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
A person should really know the pathways of Heaven, but actually, this is not crucial.
One needs only the main thing – to help another wholeheartedly, with sensitivity, to take pleasure in doing a kindness to another.
~ R’ Shmuel of Lubavitch zt”l
When I was a kid in Camp Munk, they would give an award to every boy at summer’s end, and I invariably got the loser award: best middos. It meant I couldn’t hit a baseball or sink a basket.
I found it sort of embarrassing, and I would hide the award in my luggage after camp, but my mother would find it and dig it out.
I remember how she and my father called me into a room. They had tears in their eyes.
They indicated the award and said, “David, this is our greatest hope for you. Do you think being able to score goals or make jump shots means something to us? This is what’s important, that you be kind, that you be empathetic, that you be honest, that you be a mentch.”
You know what? That stayed with me…the tears, the way they let me know that they really cared. That remains.
~ Dr. David Pelcovitz
We say in the Amida, Hashem is רופא חולי עמו ישראל, He heals the sick of Israel.
We know Hashem is the One who heals everyone in the world, so what is unique about us?
Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach explained, when Hashem decrees a sickness upon a person, it has to stay until its prescribed time to leave. But that only applies to the nations of the world. Regarding the Jews, Hashem gave us the power of tefila. We could pray to remove the sickness earlier, and become healed way before the decreed time that the sickness was supposed to leave.
That is a gift given exclusively to us, by Hashem, because He loves us so much.
~ R’ David Ashear
Rabbeinu Yonah says: The first step in Avodas Hashem (serving G-d) is knowing who you are and where you come from.
Because if you don’t know that, you can’t start your mission.
~ R’ Yisroel Majeski
What’s the difference between one who has emuna and one who does not?
Peace of mind.
The one with emuna is at peace, and the one without is in turmoil.
~ R’ Elimelech Biderman
Just as one is obligated to believe in Hashem, so must one believe in himself.
~ R’ Tzadok Hakohen of Lublin
Tefilah (prayer) is all-inclusive. Tefilah includes bitachon, trusting Hashem. Tefilah includes ahavas Hashem, love of Hashem. Tefilah includes bechinah, studying what Hashem does for you in this world…
Tefilah is a way of life; that’s what you’re in this world for.
~ R’ Avigdor Miller zt”l
