Kavanah Kards - A PERSONAL NOTE BLOG

Mindful Mitzvahs "Miracle"

9/7/2017

Last night I returned from a wonderful Mindful Mitzvahs event in Baltimore Maryland. It was so heartening to see the people who came to learn about how to get closer to Hashem!
One especially meaningful experience was that of a woman whose son was in the path of the Category 5 Hurricane Irma that was raging toward Florida. He was stuck in Tampa, in precisely the area it was headed for and couldn't get away from it. She was beside herself with worry, of course, and came to see me to help.
Although I was happy to support her, I'm not a rebbetzin or in a leadership position, I guided her through the Mindful Mitzvahs process.
First she pledged tzedaka, stating her intention to do it "as Hashem commanded". Then I helped her to the Guided Teshuva Process for the issues of the danger to her son and her worry, also stating first all of the mitzvahs she was fulfilling. After that, I set a timer for 10 minutes and told her to thank Hashem without stop for everything she was worried about.
As she was doing the thank-you to Hashem, I stepped into another room, to give her the opportunity to be fully present doing it without my presence.
In that room was the friend who hosted the weekend. She was watching updates of the storm on the internet. As I was watching, a newscaster announced that the hurricane had slowed to a category 3 and had shifted direction and would be farther away from Tampa!
I could hardly believe it myself, but it was true!
I returned to the woman doing the Mindful Mitzvahs process, beyond excited to tell her about what had happened. She was just finishing up, and looked and sounded much better, Baruch Hashem!
When I told her the news about the hurricane, she could barely contain her joy.
Later that day, she called to say how good everything was and how grateful she was to Hashem for sending such a yeshua.
Of course, I take no credit or responsibility for what someone experiences when they become closer to Hashem. Nor is it possible to assume what will happen for someone who does the Mindful Mitzvah Process.
What I can assure you is that Hashem will help--either immediately or later, but you will change your state of being and relationship with your issue, and so in come way, it will change BE"H.
Everyone can do the Mindful Mitzvahs Campaign on their own level. Why not do it now?
Wishing you a k'siva v'chasima tova!

What a SUCCESS!

8/4/2017

The Mindful Mitzvahs Campaign, which officially started on Tisha B'Av with our banner in the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation video and ad in their magazine, is a huge success, baruch Hashem!
There were more than 300 visitors to the website that week, plus emails and calls. People from all over the United States, Canada and England reached out in response to the ad. The desire of people to connect more fully with Hashem was beautiful!
Many people told me things like "I've been praying for this.", "This is just what I need." and so much more! Heartfelt expressions of their realization and longing for closer connection to the Ribono Shel Olam.
Baruch Hashem thousands of Kavanah Kards and Mindful Mitzvah pamphlets are already on their way to the people that contacted me. Several asked for 50 and even 100 of everything, in order to spread them in their communities.
And the wave continues with emails and calls daily!
Even some wonderful people have taken it upon themselves to keep cards on them and pass them on to people they meet.
There's no mistaking Hashem's great pleasure from the Mindful Mitzvahs Campaign, with Him inspiring so many, many people to contact us.
Would you like a closer relationship with Hashem?
It's no "coincidence" that you're reading this.
Why not answer His call and join us in your 40 day commitment to honor Him? Also, please consider sharing Kavanah Kards with others and making whatever donation you can to help us expand to others.
Thanks!

Mindful Mitzvahs Campaign

7/22/2017

It's amazing to retrospectively look at the "happening" of the Mindful Mitzvahs Campaign. It all just "seemed" to happen--
Having the Kavanah Kards weekend in Baltimore.
The concept of the perfect combination of Kavanah Kards with Kavana of Mitzvahs.
The name "Mindful Mitzvahs" spontaneously "coming to mind".
The idea "catching on" with the hostess, Sarah Storch, and the women who attended.
The writer who attended the final "unexpected" presentation and wanted to help.
On and on...
This is so obviously something that Hashem "wanted" to happen and orchestrated, but, in retrospect it was so elegantly assembled.

Mindful Mitzvahs is a concept that can create a huge wave of elevation, one mindful bracha and mitzvah at a time by one person, then another, then another. And anyone can do one a day. It's something that can spread and expand as more people see they can be successful at it, with Hashem's help.

That's why the idea of a campaign is so powerful. People can partner and encourage each other. It's not an overwhelming "head in the clouds" obligation. No, it's something everyone can do on any level--even children!

