This week, the hype across the country seemed to revolve around the Powerball, having risen to astronomical levels of historic proportion. Some rushed out to their nearest convenience store to try their luck (sometimes we need to make a vessel to receive the blessings), while others were of the opinion that, with odds of 1 in 292 million, one would be better off buying a coffee.
A captivating feel good story hit the headlines yesterday, about a Jewish philanthropist from LA named Shlomo Rechnitz who owns a chain of nursing homes in CA. He had purchased 18,000 Powerball tickets for all of his employees and residents earlier this week.
News spread across the media that one of the nurses in the Pomona facility, had in fact been one of the three winners. She had received a call from her son while at work, which set off celebrations throughout the nursing home.
Mere hours later, it turned out to be a prank that her son had played. The woman had not in fact become an insta-millionaire.
In the news and on social media, some shared outrage at the son for putting his mom through this. Others chose to focus on the feel-good story that wasn't, or how it turned into a sour story for the philanthropist.
This all misses the point. The part that we should focus on is that someone cared. Someone gave 18,000 people a chance to hope, a chance to dream. And regardless of the outcome, it's inspirational. (The same man who bought a hot meal for 400 US soldiers in an Ireland airport, because he thought they deserved better).
We choose how to view what goes on around us, and find the positive in everything and everyone. This is a fundamental principle the Lubavitcher Rebbe lived by and taught, stressing the impact of every good deed, no matter how isolated. This Wednesday we commemorate his appointment as Rebbe in 1951 - more info here. Join us for a special dinner Wednesday evening at 6:30pm, where we will discuss and celebrate the occasion.
Let's make sure we are experiencing life through a lens of positivity, and let's remember that to make a difference in someone's life - to bring joy, hope or a smile - it can be accomplished through something as small as a Powerball ticket.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Dovid Bush
ב"ה