example: optimists under-estimate their risk of getting sick and over-estimate their chances of getting better.

2. Optimists believe that failure is caused due to situations that are passing, specific, and external to them. The pessimist will mostly claim what happened was his own fault.

3. Many extensive studies show that optimists tend to deal better with pressurized situations, recover more quickly from acute medical events, and adjust better to chronic illness. After having bypass surgery or a biopsy, optimists heal faster and have a lower risk of being re-hospitalized. Optimists generally have less psychological stress when undergoing fertility treatment.

4. One study that measured heart and vascular functioning of optimists found that optimists did better than pessimists for both heart and vascular functioning. This study, which measured 5,100 people’s blood pressure, weight, height, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, revealed that the optimists were 76% more likely to have good measurements.

5. Another study shows that people with a positive life outlook had a healthier heart and immune system, a higher tolerance for pain, and recovered more quickly from cancer. Researchers in Ben-Gurion University found that optimistic women had a lower risk of being

diagnosed with breast cancer and women that went through trauma (which can lead to a loss of optimism) had a risk factor for breast cancer tens of percentage points higher.

6. More than that, a long-term study that included 900 seniors found that the higher their optimism was the lower the chance was that they would die within the next ten years. The impact optimism has on physical health is especially strong and the benefits of having an optimistic outlook are considered equal to quitting smoking!

Okay, I’m convinced. Now how can I adopt an optimistic approach to life?

Recognizing the Good – Are you aware of the good things in your life? Write up a list and identify all the positive things in all your various circles of life. Give thanks and share your experience with your friends.

Make Lemons into Lemonade – Negative experiences are an unavoidable part of our lives. Reframe them in a positive light by asking these questions. Can this be interpreted in a more positive way? Could any good come out of this? Is there an opportunity hidden here? What can I learn from this that I can use later?

Sort out your Thoughts – Focus your thoughts on things that are difficult for you. What thoughts crop up in your mind? Are there many thoughts running around up there or is it one constant nagging thought? Try to think about these problems in a rational manner instead of responding emotionally.

Worries and Fears Are the Enemies of Optimism – Treat debilitating thoughts like background noise, like voices coming from a radio in your vicinity. You can hear them but do not focus on them. Show yourself that you are not listening.

Got a Pessimism Attack? – Do not fight it. Do not judge your thoughts. If you relate to them with curiosity and forgiveness you will cope with them better. Even so, try to steer your mind back on track, focusing on the good. Every time your thoughts go to negative places recognize it and refocus your attention with mindful contemplation.

Pnina Souid

The Mitzvah Man was listening to a class delivered by Rabbi Meyer Yedid, during which the rabbi told a famous story of a man who asked the Bet Halevi (Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik of Brisk, 1820-1892) if he could use milk instead of wine for the cups at the seder on Pesach. Rather than answer the question, the Bet Halevi handed the man an envelope containing a large amount of money. The man clarified that he had come to ask a halachic question, not to request charity. But the Bet Halevi insisted that he take the money, which he could, if he so wished, consider a loan instead of charity.

After the man left, the Rebbetzin asked why the rabbi gave this fellow such a large amount of money. After all, just a few rubles would have sufficed to enable him to buy wine. The Bet Halevi replied, “If this man was asking such a question, then he must have no food to feed his family and no money to buy them clothes and shoes for the holiday.”

The Mitzvah Man compared the Bet Halevi to Avraham Avinu, who was able to look deeply and see what a person really needed. Whereas most people just see the surface, great people like Avraham and Bet Halevi see beyond the surface and truly understand each individual’s plight.

The Mitzvah Man told me that this class brought to mind an incident that took place eight years ago. A Hassidic gentleman, Rabbi Schwartz, came to him and said he needed a car.

“It is hard for me to ask for this,” Rabbi Schwartz said, “but I need a car for my livelihood. I am not able to keep a regular job because I must care for my family. My wife is not well. She is in the hospital. Two of my children are autistic and are currently in separate hospitals. I travel to three hospitals a day and take care of the children at home and collect charity. A car would be a life saver.”

The Mitzvah Man told Rabbi Schwartz that he would see what he could do. Sure enough, he managed to find a car for him, and Rabbi Schwartz was very grateful.

