My late rebbe, R' Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, zt"l, (זכר צדיק לברכה) was a master storyteller. He taught: "a good story is one where the mind surprises the heart". "A Year of Stories" is dedicated to his memory. I invite you to forward the link to these stories so that they find their way into the hearts of other listeners and tellers.
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Please consider offering a tax deductible donation to support this project and the work of DC's Jewish Renewal community Minyan Oneg Shabbat. A shout out to Judy Young for her generous offering.
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If you would like to be added to the growing list of 
"Year of Stories" followers, let me know at [email protected], 
with "Year of Stories" in the subject line.

And here's yet another explanation!

While aboard his ark, Noah assigned the two dogs responsibility for patrolling the ark. It was the dogs' job to check on all the other animals, and to report back to Noah and his wife Na’ama. This included using their superior sense of smell to detect anything that was, let us say, kind of fishy.

One day, the dogs were taking their daily stroll when they noticed a coin-sized leak, through which water was rushing in at a rapid rate. They looked at each other and knew instinctively what to do. One dog ran for help, while the other dog gallantly stuck her nose in the hole to plug up the leak. In what seemed like an eternity, Noah and Na'ama came running, to find the poor dog in great pain and gasping for breath. They immediately relieved him of her duties and
quickly filled the hole with pitch, averting what could have been a major disaster.

After the work was completed, Noah and Na'ama pawsed, and realizing what a ruff experience it had been, spoke to the dog saying "Little dog, you kept us all safe - our family, and all the animals -  with your little nose. All future generations will know of your great deed, as your nose will always be cold and wet, just as it is today."

This tail is done, and now you know another story explaining why dog's nose has fur-ever remained cold and wet!
(Origin unknown - retold by R' Mark Novak, silly wabbit)

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My late rebbe, R' Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, zt"l, (זכר צדיק לברכה) was a master storyteller. He taught: "a good story is one where the mind surprises the heart". "A Year of Stories" is dedicated to his memory. I invite you to forward the link to these stories so that they find their way into the hearts of other listeners and tellers.

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Please consider offering a tax deductible donation to support this project and the work of DC's Jewish Renewal community Minyan Oneg Shabbat. A shout out to Judy Young for your generous offering in support of this project.
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If you would like to be added to the growing list of 
"Year of Stories" followers, let me know at [email protected], 
with "Year of Stories" in the subject line.

A rebbe was asked to come teach in a distant village. Having no rabbi of their own, the community was very excited and each person prepared for the rabbi's visit by pondering what question he or she might ask him.

Upon his arrival the community welcomed the rabbe warmly, first with a simple meal and then escorting him to his room where he could rest after his long journey.  Refreshed from his nap, he was then taken to the large community room where people had gathered excitedly to ask their questions. The room buzzed with anticipation.

Upon entering the rabbe began to walk around the room, making eye contact with each person present. He then began to sing a sweet, contemplative Hasidic melody.  

"Yai dai dai...yai dai dai...yai dai dai dum." 

As he sang, he walked slowly, purposefully, continuing to make eye contact, with one person, and then another, until one person, and then another, joined him in the niggun...

"Yai dai dai...yai dai dai...yai dai dai dum..."

...until everyone was singing with him, sweetly and contemplatively. 

The rebbe began to sing a little bit faster, and the people followed his lead. As he picked up the tempo, he picked up his feet, and started to dance, arms spread wide, his entire body bouncing in step with the melody.  The people were caught up unawares, and in the joy of the moment,  found themselves dancing and singing alone/together. 

Then without notice, the rabbe's dance gradually began to slow, and with it the song as well, until it reached a gentle end. Some people smiled, while others wiped tears from their cheeks.

The rebbe cast his eyes about the room, and gently said, “I trust that I have answered all of your questions.”
(Origin unknown, retold by R' Mark Novak)
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My late rebbe, R' Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, zt"l, (זכר צדיק לברכה) was a master storyteller. He taught: "a good story is one where the mind surprises the heart". "A Year of Stories" is dedicated to his memory. I invite you to forward the link to these stories so that they find their way into the hearts of other listeners and tellers.

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Please consider offering a tax deductible donation to support this project and the work DC's Jewish Renewal community Minyan Oneg Shabbat. A shout out to Judy Young for her generous offering.
≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠

If you would like to be added to the growing list of 
"Year of Stories" followers, let me know at [email protected], 
with "Year of Stories" in the subject line.

