Better Good and a Little

Besser gut un a bissel aider shlechts un a fuleh shissel.

Better good and a little rather than bad and a lot of it.

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Smile

A young man once came to Rabbi Noson Tzvi Finkel to announce his engagement.  Noticing that he had a very solemn facial expression, Rav Noson Tzvi lectured him on the importance of having a cheerful expression.  Rabbi Finkel stressed that while this is a great obligation at all times, it is especially necessary when he is in the presence of his fiancé. ~ R’ Zelig Pliskin

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Out of Control

If man were to be without any sense of burden, his life would veer recklessly out of control.  Hashem, therefore, gives him worries and difficulties, leaving him no time or energy for sin and foolishness. ~ R’ Moshe of Kobrin zt”l as quoted in Torah Tavlin

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Very Difficult

It is easier to know the entire Talmud than to correct a single bad midah. ~ R’ Yisroel Salanter zt”l

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The Goal of Parents

The goal of parenting is not to raise good kids; it is to raise good adults.

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Quota of Words

It is written in Sefer Chassidim that every person is allotted a specific quota of words during his lifetime.  This applies only to non-Torah speech, but with regards to Torah study, there is no limit:  “Whoever adds, reaps an eternal reward.”  Therefore, the less a person speaks, the longer he lives. ~ Tales of the Tongue

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Study Together

Every couple must have a set time to study Torah together.

What should they study? Something that interests both of them—such as the Torah portion of that week, or something about the Torah seasons approaching. ~Hitkashrut, 70 ~ R’ Tzvi Freeman

On a personal note, a year or two ago, I began learning with my wife one halacha each night out of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, which I have found very rewarding.  It is a very easy way to learn halacha.  There are many options, but I learn out of this one and love it – http://www.amazon.com/KLEINMAN-EDITION-KITZUR-SHULCHAN-ARUCH/dp/1422611043

If you are an observant Jew and not currently learning any halacha, it is vital that you begin to do so.  Just my 2 cents. 

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Hashem’s Messenger

A Yid is a shaliach shel mylah, a shaliach vu air is, is air der koach hamshaliach; der yisron hamalah in neshamos legabei malachim – vos bah neshamos is dos al pi haTorah ~ Bal haTanya

A Jew is G-d’s messenger, wherever a messenger may be, he represents the power of the one who sent him; the superior quality that souls possess, higher than the angels (who are also “messengers”), is that souls are messengers by virtue of Torah.

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Marrying off a Child

Whenever the rabbi of Zidichov married off a child or grandchild, he also helped an orphan get married.  He would spend as much money on the orphan as he would on his own child or grandchild.  ~ Sifsai Tzadikim Hachodesh as quoted by R’ Zelig Pliskin.

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Know Your Strengths

Woe unto a person who is not aware of his defects, and who does not know what he must correct.  But much worse off is the person who does not know his strengths, and who is therefore unaware of the tools he must work with to advance himself spiritually. ~ R’ Yerucham Levovitz zt”l

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