Thursday, October 29, 2009

"Problems"

Many times people forget to look around and see what they have. They are too busy caught up complaining about everything that is going wrong, they have no time to see what is going right. This is expounded when the “problems” they are complaining about are really blessings but they fail to seeor notice it. The most common example is when people have a simcha. Some people will complain how everything is so hard to do and there is so much to take care of and yada yada yada. They are so caught up in complaining that they fail to see the people standing on the sidelines davening to Hashem that they should have such “problems”. People who don’t have many simchos in their life don’t have to worry about where to put up the guests, or how to pay for the expenses. There are many people that would love to have to figure out ways to deal with these “problems”. As I prepare for my wedding on January 18th, there will be many times that I will encounter “problems” along the way. It’s very easy to just complain about how it is so hard to have to work on all these things. Hopefully, I will be able to remind myself that there are plenty of people out there who can’t find a shidduch and would love to be planning for their wedding. I want to thank Hashem for giving me these “problems” and look forward to more “problems” that come from good things.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

About Me

I was born on January 11th 1986 in New York City. My family moved to Chicago, IL, where I grew up, when I was around 2 years old. I went to Yeshiva Tifferes Tzvi and Arie Crown in Elementary School in Chicago. I then went to Mesivta Chofetz Chaim/Rabbinical Seminary of America, then located in Forest Hills New York, for 9th 10th and 11th grade in High School. I boarded at my grandparents who lived in Rego Park when I was in 9th and 10th Grade, and then moved wioth them to Kew Gardens Hills for 11th. After 11th Grade, at the suggestion of my principal Rabbi Shlomo Yonasan Harris, I then went down to Yeshiva Toras Chaim in Miami where I started learning in Bais Medrash. In my 5th year in Miami, I started working for the Yeshiva part time in the morning in their Financial Office as their Alumni Coordinator. The following year I continued working for them but now in a full time role. I took over their IT Department as well as started working on some fundraising projects. I currently still work there.

My father is Rabbi Ephraim Friedman. My father also went to Mesivta Chofetz Chaim/Rabbinical Seminary of America for High School. After he graduated, he then learned for two years in the Yeshivas' Israel branch. He then returned to the Rabbinical Seminary of America and joined their Bais Medrash program. My father has multiple jobs in the Chicago community. He moved to Chicago around 1988 to join the Chicago Community Kollel, where he learnt for close to 20 years. In the summer of 2000 he was hired by Beis Hamedrash Mikor Hachaim where he joined their staff as a Rebbe and Morah Hora'ah. Over the years he has gotten more involved in the Beis Medrash where he now gives weekly Shiurim and is available to talk to memebers of the Beis Medrash upon request. Additionally, he teaches a 11th grade girls Halacha Shiur in Hanna Sacks Bais Yaakov High School. A few years ago he started working for the Chicago Rabbinical Council, as a Dayan on their Beth Din. Recently he increased his role there and now is available to answer sha'alos on weekday afternoons. He also learns in the mornings in the Choshen Mishpat Kollel under the leadership of Rabbi Zev Cohen located in Adas Yeshurun.

My mother is Mrs. Yitty Friedman. She currently teaches a full day in Yeshiva Tifferes Tzvi. In the mornings she works in the Remedial Room and in the afternoon she teaches 4th Grade boys. She also gives numerous shiurim around the community and is involved with many Chessed programs in Chicago.


My sister, Sima Rochel, was born on December 29th 1984. She married Moshe Hollander on Febuary 23rd 2006 and they currently live in Kew Gardens Hills, NY. They are the proud parents of twins, Miriam and Avraham Yitzchak.


On October 23rd 2009, I became engaged to Miss Leah Hauser from Columbus Ohio. We got married on January 18th 2010. We live in North Miami Beach, Florida. My wife is the inspiration of this blog. Once while we were dating, I mentioned that I was thinking of starting a blog so I'll have an excuse to write every now and then. She pushed me to start it so here you have it. Enjoy!