Oneinfocus.org

Tuned In

2012-02-10T11:27:00.004-05:00

Taken at the Brooklyn Jewish Music Cafe...

The photo was snapped by Dovid and the caption composed by Michoel.

There are two souls that sing,one to the heavens and the other to earth.

When we are tuned into G-dliness they sing in unison -

giving to life clarity, purpose and peace.

Wishing you a peaceful Shabbos,

Michoel, Dovid, Sarah and Miri.

The Ultimate Choreographer

2012-02-02T10:24:00.000-05:00

The beautiful Rainbow Bee-eater:

G-d provides sustenance for every creature.

He designates each particular prey to fall captive to a specific predator at a precise moment.

Rashi in Talmud Chullin 63a

If this true for all creations,
how much more so is this Divine Providence magnified in the life of man.

This is an incredible series of photos taken in Perth, Western Australia. The subject is the magnificent Rainbow Bee-eater. This specimen is characterize by outstandingly beautiful colors. During the breeding season, they make a hole in the ground (see last picture below) and nurture their offspring in the hole. In these pictures, I was able to capture the Bee-eater with a large dragonfly in it's beak.

The Bee-eater was challenged by a little Willy Wagtail. The two birds jested and the Bee-eater escaped with the dragonfly, after which he flew off to his nest to feed his young.

The jest:

The escape:

The take-off:

The nest in the ground and satisfied parent:

The caption is an incredible idea adapted from the Talmud where it is recounting the exclamation of Rebi Yochanan. When observing a cormorant or sea eagle catching a fish from the sea, he would quote the verse in Tehillim 36:7, "Your judgments extend to the great deep."

The Baal Shem Tov emphasized G-d's tremendous supervision and involvement in all of creation. G-d is the ultimate choreographer Who takes interest and directs all the elements of creation simultaneously. Being that man was the last creature that G-d created, and as such, the purpose for all prior creations, G-d takes an even more keen interest in man's actions and circumstances.

With the firm knowledge of G-d's involvement, and a regular contemplation of this reality, a person can reach a state of tremendous joy, always smiling at life's blessings and challenges since the Father is right there, helping one discover the real self.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Dovid and Miri Birk

A Message in a Bottle

2012-01-26T22:49:00.000-05:00

Taken at Basil - a Brooklyn-based kosher pizza and wine bar:

When a craftsman makes a vessel, he merely re-shapes raw material.

Once the vessel is complete, it is able to exist without its designer.

Divine creation calls into being something totally new,

whereby the Divine force must continuously be invested in order to sustain it.

Wishing you a splendid Shabbat,

Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team.

Adjusting The Focus

2012-01-19T11:57:00.000-05:00

One of the Twins from France caught in focus:

A tight rope walker was once asked:

"What is the most difficult part of your act?"

The performer answered:

"The moment when I turn around is most challenging

for that is when I must divert my eyes from their point of focus."

Setting goals and remaining focused are crucial for success.

However, certain times demand changing direction and re-formulating the goal.

These moments are the most challenging, but have the potential for the greatest growth.

The caption this week is adapted from a story about a famous Chossid, Reb Mendel Futerfas. For approximately 14 years of his life, he was incarcerated in prisons and labor camps by Russian authorities for his involvement with Jewish education and practice in Russia.

One time during his exile, the Reb Mendel, along with other exiled men, were able to view a circus performance. Reb Mendel watched the tight rope walker, amazed by his confident walk across a taut rope.

Awesome balancing stunt:

After the performance, he approached the performer and inquired about the most difficult part of his act. The performer answered, as is quoted in this week's caption, that the point when he turns around is the most challenging.

Being a chossid and recipient of the teachings of the Chassidic Rebbeim, Reb Mendel reflected on the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov that one can learn a lesson is serving G-d from everything one sees or experiences. Applying this teaching to comments of the tight rope walker, Reb Mendel extracted a truly deep idea about dealing with life and it's challenges.

There are certain experiences in life which can shake a person from their focus. A person needs to try with all their strength, to concentrate and remain set on the goal. There is a deeper stage however, when one must recognize that the challenge is so fundamental that one needs to re-formulate the goal, adjusting the components to answer a new reality. This period of re-definition is by nature, a time of intense difficulty. However, with trust in Hashem and proper guidance, one can emerge from this period with renewed motivation and success well beyond their own estimation.

We wish you all a wonderful shabbos!!

Dovid and Miri

A Blossoming Marriage

2012-01-05T11:13:00.004-05:00

Oneinfocus visits the Berkshires for a special wedding:

The Torah calls marriage "kiddushin,"

the root of which is 'kadosh,' meaning holy or sacred.

That which is holy is separated and distinguished from the mundane.

Marriage blossoms when the partners feel truly set apart from others,
dedicated exclusively to each other.

Learn more after the jump....

There are certain things in the Torah which are described as being "holy." The Hebrew word for "holy' is קדוש, kadosh. In fact there is an entire portion of the Torah which is called Kedoshim, which deals with matters of holiness. However, the translation of kadosh as 'holy' is not very useful since holiness is a vague and sublime term.

The Torah helps us appreciate the term kadosh by telling us that something which is holy is separate and distinguished. Now, within context, we can understand why various things in the Torah are described as being holy, kadosh.

Under the holy chuppah. The beginning:

A very frequent and well known example is 'Shabbos Kodesh,' the holy shabbos. By being holy, Shabbos is separate from the other days of the week. It is a refuge in time when one dedicates their activities toward G-d, focusing primarily on the spiritual - prayer, togetherness, singing, discussion of Torah etc.

