Let's table the discussion" is a new Adath Israel Shul initiative where a story or thought is presented in order to stimulate exciting and constructive discussion around our Shabbos table or among friends and children. (Dedicated to the Refuah Sheleima of Shalva Adina Bas Sarah Chana).

He didn't begin to fulfill his dream until he was 65 years old! 

 And what drove him to finally take action? He was broke and alone. He got his first Social Security check for $105, and he got mad. But instead of blaming society or just writing Congress a nasty note, he started asking himself, "What could I do that would be valuable for other people? What could I give back?" He started thinking about what he had that was valuable to others. 

His first answer was, "Well, I have this chicken recipe everyone seems to love! What if I sold my chicken recipe to restaurants? Could I make money doing that?" Then he immediately thought, "That's ridiculous. Selling my recipe won't even pay the rent." 

And he got a new idea: "What if I not only sold them my recipe but also showed them how to cook the chicken properly? What if the chicken was so good that it increased their business? If more people came to see them and they made more chicken sales, maybe they would give me a percentage of those additional sales." 

 Many people laughed in his face.  In fact, he was rejected 1009 times. People told him, "Look, old man, get out of here. What are you wearing that stupid white suit for?"

But did Colonel Sanders give up?

Absolutely not. And he turned his Kentucky Fried Chicken into one of the most successful business stories in economic history.

The Talmud (Sotah 13a) tells us that because Moshe told the children of Levi “Rav Lachem”  -- it is enough he too, was punished by Hashem with the statement of “Rav Lach” that he was not going to be able to enter the land of Israel and the border was going to be as far as he would merit to go. But why was Moshe punished Middah K’negged Middah – Moshe only wanted to enter the land in order to do the Mitzvos and bidding of Hashem.  He had no personal stake in the process. Why is his desire compared to that of the group of Korach?

The author of the Yirah VoDaas explains that Moshe’s problem here was not in the issue of why he chastised the Bnei Levi but rather what he said. “Rav Lach – it is enough for you” means that one should be satisfied with his spiritual attainment. This, says the Yirah V’Daas, is where Moshe erred. One can never tell another Jew that he or she has attained “enough” spiritually.  We need to encourage each other to strive more and more in our spiritual desires --- albeit always within the proper framework of Halacha and Torah mandated styles of spiritual attainment.  

Even if it takes 1009 attempts, success in spiritual endeavors rests on the desire to grow and that desire is nurtured by encouragement and guidance.

How can we encourage spiritual growth in the 

people around us?

What can we do to inspire growth within ourselves?

 Let’s  “table” the discussion – by discussing it with our children, spouses, families and guests and open an exciting  discussion into our homes and community.