Reb Elimelech of Lishensk

The Chidushe HaRim, known to not get involved in miracles, passed through the town where the Holy Reb Elimelech of Lishensk had once resided. He was searching for anyone in the town who once saw the holy tzaddik.  After a long search he picked a random resident of the town that he had not know previously and said, “You!  You have seen the holy tzaddik, Reb Elimelech! The yid responded in the affirmative. The Chidushe HaRim then said, “Don’t think I did anything special. It is well known that once a person had laid eyes on the holy tzaddik, Reb Elimelech, they no longer look like a regular person.”

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From Scratch

“To make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe.”

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Are you using all your strength

A small boy was struggling to move a heavy wooden cupboard, but it would not budge.  He pushed and shoved with every muscle in his body, but couldn’t manage to move it even an inch!  His father, passing by, stopped to watch his son’s futile efforts.  Finally, the father asked “Son, are you using all your strength?”

“Yes, I am!” the boy cried, exasperated.

“No,” the father said calmly, “you’re not.  You have not asked me to help you.” ~ Chicken soup to Warm the Neshama

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Also, I received the following from Divrei Chizuk and thought it was worth sharing:

“The final day of Chanukah, which is called זאת חנוכה, is an especially auspicious day.  The Maharil writes that this day marks our final opportunity to have Hashem repeal harsh decrees issued the past Rosh Hashanah.”

Let’s make the most of it.  Happy Chanukah!

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Connected Above

When one is connected above, one does not fall down below. ~ R’ Meir of Premishlan zt”l

 

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Things you Can do

Don’t let the things you can’t do get in the way of the things you can.

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Kiddush Hashem

One who is happy with all the good that Hashem has bestowed upon him, is fulfilling the mitzvah of kiddush Hashem.  People will see how fortunate Torah observers are.  A frum yid who is depressed and speaks only of what is missing from his life, causes others to look down upon Torah observance.  This is the ultimate chilul Hashem.   ~ R’ Yehudah Leib Chasman zt”l (Torah Tavlin)

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Alts iz gut!

Alts iz gut nor in der tseit – Everything is good but only in its time.  

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The Boruch Taam

In the sefer Ohel Boruch, it is related that the saintly Boruch Taam zt”l zy”a (Boruch Frankel Thumim (1760–1828)) was sitting by a bris and was seen to smile for no apparent reason.  Someone came over to him and asked him what he was smiling about, and he responded that he had just seen a vision of Gan Eden.  The man brazenly demanded that he would like to see it as well.  In a benign way, the Boruch Taam answered him, “What’s stopping you?  Just answer Amein properly!  For the Gemora in Sanhedrin (119b) promises that whoever answers Amein with all of his concentration “they open for him the gates of Paradise.”  ~ R’ Moshe Meir Weiss

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Yosef’s Bloody Coat

“It is conceivably possible that the gentile accusations of blood libels in years past, were the punishment for the deceitful behavior of the brothers who dipped Yosef’s coat into the blood of a goat and then brought it to Yaakov to identify as the coat of his favorite son!”  ~ R’ Elchanan Wasserman zt”l from Torah Tavlin

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True Light

“People become so used to the dark that they think it is actually light.  But on Chanukah we can see what true ‘Light’ really is.” ~ The Lubavitcher Rebbe

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