Another example is 'Eretz HaKodesh,' the holy land, the land of Israel. Of the 613 mitzvot, 26 of them are described as mitzvot which are dependent on the land of Israel. Meaning, only in Israel, and for some of them, only at the time when the Temple is erected, are we able to perform these mitzvot. Some of them relate to the Temple itself (first fruits, pascal lamb, festival pilgrimage), some relate to the governance of the land (laws of kingship and government), some relate to agriculture (tithes) and there are other areas of mitzvot as well which are practiced only in Israel. However, in relation to our discussion, these laws are a result of the holiness of the land of Israel. Again, holiness is a description of the land due to its uniqueness among other lands. Israel is separate and distinct from the rest of the world.

Mazeltov mazeltov:

A third example is 'lashon kodesh,' the holy language. The Torah was written with a Divine language which is holy since it is unique among the languages of the world. Lashon Kodesh, being divine, has infinite depth. Each letter can be analyzed on its own, based on its form, its numerical value, its crowns and its pronunciation. In addition, words have roots which connect them to other words which further connect in substance. Moreover, each word has an aggregate numerical value which connects to other words and ideas.

Our caption refers to a fourth instance of holiness in the Torah - Kiddushin, which is marriage. Marriage is holy because it a bond between 2 people who become forbidden to everyone else via their connection to one another. They are separated out from the pool of individuals and become a new entity, capable of revealing G-dliness merely by being marriage. It is through kiddushin that G-d dwells in one's home, transforming the mood to one of sacredness and warmth.

That being said, we wish everyone a holy holy shabbos. For those still single, you should all merit to find your holy partners. And for all Jews, we should merit to see the depth in the holy language while residing in the holy land!

Good Shabbos.

Dovid and Miri

G-d Bless You

2011-12-29T21:24:00.003-05:00

Sneezing, Shooting and Lighting!

Confined to a material body,

man's soul requires an “arousal from above.”

This kindles “an arousal from below”

an initiative, on our part, to rise above earthly limitations

and strive towards G-d.

Strobist info (and tissues) after the break....

Cold weather and indoor family time forced me to think outside the box, actually - inside the box!

Production images below demonstrate my 'two-strobe setup':

Wireless strobe #1 inside an empty tissue box.

Test firing: exposure, wireless transmission and light quantity.

Wireless strobe #2 - snooted to concentrate light on the tissue box.

Firing strobe #1 and #2.Testing strobe #2 light direction.

On the Caption:
The caption is based on multiple biblical verses and chassidic discourses. There is a well-known saying from the Talmud, “Open up a hole the size of a needle, and G‑d will open a hole like the doorway of the Temple hall.”
In other words, we do our part and G-d responds with infinite blessings.
There is good news though - if we pray with sincerity G-d will help reveal the hidden sparks within. This revelation will empower us to 'do our part' and make this world a dwelling place for His presence.
Can you see the aforementioned relationship in the hand and tissue box photo?
Wishing you a luminous and joyful Shabbat,
Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team.

The Wondrous Miracle

2011-12-21T19:03:00.001-05:00

Oneinfocus wishes you a Happy Chanukah:

The miracle of Chanukah is not simply commemorated every year.

Rather, it is relived with the wonder and excitement of a child,
as if each time is the first.

Chanukah is such a wonderful holiday!! The messages are so fundamental and the teachings of Chassidus about Chanukah are so tremendously deep.

This weeks caption is obviously not something which applies exclusively to Chanukah, but is the attitude we need when approaching all Jewish holidays. Time in Judaism is not linear, but rather cyclical or like a spiral. We re-experience each festival and re-connect with the specific energy and theme for that time of year.

The candles burning bright:

In Kabbalah, light is used as an analogy for the expression of G-d. We say "G-d's light is shining or withheld." The reason is because even though light is a creation, it is very unique. It doesn't take up space like other things, but it's presence can transform a situation. Light sets the mood. Light brings warmth. In so many ways, light parallels G-dliness.

From the story of Chanukah, light represents the holiness and sanctity of Torah. It was this dimension, the inner-most valuable dimension, that was attacked by the Syrian Greeks. Judaism as a culture was encouraged and supported under Greek rule, but as something holy, something Divine, it was intolerable.

And so, we fight fire with fire (pun intended). We light candles which are forbidden to benefit from. We do not light them to illuminate pages in a book, nor to see better. We light them for the simple message of light - sanctity, holiness, sacredness. It is this vital component which makes all that we do so meaningful.

We wish everyone a very holy, illuminated Chanukah!

Good Shabbos,

Dovid and Miri

Eight Lights

2011-12-15T11:04:00.002-05:00

A Chanukah teaser:

The menorah in the Temple had seven lights.
Today darkness dominates, and we need an extra illumination,one that is beyond time, worlds and reason.
An infinite light. A light that is Him.
And so we light eight.

This week's photo was taken in Wall Street. Just a prep for the main Chanukah photo - next week!

Be sure to check out Chanukah exhibits from previous years!

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah :)

Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team

My Trail

2011-11-30T21:53:00.001-05:00

Get out there and blaze your trail:

"בשבילי נברא העולם"

"The world was created for me"

- Mishna Sanhedrin 4:5 -

Instead of reading "bishvili" (for me), read "b-shvil-li" (for my trail).

Meaning, the world was created for the unique path that I will forge.

For more on the depth of this statement and the caption...

