The Beis HaLevi states that the mitzvah of Ahavas Yisrael can be fulfilled by harboring love for every fellow Jew within our hearts, which indicates that this mitzvah can be performed constantly, regardless of one’s location.
Expounding upon this concept, Sefer Yesod V’Shoresh HaAvodah (1:7) suggests that even in impure environments, where prayer or study is unfeasible, one can fulfill this mitzvah through contemplation alone, by filling his mind with thoughts of love for a fellow Jew.
Why in the world are you worried about tomorrow?
I’ll tell you why – because you think you did today.
You don’t realize that today was from Hashem!
If you knew that today was a gift, you wouldn’t ask about tomorrow.
It’s all Hashem’s gift to us.
~ Michael Safdie
If a person constantly keeps his mind focused on doing mitzvos, his mind will be free from thoughts that lead to sadness.
~ R’ Pinchas of Koretz zt”l (1725-1791)
You ask, “How can I be happy if I am not?”
True, you can’t control the way you feel, but you do have control over your conscious thought, speech and actions.
Do something simple: Think good thoughts, speak good things, behave the way a joyful person behaves — even if you don’t fully feel it inside.
Eventually, the inner joy of the soul will break through.
~ R’ Tzvi Freeman
Chazal (Beitzah 15:2) say “If one wants to ensure that his property will remain with him, he should plant an adar.”
The Bnei Yissaschar explains that he should implant into his heart the lessons of Adar, the emunah that Hashem dwells in this world, and everything is from Him.
This emunah will grant him success and wealth.
~ R’ Elimelech Biderman
According to the Arizal, one should recite before Shacharis, “I accept upon myself the mitzvah to love my friend as myself.”
A child asked his father, “I would understand reaffirming one’s love for Hashem before prayer, but what is the connection between loving other Jews and prayer?”
The father smiled, “That’s a question that makes sense from your vantage point,” he told his child, “but one day, when you’ll be married and have a family, you’ll understand. Parents are so happy when their children come to them and say, ‘I love you,’ but that happiness is secondary to the joy they feel when they see that their children love each other. That’s what makes a parent’s heart sing. He wants to hear that we love every single brother and sister.”
~ R’ Yitzchak Dovid Grossman
There is no reward in this world for mitzvos ~ Kiddushin 39b
Blessings are not payments for our mitzvos but rather, they are benefits that help us to serve G-d at a higher level.
When we enjoy a nice meal or a moment of nachas from our children, or we close a good deal or take a relaxing vacation, G-d is not paying us for our efforts. Rather, He is saying, “Rest up and continue to serve Me.”
~ R’ David Sutton
The cloudy days of life are forecasting a downpour of blessings from Above.
~ The Noda B’Yehudah (1713-1793)
Although on the path toward spiritual perfection, one is not usually urged to immediately adapt to the loftiest levels, the Alter of Novardok in Madreigas Ha’adam advises one to do this with bitachon, since bitachon is an exception to the rule.
Since one’s level of bitachon and reliance on Hashem results in Divine blessings that correspond to the depth of his convictions, the best thing is to start at the top, as this way, he will immediately see the beauty of true bitachon and will have an easier time sustaining this exalted level.
Conversely, when someone starts slowly from the bottom up, he will see only blessings corresponding to his lesser efforts, so his climb will be more difficult.
Therefore, go all in! Rely on Hashem completely and see the results!
“Hillel said, ‘If not now, when?’” (Pirkei Avos 1:14)
The plain meaning is that if you push off doing something positive, you might end up not doing it at all. New obstacles may arise and prevent you from ever doing it.
But we can understand Hillel another way: “Very good, we accept that you truly will do the good deed later on, but what about the present?” You must do all you can both now and later. Even though you might utilize the opportunity to do good later on, you have, nonetheless, wasted the present moment.
~ R’ Chaim Mordechaim Katz zt”l (1894-1965)
