Just Breathe: Cupcake Empowerment

What it means to be like God.

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Visitor Comments: 12

(11) Dvirah, January 20, 2014 5:40 PM

Caveat (sorry)

While I agree in prinicple with Rabbi Sytner, I would like to add a caveat - be careful! Sometimes what YOU think is an act of kindness - isn't. In the example of the cupcake, if I had been that women I would not have been "glowing"; I would have been annoyed, for this reason: part of the treat would have been to chose my own cupcake, and in having one handed to me, I am robbed of the choice. And put into a dilmena, espcially if the gift cupcake was a flavor I didn't like: do I keep it out of consideration for the giver or do I change it? If I keep it, do I eat a cupcake I don't really like, or throw it away, wasting the giver's money? Whatever the decision, my treat has been spoiled, not out of malice but due to mistaken kindness.
So be careful. Try to match your action to the receipient's real need and character.

(10) Hannah, November 19, 2013 4:26 PM

My cupcake to you ...

Please accept this invisible cupcake in thanks for your most welcome wisdom and advice.
A beautiful story for which I am so thankful.
Shalom

(9) Michal, November 11, 2013 2:23 AM

absolutely true

thats what we think of, when we say: We try to e m u l a t e God. No?

(8) Elaine Kleinschmidt, November 8, 2013 8:50 AM

Awesome!!

This story made a difference in my life today. Simple but powerful. Thanks.

(7) korn, November 8, 2013 3:33 AM

comment

just beautiful and so true

(6) Anonymous, November 8, 2013 2:19 AM

Sweet!

Thanks for a great message. Imagine a world where EVERYONE performed small acts of kindness. Now that would be BIG. Thank you for the reminder and the nice way you delivered your message; just what I needed. O(:~>)

(5) ruth housman, November 7, 2013 7:59 PM

the I Sing on the Cake

It is said that small is big, and surely mite and might are aurally synonymous. So small acts of kindness are great acts. I see within words, The Story, and I write down the lines about this, how grateful we all are for these small acts, as in what you have said, and how you beam, saying it. In following Beacon Street, which is about the light, we all get to smile, and one smile goes a long, long way. Image and Imagine, two related words. Imagine This. Maybe as in Lennon's song, we can find our way to World Peace in this small way, step by step by step, in climbing, Jacob's Ladder.

(4) Lisa, November 6, 2013 12:57 PM

Great message!!

I need to be reminded of this constantly!!
Thanks for the cupcake example....who can't relate to delicious cupcake?!
I will try to accept your challenge today....

Sue, November 9, 2013 5:03 PM

Lisa

Me too !! Thank you.xx

(3) Mike, November 5, 2013 5:07 PM

Does god care about cupcakes?

Really?! You think he has such little things to think about like cupcakes? And if he does, imitating such a "little" thing makes us "like god"? I think we're like him when we procreate, making new life, and then raising that new life responsibly to be a successful well adjusted person. Now that's huge! Get that right and we can talk about being godly.

(2) Anonymous, November 5, 2013 2:42 PM

Very inspiring ! There is no better way to gain a strong self esteem than to realize how much power your actions and words effect others.

(1) Anonymous, November 3, 2013 7:14 PM

Don't underestimate the power of details

Thank you for another inspiring video. It is an important reminder of how it is truly the little things in life that can really make a difference. Even though we tend to think "big", large aspirations are intimidating and hard to follow through. But when we make more realistic goals and make small changes, we can more easily follow through. With time, these small changes will help us accomplish great goals.

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About the Author

Rabbi Tzvi Sytner

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Rabbi Tzvi Sytner grew up in Los Angeles, CA and earned his B.A. in Liberal Studies from Thomas Edison State College, a Masters in Education from the University of Bridgeport, and a Master's degree as a Marriage and Family Therapist at Touro University. He has delivered inspiring lectures worldwide, including South Africa, Australia, and of course Israel. While studying in Israel, Rabbi Sytner received his Rabbinic Ordination from The Jerusalem Kollel under Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits, and led Shabbos programs for over 1000 college students on Birthright. He currently has a popular video blog on Aish.com, titled, "Just Breathe" viewed by over 8,500 per month, and is a Rabbi at the Village Shul in Toronto, Canada.

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