Live Comfortably

The Tikkunei Zohar states that lashon hara can reduce one to poverty, chas v’shalom. Therefore, if a person wishes to live comfortably, he should guard himself from speaking or accepting lashon hara. ~ Shmiras Halashon

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מי כעמך ישראל

“You didn’t shampoo your hair so we can’t operate!”

This shocking statement was made by a nurse to the wife of the head of a Day School in Minneapolis who had not been given instructions on how to prepare herself for surgery.

The only way she would be able to avoid postponing the operation and remaining in the hospital an extra day was to rush out to a drugstore and purchase the required shampoo. But when she reached the nearby pharmacy she was disappointed to find it closed. After desperately banging on the door she was relieved to see a clerk open it, only to inform her that there was no way he could sell her anything since all the computerized cash registers had been shut down.

Explaining her urgent need for the shampoo, the lady begged the clerk to give her a tube and promised that her husband would arrive at eight o’clock, opening time, on the next morning to pay for it. Her appeal touched the clerk’s heart and he consented.

The next morning her husband, a Slonimer chassid in traditional black garb, did indeed arrive at the designated hour to make payment. To his surprise, this created a hubbub among the clerks. They had made bets that morning as to whether he would actually come to pay. One clerk who lost the bet cried out, “It’s not fair. You didn’t tell us his wife was Jewish!” ~ Halachafortoday.com

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Want to Want

A Bachur came for an acceptance interview to Yeshiva Shor Yoshuv. The Rosh Yeshiva Harav Shlomo Freifeld asked him “Do you want to learn?” “No” replied the boy “but I want to want to learn.”

Rav Shlomo loved the answer and warmly accepted the boy , who today is a teacher of Torah. ~ Reb Shlomo

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Complete Teshuvah

At what point does a person attain complete teshuvah?

When a person is faced with the same situation in which he originally sinned, with the ability and desire to repeat the sin, yet refrains from sinning on account of his teshuvah – this man is considered a complete baal teshuvah.  ~ Rambam – Hilchos Teshuvah 2:1

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A Student and Child

When a Jew studies Torah he is as a student before G‑d, his teacher, Whose wisdom he is studying. When a Jew prays, he is as a child before his father. ~ R’ Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson zt”l

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Excuses are What You Find for the Other Guy

As thinking human beings, we have an unlimited capacity to find excuses, to discover ingenious and innovative ways to distance the perpetrator from the act.

We can blame it on youth, on old age, on parents, on children, on financial hardships, daily environs, psychological state. We can easily discharge anybody of any responsibility for any negative deeds that stain their hands. We can all be wonderful advocates and lawyers for one another—and the Merciful One Above surely enjoys hearing such things.

But if you want to get ahead in life, don’t be your own lawyer. ~ R’ Tzvi Freeman

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Seize the Moment

If you have an impulse to do teshuvah, don’t dismiss it.  That impulse is a message from Hashem Yisbarach.  Surely no one would disregard a message that comes directly from the King of kings.  Can there be a greater contempt of G-d than that?

Feelings of teshuvah are sparked by yiras Hashem, and yiras Hashem is G-d’s most precious treasure. ~ Yismach Moshe

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Benefit of the Doubt

You are obligated to give a mitzvah observer the benefit of the doubt whenever possible.  Furthermore, you must even refrain from disliking such a person because of his misdeeds.  ~ Guard Your Tongue

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Where One Could Aways Go

A young hippie in San Francisco was once experimenting with acid.  During that vulnerable time, a tough looking motorcyclist with a swastika tattooed on his arm entered the room.  In his state of mind, he was sure that this biker wanted to kill him, so he ran out into the street in a panic.

He wanted to run to safety, but who would take him in when he was in such a state; a wild smelly hippie tripping out on acid?  Then he remembered Rebbe Shlomo Carlebach; “He is the only one who will accept me the way I am.”

He ran to the house of Rebbe Shlomo and knocked on the door.  “Shlomo, I need help.”

Rebbe Shlomo put him into his own bed, muddy boots and all.  He then went into the kitchen and made him some food and tea.  For the next few hours Rebbe Shlomo sat by his bed, strumming his guitar and singing until the acid wore off.

“You can always go to Rebbe Shlomo, no matter what shape you are in.”

~ Ecstasy for the Soul

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How we Treat Others

Everyone is good to a dying man – how good we would be to each other if we fully realized that we were all dying. ~ R’ Shraga Silverstein zt”l

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