July 2, 2009 Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: The hallmark of a person Abe Novick: Up, up, and aliya July 1, 2009 Rabbi Avi Shafran: The Road Taken The Kosher Gourmet by Marialisa Calta: Get into the holiday spirit with these Star-Spangled desserts June 30, 2009 Rabbi Binyomin Ginsberg: What makes a great parent? Caroline B. Glick: Ideologue-in-Chief June 29, 2009 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Beware of 'Caveat Emptor' Steven Emerson: ACLU pushing for more money for Hamas June 26, 2009 Rabbi Yoni Posnick: Learn the secret to a healthy marriage from a scriptural villain Caroline B. Glick: Barack Obama vs. International Law June 25, 2009 Rabbi Shimon Apisdorf: The Absurd Power of Truth Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkle's strip: Everything's Relative June 24, 2009 Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Advancement of technology is a wake-up call for humanity The Kosher Gourmet by Andrea Weigl: Summer on a stick: Making frozen treats can be easy, creative and fun June 23, 2009 Martin M. Bodek: 'On Surnames': And so, We Begin Caroline B. Glick: The Obama Effect June 22, 2009 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Working for a corrupt firm N. Richard Greenfield : Where are American Jews? June 19, 2009 Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Emotion v. intellect Caroline B. Glick: Israel's rare opportunity June 18, 2009 Jonathan Rosenblum: Sometimes it is more essential to define the nature of evil than good Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkle's strip: Everything's Relative June 17, 2009 Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The Language of Confusion The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Nothing pleases Dad more than a thick, juicy onion-smothered steak. Add home-Baked Potato Chips and … June 16, 2009 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Career v. Careersism Caroline B. Glick: Obama's losing streak and Israel Richard Z. Chesnoff: ‘Palestinians’: Never Missing an Opportunity … June 15, 2009 Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu: How Judea and Samaria can become 'Palestine' Daniel Pipes: Where Netanyahu's speech failed June 12, 2009 Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Some big thoughts about not acting so big Caroline B. Glick: Obama's High Commissioner June 11, 2009 Victor Davis Hanson: Our historically challenged President Mitch Albom: Beware the True Believers Lewis Grossberger: What we learn from the new Hitler photos June 10, 2009 Mort Zuckerman: What Obama and his advisors won't -- or refuse to -- grasp about Israel and the Muslim world The Kosher Gourmet by Steve Petusevsky Lotsa pasta: Tips, techniques and (amazing) taste June 9, 2009 Anne Bayefsky: Obama's stunning offense to Israel and the Jewish people Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: America's first Muslim president? June 8, 2009 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Merchant must take responsibility for careless shopper? Mark Steyn: A superpower that feeds on mediocrity cannot survive for long on leftovers from the past Richard Z. Chesnoff: How do you say 'kumbaya' in Arabic? June 5, 2009 Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: In quest of spirituality Caroline B. Glick: Obama's Arabian dreams Charles Krauthammer: The Settlements Myth June 4, 2009 Paul Greenberg: The War Comes to Little Rock The Kosher Gourmet by Judy Hevrdejs: Splash it on! Tap your inner jazz musician and improvise when stirring up a vinaigrette June 3, 2009 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. Should terrible teacher be exposed? Jonathan Rosenblum: The Israel Lobby: Missing in Action June 2, 2009 Dennis Prager: The Speech President Obama Won't Dare Give in Egypt Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Pressure on Israel raises war risk Oct. 29, 2003 Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review March 7, 2008 / 30 Adar I 5768 Who is in control? By Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski Something to consider when focusing on a challenge's outcome “All the work of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed, and the Children of Israel had done everything that G-d commanded Moses, so did they do.”                         —   Exodus 39:32 http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | It would seem that logically, the order of this verse should reversed; i.e, ''The Children of Israel did everything that G-d commanded Moses, so did they do, and all the work of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed.'' Why does the Torah tell us that the Tabernacle was completed before it says that the Israelites did as they were commanded? The answer is that if the order were reversed, it would indicate that because the Israelites did the work, that is why the Tabernacle was completed. The fact is that the Tabernacle was actually completed by G-d, after the Israelites did all they were commanded. The completion of the Tabernacle was indeed the result of their effort, but their effort alone could not have done it. It was because they tried their utmost that they merited that G-d should complete it. This is a lesson that we should apply in every walk of life. In virtually everything we do, there are many factors beyond our control that can affect outcome. We are responsible only for what we do, not for what ultimately emerges. This does not hold true in commerce. A person may begin a business with total disregard for every principle of economy, and if he makes a windfall profit, he is considered to be an excellent businessman. On the other hand, if one prepares carefully for a business venture, attending to every detail properly, and the business fails, he is thought of as a poor businessman. People will invest their money with the one who has the best outcome, not with the one who has the best method. We are so involved in economics, that we may apply commercial principles to our personal lives and ethical issues. Parents who tried to raise their children in the best possible way, but have a child with errant behavior, tend to feel guilty that they were not good parents. I have seen instances where parents who were self-indulgent and totally neglected their children had a child who turned out to be a fine person and a credit to society. The parents who cared and tried are good parents, even though the child turned out to be a disappointment. The parents who were negligent were bad parents, even if their child grew up to be a great person. Jews pray every day, in the central silent meditation, Amida, that G-d remember for us the merits of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Of Abraham G-d said, ''For I have loved him, because he commands his children and his household after him that they keep the way of G-d, doing charity and justice'' (Genesis 18:19). G-d loved Abraham for doing his best to teach his children to walk in G-d's ways, but Abraham's son, Ishmael, did not follow his father's teachings. Similarly, Isaac had a son, Esau, who was a scoundrel, but that does not detract from Isaac's great spirituality. Neither Abraham nor Isaac are held responsible for the unfavorable outcome of their children. The phraseology describing the construction of the Tabernacle makes this point. We must do what we can, but we must realize that the final product is really out of our hands. Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes inspiring articles. Sign up for our daily update. It's free. Just click here. Comment by clicking here. Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D. is a psychiatrist and ordained rabbi. He is the founder of the Gateway Rehabilitation Center in Pittsburgh, a leading center for addiction treatment. An Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, he is a prolific author, with some 30 books to his credit, including, "Twerski on Chumash" (Bible), from which this was excerpted (Sales of this book help fund JWR). © 2007, Mesorah Publications, Ltd.