This photo was taken on a wonderful drive into the Berkshires, north of New York City, for a friends wedding.

I was unable to find the actual source for the drush on the wording of the mishna. I heard it in the name of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, but I checked in with a Breslov friend and he could not confirm that. If anyone can share the source of this drush, please e-mail me.

I really love this little caption. It says so much, and the twist in the words adds a deeper dimension.

Off the beaten track runs a little path:

The statement "the world was created for me" is taken from the Mishna in Sanhedrin which is dealing with the legitimacy of witnesses in capital cases. The Mishna emphasizes that in capital cases, being that punishment is death, the witnesses must be rigorously scrutinized and investigated in order to validate their testimony. The mishna highlights the ultimate value of human life. So quote a few lines:

"Monetary cases are different to capital cases. In a financial dispute, the guilty party pays the restitution and is then excused. In capital cases, the blood of the accused and the blood of all his descendants until the end of time are dependent on the ruling. Therefore, regarding Kain, in killing his brother the Torah states (Bereishit 4:10), "The bloods of your brother are screaming out." The verse uses the plural "bloods" and not the singular "blood" to teach us that with his death, died all the descendants which could have been born from him....

Therefore, man was initially created singular (as opposed to all other creatures), to teach you that anyone who destroys a life from Israel is as if he destroys a full world, and anyone who sustains a life from Israel is as if he sustains a full world. Furthermore man's singularity was for the sake of peace among mankind so that no person can claim that the father of one man is greater than another.

Moreover, the singularity of man's creation was to counter anyone who claims that there are many powers in heaven. Rather, it teaches us that about the greatness of the Holy One, Blessed be He, that man can coin many coins from a single mould, but each one is similar to the next. However, the King of kings, Blessed be He coined all of mankind from the mould of the first man, yet each person is unique and different from his fellow. Therefore, every person is obligated to say, "For me the world was created.""

Powerful stuff!!

In addition to this tremendous insight, the caption highlights another idea. Not only is each person unique from the perspective of their personlaity, facial features etc, but that each person must discover their unique trail that only they can forge. The world "shvil" in Hebrew denotes a trail that is off the beaten path. In other words, the caption is empowering every person to discover and travel their path, a path that has never been traversed before. Why? Because they are unique and their presence in this world is with G-d's intent and supervision. They exist because G-d wants, and they must honor that opportunity by living life the way that only they can!

We wish you a wonderful Shabbos!!

Dovid and Miri

Drop by Drop

2011-11-24T19:07:00.001-05:00

6:30 AM. Brooklyn. Rain. And my Ollo:

Rabbi Akiva was unlearned for the first 40 years of his life.

Once he saw water dripping onto a rock, slowly hallowing through the stone.

Exclaimed Rabbi Akiva, "If water is able to bore through a stone,

certainly the words of Torah can make an impression on my heart."

And so, drop by drop, he studied Torah -- becoming one of the greatest Talmudic sages.

Snapped with my iPhone! Details inside....

Meet Ollo - a snap on iPhone lens.

3 lenses - Fisheye, Macro and Wide-Angle.

High Quality Glass

On the iPhone
This week I was walking down a local street in Brooklyn and a drop of water caught my eye! Fortuantely in my backpack was the Ollo clip. I immediately removed the iPhone cover and snapped on the macro lens. 3 shots later and I was on my way.
Below is another shot taken at Big Fuel - with the fisheye lens.
Big Fuel, NY

Stay tuned... I am sure we will see more from Ollo.
Shabbat Shalom,
Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team

A Tree of Life

2011-11-16T13:25:00.001-05:00

A most unusual tree with a wonderful message:

Torah is a tree of life to those who hold fast to it, and fortunate are those who support it.

- Proverbs 3:18 -

Hold fast to the tree. Plant its seeds. Grow a forest.

Learn more about this caption and the photo...

This most unusual tree was shot in the forest in Morristown, NJ, near the Rabbinical College of America. When I studied there, I would often walk through the forest and admire this tree for its strength. It stands with so much leadership, wisdom and age in among it's fellow trees. If you look below, you will see that someone has attached a swing. The swing itself is unique. It is so high above the ground, yet so inviting. I hope you enjoy these wonderful images.

The majority of the mitzvot of the Torah all require physical objects. A ram's horn for the shofar, leather for tefillin, parchment for the Torah scroll and for mezuzot etc. It always fascinated me that the parchment for the Torah, which comes from cow hide, was wrapped onto these two wooden staves, the handles of the Torah. This fits so appropriately with the caption this week. After reading the Torah in a synagogue, a designated congregant grabs hold of these handles, holding firm to the wood, and raises the Torah for all to see and we recite this very verse from Proverbs. It is probably one of the most well recognized verses from Tanach.

There are so many connections between the Torah, Judaism and trees. In connection to the verse from Proverbs, the tree is a sign of longevity and wisdom. Trees live many years. They have seeds or fruit. They live in communities of other trees. They provide shade and shelter. Their wood is essential to our lives. There are parallels to all of these in Judaism and Jewish life.

From another angle, the verse suggests the importance of holding fast to the Torah to access true life. In connection to this, we are told in the Torah (Shemot 17:8-16) about the war against the nation of Amalek. Moreover, we are told that it took place in Refidim. The Midrash shares a deeper dimension to this story and tells us that Refidim is an acronym describing the state of the Jewish people. Meaning, why did Amalek attack us? Because רפו ידיהם מדברי תורה, meaning the Jewish people "loosened their grip from words of Torah." The place was Rephidim and it is connected to the word "raphu" which means "to loosen."

