Thank you for coming tonight to my bar-mitzvah. Well, ok maybe my bar-mitzvah reunion. Almost 32 years ago to the day I read from the Torah portion Chayei Sarah. The same portion we study this week. Having listened to many Rabbis speak during holidays, bar-mitzvahs, or other simchas during my lifetime, I’ve learned that such occurrences are not coincidences or random events.
Now anyone that knows me, or sees me in shul, wouldn’t confuse me with a Torah scholar. I don’t even own a black hat, nor did I have the rabbinical skill set to start off my speech by saying “Today is a very special Denim and Diamonds dinner” However, I do know that Chayei Sarah, literally means, “The life of Sarah”. So, what happens in the Torah portion? Ironically, Sara passes away, and the Torah portion covers the events after her death. So how would this Torah portion be destined for this night?
As many of you know, I have managed several types of investments in the business world; however, my primary line of business has always been commercial real estate. Now, in commercial real estate, the most critical element when building a structure is pouring a proper foundation. Why? Because if a foundation isn’t constructed properly, it doesn’t matter what you build on top of the foundation, there’s always going to be a problem. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but, eventually you’ll see the cracks develop. Conversely, if you build on a solid foundation, you can construct almost anything. Similarly, this is what we see in the Torah portion Chayei Sarah, the foundation of the values that Sarah possessed that she passed on to her descendants and the Jewish people. I can’t think of anything that exemplifies Sarah’s spirituality and holiness better than the Mequon Jewish Preschool, and the foundation that it provides for its pre-school students.
Nine years ago, back in 2003, my oldest daughter Teah was just shy of two years old, my wife Rachael was pregnant with Eve, and Rachael told me that we needed to find a pre-school for Teah. Knowing little about pre-schools, other than I attended one, and what I had seen on TV sitcoms. I knew a good pre-school was supposed to be important.
My wife talked to her friends, did some research, made some phone calls, and went out in the wilderness in search of the proper pre-school. Some days later my wife sat me down in the family room, and said, ok, I’ve found a pre-school I like. I need you to go see it. Here’s the thing, it’s not the best looking facility, but, there’s something very special about it and I think it’s the right place. So I went, and I looked, and I found a small little duplex off of Mequon road. It was cramped, it wasn’t state of the art, and it was nothing like the fancy pre-schools that you really needed to get your kids into that were portrayed on TV sitcoms. When I got home, my tired, pregnant beautiful wife looked at me and said, “What did you think?” Now this was a loaded question at this point, kind of like when your wife asks if this outfit makes her look fat. I paused, and said carefully, the people were very nice. She smiled and said, I thought so too, and then she blurted out that the director had big plans, and they’re going to build a brand new building, and it’s going to be great. I just looked at her and smiled, thinking everyone has big plans. A few minutes later she looked up and said, “Oh, and one other thing, they’re not licensed yet for under two years old. I’m going to have to go with Teah every day until her second birthday.” Now, I had always suspected that my wife was crazy, now I had proof. But, what smart husband argues with a pregnant wife? So we enrolled Teah and Rachael in the preschool. I think you all know the rest of the story. The director with big plans built a state of the art new preschool, incorporated into this beautiful shul. Teah and Rachael graduated from this pre-school, followed by Eve and Solomon, and it was the best decision we could have made. Not only for our children, but, for Rachael and myself. As one mitzvah often leads to another, exposure to the pre-school, also led us to become a part of this beautiful community here at Chabad. It truly couldn’t be a more welcoming place for me and my family. I can’t quantify what it has meant to us.
As my wife will undoubtedly talk about the specifics of this wonderful school and the morahs and rabbis who make it happen on a day to day basis, I’ll leave that to her. I simply wish to briefly thank Rivkie, that director with a dream, Robyn, Andrea, Faygie, the Willenson’s, Ellen, Janet and Don, and all of the many people that volunteered their time to put together this beautiful event, as well as all of the people that donated their hard earned money. Last night, I was blown away by all of the volunteers that gave up their Saturday night to help set-up for tonight’s event. I’m not going to list everyone who participated in making this night a reality and success, because I’d be speaking all night. However, if I could, I’d like to wish everyone who made this night a reality, L’Chaim, and let everyone know from the bottom of our heart, how much we appreciate your efforts. (“L’Chaim”)
I want to thank the preschool for thinking of Rachael and me as honorees for this beautiful event. It’s very humbling. Deep down, I know I’m here simply as arm candy, and to look good for my deserving wife. She truly is a champion of children. There’s not a week that goes by, that my dedicated wife doesn’t have a meeting. Whether it’s preschool, BBYO, being a volunteer at the kids school, the girls local gymnastic team, Jewish federation, or another worthy cause. I joke with my wife, I think the day they taught “no” in school, you were out sick that day. But, as much as I joke about her inability to say no, I’m so glad she can say “yes”, and help out as many places as she can. I’m always thinking about how proud I am of her. It’s always the same pattern. Preschool parent, head of the parent organization, President of the Preschool, or it could be BBYO participant, BBYO chapter advisor, BBYO board member, BBYO Chairman. Let’s just say Rachael gets involved. I can only hope that our three children, Teah, Eve, and Solomon, build on the foundation that the preschool provided, and the example their mother provides daily, and have as much trouble with the word “No” as their mother.
Before I turn things over to my wife, I would like to relay one final thought. I sat in this room about a month ago for Yom Kipper services. The Shul president, talked about doing “more” this year. Attending one more service, studying more often, performing one more mitzvah, taking one more class, volunteering more often. I think it’s worthy of repeating here. It’s something we should all endeavor to do for both personal enrichment, and to provide assistance for others. For someone looking for a venue, the preschool, is a wonderful place to volunteer your time, or place to donate your hard earned money. If the preschool is not for you, find the right place, or the right cause. You’ll get more out of it, than you put in.
