The business related social networking company LinkedIn made a profit of $15.4 million last year. LinkedIn just “went public” and now it is worth billions. What attracts investors imagination is the POTENTIAL ability of LinkedIn to connect people and create community in whole new ways (and then make a buck or two on the deal).
Let me tell you about a unique social networking idea. The goal is to fundamentally change the world and the way humans interact with each other. If successful, this idea has the ability to eradicate hunger, stop wars, create a code of universally accepted shared values, and bring equality and justice to mankind.
I would like to invite you to join me on Wednesday at our place to share this amazing idea with you.
To be honest, this is not a new IPO, in fact you already own shares in it and most of you have inherited it by virtue of birth. I am talking about the Torah which was given to us by G-d 3323 years ago this Shavuot. Every year on the holiday of Shavuot we renew our acceptance of G-d's gift and G-d "re-gives" the Torah.
The social networking revolution is a concept that the Torah brought to the world thousands of years ago. The idea that we truly are all not only "friends" but family with every other human being and that there is unique value to each person has been in place for millennia. The notion that communities can be created across racial, tribal and ethnic lines, by living the shared values that G-d has given us, is something much of the world's population already believes to be true. No money is needed to implement these ideas, rather it takes a commitment to study the richness of Torah and implement its teachings into our life.
3323 years ago when the Torah was an IPO, we invested heavily and acquired many shares via our declaration of Naaseh V’Nishma – we will do and then we will listen. In doing so, we became “Areivim zeh lazeh” - responsible to our fellow shareholders – to encourage and inspire each other to keep our commitment. As shareholders we also have an obligation to be an “Or L’goyim” – to share these universal values with all people.
This Shavuot, as we gather at the annual shareholders meeting, let us reaffirm our dedication to the cause – the most valuable treasure that exists in the world – the Torah. We start on Wednesday at 11 AM. All sharegolders - young and old - are encouraged to participate. Lunch menu includes blintzes, cheesecake and ice cream. See you on Wednesday!
We welcome Johanna Esther Lorch to our world. Mazel Tov and best wishes to her parents Rachel Wolfson and Dave Lorch, for success in raising her to be a fine member of society and the Jewish people.
Mazel Tov to Rabbi Yossie and Chanie Nemes upon joining the grandparents club, with the birth of their granddaughter Zelda, to Chaya Mushka and Mendel Ceitlin.
Mazel tov to Bleama (Ariella) Shaffer upon her engagement to Yisrael Kamen. May the merit to build a new branch of the Jewish nation with joy and blessing.
PS Thank you to my colleague - Rabbi Yossi Serebryanski for sharing this idea.