So we see that in addition to the Torah being available to every Jewish person as a result of them being Jewish, G-d is seeking more than a simple bequest. Rather, G-d wants the Jewish people to embrace the Torah, hold tight to the Torah. Live with the Torah. Then, it will truly be a tree of life.

We wish everyone a living and lively Shabbos, celebrating a living Torah given by a living G-d.

Good Shabbos.

Dovid and Miri

Dancing in the Air

2011-11-10T21:24:00.001-05:00

This week's photo is brought to you by our friend - Gutman Locks in Jerusalem, Israel:

An agaddic Midrash teaches that when Sarah gave birth to Yitzchak:

Many infertile women were remembered and conceived with her. Many sick people were cured on that day. Many prayers were answered along with hers.

And there was much cheerfulness in the world.

More on Gutman a.k.a Gil after the break...

Gil is no stranger to Oneinfocus - a friend, fan and featured guest author in April 2010.

Gil is a special man and the famed author of, "Coming Back to Earth: The Central Park Guru Becomes An Old City Jew."

The description of his book on Amazon reads, "Follow Gil around the globe, as he makes his amazing spiritual journey from corporate America to the depths of South India to the holy city of Jerusalem. Join him as he transforms himself from a successful businessman into a long-haired hippy, a mystical guru, a Christian healer, and finally an Old City Jew: The incredible adventures of this God-intoxicated man will not only enlighten you, they will warm your heart."

Whilst learning in Mayanot Yeshiva in Israel I was fortunate to spend Shabbos a few times at Gil's house in the Old City of Jerusalem. Gil spends every day of his life at the Kotel (Western Wall) helping Jews from all over the world connect with their heritage.

This week's photo was taken by Gil during the intermediary days of Succot. Gil has a daily email that reaches thousands of people and the moment I saw it - the photo touched my soul.

Below is a video of Gil at the Kotel - Succot, 2011.

Be sure to follow Gil Locks on the web:

Blog

Gil - thank you for allowing us to exhibit your photo and may we all merit to be with you in the Holy Land very soon!

Good Shabbos,

Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team.

The Song of the Torah

2011-11-03T11:42:00.000-04:00

Oneinfocus is inspired by The Kepellia:

The Torah is a song.

Its sweet melody sings G-d's holy symphony in the world.

We are the musicians.

Harmony is achieved only when we all play the Torah's song,

each musician sounding their own unique note.

A few weeks ago, Oneinfocus was invited to photograph a very special rehearsal of a band of musicians from Brooklyn who call themselves The Kepellia. This name was used by a group of instrumentalists who composed music for the second Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber, commonly referred to as the Mittler Rebbe. Fast-forward to the present, The Kepellia is a recently-formed Chassidic ensemble performing uplifting Chabad Nigunim with a vintage but original sound. The goal is to bring the warmth, spirituality and inspiration of Chassidism to the world through its melodies, and inspire people to a higher living. The band is currently rehearsing the holy songs of the Chabad Rebbeim, and is working to have them performed with oratory explanations and accompanying slideshow.

Playing the Mittler Rebbe's Kepellia:

Their rehearsal was, to say the least, awesome! They are not only a refined group of men, but they engage the listener and elevate one to a higher level. I had a fantastic time attending the rehearsal and took some wonderful photos. I would like to extend specific thank to Rabbi Zalman Negin for the invitation to attend.

The modern-day Kepellia:

Based on the photograph above, the musicians are, left to right: Moshe Cohen: Clarinet, Yonason Rothman: Violin, Avrohom Hassan: Guitar, Norman Madnick: Bass, Zalman Negin: Piano/Voice, Yudi Simon: Drums.

The Kepellia in action. Nice space:

Going a little deeper...

Toward the end of the Torah, the 5 Books of Moses, the leaders Moses and Yehoshua are commanded to write the Torah. However, the language of the verse is very interesting. The verse states, (Deuteronomy, 31:19), "And now, you shall write this song (שירה) and teach all of B'nei Yisroel, placing it in their mouths, in order that this song shall be for me, forever with B'nei Yisroel."

There are many things to say about this verse, I want to highlight one particular point. Even though Rashi says that the song desribed in the verse is the song recorded in Parshat Haazinu, there are many places where the entire Torah is described as a song. For instance, the Baal HaTurim, a commentator on the Torah, writes that the comparison of the Torah to a song refers not only to the written Torah, but to the Oral Torah as well.

Tuning in:

Now, we know when the Torah is read in the synagogue, it is read with a "trop." The trop are the tradition tunes associated with each word. The trop turn the page of words into a story. They bring drama and interest, insight and meaning. Moreover, the Oral Torah is also studied with a particular tune, and especially when innovating a particular idea. For those of you who have sat in a Yeshiva, you know what I mean.

The connection with song can be stretched even further. Not only limited to Torah reading and learning, there is actually a song that is sung by all of creation - Perek Shira. The text of Perek Shira enumerates the multitude of creatures in the world and expounds upon each of their individual songs that sing the praises of G-d.

The clarinet. So sweet:

In conclusion, there is profound relationship between Torah and song and that each of us has a unique note, our own personal melody, that we must discover and bring into this world. Through each of us bringing that melody into existence, we will create the beautiful harmony of the Torah and G-d's composition!

What is your note?

Wishing you all a wonderful Shabbos.

