R’ Nachman of Breslov said: “If you could turn a person inside out (i.e. to see his essence), you would see how myriads of worlds depend upon his every limb.” When we avoid sin and do good, we not only perfect ourselves, we also fulfill our responsibility to the entire creation, and lift up everything to God. ~ R’ Yaakov Meir Shechter
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Some people think that the Yeitzer Hara looks like a murderer. In one hand a cross, and in the other an axe, and he shouts, “Kneel!” But in truth, the Yetizer is dressed in white and enwraps itself in slik garments. In one hand is a book, and in the other delicacies, and it enters, through the opening of an improper attribute, into man’s heart. ~ The Kotzker Rebbe
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We must commend and reward the good in our children, not so much to reward them, as to apprise them that what they are doing is good. ~ R’ Shraga Silverstein zt”l
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The tongue is compared to an arrow. Unlike a sword that has been drawn and can be returned to its sheath, an arrow, once shot towards its mark, can never be returned. ~ R’ Yankel Taub as quoted in Torah Tavlin
When a person wishes to leave one spirit and enter another holy, exalted spirit, he should wash himself so that the holy exalted spirit may settle upon him. ~ The Zohar
Every sin causes a special anxiety on the spirit, which can only be erased by repentance, which transforms the anxiety itself into inner security and courage. ~ R’ Abraham Isaac Kook zt”l
When you fall in love with an earthly pleasure, consider that the power of love was granted to you for the purpose of loving Hashem, and not for unworthy things. Without the feeling of love, stimulated by worldly pleasures, it would be difficult to feel true love for Hashem. ~ The Baal Shem Tov
Let us not be too hasty to condemn our past selves, just as we must not be too hasty to condemn others. We may be ignorant of the circumstances behind their acts and we may have forgotten the circumstances behind ours. ~ R’ Shraga Silverstein zt”l
It is true that we can fall to sin – and it can happen more than once. But the choice is always ours as to how to react. Either we will become depressed, which can lead us to even worse sins. Or, we can learn from our mistakes, in order to improve our behavior in the future.
Time can make us wise from experience, so that we can help others and ourselves. This is the natural process of the creation. “And it was evening and it was morning.” Darkness always precedes light, just as sin and failure always precede the ability to improve. ~ R’ Yaakov Meir Schechter Shlita
