The Baby Monitor

Visitor Comments: 10

(10) Rand Rudolph , August 16, 2007

Your thoughts make me feel more connected...

to the rest of the world. Are we more socially and spiritually isolated by technology or do we just think we are?

Of course like the hot dogs... we all have to answer to a higher authority.

Keep up the nice work.
Todah Rabah
(9) Debra , August 16, 2007

....I stand convicted.....
~Thank you for the reminder how very precious and important are ALL the words we utter~
(8) Catherine Manna , August 16, 2007

Food for thought

This is a hard one lori. If my friend said that about me, i would want to talk to her. If this is how she felt about me. Sometimes the truth hurts, or perhaps its not true and there was a misunderstanding, but the point is, it happened for a reason, and maybe just maybe, you and i dont know the whole story and its them 2 that have to work it out, with God in mind, in the same breath, i understand what this means for me, we should exercise caution when venting out about something, be honest about our feelings be true to yourself by going directly to the source, and tell that person whats bothering us or what went wrong what we did wrong, if we did wrong. Expecially when it is someone close to us. thanks lori,allways something to think about. we all do it, at sometime in our lives, but we should think not to and be more like our creator, in allways, allways.
Good food for thought!
(7) Yisroel Pollack , August 15, 2007

Sleep

What I found profoundly inspiring was that this person had the perseverance and fortitude to put off taking immediate action and defer her response until she'd had a chance to mull it over -- to sleep on it, if you will. Then beautiful heavenly thoughts and inspirations ensued. Thank you, Mrs Palatnik, for using your G-d given expressive talents in so constructive a way.

Be gebencht,

YP in Brooklyn
(6) howard j. zirkin , August 15, 2007

baby monitor

Lori, I think you're great. I watch you all the time. But I dont agree with every thing you say. I think someone can be your friend even if they say bad things about you behind your back. If she had the guts (which I dont have)she would tell her to her face. And if your friend ha the guts she would tell this person to her face how terrible it is to talk lashon hara. It pays to get things out in the open. Also, I think Jewish women are great but not all of them. And there are also some good Jewish men. In other words there are good and bad in every group which is not the impression you give some time. Keep up the great work.

(5) Ruth Housman , August 14, 2007

monitoring our speech

This is a truly remarkable story recounted by Lori Palatnik. I found it sobering to realize that people could listen in on baby monitors, and how terrible to hear something said by a neighbor, at that moment, that is derogatory of one's own self.

I have several reactions to this. One is the outrage and hurt that must have been felt by the friend who overheard this in her own home. I feel this. Second, I am amazed that she tuned in at just this moment and there is an element of serendipity to this that I am feeling about this story, and that perhaps the story itself was provided for the deeper lesson, the lesson gleaned by Lori's friend that is very wise, about God and about how we should conduct ourselves in life. Now this lesson then became magnified because Lori is recounting this to all of us. And so the mirror expands as water in a reflecting pool, one ripple after another.

I would say, this happened for a very deep reason and that is, the lesson is now here for us all to learn and that is, God is speaking to us all, through us all, and this is a story about enlarging our sensitivity and love for each other. We need to do these things and to attend to these loving, true lessons. With thanks!
(4) Anonymous , August 14, 2007

shocker!!

Thanks for keeping us abreast of the failure to protect our privacy. But if we have nothing to hide, why worry! Thre are some things that should remain private though.
(3) Aaron Saylor , August 14, 2007

Baby Monitor

I think this is one of your best. The construction from general to specific to end is just masterful. Your logic is clear and profound. And yet it was done so smoothly and in so little time.

Great example for students. Even HaShem would be amazed at the fluid use of words.

Thank you.
(2) Anonymous , August 14, 2007

Thanks Lori!

thanks for the important lesson, God hears and sees us all the time...i recall a teacher in school telling us that when u have that uncomfortable feeling that s/o is watching you when there s no one there you are feeling gods presence. he is there will always be thanks for reminding me...( thanks for making my lunch break spiritual...)
(1) Donald , August 13, 2007

Relevance hits home

Rebbetzin Palatnik, your point about lashon hara became extremely relevant to me, when you juxtaposed popular modern technology, YouTube, against an infinitely greater technology and truth. The fact that HaShem IS RECORDING every thought, action, and moment of our lives is sometimes lost on us, until we find something from our current human experience that allows us to understand Torah in a palpable way. Todah rabah!

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About the Author

Lori Palatnik

Lori Palatnik is an author and Jewish educator who has appeared on television and radio and has lectured in North America, the U.K., South Africa and Israel, illuminating traditional practices and life-styles for our contemporary world.

She recently relocated with her husband, Rabbi Yaakov Palatnik, to Washington, DC, where she is the Executive Director of The Jewish Women's Renaissance Project of Aish DC.

Lori is the author of "Friday Night and Beyond—The Shabbat Experience Step-by-Step", published by Jason Aronson; "Remember My Soul", Leviathan Press, which explains the Jewish concepts of soul and the afterlife and a guide to anyone who has ever lost a loved one; and "Gossip—Ten Pathways to Eliminate It From Your Life and Transform Your Soul", Simcha Press, featured on "Dr. Laura" and FoxNews.com.

See Lori Live

Visitor Comments: 10

(10) Rand Rudolph , August 16, 2007

(9) Debra , August 16, 2007

(8) Catherine Manna , August 16, 2007

(7) Yisroel Pollack , August 15, 2007

(6) howard j. zirkin , August 15, 2007

(5) Ruth Housman , August 14, 2007

(4) Anonymous , August 14, 2007

(3) Aaron Saylor , August 14, 2007

(2) Anonymous , August 14, 2007

(1) Donald , August 13, 2007

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Lori Palatnik

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