Dovid and Miri

A Light for the Ark

2011-10-27T11:28:00.006-04:00

Tuesday night, Oneinfocus HQ's NY:

"Make a light for the ark," G-d commanded Noah.

The Hebrew word for ark is teivah,

which also means "word," alluding to words of prayer and Torah study.

Like Noah, we can make our divine service "shine with light."

More after the jump!

It was a lot of fun: I grabbed Noah's ark from our toddler's shelf and set it up against a backdrop. To the left of the photo - I set up a light stand with a soft box that housed a wireless flash.

Then the challenge started. Every time I set up an animal our daughter took it down and started playing with them. I managed to create a 10 second window and snapped away!

This week's Torah reading is Parshat Noach. You can read a summary of Noach on Chabad.org.

Below are two more photos from Oneinfocus that were published in previous years on Parshat Noach.

Noah's ark had a tzohar - a window. Tzohar is spelled with the same Hebrew letters as tzarah - suffering.
The Baal Shem Tov taught that when we enter the ark of Torah,we transform suffering into a window for light.

Noach was the first to observe the mitzvah of feeding one's animals before oneself.

If the Torah demands selfless giving to an animal,

how much more so to another person!

Wishing you a luminous Shabbat!

Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team.

Esrog Examination

2011-10-11T20:26:00.004-04:00

Oneinfocus finds a most beautiful esrog:

"You shall take for yourselves on the first day, the fruit of a tree of splendor..." Vayikra 23:40

"... this is the Esrog (Citron)." Rashi

We strive for the greatest beauty and splendor in performing the mitzvot

out of our love for the One who commanded them.

After the break - see a most beautiful esrog and a funny picture!

Oneinfocus would like to thank Rabbi Yehoshua Raskin, from Kiryat Melachi in Israel, for helping us shoot these wonderful pictures. After walking into his esrog store, he removed one of the most beautiful esrogim I have ever seen. We both stood there in admiration of the beautiful citrus fruit from Italy which came with a equally marvelous price tag. Rabbi Raskin then brought out a huge micrscope and we proceeded to examine the beauty of this particular esrog. Those who are really invested in the mitzvah of choosing a beautiful esrog will often take painstaking hours to examine the specimen in order to choose the one that is considered most slendid (mehudar).

The examining eye:

The subject under a giant microscope:

To elaborate on the idea of investing oneself in mitzvot, I want to highlight that there are different ways of understanding the mitzvot. The more surface understanding is that they are Divine commands which enter and restrict all aspects of our daily lives. This perspective may leave a person feeling overwhelmed, suffocated and swamped by all that there is to do.

The deeper way of understanding mitzvot is learnt from the word mitzvah, מצוה. This word is related to the word tzavta, צוותא, which means 'connection.' This teaches us that mitzvot are ways to connect to Hashem. Just like being in a loving, committed relationship, each partner constantly has their beloved in mind, seeking ways to do things for them and connect deeper, so to it is with mitzvot. In fact, the Zohar describes the mitzvot as '613 romantic tips', ways to charm Hashem. In the name of Gil Locks, an ardent Jewish activist in Jerusalem, it's not that we have to do mitzvot, but rather that we get to do mitzvot. They are expressions of love. And in truth, out of kindness, Hashem gave very clear insights into how to charm and appeal to Him.

A most beautiful specimen:

This idea is extremely appropriate right on the heels of the festival of Sukkot. Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are very intense times where our actions are individually reviewed by the Master of the Worlds. We may feel exposed, anxious and even insecure as we confront our actions over the previous year. But, then, with the final sounding of the shofar at the end of the Neilah service, the light, warmth and love of Sukkot is felt. The minimum size of the sukkah is 2 walls and little bit. This is just like an arm which hugs another person - the bicep, the forearm and the hand - making 2 and bit sides. Meaning, Sukkot is like an embrace. Hashem extends his gracious arm and hugs every Jew together through the wonderful, exciting and fun mitzvah of sitting in the Sukkah.

Not just a lemon:

Oneinfocus would like to wish everyone a wonderful, warm and loving Sukkot.

Chag Sameach and a Gut Yom Tov!! Dovid and Miri

Sweet and Sweeter

2011-09-26T22:20:00.001-04:00

Oneinfocus wishes you the sweetest new year!!

Both apples and honey are sweet, but their sweetness is different.

The apple has a sweetness which we taste without pain.

Whereas the honey, whose sweetness is richer,

can only be acquired by prevailing over the painful sting of a bee.

The message is relevant to our prayers for the New Year.

We pray firstly that our lives should be sweet and without pain,

and secondly, we pray to have the wisdom to see

that there is even sweetness buried within pain.

In capturing this week's picture, we discovered how difficult it can be to write clearly with honey. You can imagine that we did not capture the picture on the first try... or even the second...

We tried some other poses with the honey, but in the end, we liked our original shot the best.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe would emphasize that the Jewish new year is called, "Rosh Hashana," which in Hebrew means the "Head of the Year." He explained that just as the head is the highest point of the body and controls the body, so to Rosh Hashana is the seminal point of the year and imbues the entire year with its energy.

Practically, the 48 hours of Rosh Hashana are treated as one long day. Unlike every other festival, which is celebrated for one day in Israel and two days outside of Israel, Jewish communities all over the world celebrate two days of Rosh Hashana. These 48 hours are precious. We try to sleep less, pray more, speak positively, eat good foods and have symbols on our tables that represent success, multiplication and blessing - for example, fruits associated with Israel, the head of a fish, honey, etc.

