It’s Natural

“The natural state of Man, the way G-d created him, is to be happy. Look at children and you will see.” Tzvi Freeman

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Hungry?

When you are hungry or thirsty, you imagine that it is merely your body that desires to be refreshed.  The Ba’al Shem Tov taught that your soul yearns for the food too.  In every piece of food or drink there are holy sparks that have been lost since the beginning of time.  Your soul is pining to elevate those sparks back to God, by eating the food with this thought in mind.  ~ R’ Chaim Miller

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Where You are Now

Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.

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Borrowing

Borgen macht zorgen.

Borrow causes sorrow.

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Awesome Story about the Satmar Rav

A man from out-of-town came to Rabbi Yoel Teitlebaum, the Satmar Rav, and asked him for financial assistance.  The man claimed he wa ill, his wife was ill, and his children were ill.  The Satmar Rav gave him a very large sum of money and wished him and his family a speedy recovery.  When the man left, someone informed the Satmar Rav that the man had not told the truth; that he and his family were not really ill.

Boruch Hashem (Thank G-d),” said the Satmar Rav, not the least bit dismayed.  “I’m very happy to hear that they are well.” ~ R’ Zelig Pliskin

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Tear them Down

“Sorrow locks the gates of Heaven. Prayer opens locked gates. Joy has the power to tear down the walls.” ~  Baal Shem Tov

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The Beginning of One’s Decline

“The beginning of one’s decline, G-d save us, is the lack of Avoda in davening, when everything becomes dry and cold and even a mitzva performed by habit becomes burdensome. When everything is rushed. One loses the sense of pleasure in Torah-study. The atmosphere itself become crass–all about materialism.  Needless to say, in this condition, one is totally incapable of influencing others.” – Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe

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Their Only Power

Do not allow yourself to become upset by what people say or do; they are powerless.  Your reaction is their only power.

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It Doesn’t Come Easy

There are many things that are expected of us… You can’t just say you have [faith] already as an inheritance. You don’t have any thing as an inheritance.

You must work at experiential faith, to create a feeling of “Da lifnai mi atah omaid — Know before Whom you stand.” There’s work to be done. ~ R’ Avigdor Miller zt”l

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A New Opportunity

If trouble comes upon you and you think that it has come as a punishment for a past lapse, do not be filled with guilt and despair.  Rather, rejoice in this new opportunity to rise up by the medium of the test that you now face. ~ R’ Dovid Bliacher zt”l

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