Guest Speaker Dr. Steven Steinberg - December 3, 2013
Posted by Al Anile
Dr. Steven Steinberg was the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Skokie Valley weekly luncheon meeting of December 3, 2013. His talk was about the philosophical principals of Greek and Jewish religious belief. Dr. Steinberg, also known as “The Values Doctor”, is a long time member of our club. Dr Steve (as we call me), has spoken about Jewish religious topics in the past, emphasizing the fact that his personal religious philosophy ties in with the Rotary International's motto "Service Above Self". Not long ago he has written a book that confronts modern spirituality and happiness with his secular use of the four Jewish values, light, love, life and shalom, (the title of the book). In his book he addresses the question "How can all human beings achieve happiness, joy and inner peace in the presence of life's challenges".
Following is the full verbetum instroduction of Dr. Steinberg's book, whcih is on sale at amazon.com:
"I am a dentist with Parkinson’s disease. How’s that for an oxymoron? A dentist with Parkinson’s disease! That’s right up there with an exact estimate or governmental efficiency. The only oxymoron I know that beats it is jumbo shrimp!
Sadly, it was because of Parkinson’s disease that I had to retire from the clinical practice of dentistry. I loved dentistry. I could take someone who was in pain and make that pain end. I could treat someone who could not chew, and after I was finished with their treatment they could go to a restaurant and enjoy a meal. I could take someone who would not smile because her teeth embarrassed her and create a smile that restored her self-esteem. What’s more human than a smile? I was able to create smiles all day long, and I loved it. Every day I would wake up with purpose and look forward to another day filled with meaning, joy, and inner peace. But then I had to stop.
That led me to ask the question, “Why me?”
“Why me?”My friends tell me I’m a nice guy. I’ve done my fair share of volunteer work and community service. I am also an observant Jew. I observe the Jewish Sabbath, and I keep kosher. So I ask again, with even more emphasis, “Why me?”
I’ve got another question, “Why you?”
At some point you have experienced some significant setback, along with every other human being. Each of us has encountered difficulties in our lives. Each of us has suffered pain. Each of us has faced problems, tests, obstacles, challenges, and unmet goals or expectations in our lives, both at work and at home. Each of us has made painful mistakes. Each of us, at some point, has wanted to cry out the obvious question, “Why me?”
When you ask, “Why me?” you’re essentially asking, “Why is life so difficult? Why do I suffer from pain and problems? What is the meaning of that suffering and the purpose of those problems?” Life is filled with challenges that must be overcome to achieve happiness.
So then, how can we achieve happiness— joy and inner peace— in the presence of these challenges? This book is an attempt to answer that question. This book can be your roadmap along Your Path to Happiness
Not only am I a dentist with Parkinson’s disease, but as a speaker I am also known as “The Values Doctor.” As “The Values Doctor,” I can help you overcome challenges and achieve happiness by using the healing power of timeless values. Life is a terminal condition. There is no cure. We will all die. We can, however, heal. By focusing on the four key healing values of Light, Love, Life, & ShaLom, I will show you how to discover your unique purpose at work and at home. Using a set of “Prescriptions”, the tools from the system that I call Your Path to Happiness, I will show you how to discover the unique value you add to the world. I identify that as your primary healing value. Thinking and acting on purpose and using your primary healing value as a guide will allow you to overcome challenges and achieve happiness, joy, and inner peace (or shalom)".