The climax of the whole day is the sounding of the shofar. It is very important for all men, women and children to hear a full series of 30 blasts of the shofar. The Rosh Hashana service is centered around the idea of Hashem's Kingship and the blasts of the shofar are a way of actualizing these descriptions. Just as it is customary to coronate a king with trumpets, we blow the shofar to proclaim our desire to coronate Hashem as our King for the coming year.

Oneinfocus wishes all our subscribers and all of the Jewish Nation a meaningful, connected Rosh Hashana that draws down a year of blessings, health and prosperity!

Shana Tova U'Metuka!

Dovid and Miri

Cup Full of Blessings

2011-09-22T22:21:00.001-04:00

The Flatiron District - NY:

The month preceding Rosh Hashanah

is a time of introspection and spiritual stocktaking.

It is an opportune period to turn our cups upwards

so they can be filled with blessings during the Days of Awe.

After the jump: cup vs. kop!

The Flatiron

The Flatiron Building, or Fuller Building, as it was originally called, is located at 175 Fifth Avenue in the borough of Manhattan, New York City and is considered to be a groundbreaking skyscraper. Upon completion in 1902 it was one of the tallest buildings in the city and the only skyscraper north of 14th Street.

The neighborhood around the building is called the Flatiron District after its signature building, which has become an icon of New York City. The Flatiron building is a popular spot for tourist photographs, but it is also a functioning office building which is currently the headquarters of international publishing companies.

In January 2009, an Italian real estate investment firm bought a majority stake in the Flatiron Building, with plans to turn it into a world-class luxury hotel, although the conversion may have to wait ten years until the leases of the current tenants run out. The value of the 22-story Flatiron Building is estimated to be $190 million.

All of this week's photos were taken with my iPhone:

The Flatiron Building

Original iPhone photo.

Art exhibit at the the base of the Flatiron.
The CaptionThis week's caption is self-explanatory. However there is a Chassidic twist on the word cup. Substitute the word cup for the Yiddish word 'kop' (which means head) and re-read the caption. You got it?
Wishing you an inspirational Shabbat!
Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team.

Not Just Bread

2011-09-15T09:15:00.003-04:00

Local Crown Heights vendors have great photo opportunities:

In Hebrew, the words for bread and salt are spelled with the same letters.
The bread is the body and the salt is the soul.

On Shabbos, the climax of the week, we dip the bread into the salt,
signifying the fusion of body and soul.

The Kabbalah behind the caption and more great pics...

These photos were taken at Gombos - a fairly new bakery that opened right down the road from 770 with awesome delicacies and fancy bakery goodies.

The Heimishe Bakery:

Our friend Ephraim paying a visit - breakfast perhaps:

Challah is not just bread. It is a G-dly recipe that captures the holiness of the Shabbos and allows us to ingest spiritual energy. As mentioned in the caption, bread and salt have the same letters - לחם and מלח respectively. So what is the deeper connection that the caption is hinting to?

Well, bread is something which goes stale very quickly. Salt on the other hand is a preservative which itself lasts and lasts. We find the same thing with the soul and the body. The body alone, within a short frame of time, will deteriorate and rot. The soul however (which sounds a lot like 'salt'), existed before the body and will continue to live after physical life has ceased.

Shabbos is the climax of the week and the springboard for the following week. We take the physical body, the bread, and dip it in the salt. Dipping is an action which teaches about submission and resignation to the object in which one is dipping. The word for dipping in Hebrew, טובל, is connected to the word for nullification, or more freely translated, to humble oneself, ביטול. So this is what we are doing on a cosmic scale on Shabbos - we are combining and nullifying the physical component to the spiritual. In fact, this is the whole message of shabbos - fusion of physical with spiritual.

One step further. This action of dipping gives the object significance in time. The body alone will deteriorate fast. However, imbued with a soul, the body can function for a good 120 years. Meaning, it has a past, a present and future. This is why we dip the bread in the salt 3 times. The numerical value of bread is 78. G-d's 4 lettered, ineffable name, has numerical value of 26. G-d's name is also a consolidation of the terms for past, present and future - היה, הוה, ויהיה. By dipping the bread 3 times into the salt, we give the physicality a dimension in time, which is ultimately defined as "living"!

I hope that this helps expand the mind about the procedure on Shabbos. May you dip your challah into the salt with a different perspective this week!

Have a great Shabbos!!

Miri and Dovid.

And one more: Symmetry in Challah:

From Lamp to Lamp

2011-09-08T22:19:00.003-04:00

An iPhone photo inside Home Depot, Manhattan:

A chassid once approached Rabbi Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch.

"Rebbe, what is a chassid?" he asked.

Replied the Rebbe: " A chassid is a lamplighter. The lamplighter walks the streets carrying a flame at the end of a stick. He knows that the flame is not his. And he goes from lamp to lamp to set them alight."

After the jump - a lighting experiment!

This week's photo was casually snapped with my iPhone in Home Depot - a large home improvement and hardware store in Manhattan.

However I did have something else in mind. Earlier in the week I shot a ring that rested on a Talmudic book. The idea was to create a reflecting shadow - in the shape of a heart.

Below is the photo shoot:

Production photo.Wireless flash in a soft box.Ring resting on the Talmud.

Final photo.Converted to black and white.

