Rabbi Yaakov Salomon, C.S.W. is a noted psychotherapist, in private practice in Brooklyn, N.Y. for over 25 years. He is a Senior Lecturer and the Creative Director of Aish Hatorah's Discovery Productions. He is also an editor and author for the Artscroll Publishing Series and a member of the Kollel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath.
Rabbi Salomon is co-author, with Rabbi Noah Weinberg, of the best selling book "What the Angel Taught You; Seven Keys to Life Fulfillment," (Mesorah), and is also the co-producer of the highly-acclaimed film, "Inspired."
Click here to order Yaakov Salomon's new book, Salomon Says: 50 Stirring and Stimulating Stories.
In these marvelous stories -- brimming with wit, understanding, a touch of irony and a large helping of authentic Torah perspective -- we will walk with a renowned and experienced psychotherapist and popular author through the pathways of contemporary life: its crowded sidewalks, its pedestrian malls, and the occasional dead end street. This is a walk through our lives that will be fun, entertaining -- and eye-opening. In our full -- sometimes overfull -- and complex lives, Yaakov Salomon is a welcome and much-needed voice of sanity and reason.
His speaking, writing and musical talents have delighted audiences from Harvard to Broadway and everything in between. Rabbi Salomon shares his life with his wife, Temmy, and their unpredictable family.
_(english).jpg "Taking the Spiritual Dive")
_(english).jpg "Genetic Screening for Breast Cancer Genes")
_(english).jpg "When Bad Things Happen")
_(english).jpg "Judaism and the 12-Step Program")
+.jpg "Knowledge and Wisdom")
+.jpg "Moshe, Miriam and Prophecy")
+.jpg "Don't Give Up")
_(english).jpg "Where Are You Right Now?")
Some people are funny. Some are insightful. Some are cynical. Some find a humorous touch in everything. Others find irony. Some write beautifully. Few people do them all as well as Rabbi Yaakov Salomon does. Entertaining, inspiring, astute, he has the uncommon ability to look something to give us pause and make us think. His new book, Something to Think About , gives us just that -- with a healthy dose of wit and charm. Click here to order.
_(english).jpg "Want, Want. Spend, Spend.")
_(english).jpg "No Time to be Humble")
(7) Katherine, May 4, 2006 12:00 AM
Chained to the desk?
I, too, watched this at work -- where I need (I say again, NEED) to read and listen to things that give me some encouragement, increase my knowledge, make my brain actually function, and even entertain me. We don't get formally structured breaks, so I take what I can get, when I can get it. I can do my job in my sleep and I work with people who spend most of their time talking to each other or calling family/friends on the phone. There is a lot of negativity here and it gets me down, so I turn to the web. I don't have this problem at home.
I have time to surf because I am ahead of everyone else here. When there's a deadline, I take it seriously and usually get it done prior to that date/time. My coworkers often are still discussing their weekends, the soap opera storylines, etc. even after the deadline. Then, I have the option of twiddling my thumbs while I wait for them to catch up or surf. Some things I look at are just for entertainment, but many sites, such as this one, I read for knowedge.
I've worked in places that had specific bathroom times. "If you have to go to the bathroom, you go during your break or lunch." No. It's not healthy and you're looking at a lawsuit.
I understand what the Rabbi is getting at. Anything can be abused. However, surfing during company time is no worse IMHO than taking up company time planning birthday parties, decorating doors for a contest at Christmas, or talking on the phone/to coworkers for over an hour about whatever personal things. The place where I work allows for them to do that, so - yes - I should be allowed a little time to surf, so long as I don't abuse the priviledge.
(6) malka, April 28, 2006 12:00 AM
right and wrong!
right, i am surfing at work and i am typing this note to you on my bosses time. right i do waste mytime surfing aish and the ebay.... ( i also sell stuff on ebay...) right that this is something to think about... it is wrong ... i think the happy medium is to surf sites while your lunch break... maybe a few minutes here and there... its like having a laught with your workmate.... but to sit hours doing personal work ( and i many times do) and the work load just grows overwhelmingly... that is WRONG . but to time bathroom time OMG! puleessee....
wrong about sick leave who said mental sick is not really sick...??? If someone feels the need to take off they should by all means do so...
(5) Anonymous, April 26, 2006 12:00 AM
it's a slippery slope out there...
Let's remember we are ALL people, employers AND employees alike! when we follow the guidelines we can prioritize when enough is enough and when to be flexible. Micromanagement kills, at all levels of an enterprise; the other extreme is just as bad. As for the Judge... ? well... was he hooked on the internet during the hearing?
and as for reporters... ? well... we haven't allowed news subscriptions in our home for nearly 30 years.
(4) Anonymous, April 25, 2006 12:00 AM
Judge: Employee Web surfing not unreasonable
Your video clip made a very good point but the law seems to think otherwise. See recent CNN article http://edition.cnn.com/2006/LAW/04/24/web.surf.ap/index.html
Judge: Employee Web surfing not unreasonable
Tuesday, April 25, 2006 Posted: 0645 GMT (1445 HKT)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Surfing the Web at work is equivalent to reading a newspaper or talking on the phone, an administrative law judge said in recommending the lightest possible punishment for a city worker accused of disregarding warnings to stay off the Internet.
The case involved Toquir Choudhri, a 14-year veteran of the Department of Education, whose office computer had been used to visit news and travel Web sites.
"It should be observed that the Internet has become the modern equivalent of a telephone or a daily newspaper, providing a combination of communication and information that most employees use as frequently in their personal lives as for their work," Administrative Law Judge John Spooner said in recommending only a reprimand for Choudhri.
The judge noted that city agencies allow workers to make personal calls if it doesn't interfere with their work performance.
Choudhri's lawyer, Martin Druyan, called the ruling "very reasonable."
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
(3) Elina, April 25, 2006 12:00 AM
Well, you're right
Yes Rabbi, I am no exception - definitely surfed at work and listened to you while I should have been doing work. You're 99% right - but sometimes, a distraction actually helps freshen up a thought process - and what better distraction than to listen to a dvar Torah. Otherwise, I could have been surfing ebay. Right?