But the Mitzvah Man realized that this family needed a lot more than a car. He turned to Rabbi Schwartz and asked, “What else do you need?”

“What else do I need?!” the man responded, incredulously. “What do you mean? You just gave me a car!”

The Mitzvah Man repeated, “What else do you need?”

“We have a wedding coming up,” Rabbi Schwartz said. “My wife and daughter need wedding gowns.”

The Mitzvah Man was able to get two new wedding gowns.

Again, the Mitzvah Man asked Rabbi Schwartz, “What else can I do for you?”

Rabbi Schwartz told him that his wife and the bride need wigs. The Mitzvah Man got to work and obtained wigs.

The Mitzvah Man persisted, “What else? You have a large family.”

Rabbi Schwartz sighed and said, “Baruch Hashem, we are making another simha – my son is becoming bar mitzvah. It looks like he’ll have to borrow tefillin every day.”

“Absolutely not!” said the Mitzvah Man. “We will get him new tefillin.” And he did.

“What else can we do for you?”

The family needed furniture – a couch, a kitchen table, and chairs. They needed shades for the windows, and food for the upcoming holiday of Pesah. Mitzvah Man took care of it all.

All this was accomplished because the Mitzvah Man learned that you must look deeper into the situation. And when he looked deeper, he realized that Rabbi Schwartz and his family needed more than a car.

As the Mitzvah Man explained: “When someone needs help, we have to put ourselves in that person’s shoes.”

The Mitzvah Man told me another story of a young man who started going to his shul. He would walk in on Shabbat with a ponytail, wearing an earring, a sweater, and jeans. The Mitzvah Man went over to greet him.

“Nice to see you,” he said.

The Mitzvah Man told his friends to go over and greet this fellow so he would feel comfortable. The man started attending more frequently, and gradually began dressing more appropriately.

“We have to look deeper,” the Mitzvah Man reflects. “We must let ourselves feel what the person is going through. We must look beyond the surface and ask the first question – ‘How can I help you?’ – and then go further and ask: ‘What else do you need?’”

Rabbi Eliyahu Haim Aboud

The appearance of mysterious men on missions of rescue and salvation throughout our nation’s history has always been attributed to the Prophet Eliyahu. Who exactly is this man, and how does he continue to impact upon the survival of the Jewish Nation? This month’s installment surveys the words of our Sages and ancient history in order to present a clearer picture of Eliyahu Hanavi and the role he will play in our redemption process and in shaping our nation’s future.

The Last Recorded Prophecy

The Tanach contains many recorded prophecies pertaining to Mashiah’s arrival and the events that will unfold at that time. In the final prophecy recorded before the end of nevua (prophecy), the prophet Malachi conveys the following promise to the Jewish people: “Behold I will send to you Eliyahu Hanavi prior to the onset of the great and awesome day of Gd…” (Malachi 3:23).

The commentariesi explain that “the great and awesome day of Gd” refers to the time of Mashiah’s arrival. Just prior to the onset of the Messianic age, the ancient prophet Eliyahu, who lived during the First Temple era, will be sent forth and appear in person to the Jewish nation to herald our redemption.

When Exactly Will Eliyahu Come?

We find different indications as to when precisely Eliyahu will arrive. The commonly assumed opinionii is that he will arrive together with Mashiah ben David. In fact, many have the custom to recite a short prayer before or after havdalah on Mossa’ei Shabbat, “Eliyahu Hanavi…bimhera yavo elenu im Mashiah ben David – Eliyahu Hanavi… may he speedily come forth to us with Mashiah ben David.”

Other sourcesiii, however, claim that Eliyahu will arrive one or three days before Mashiah ben David, while others say that he will come even earlier, before Mashiah ben Yosef.iv

Eliyahu’s Job

What is the purpose behind Eliyahu’s arrival? What role will he fill in the redemptive process?

Firstlyv, Eliyahu will come to announce to the world the news of Mashiah’s imminent arrival and the dawn of a new chapter in the existence of mankind – “The Messianic Era.” Secondlyvi, he will guide the Jewish Nation toward complete repentance and prepare them for the final redemption. Lastlyvii, Eliyahu will bring back the special anointing oil for the anointing of Mashiah and the purifying waters of the parah adumah (red heifer) needed to purify the nation.