Help it catch fire. Join the Mindful Mitzvahs Campaign and see what happens in your life. It has totally changed mine!

Go to MINDFUL MITZVAHS for more info.

Hashem "speaks" for the children

5/18/2017

BS"D

For the past year, I have been feeling strongly to focus on children using Kavanah Kards. Evidently, Hashem feels the same way!
First there was the unexpected "invitation" from Mishpacha Junior to contribute to an article about kavanah for children on Yom Kippur. It was a great opportunity, and came just weeks after the magazine had said they wouldn't do any more editorial about Kavanah Kards (man plans, G-d laughs!).
Then, before Pesach, freelance writer Danielle Sarah Storch, a great supporter of Kavanah Kards, was approached by Hamodia to write a piece in Binyan Magazine to appear before Shavuous. She thought about what to write about and suddenly "got the idea" of an article on Kavanah Kards for Kids. (What a coincidence! :)
When she proposed it to me, I was elated, of course, but, more than that. inspired by the way Hashem is bringing Kavanah Kards exactly where He wants them to be.
The article was great, and calls and emails continue to pour in from all over. (kudos to Binyan!). Most excitingly, a lot were about getting Kavanah Kards for schools or individual school classes to use as a lesson or part of a program.
Even better, children started calling--including from as far away as Canada and Switzerland! (Not) Amazingly, rides for packages, including to England and Montreal, just "showed up". One with a family member who came in from Montreal for an unexpected simcha. (I am looking for a "ride" to Israel, if anyone knows of a connection)
Most delightfully, I was called by a man recommended by Rabbi Daniel Garfinkle, author of the great sefer and magnet I wrote about in last month's blog. It turned out that he was another one of the people quoted in the same Mishpacha Junior Magazine article about kavanah for kids on Yom Kippur! Baruch Hashem, the man who called loves the cards and even offered the possibility of being an Ambassador in his area of Queens.
In fact, since I have started working on keeping the halacha Rabbi Garfinkle wrote his sefer on, of stating my intention to fulfill the mitzvah I am about to do as Hashem commanded, and have been writing about and distributing his magnets (see last month's blog), GREAT, happy things have been happening more and more frequently.
Hashem's support continues to mushroom. Just 2 days ago, Danielle Sarah decided to have a Baltimore community Kavanah Kards event at her center the weekend of June 17 (see the flier below). How exciting! I will BE"H give a talk and have Kavanah Kards and Rabbi Garfinkle's magnets for people to take. Also, traffic on the KavanahKards.com website is approaching an average of 200 different people a week!
In so many ways, Hashem is giving me encouragement --not because I did anything, but because He is carrying me and Kavanah Kards exactly where He wants us to go. All I am doing is keeping my seat belt fastened.
Why not take a step yourself--no matter how small it might seem to you--to welcome Hashem to "take" you where He wants you to go. The rewards are amazing!
In any way you can, use and help spread Kavanah Kards, start keeping the mitzvah of having intention to do even ONE mitzvah "as Hashem commanded" before you do it, and share it with others.
Watch what happens (and fasten your seat belt!).

ACHIEVING THE MOST WITH OUR MITZVOHS

4/26/2017

It has been a little over a year since I met Rabbi Daniel Garfinkle and discovered his work on the little-known and little-done halacha of מצוות צריכות כוונה--stating or thinking the simple intention before doing any mitzvah: "I am fulfilling the mitzvah of ____, as Hashem commanded." If we don't do this, he explained, we get at most b'd'eved schar (credit), if that.
What does this mean? Look at all the mitzvohs we do individually and in many different kinds of groups, from Yeshivas to shuls, Daf Yomi, shiurim, tehillim groups, etc. We devote and dedicate ourselves in so many ways and on so many levels to helping ourselves, our loved ones and Klal Yisroel through these beautiful thoughts and actions. BUT, if we don't fulfill the mitzvah and do the halacha of stating our intentions before doing them, we are NOT getting the full schar! It's like writing a gorgeous, heartfelt letter to Hashem, then putting it in the mailbox without a stamp!
Following this to its logical conclusion, is it any surprise that, despite all our efforts, things aren't really as we would want them to be in so many ways?
If we would only do this mitzvah of מצוות צריכות כוונה, might our efforts not be more effective or productive?
This line of reasoning is solely mine, but, think about it--it makes perfect sense!
The following happened in my Shabbos tehillim group. I told the women about doing this mitzvah, and one said "When I put on my long sleeve top in the heat, I will state my intention of fulfilling the mitzvah of tznius as Hashem commanded."
The following Shabbos the same woman told an amazing story. That week in Monsey an out of control car had run into two yeshiva boys who were standing on a corner, killing one of them R"L and injuring the other. She said that what was not known was that there were three boys standing on that corner. The third one was her son! He didn't get a scratch! Sometimes we are privileged to get a glimpse of the results of our strivings for Hashem. This was an awesome example.
I have made doing this mitzvah a priority since learning about it, and it has been a growth opportunity--remembering AFTER I finished doing the mitzvah or in the middle of doing it. Gradually, however, it has become more part of my routine, B"H (I am also asking Hashem's help, of course, to be able to achieve it :)
What I have noticed is an interesting and rewarding positive shift in my life in many ways, for me and for my family, baruch Hashem. It is certainly "well worth the effort". I'm so encouraged that I'm now sending his cards out as well as Kavanah Kards.
Please check out and even print out the English and Hebrew and wording. On the Kavana of Mitzvohs page in the GALLERY there is more about Rabbi Garfinkle's card and the sefer on which it is based, including how to get it.
What about you? What can YOU start doing, RIGHT NOW to help create positive change? One thing is to start doing this mitzvah whenever you can, and increase it as you are able. Why wait for the benefits--why not start now, and encourage others as well?
HATZLACHA!

