R’ Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l once told a driver who was honking at a group of children, “You must treat the children with derech eretz because they will be the ones to greet Mashiach.” ~ 5 Great Lives
We are those children.
To return takes but a moment. One moment a being is at an ultimate distance from his G-d and from his true self, the next he is in complete union. The power to return is beyond time. ~ R’ Tzvi Freeman
In his old age, the Chofetz Chaim called on all roshei yeshivhos to institute a Mussar seder – “In these times, it is our only protection against the storms of freethinking raging in the world.”
“I do not want followers who are righteous, rather I want followers who are too busy doing good that they won’t have time to do bad.” ~ R’ Menachem Mendel of Kotzk zt”l
This is taking place in a few minutes!
Today, Monday, July 28, which is Rosh Chodesh Av, Jews around the world are being encouraged to recite the Shema at 12:00 noon, EST, 7:00am PST, which is 7:00pm in Israel.
The goal is to have one million Jews around the world all reciting the Shema at the same time. The power of the prayer being recited spontaneously by Jews all over the world is intended to help bring success to Israel’s effort to protect itself from the extreme dangers being directed at it, and to create a cocoon of safety and protection of all Israelis who serve to protect the Jewish homeland.
Here is a link to the text of Shema in Hebrew – http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/706163/jewish/In-Hebrew.htm
Here is a link to the text of Shema transliterated to English http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/282822/jewish/Transliteration.htm
Chazal teach us: Three things arrive unexpectedly – Mashiach, a metziah (a find), and a scorpion. What is the connection between these three? Because if one is zoche (merits), the arrival of Mashiach will be like a pleasant but unexpected appearance of a metziah – he will rejoice and it will be good for him. But if he doesn’t merit, Mashiach’s coming will be sudden and harsh, like the unexpected pain from the bite of a scorpion! ~ The Maharsha as quoted in Torah Tavlin
Az a Yid kumt in a art, iz es tzulib a kavanah ton a mitzva, hayn a mitzva shebayn adam laMakom vehayn a mitzva shebayn adam lachavero. ~ Bal haTanya
When a Jew comes to a particular place it is for an (inner Divine) intent and purpose – to perform a mitzva, whether a mitzva between man and G-d or a mitzva between man and his fellow.
In seeking happiness for others, you find it for yourself.