The Oneinfocus editorial team would not allow the photo into the weekly email. The shadow was not strong enough and I had to agree!
Wishing you a luminous Shabbat!
Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team

An Inner Cry

2011-08-31T23:02:00.005-04:00

Oneinfocus welcomes the month of Elul:

Exiled to a distant land, speaking a foreign language, wearing strange clothes and doing unfamiliar business, at the end of the year we may feel estranged from our Father in Heaven.

The shofar is the simple, earnest cry of the Jewish people, entreating our Father to allow us into the inner chambers of the palace. The cry pierces the heavens, the door opens wide and we are warmly welcomed inside for a new beginning.

Check out the pictures below and let us know which one you prefer...

The shofar just wants to be blown:

We carry the shofar like we are on a mission:

Raising our eyes to heavens, we internalize the sound of the shofar:

You may be wondering why we are sharing an image of the shofar at this point in time, when Rosh Hashana is still a month away. Well, in answer to this question, it is discussed in Jewish Law that the custom amongst Jewish People is to already sound the shofar from the beginning of the month of Elul, the last month of the year.

Elul is one of the best kept secrets. It is not as well known as Tishrei or Nissan. In fact, the days of Elul appear like regular weekdays. However, the month itself is a refuge in time, set aside for intense, sincere review of the previous year, and redefining the goals for the coming year.

In Chassidic literature, in the month of Elul we are told that the King (G-d) is in the field. Meaning, the field as opposed to the palace. In addition to being in the field, the King is also receiving all his subjects with a warm, welcoming countenance, showing joy and love for all who come to see Him. For us, this means that G-d is more approachable in Elul than at other times of the year. He is literally in our midst, waiting eagerly for our visit. All we need to do is step out of our boundaries a little and approach Him.

This week's caption is based on a analogy given by the Baal Shem Tov about the significance of the blowing of the shofar. The shofar's various sounds mimic the different cries of someone in distress. There is a long wail - WAAAAAAAAAA!!!! Then there is medium crying - Ahhhaaa! Ahhhhaaaa!! Ahhahaaa!! And then there are short sobs - Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah!! These are the cries of an estranged child begging to be let back into the palace after a year of challenge. The most powerful encouragement however, is knowing that if we relate to this process and approach earnestly, we know that G-d will certainly accept our supplications and welcome us into the palace in the month of Tishrei.

The Shofar is one of the most powerful symbols in Jewish literature:

May everyone have a truly meaningful month, filled with the joy of drawing close to the King!!

Good Shabbos,

Dovid and Miri

Seven Times

2011-08-25T21:46:00.008-04:00

Oneninfocus HQ's: Two Lights, one white, the other blue...

Tefillin are a symbol of the loving relationship between the Jewish nation and G‑d,

which is analogous to the relationship between a husband and wife.

Tefillin are wrapped seven times around the arm,
corresponding to the seven blessings recited at a wedding ceremony.

More shots after the jump!

______

Out of nowhere - an idea sprang into my head. "Can you imagine a photo: tefillin resting on a surface with a wireless strobe illuminating from beneath? Then - add a touch of blue light from the left."

Next step: make that idea a reality:

Tefillin resting on an illuminated soft box.

The soft box is attached to a light stand that is erected. In this case I had to improvise: folded the legs of the light stand and lay it the ground.

Wireless strobe clamped to a lectern. Blue gel and snoot envelop the source of light.

Notice how much character the blue illumination adds?

Wishing you a luminous Shabbat!
Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team.

A Timeless Deed

2011-08-17T10:05:00.011-04:00

Oneinfocus shoots this picture outside 770, Lubavitch Headquaters:

The Rebbe notes that although Tzedakah is usually translated as charity, its Hebrew root is the same as Tzedek, a word that means justice.

When you give Tzedakah, you - as an honest and upright person - are merely passing on something that was entrusted to you for safekeeping.

Tzedakah is thus not just a nice thing to do; it's the right thing to do.

After the break: Learn more about Tzedaka and see some more cool pics...

Even more bright and wild:

This week’s photo was shot outside of Lubavitch world headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, NY. The shoot was a duel effort by Michoel and Dovid and attracted the interested, ever-present onlookers. We even had a couple of young yeshiva students approach us, only to return huge smiles and laughter when they heard we were Oneinfocus. They were so happy: “Oneinfocus is you!! WOW! We love your photos!” So nice to know there are some fans out there.

Okay, now more on the great mitzvah of Tzedaka...

Though commonly translated as charity, the most apt parallel for tzedaka in the English language is actually justice. While it may seem strange that the word tzedaka is so commonly mistranslated, in fact, the two concepts of charity and justice share much in common. We live in a world which is often decried for being unfair and harsh. There is a great deal of suffering without reason. The question constantly remains, why do bad things happen to good people? Though tzedaka does not provide an answer, it takes the stance that when one gives money to those in need they are actually bringing justice into the world and righting the inexplicable wrongs that exist.

However, there is a major disconnect between the ideas of charity and tzedaka. The word charity connotes a sense of benevolence on the part of the giver. According to the the Jewish understanding however, one's financial position in this world is entirely decided by G-d. In the HaYom Yom (Thought of the Day) for the 4th of Menachem Av, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneerson is quoted as having written, "Even with the greatest toil, one cannot earn one cent more than G-d ordained for him." Therefore, when one gives tzedeka, unlike charity, both the giver and receiver are simply fulfilling their particular missions in this world. In fact, to receive tzedaka - something which can be very humbling - is often more difficult then giving it.