English Card

Hebrew Card

The amazing ways Hashem encourages Kavanah Kards

3/9/2017

BS"D

It never ceases to amaze me how many ways Hashem "shows" us that he is happy with what we do. The story of how Kavanah Kards came about and continues to spread all over the world is just one example of this in my life.
Just today, I was updating this Kavanah Kards website and noticed that a LOT of people (B"H) visited on March 8. That was because we had an ad in this week's edition, sponsored so generously by one of my dear children.
When I finished the update, I popped into my professional website (SuccessfulPerception.com) to see how things were going. That website is about my professional practice, being certified both as a Body Code practitioner and as an Irlen Syndrome screener. (Irlen Syndrome is a perceptual processing disorder that causes the Visual cortex of the brain to overwork and overstress with certain kinds and intensity of light or white and black patterns. It can cause reading difficulties and discomfort, and even nausea and migraine headaches, along with depth perception issues that affect driving, sports performance and daily life activities like organizing, using an escalator, steadiness on one's feet or bumping into things.)
When I saw the visitor statistics of my professional site, something grabbed my attention...There was a big spike in the number of visitors. Curious, I went back to the Kavanah Kards website and saw that on the exact same day both websites hit a huge spike in visitors! Amazing! Even though the websites are devoted to totally different things, they both had a big jump in visitors on the exact same day!
Coincidence? I don't think so...Hashem just used this seemingly "unrelated" occurrence to teach me something. Because of the Kavanah Kards advertisement to get more people to come closer to Him, my unrelated professional site also got more traffic.
If we are only open to seeing Hashem in our lives and make Him our "partner", he does more for us than any flesh and blood partner ever could do, and he shows this to each of us in a way that has unique meaning to us....We only have to look!
Why not make Hashem your "partner" even more by using and sharing Kavanah Kards. Watch all the ways he blesses you!

What if? Purim poem just for you!

3/7/2017

BS”D
What if…?
What if Haman had a “normal” mind?
What if Achashveros wasn’t so unkind?
What if Esther had a chance to shine
Without having to make two parties of wine?

Would we have the unforgettable, amazing tale
Of the Jews being saved, even though they did fail?
Would Jews the world-over still celebrate
How we were all saved from a terrible fate?
Would we feast and dress up and give gifts to our friends?
What might have been, then, how the story ends?
But they overcame, triumphed and righted mistakes
And got the yeshua true teshuva makes.
The great lessons Hashem brings us year after year,
Though we don’t often think when Megillah we hear
How EXACTLY the trials we all do go through
Are PRECISELY Hashem’s chesed and, yes, His love too
Just to give us the chance to become who we are
When we’re challenged and stressed—and to wind up the STAR
In the “play” of our life, cause that’s why we're born,
Just to see how we’ll rise with stress, danger or scorn.
Hashem, in perfection, creates highs and lows--
Just to make us the lead in our very own “shows”.
So for you dear ones here is a loving bracha
Every second of Purim enjoy great HATZLACHA!
Celebrate with great simcha and think as you do
That Hashem created it all just for you.
Do each mitzvah of Purim with joy and with care
And know Hashem’s truly with you everywhere.