The Voorker Rav and The Kotzker Rebbe were discussing the relative merits of Sukkot and Shabbat.

Comparing the different mitzvot that are observed on Sukkot the Voorker Rav declared, 
"I prefer the mitzvah of dwelling in the Sukkah over the mitzvah of the Dalet Minim, the Four Species. After all, when you let go of the lulav and etrog, you let go of the kedushah, the holiness, whereas when you are in the Sukkah you cannot let go; the sanctity completely surrounds you."

The Kotzker Rebbe nodded his approval, but responded, "Yes, it is true that the Sukkah has this advantage, but, when compared to Shabbat, even the Sukkah falls short. After all, one can
walk out of a Sukkah, but one can never walk out of Shabbat, no matter where in the
world a person is and no matter his or her level of observance. For those hours it is
Shabbat. You cannot escape it -  Shabbat is completely enveloping."

In praising the Sukkah, the Voorker Rav was praising the concept of kedushat makom, the sanctity of space/place.
The Kotzker Rebbe countered that with praise for the Sabbath, our oasis in time, for the concept of kedushat z'man, the sanctity of time. For space can be abandoned or destroyed, as opposed to time which is not physical, and therefore its sanctity can never be undone or abandoned.

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My late rebbe, R' Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, zt"l, (זכר צדיק לברכה) was a master storyteller. He taught: "a good story is one where the mind surprises the heart". "A Year of Stories" is dedicated to his memory. I invite you to forward the link to these stories so that they find their way into the hearts of other listeners and tellers.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Please consider offering a tax deductible donation to DC's Jewish Renewal community, 
Minyan Oneg Shabbat. Thank you.
≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠≠

If you would like to be added to the growing list of 
"Year of Stories" followers, let me know at [email protected], 
with "Year of Stories" in the subject line.

My late rebbe, R' Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, zt"l, (זכר צדיק לברכה) was a master storyteller. He taught: "a good story is one where the mind surprises the heart". "A Year of Stories" is dedicated to his memory. I invite you to forward the link to these stories so that they find their way into the hearts of other listeners and tellers.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Please consider offering a tax deductible donation to DC's Jewish Renewal community, 
Minyan Oneg Shabbat. Thank you.
*****************
If you would like to be added to the growing list of 
"Year of Stories" followers, let me know at [email protected], 
with "Year of Stories" in the subject line.
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Be Happy - It's Sukkot  
Music: Bobby McFerrin  Lyriucs: Mark Novak


Here’s a little song I wrote
About the festival of Sukkot
Be Happy - It’s Sukkot

You take the lulav and the etrog too
You shake em shake em shake em that’s what you do
Be Happy - It’s Sukkot

(chorus) Oy Oy Oy...
Oy oy Hodu LaShem (2x)
Ki Tov
Oy Oy Oy...
Oy oy Ki L’olam (2x) Chasdo

We march around the congregation
7 hakafot in celebration
Be Happy - It’s Sukkot 

We eat our meals out under the sky
In the sukkahs we build and if you ask me why I’ll tell you 
Be Happy - It’s Sukkot 
(chorus)

We greet and honor our ushpizin 
from Abraham to David and in between
Be Happy, It’s Sukkot

And should our minhag be egalitarian
We welcome Sarah, Rachel, Esther, Abigail, and Miriam
Be Happy, It’s Sukkot  
(chorus)

V'samach'ta V'cha'ge'cha V'ha'yi'ta Ach Sameach

Be Happy It's Sukkot (with apologies to Bobby McFerrin)   
©Mark Novak 2014    

I remember very clearly the day when Sandy Koufax sat out a World Series game. This Yom Kippur has brought about many a discussion about the same topic, only this time not for a player, but for Jewish fans (i.e. September 18 article in Washington Post) And though the Post failed to call me to ask for my two shekels (imagine that!), the Washington Jewish Week asked for my thoughts for an article that will hopefully hit the mailboxes today.
Meanwhile, Tommy McFly 94.7 called me again last week for another "Blessing of the Baseballs, and we met just outside Nats Park before the Nats/Mets game. 
(Note my liturgical references as well as Renée juggling in the background)
גמר חתימה טובה and
Go Nats!!