It's 8pm, the night before our 2nd annual gala dinner.
Months and months of planning and hard work have gone into this event, to ensure that it will be a fabulous celebration.
We are marking seven years of Chabad Israel Center.
As is to be expected, the night before is the busiest time. Last minute arrangements need to be taken care of, the sound and lighting systems need to be perfectly set up and the greatest fear of all party planners needs to be faced head on - seating arrangements.
But shockingly, I have never felt readier.
My good friend, Joseph Sokol, calls me. I answer and we chat for a few minutes. He sounds surprised that I have time to talk, so I ask, "Do you know where I am?"
"I have no doubt you're on your way to Queens to pick up some "insurance" for the gala," he said.
And, indeed, that's exactly what I was doing.
At 8pm I run out of my office and head to the Ohel, the resting place of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory. I ask for a blessing, and pray for a successful evening; a successful event. Because, although we planned everything down to the last detail, at the end of the day success comes from G-d and G-d alone.
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Yaakov finds himself in quite a bind in this week's Torah portion. He's about to meet Eisav, his estranged twin brother and sworn enemy. Eisav despises Yaakov virulently and is advancing with a huge army, preparing to kill Yaakov and his family.
First, Yaakov prepares himself physically. He sends lavish gifts to try and soften Eisav's heart, and perhaps even ward him off. Then he sets up his family in the safest way and prepares for war.
But even when all is ready, he still has one last thing to do. Yaakov stops and prays. He knows that the success of any mission, any war, any task, is dependent on G-d. And ultimately, he succeeds.
Through his conduct, Yaakov teaches us an invaluable lesson.
Whatever we're doing, whatever new initiative we're embarking on, whatever bumps in the road we're facing, after we put forth our best effort, we cannot forget to pray. It's vital.
You have a closing in the morning? A court case coming up? Trying to buy a new house or car? Starting a new job? Preparing for a new baby? Do everything in your power to prepare yourself, but then pray.
With G-d's help, our dinner will be fabulously successful, and will help our Chabad Center start its eighth year on an incredibly positive note.