Now anyone that knows me, or sees me in shul, wouldn’t confuse me with a Torah scholar. I don’t even own a black hat, nor did I have the rabbinical skill set to start off my speech by saying “Today is a very special Denim and Diamonds dinner” However, I do know that Chayei Sarah, literally means, “The life of Sarah”. So, what happens in the Torah portion? Ironically, Sara passes away, and the Torah portion covers the events after her death. So how would this Torah portion be destined for this night?
As many of you know, I have managed several types of investments in the business world; however, my primary line of business has always been commercial real estate. Now, in commercial real estate, the most critical element when building a structure is pouring a proper foundation. Why? Because if a foundation isn’t constructed properly, it doesn’t matter what you build on top of the foundation, there’s always going to be a problem. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but, eventually you’ll see the cracks develop. Conversely, if you build on a solid foundation, you can construct almost anything. Similarly, this is what we see in the Torah portion Chayei Sarah, the foundation of the values that Sarah possessed that she passed on to her descendants and the Jewish people. I can’t think of anything that exemplifies Sarah’s spirituality and holiness better than the Mequon Jewish Preschool, and the foundation that it provides for its pre-school students.
Nine years ago, back in 2003, my oldest daughter Teah was just shy of two years old, my wife Rachael was pregnant with Eve, and Rachael told me that we needed to find a pre-school for Teah. Knowing little about pre-schools, other than I attended one, and what I had seen on TV sitcoms. I knew a good pre-school was supposed to be important.
My wife talked to her friends, did some research, made some phone calls, and went out in the wilderness in search of the proper pre-school. Some days later my wife sat me down in the family room, and said, ok, I’ve found a pre-school I like. I need you to go see it. Here’s the thing, it’s not the best looking facility, but, there’s something very special about it and I think it’s the right place. So I went, and I looked, and I found a small little duplex off of Mequon road. It was cramped, it wasn’t state of the art, and it was nothing like the fancy pre-schools that you really needed to get your kids into that were portrayed on TV sitcoms. When I got home, my tired, pregnant beautiful wife looked at me and said, “What did you think?” Now this was a loaded question at this point, kind of like when your wife asks if this outfit makes her look fat. I paused, and said carefully, the people were very nice. She smiled and said, I thought so too, and then she blurted out that the director had big plans, and they’re going to build a brand new building, and it’s going to be great. I just looked at her and smiled, thinking everyone has big plans. A few minutes later she looked up and said, “Oh, and one other thing, they’re not licensed yet for under two years old. I’m going to have to go with Teah every day until her second birthday.” Now, I had always suspected that my wife was crazy, now I had proof. But, what smart husband argues with a pregnant wife? So we enrolled Teah and Rachael in the preschool. I think you all know the rest of the story. The director with big plans built a state of the art new preschool, incorporated into this beautiful shul. Teah and Rachael graduated from this pre-school, followed by Eve and Solomon, and it was the best decision we could have made. Not only for our children, but, for Rachael and myself. As one mitzvah often leads to another, exposure to the pre-school, also led us to become a part of this beautiful community here at Chabad. It truly couldn’t be a more welcoming place for me and my family. I can’t quantify what it has meant to us.
As my wife will undoubtedly talk about the specifics of this wonderful school and the morahs and rabbis who make it happen on a day to day basis, I’ll leave that to her. I simply wish to briefly thank Rivkie, that director with a dream, Robyn, Andrea, Faygie, the Willenson’s, Ellen, Janet and Don, and all of the many people that volunteered their time to put together this beautiful event, as well as all of the people that donated their hard earned money. Last night, I was blown away by all of the volunteers that gave up their Saturday night to help set-up for tonight’s event. I’m not going to list everyone who participated in making this night a reality and success, because I’d be speaking all night. However, if I could, I’d like to wish everyone who made this night a reality, L’Chaim, and let everyone know from the bottom of our heart, how much we appreciate your efforts. (“L’Chaim”)
I want to thank the preschool for thinking of Rachael and me as honorees for this beautiful event. It’s very humbling. Deep down, I know I’m here simply as arm candy, and to look good for my deserving wife. She truly is a champion of children. There’s not a week that goes by, that my dedicated wife doesn’t have a meeting. Whether it’s preschool, BBYO, being a volunteer at the kids school, the girls local gymnastic team, Jewish federation, or another worthy cause. I joke with my wife, I think the day they taught “no” in school, you were out sick that day. But, as much as I joke about her inability to say no, I’m so glad she can say “yes”, and help out as many places as she can. I’m always thinking about how proud I am of her. It’s always the same pattern. Preschool parent, head of the parent organization, President of the Preschool, or it could be BBYO participant, BBYO chapter advisor, BBYO board member, BBYO Chairman. Let’s just say Rachael gets involved. I can only hope that our three children, Teah, Eve, and Solomon, build on the foundation that the preschool provided, and the example their mother provides daily, and have as much trouble with the word “No” as their mother.
Before I turn things over to my wife, I would like to relay one final thought. I sat in this room about a month ago for Yom Kipper services. The Shul president, talked about doing “more” this year. Attending one more service, studying more often, performing one more mitzvah, taking one more class, volunteering more often. I think it’s worthy of repeating here. It’s something we should all endeavor to do for both personal enrichment, and to provide assistance for others. For someone looking for a venue, the preschool, is a wonderful place to volunteer your time, or place to donate your hard earned money. If the preschool is not for you, find the right place, or the right cause. You’ll get more out of it, than you put in.