B”H
The big news was splashed all over the small city of Larnaca Cyprus. After months of speculation, the world-famous Radisson Hotel chain had decided to add a new Radisson Blu to their international collection.
Everyone in the city was excited because such a big project meant many opportunities for the local business owners.
One of the key people involved in this new development was, Marios Polyviou, CEO of Sunnyseeker Hotels Ltd. It just so happened that at noon that very day I had scheduled one of our regular monthly meetings to discuss our Kosher Hotel venture partnership.
When I arrived at the meeting, I found Marios beaming with pride. This was a huge accomplishment for him and his company and he could barely contain his excitement.
I immediately congratulated him on his company’s latest achievement and we began to talk about the complexities of the deal. He told me that although he could fill a room with the number of contracts that had to be signed, they still had to be scrupulously studied thoroughly by both sides.
However, there was one rule in the contract that almost broke the deal. He explained to me that the Radisson Hotel Group limits them to only purchasing specific items from specific international suppliers.
This is done so that there will be a feeling of comfort in its consistency and that the guest’s expectations will be met. The type of guests that stay in the Radisson are primarily business travelers and they do not like any surprises. Every detail in the design and furnish of the Hotel must be an exact replica of the Raddison hotel model.
He saw that I was fascinated by this concept. I asked him if this concept applies as well to the food in the hotel restaurants.
“No! No! No! He replied we are going to have the highest level of Greek food, created by the best Greek chefs we can get.
“You see the guests want the general structure of the buildings and the rooms to be completely identical worldwide. Once that trust is established, the guests want to have a uniquely Greek experience that they have never had before.
The combination of the guest is comfortable and trusting the Radisson environment allows them to accentuate their travel experience by trying something new and exciting.
This year is a Jewish leap year. This means that we will add another month of Adar so that our solar calendar and our lunar calendar will stay aligned.
The question is asked if the Jewish people use the lunar calendar for all our holidays why do we create a leap year to align with the solar calendar as well? We should be like the Muslims that celebrate their holidays only according to the lunar calendar.
Chasidus explains that it is not the Divine’s intent to make us physically suffer in our service. Hashem decided to take the Jews out of Egypt in the spring season since that is the best weather to travel in. Same as for Sukkot, when we are asked to sit outside when the cold and rainy season has not yet begun.
Chasidus goes on to explain more deeply that the Sun represents consistency. It shines the same way day in and out. This steadiness creates a feeling of trust and reliance. No matter how hard your day is, there is comfort in knowing that the Sun will rise again tomorrow and bring with it a fresh new start.
This is also expressed in our Parsha this week as we discuss the קרבן התמיד. The daily offerings that are constant and never changing no matter what day it is, no matter what happens that day, provide very special happiness to the Divine.
The Moon on the other hand is constantly changing. This represents action, change, and emotions. Without the Moon, life would be extremely monotone. The Moon brings us the ability to have special events at certain times that give us a feeling of excitement. This allows us to plan our holidays on specific dates in which the Positive impact of the Moonlight enhances our holiday experience.
When we live our lives in service to the divine in a structured way of routine and discipline, we have the advantage of developing a foundation and a vessel to attract G-ds infinite light.
Then when we add feelings of passion, happiness, and awe within that structured world, our positive impact affects the world in an infinitely deeper way.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Yitzchok Friedman