One must meditate and pray to God in his native language. This is how prayer began. The main form of prayer was an expression of the heart before God in each individual’s own words…Even though we follow the order of worship ordained by the Great Assembly, personal prayer, as it originally existed, is still the most beneficial. ~ R’ Nachman of Breslov based on the Rambam
Don’t be shy. Next time you are alone, talk to Hashem.
Thank Him for everything you have and ask Him for everything you need!
Don’t worry. Everything will work out in the end. And if it doesn’t, it just means that you haven’t reached the end!
The world is bad, not because they don’t know enough, it is just because they don’t do enough. Have you ever seen a person saying, “Thank G-d I don’t keep Shabbos, it brings so much joy to my house?” The lowest, most rotten character knows that that is not true. If someone says, “I don’t believe in Shabbos,” ok, I have nothing against you. But don’t tell me that violating the Shabbos brings joy to you, because even you know that keeping Shabbos brings joy. And don’t tell me that not keeping Shabbos brings you close to your children, because you know very well that the only thing that brings you close to your own children is Shabbos. ~ R’ Shlomo Carlebach zt”l
When dealing with people, try to see things from their perspective.
For example, taking away a broken box from a child is similar to sinking the boat of an adult. To a child, his box is his boat, and we have an obligation to understand how he views things. ~ R’ Yisrael Salanter zt”l
Do not make the same mistake I did, telling myself there is still time; I’ll repent and correct my character when I’m older. That’s what I did! And now look at me! I’m old and I don’t have the strength anymore to change my ways! Don’t wait – do it now! ~ R’ Itzeleh Blazer (Petersburger) zt”l
The Torah tells us that Moshe and Aharon were born like any other mortals, to normal human parents. They became prophets and leaders of the Jewish People due to their own actions and choices; not because they descended from on high like celestial angels.
From this we learn that every individual, through his own effort and free will, can reach even the highest spiritual levels – even as lofty as Moshe and Aharon. ~ R’ Alexander Zusia Friedman – Ma’ayana Shel Torah
“The greater the man, the greater his evil inclination.” ~ Succah 52a
There are many different kinds of evil inclination. The common run people have a very low sort of evil inclination. Their desires are grossly materialistic. In fact, they are quite nonsensical. Anyone who has a clear head and can begin to form some slight conception of the true greatness of the Creator can see that such desires are mere foolishness and idiocy….His own evil inclination is on a far higher plane because his own level is higher. He has begun to acquire an understanding of truth. ~ R’ Nachman of Breslov zt”l
