Inspiration

Don’t wait for inspiration; BE the inspiration!

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Guard your tongue

“One who guards his mouth and tongue, guards his soul from troubles” ~ Mishlei 21:23

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Rotten Apple

Ain foiler epel farfoilt di ander.

One rotten apple spoils the other.

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A Tzaddik’s Blessing

When the mouth is sanctified, any blessing that it issues is fulfilled. R’ Dovid Dov Tierhaus zt”l told the story of his neighbor, a man by the name of Breslauer. In his youth, he worked in the kitchen for Rebbetzin Kluger, a”h. She was the wife of the great Gaon, R’ Shlomo Kluger zt”l, the Rav of Brodt for over fifty years. One Erev Shabbos, there was no fish available in the entire town.
Knowing that the Rav was particular about eating fish every Shabbos, he went through great trouble, visiting nearby villages, until he was able to procure fish. On Friday night, when the fish was brought to the table, Rav Kluger was told of the young man’s valiant efforts. The Rav blessed him: “you should live 100 years.” A little while later, R’ Meir’l Premishlan visited the city of Brodt. Young Breslauer longed to get a glimpse of the tzaddik’s face. Due to his poverty, he walked to the home in which the Rebbe was staying and waited for two days until he had an opportunity to go in. As he opened the door to enter – and before he said a word, R’ Meir’l said, “Tell me, did the Rav of Brodt promise you 100 years? Meir’l concurs.” The young man fainted from excitement. Many years later, when he was a very old man, testified R’ Tierhaus, he still walked on his own, healthy and completely lucid. At the age of 96, he was hit by a speeding car … somehow, he fell between its wheels and oddly enough – nothing happened to him! At the age of 98, he fell seriously ill. Two expert doctors warned his wife that they should prepare for the end – he had two weeks left to live, at most.
Overhearing this, Mr. Breslauer responded loudly, “even for a hefty sum of money, I will not forego the two years that I have left.” Indeed, he recovered fully. R’ Tierhaus concluded, “I’ll never forget that wintery Motzei Shabbos that Mrs. Breslauer came into our house crying, ‘I am terrified because tonight is my husband’s one hundredth birthday.’ And indeed, he passed that same night.” Such is the power of a holy mouth.

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A True Chasid

A chasid once forgot a sheaf in the field.  [It is a mitzvah to leave such sheaves in the field for the poor.]  The chasid was so happy that he told his son to offer two sacrifices in celebration.  When his son asked, “Why do you rejoice over this mitzvah more than any other?” the chasid replied: “God gave us all other mitzvoth to be done knowingly; this is the only one that must be done unknowingly” ~ Tosefta, Pe’ah 2

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Reason to Celebrate

If you did things right, celebrate that you have a G‑d who appreciates your good work.

And if you fell on your face, celebrate that you have a G‑d who does not abandon you when you fall.

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Like Winning a Million Dollars – deep!

Imagine that someone were to offer you a million dollars to abstain from wearing tefillin; you would surely turn down the offer.  If so, you should perform the mitzvah with as much joy as if you had received the million dollars.  This is the type of creative spiritual accounting that our Sages recommended. ~ The Pirkei Avos Treasury

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Make it Last

“Today will never happen again.  But one good deed can make it last forever.” ~ From Chicken Soup for the Neshama

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What is a Jew’s foremost belief?

“And it was in the days of Achashverosh.” (Megilas Esther)

The “And” informs us that this was a result of events that preceded it. It just did not happen that suddenly there was a Haman; it was connected to past events. Without understanding that, we don’t begin to be a Jew. A Jew, first and foremost, believes that Hashem is in control of the world. ~ R’ Avigdor Miller zt”l
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Wine

Beim glezel gefint men a sach guteh freint

Over a glass of wine, you find many good friends.

Freilicheh Purim!

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