Our sagesviii explain the intent of why specifically Eliyahu was chosen to announce Mashiah’s arrival as Eliyahu was transformed into an angel and ascended to heaven alive, he is the only one on hand throughout the generations, with the ability to appear at any given moment should the need arise. Now that he has this mission, he will ensure that Mashiah does arrive for the Jewish Nation so that he can complete his task. The Midrash notesix that on five occasions in the Tanach, the name “Eliyahu” is spelled in an unusual fashion, without the letter vav.

Correspondingly, the Midrash observes, we find the name “Yaakov” spelled with an extra vav five times in Tanach. The Midrash explains that Yaakov Avinu took the letter from Eliyahu as a security that he will fulfill his difficult mission to ensure that his children will be worthy of redemption in the end of days. Thus, Malachi’s promise that Eliyahu will come to us essentially promises that Eliyahu will fulfill his mission of preparing us for the final redemption. (Interestingly enough, Yaakov specifically took the letter vav, which has the numerical value of six, alluding to the guarantee that Eliyahu will come to facilitate the redemption by the Hebrew year six thousand.x)

Who is Eliyahu Hanavi?

The book of Melachim relates numerous incidents involving the prophet Eliyahu and the miracles he performed, yet it provides virtually no information about his personal life and background. We are told only that he originated from the town of Toshav and resided in the city of Gilad. He lived and prophesied during the reign of King Ahav and his son King Ahazyahu, who ruled over the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the middle of the First Temple era. We also read that he ascended alive to heaven in a fiery chariot, elevated to the level of the angels.xi However, nothing else about his life or origins is recorded.

The most famous and commonly accepted view identifies Eliyahu as the righteous zealot Pinhasxii, the grandson of Aharon Hakohen, who lived during the Jewish people’s travels in the desert and entered the Land of Israel. Gd rewarded Pinhas with everlasting longevity when he risked his life to kill Zimri, prince of the tribe of Shimon, in defense of Hashem’s honor, thereby rescuing the Jewish Nation from further spiritual deterioration and possible destruction.xiii Indeed, Pinhas is mentioned on several occasions in the books of the Prophets, even during the times of King David – over four hundred years after the incident of Zimri!xiv According to this view, Pinhas spent an extended period in seclusion and reappeared approximately 150 years later under the name Eliyahu. His life, then, spanned a period of 12 generations!

This connection between Pinhas and Eliyahu is reflected in the custom to prepare a special chair for Eliyahu Hanavi at every berit milah. The Midrashxv explains this custom as the result of Eliyahu’s complaints to Gd that the Jewish people have betrayed their covenant with Him. Hashem sharply scolded the prophet for his accusation: “Why must you always zealously reprimand My children? You did so in the desert and now with My entire nation during the reign of the idolatrous King Ahav and his false prophets! From now on you must be present at every berit milah to witness the faithfulness of My beloved nation and how they devotedly bring all their baby boys into My special convent!”

Othersxvi, however, believe that Eliyahu and Pinhas were actually two different people, but they possessed the same neshama (soul). Their shared soul accounts for their similar character traits and the similar acts of heroism which they performed.

Eliyahu’s Greatness

The Book of Melachim describes in detail numerous miracles which Hashem performed at the hands of Eliyahu Hanavi. In response to King Ahav’s idolatry, Eliyahu declared the withholding of all rain for three years. He also conducted tehiyat hametim (resurrection of the dead) to the only child of a grieving widow, and brought a heavenly fire which consumed the offering he prepared on Mount Carmel in full view of King Ahav and his constituents. On another occasion, an angel provided Eliyahu with “spiritual” bread and water which enabled him to travel for forty consecutive days through the desert without any other food or drink.

Our sages express particular reverence for Eliyahu, calling him “the prince of the prophets” and second only to his master and teacher, Moshe Rabbenu, who was the greatest of all prophets.xvii He beheld prophetic visions with a high level of clarity and while awake and in full control of his senses – similar to the prophecies of Moshe Rabbenu.xviii A number of commentators also note that Eliyahu was the source of much of the prophecy that was present in his time. The intense divine spirit which constantly rested upon him was channeled to other prophets, enabling them to receive prophecy. When Eliyahu ascended to heaven, much of the prophecy of his time was lost.

