Everything in this world can be used as a mashal for avodas Hashem.
GPS reminds us that no matter what situation a person is in, Hashem is with him, directing him on the right path.
It also teaches us that when a person takes a wrong turn, the GPS doesn’t shout at him. It just tells him what to do now.
Finally, the GPS reminds us that teshuvah is always an option. Even if one is driving the wrong way for many years, he can always find his way to his destination.
~ R’ Elimelech Biderman
When a person thinks his wealth came from his might and wisdom, Hashem will take it away from him.
When one knows that everything was given to him by Hashem, Hashem will allow him to keep it.
~ The Alshich
One should rejoice immensely and consider every deed that he does for avodas Hashem very precious. He should decide in his heart that he won’t sell it for all the money in the world. Even one word, thought, or deed, even if it was only for a moment, will never become lost, and will accomplish a lot for him, and perhaps for all Yisrael.
What can be a greater joy than this; that he accomplished the purpose of his creation? He should do whatever he can, and seek to do more and more, both small deeds and great ones. As the saying goes, “whatever one grabs at a market sale, is worthwhile.”
~ The Beis Ahron zt’l
Rebbe Gedalyah Moshe of Zvhil zt’l asked someone why he wasn’t going to listen to a certain mussar drashah.
The man replied, “Even if the speech inspires me to do teshuvah, it won’t last for long. Soon afterward, I will be myself again.”
The Rebbe told him, “If someone’s drowning at sea, and someone swims up to him and says, ‘I can save you for a half hour, but then you will fall into the sea again,’ would he accept the offer? Of course he would. So why shouldn’t you also seek to do teshuvah? Even if it only lasts for a short while, it is also worthwhile.” And there is always the possibility that this time he will maintain the teshuvah.
Let’s say I want things to be better. I want to have a great marriage, a better relationship with my children. I want to start a chessed organization and change the world.
Then I laugh, Come on, get real, wake up. It’s not happening.
But the Mishna says in Pirkei Avos, “Al tomar, don’t say, ke’she’efneh eshneh, when I am free, I will learn…
You know, the word “Eshneh” can also mean change.
Don’t wait to change, don’t wait for the dramatic shift, because that’s not how it happens.
Instead of saying “One day,” say, “Day one.”
Not “one day I’ll change the world,” but “this is day one of changing the world, or changing my world.”
~ R’ Tzvi Sytner
A baal bitachon doesn’t choose a very difficult job. He chooses work that will give him a good name, spare time, quality of life, and the ability to fulfill his religious obligations.
He knows he’s just doing his hishtadlus to cover the miracle.
~ R’ David Sutton
The Avnei Nezer teaches: When one only speaks Torah and mitzvos, and doesn’t profane his mouth with forbidden speech, his mouth becomes like a kli shares, the utensils of the Beis HaMikdash.
One of the features of the keilim of the Beis HaMikdash is that when items are placed inside them, they become holy.
Similarly, due to the holiness of his mouth, his tefillos will be holy and take on a much stronger effect. All his prayers will be answered.
~ R’ Elimelech Biderman
Saying Tehillim is always beneficial, but during Elul, it is especially so.
R’ Chaim Palagi writes that “Ashrei” hints to the four ideal times for saying Tehillim, as the first letters of “Ashrei” (in Hebrew) stand for Elul, Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh and Yom Tov.
As we enter the month of Elul, which middah are you going to choose to work on to grow closer to Hashem?
It doesn’t have to be big. But definitely choose something!
Choose something attainable so we can go into Rosh Hashanah with a sincere desire for self-improvement and a heart open to transformation.
Hashem treats us the same way we treat our children.
~ R’ Shlomo of Karlin zt”l
Emuna Daily 