Chassidus teaches that when one gives tzedaka, they must be particularly aware of the fact that they are doing it because it is G-d's will that they should be a giver and someone else should be a receiver in this situation; they must guard themselves against becoming self-righteous. When we understand the true meaning of tzedaka to be justice, it can better help us to give to others not for the sake of self-aggrandizement, but rather in order to bring truth and righteousness into the world.

Clean lights:

The Torah teaches us another very powerful lesson specifically about the mitzvah of Tzedaka. We are told, that the very action of giving a coin to someone in need actually spells out Hashem’s name - the 4 letter name of G-d which is not pronounced, also known as the tetragrammaton. One begins with a coin - a small round object. This is the ‘yud’ - the first letter of Hashem’s name. The coin is held by the hand of the giver. This is the ‘hey’ - the second letter of Hashem’s name. The ‘hey’ actually looks like a hand and has the numerical value of 5 - corresponding to the five fingers. The giver extends his hand to give the coin. This corresponds to the ‘vav,’ which is a straight line. The recipient receives the coin with his hand. This is the last ‘hey’ of Hashem’s name.

The message is clear. The performance of this mitzvah is an invitation to G-d to come into your life and partner with your deeds, imbuing your days with spirituality. Go forth and give!!

Have a great Shabbos.

Dovid and Miri

Back on Track

2011-08-11T22:47:00.006-04:00

A photo from the Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn NY:

The Tzemach Tzedek once encouraged an equestrian to return to Jewish observance, but the man's mind was on his horse.

"See how it runs!" he exclaimed. " It covers much more ground than slower horses!"

"But," asked the Tzaddik, "if your horse takes a wrong turn, it'll get lost faster than a slow horse!"

"Aha!" said the horse fancier. "My horse makes up for lost time and returns real fast."

"You said it!" replied the Tzemach Tzedek. "The same drive that led you astray, can get you back on track."

Good Shabbos!

Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team

Winery Wisdom

2011-08-04T11:03:00.011-04:00

Oneinfocus shoots inside a unique winery:

“Do not look at the vessel, but rather at what it contains:

There may be a new vessel filled with aged wine,

or an old vessel that does not contain even new wine.”

Ethics of the Fathers, 4:20

After the break - see inside a winery and learn about the depth of this week's caption...

A unique winery in Virginia:

Grapes ripening - two weeks before harvesting:

Tea (or wine) for two:

These photos were taken this week at the Paradise Springs Winery in historic Clifton, Virginia - Miri’s hometown. The winery was started by a local family, reclaiming the land’s roots as a cornerstone of Virginia's wine making country.

Barrel arrangement:

Securing quality contents:

These images were shot in the winery’s dimly lit barrel room. One of the essential practices in wine making is keeping wine stored at low light, because light can produce a chemical change in the wine. Shooting in low light conditions however, is one of the trickiest photographic dilemmas. How to you keep the camera still enough, for long enough, to take in enough light to produce a detailed image? In this case, we used a tripod and remote flash and were able to produce well-lit, sharp images.

The symmetry of wine-making:

This week’s caption comes from Ethics of our Fathers (Pirke Avot) — a portion of the Mishna which offers practical life lessons. During the Shabbos days of the summer months, we traditionally study one chapter a week of these essential teachings. This famous quote comes from Rabbi Meir, in which he teaches us not to judge a book by its cover (or a wine barrel by it’s exterior). The teaching is clear — looks can be deceiving. A person’s age, position in life or physical exterior can often cause us to develop preconceived notions about them. Yet, we know that what lies beneath the surface does not always correspond.

However, when considered in context, the teaching stretches even further. This particular statement by Rabbi Meir was said to one of the most infamous personalities in the Mishna - Elisha ben Avuyah. Often referred to as “Acher” (meaning “Other”), Elisha ben Avuyah was a great Torah scholar who came to completely disregard the Jewish lifestyle in the pursuit of Greek philosophy — the vogue of the time. He was the teacher of Rabbi Meir, and sadly, lived a very disturbed life in which he felt he could never repent for his sins. According to Kabbalah, in telling Elisha ben Avuya not to “look at the vessel,” Rabbi Meir was trying to communicate to him that his sins — actions, which were external from him — were not indicative of who he really was; his inner truth, his wine, was still one with G-d.

The lesson exists for each of us. We can often be our harshest judges. We look at the things we do and think, “How could I have done such a thing? I’m a terrible person.” I cannot count the number of times I’ve heard people say, “I’m a bad Jew.” The message of this Mishna is that though our actions are important, they are our exterior, our vessel. Our essence, our inner truth, is pure and good.

As we enter the week of Tisha b’Av - the day that marks the destruction of both of the Holy Temples - Oneinfocus wishes you a Shabbos, not of depression and sadness, but rather one of a deeper joy that comes from recognizing the goodness in oneself and all the people around you.

Shabbat Shalom,

Dovid, Miri and the Oneinfocus Team

Precious Children

2011-07-28T20:56:00.004-04:00

An iPhone photo by Michoel and caption authored by Sarah:

Innocence is infinitely precious,

despite what our culture may proclaim.

Into the trusting, outstretched hands of children,

G-d will place a world without darkness.

May it be very soon.

More photos after the jump!

This week's photo was taken at the Children's Museum in Brooklyn, NY. Below are a more photos - all edited with iPhone camera apps:

Faded.

Sepia.

Black and White

We felt each photo shares a different ambience and feeling. Which is your favorite? What does the photo share for you? Let us know in the comments section below!

Oh - and before we run: a little color for your day!

Colored wall - Manhattan.iPhone photo.

Wishing you an angelic Shabbos!
Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team.