Throughout the Ages

One of the highest praises that can be said about a saddik is that he learned or received advice from Eliyahu Hanavi. Our sages explain that since Eliyahu never physically died, he can return to this world. Hashem therefore frequently sends him to help the Jewish people when the need arises. In fact, the Zohar writes that all the miracles performed in the world are brought about through Eliyahu Hanavi.xix

Over the course of Jewish history, thousands of instances have been recorded where Eliyahu has appeared and saved the Jewish Nation from calamity. It would be no exaggeration to say that our nation owes its very survival to this extraordinary prophet who has appeared countless times to rescue Gd’s people.

May we all be privileged to behold his shining countenance as he comes to herald Mashiah’s arrival and the end of all our suffering, speedily and in our days, Amen.

Next Issue: The Return of the Lost Ten Tribes

Eliyahu Hanavi to the Rescue

Significant occasions when Eliyahu came to save the Jewish people:

1. Purim – It was Eliyahu who revealed to Mordechai the secret decree of Haman and Ahashverosh to annihilate the Jewish Nation, thus enabling him to thwart the plan by inspiring the people to engage in repentance and prayer.xx
2. The Oral Torah – In the aftermath of the Second Temple’s destruction (150-200 CE), the Oral Torah was in danger of being forgotten due to the harsh persecution suffered by the Jewish Nation. The famous sage Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi assembled all the scholars of his time and, with the help of Eliyahu Hanavi, composed the Mishna, the written version of the Oral Law and the basic outline of the Talmud.xxi
3. The Secrets of Torah – At around the same time, Eliyahu Hanavi revealed Kabbalah, the secrets of the Torah, to the great kabbalist Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai. Rabbi Shimon later put this wisdom into writing, producing the Zohar Hakadosh, the primary source of kabbalistic teaching.xxii
4. Our Present Knowledge in Kabbalah – During the 16th century, Eliyahu appeared to the famous kabalistic master Rabbi Yizhak Luria Ashkenazi, zs”l, or the Arizal (1534-1572), revealing to him the forgotten secrets of Kaballah on a clearer level than ever before for over twenty years. His most prominent disciple, Rabbi Haim Vital, zs”l, recorded these teachings in his Sefer Ess Haim, forming the basic text of all Kabalistic writings which is studied by scholars of Kabbalah until today.xxiii

Eliyahu thus quite literally saved much of the Torah from being forgotten, and is thereby responsible for our nation’s spiritual survival throughout the millennia of exile.

These are just a few of the literally thousands of episodes that have been recorded where Eliyahu miraculously intervened to save Jews – and Judaism – from danger.

____________

i See Masechet Eruvin 43b; Abarbanel to Malachi 3:23; and Rambam, Hilchot Melachim chapter 12.

iiSefer Haim Sha’al by the Hida, chapter 98.

iiiYalkut Shimoni, Yeshaya chapter 52.

ivSee Tana Debe Eliyahu, chapter 18; Tosafot, Masechet Baba Messia 114b.

v Yonatan Ben Uziel, Bamidbar 25:13. vi See Malachi 3:24 and commentaries.

vii Mechilta, Shemot 17:32. viii See Rashi to Vayikra 26:42. ix Ibid. x Sefer Mal’ach Haberit, p. 185. xiMelachim I, chapters 17-22; Melachim II, chapters 1-3.

xii See Yalkut Shimoni, Yonatan ben Uziel and Seforno to Bamidbar 25:13.

xiii Ibid.

xiv See Ralbag and Abarbanel to Melachim I, chapter 17.

xv Yalkut Shimoni to Yehoshua, chapter 5.

xviiSefer Aderet Eliyahu parshat Vzot Haberacha 34:1.

xviii see Yalkut Shimoni in Melachim I chapter 1 and Abarbanel there.

xix Parashat Vayigash 209a.

xxYonatan Ben Uziel to Megilat Esther, 4:1.

xxi See Masechet Baba Messi’a 85b.

xxii See Zohar Hadash, Parashat Ki Tavo; Sefer Toldot Talmide Rabbi Akiva by Rabbi Yoel Schwartz, page 129.

xxiii See Sefer Vayashev Hayam by Rabbi Yaakov Hillel, vol. 2 page 206.