Please consider including Kavanah Kards in your Shelach Monos
To help others come closer to Hashem

Simchas Purim – Sara

"Just a plain person...."

2/15/2017

Many people think, "What difference can I make? I'm just _____ (average, a mother, not learned, one person, a teenager, etc),

In truth, each one of us can make a WORLD of difference in our own way!

Here's part of an email I got today from a woman who, although on partial bedrest, wanted to grow and also to help others.

"Sorry havent had a chance to be in touch, my kids have different vacations and trying to juggle that and my dr apts. I am really enjoing the cards. I slowly am giving out to friends as I see them. I will keep you posted.
thanks again for doing this amazing mitzvah of having us really connect to Hashem each time we pray. I taped the card to the asher yatzer, al Hamechia and borei nefashos prayer posters so I bli neder can do more often with kavana.
i leave the healing card in my kitchen by computer so each time I do something for my health I try to remember to say prayer.
tysm again. tizku l mitzvot"

On partial bedrest, children and juggling doctor's appointments, but in between, she's bringing herself and others closer to Hashem one Kavanah Kard at a time!

Remember, you don't have to complete a project, just get it started and ask Hashem to help you....He always does.

There are so many ways that I have had Hashem's encouragement in doing Kavanah Kards that I can't keep track of them all. Also, my own life has improved in every aspect as a result of doing it.

Take the opportunity to let Hashem show YOU how much he loves you to bring people closer to Him--use and share Kavanah Kards!

Hashem makes way for the kids!

11/5/2016

It's fascinating to watch how Hashem moves our lives in the direction He wants.

Mishpacha had covered Kavanah Kards several times, and told me that they had given "enough" coverage to them. No problem, since whatever Hashem wants will happen no matter how much hishtadlus we do (although we do have to do it), so my focus was in another direction.

About three weeks later, I got an email from Mishpacha Junior, asking if I would like to contribute something to a coming article for children about davening on Yom Kippur. Of course I said yes, then puzzled (for a minute) over what to write. Suddenly, the memory of how beautifully my grandchildren had set the table for Shabbos when I came "popped" into my mind (what a "coincidence :), leading me to use that example to illustrate how welcome guests feel when you do special things to enhance their time with you. Then I segued into mentioning Kavanah Kards, and how they show Hashem how important your time with Him is.

I told the editor that I would be glad to do a Kavanah Kard for children, but there was no response.

Two weeks later, I got a request to send Mishpacha a kid's card--uh oh! I didn't have one. In a mad rush I threw together some ideas and sent them to the graphic designer who did all the Kavanah Kards. After a hundred emails of ideas back and forth, we came up with 2 ideas: one was an interactive 4 x 8 bookmark which children could decorate, with places to write in what they want to ask Hashem to help them with and what they want to thank Hashem for. The other one was a happy, colorful 3 x 6" bookmark . (see KAVANAH KARDS FOR KIDS)

The end of the story was a cute insert in the article (see ARTICLES to download it), with a picture of the interactive Kids' Kavanah Kard bookmark.

Amazing! Told no, then asked to be in an article just three weeks later!

As a result of the article, a radio show host in Eretz Yisroel contacted me about an interview in mid-November BE"H, and have already had a request for personalized Kid's Kards.

Love the way Hashem shows how much he wants and supports Kavanah Kards!

Kavanah Kards make the PRESS (Jewish Press!)

7/31/2016

BS"D
Baruch Hashem Kavanah Kards continue to inspire people to be closer to Hashem! Despite the relentless summer heat, a beautiful article in the July 29 2016 edition of the Jewish Press is creating a wave of enthusiasm among Klal Yisroel.
Every publication reaches a different readership, and with our first feature article in the Jewish Press, a new group of people learns about Kavanah Kards.
As with everything else with this project, Hashem is a loving partner. I was contacted to advertise my Irlen Syndrome Screening practice (see more about Irlen) , and brought up the Kavanah Kard Project. The representative told her Editor about it, and they decided to do a feature article on Kavanah Kards without any advertising cost!
Even with Hashem at the helm, it's very gratifying that publications recognize the value and importance of Kavanah Kards to help people and also Klal Yisroel.
As we anticipate the return to school, we are looking foward to Kavanah Kards being part of the program in many Yeshivos to help students establish healthy habits for a lifetime "career" of davening with kavanah.
It would be wonderful to have you be part of this--tell administrators and mechanchim that they can get Kavanah Kards free for their Yeshiva so we can BE"H have more merit as we go into Elul.