The beautiful Rainbow Bee-eater: G-d provides sustenance for every creature. He designates each particular prey to 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. Read More »

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. Read More »

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. Read More »

Oneinfocus visits the Berkshires for a special wedding: The Torah calls marriage “kiddushin.” Something “kadosh”, which means holy or sacred,  is something separated and distinguished from the mundane. By dedicating oneself entirely to another, to the exclusion of all others,  the marriage will surely blossom. Learn more after the jump…. Read More »

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…. Read More »

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

A Chanukah teaser: The menorah in the Temple had seven lights. Today darkness dominates, and we need an extra illumination, one thatis 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. Read More »

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. Read More »

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. Read More »

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. Read More »

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. Read More »

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. Read More »

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. Read More »

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. Read More »

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. Read More »

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

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. Read More »

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. Read More »

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. Read More »

Oneinfocus shoots this picture outside 770, Lubavitch Headquaters: Tzedaka means justice. A simple act of goodness and kindness can tip the scales  to bring peace and serenity to our turbulent world. After the break: Learn more about Tzedaka and see some more cool pics… Read More »