It doesn’t matter who you are; we are all incentivized by positive feedback.

Whether from a child, friend, spouse, parent, neighbor, or congregant; receiving encouraging words goes a long way. I’ve been writing weekly emails for over two decades, with close to twelve hundred weekly Torah thoughts, yet I still appreciate the conversations and feedback that I get to enjoy with readers from around the world.  Earlier this week I received a beautiful text from Daniel, a reader in Connecticut, who wrote “I’m a big fan of your weekly emails! They share a practical human perspective woven through Lubavitch philosophy. Keep up your amazing work!”.

I was touched.

In this week’s Torah portion, Vayechi, the last In the Book of Genesis, we read about Jacob’s interaction with his children and grandchildren before his passing. While they are called “blessings”, it is a mixture of feedback, commentary, inspiration, rebuke and yes blessings to each of them individually. Before he passes, Jacob takes the time to talk to his children and convey to them what he felt they needed to hear from him and the guidance necessary for their future. We shouldn’t be left scratching our heads, trying to figure out what our loved ones would’ve wanted to share with us on any given topic. We should give feedback in real time, so that the lives of those who matter to us can be changed for the better.

With feedback in mind, I gave the annual New Year “gift” to the UPS, USPS and FedEx drivers that service our neighborhood. They are caring people, who show up on sunny and blizzarding days alike, with big boxes and small packages, and keep our operation functional with its needs. I like feeling appreciated and like making others feel that way too. The holiday gift isn’t going to pay their monthly mortgage or pay off their student loans, but it certainly made them feel cherished, and that’s so important. In the words of a motivational business coach “feedback is the breakfast of champions”.

Speak to your loved ones; they will appreciate your feedback!

May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Mashiach speedily. May G-d protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be!

Amid all the amazing Chanukah celebrations, our family also celebrated a personal Simcha. On Wednesday, the 7th day of Chanukah, my first great-nephew, baby Mayer Dov Ber, born to my niece Mushkie and her husband Menachem, had his Bris, entering the covenant of Abraham. Though I was Facetiming during the ceremony, watching as my father was the Sandak, holding his great-grandson during the Bris, it’s on days like these that I wish Bozeman had better flight accessibility, so that it doesn’t take two full days and four flights to get to and from South Florida. My Aba always emphasizes the importance of family and he’s right, even if I can’t always be there in person.

In this week’s Torah portion, Vayigash, we read about the reunion of Joseph with his father Jacob. Jacob and Joseph’s lives were laden with hardship. Jacob escaped from his murderous brother Esau, worked for his conniving uncle Laban, watched his kids decimate Nablus to his chagrin, lost his beloved wife Rachel prematurely, and received news that his beloved Joseph was supposedly killed. Joseph lost his mom when he was a kid, his brothers sold him as a slave, his master’s wife falsely accused him of rape which lands him in a jail cell; it’s no picnic. Finally, when Jacob was 130 and Joseph 39, the family got back together. There’s something wholesome about the reunion, with them all living in Goshen, while Joseph served as viceroy of the Egyptian Empire

A family doesn’t need to be perfect; it just needs to be united.

As I reflected on this special Simcha, I couldn’t ignore the Chanukah connection. The Maccabee leaders were a band of brothers with one sister. Yonasan, Yochanan, Shimon, Yehuda, Elazar and Chana were a team, joined together in their shared Torah values and willingness to fight the tyrannical Syrian Greeks. Matisyahu’s six children weren’t clones, they weren’t all the same, but as a family they knew that they had each other and with that unity they were able to take on a mighty army. Though the bumper sticker proclaims that “I smile because you’re my family; I laugh because there’s nothing you can do about it”, jokes aside, family is so special. From a distance my heart was overflowing with joy and Nachas, as the little baby girl who made me an uncle in 2002, has now made me a “great” uncle in 2024.

I’m grateful for so much; family being at the top of the list!

May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Mashiach speedily. May G-d protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be!