The previous generations would close their eyes to see the Ribbono Shel Olam. Today, in order to see the Ribbono Shel Olam, a person needs to open their eyes.
Once their eyes are open, it is impossible not to see the wonders of Hashem.
~ R’ Chaim Kanievsky in the name of the Chazon Ish.
When you can’t learn and daven as usual and you must serve Hashem in other ways, do not be distressed. Hashem wants you to serve Him in different ways, sometimes in one way and sometimes in another. ~ The Baal Shem Tov zt”l
It’s not about saying “no” to things that we are not able to do. It’s about saying “yes” to serving Hashem and doing the best that we can! ~ R’ Joey Haber
Thank Hashem more, and you will find yourself with more to thank Him for.
R’ Yerucham Levovitz zt’l, the mashgiach of Yeshivas Mir, stated, “It is not good when one doesn’t know his faults. But it is even worse when one doesn’t recognize his qualities. He is like a craftsman who is unfamiliar with his tools.”
Let’s say in Madison Square Garden they erect a huge stage, and they spend millions on the scenery and the lights, and a lot of people come to look. They’re watching and waiting. And then the curtains are drawn, and they’re waiting for the main character to step out on the stage. But at that time he’s sitting somewhere in a bar, or he’s home and he’s sleeping. It’s all a waste.
This great universe is the stage where each one of us is the main actor. Don’t be confused by the thought that there are others, too. It’s for everyone individually. The entire universe: that’s your opportunity. ~ R’ Avigdor Miller zt”l
The Chassidic leader, Reb Leib Sorkes traveled great distances to spend time with the Maggid of Mezritch. “To see him daven?” – he was asked. “No,” he replied. “To see the Maggid tie his shoelace.”
There have been so many unbelievable stories coming out about Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer zt”l who passed away last Friday, which reveal his incredible acts of chessed, including one my aunt told me. When my aunt was recently in the hospital with Covid-19, Rabbi Kelemer went to the cemetery to daven by her parent’s kevarim that she should have a refuah sheleima. He never said a word. She only found out because Rabbi Kelemer’s wife mentioned it recently to my mother. Incredible!
But when I saw the above quote, I thought of a time when I had visited my grandmother in a nursing home/rehab facility and of course Rabbi Kelemer came to visit her as well. As he was leaving, I noticed him approach all the residents sitting around the common area and with a big smile saying, “Hi, Yehuda Kelemer, what is your name… So nice to meet you…” After he walked away, they all smiled and looked at each other and said “what a nice man!” He never missed an opportunity to do a mitzvah and make each person he met feel special.
While most of us won’t travel to a cemetery to daven by the kevarim of the parents of those we are davening for, we can certainly take a lesson from how Rabbi Kelemer conducted himself as he was leaving the nursing home that time.
It is not so much that we need to be taken out of exile. That, a Moses can do.
It is that the exile must be taken out of us. For that, each one must find Moses within. ~ R’ Tzvi Freeman
In everything you do, be mindful that God sees all we do. There is no cheating God.
~ R’ Lord Jonathan Sacks zt”l
Most people do not feel bad because they lack wisdom; they feel bad because people say they lack wisdom. ~ Chayai Hamussar
Emuna Daily 