Have a wonderful Shabbat! – 5th Tammuz, 5769

 

The Holy One, blessed be He,

said to Moses,

“I have a precious gift

in My treasure house,

called the Sabbath,

and desire to give it to Israel;

go and inform them.”

(Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Shabbath, 10b)

Courtesy:www.jewishsearch.com/

Daily Reminder – 4th Tammuz, 5769

 

The Sweetest Voice

Rabbeinu Yonah brings the Medrash in Tehilim (Yalkut 721) that says, Am Yisroel is beloved with its voice and and hated r”l with its voice. “Hashmi’ini Es Koileich Ki Koileich Areiv”, let me hear your voice because your voice is sweet, says Hashem in Shir HaShirim (2:14). “Nasna Alai BiKoila Al Kein Sineisiha”, they speak with a loud voice words that I don’t like, therefore I hate her.

There are so many wonderful mitzvos we can do with our sweet voices, says Rabbeinu Yonah. We can speak words of Torah. We can make peace between people. We can justify the Rabim. We can praise the good we see. We can disgrace evil and fight for the truth. Why would we use our voices in a way that Hashem would use the word, “Sineisiha”?

“Zachor Eis Asher Asa Hashem L’Miriam BaDerech B’Tzaischem MiMitzrayim”

The Ramban and other Rishonim count, among the Mitzvos Aseh Min HaTorah, the mitzva of remembering and saying with your mouth each day what Hashem did to Miriam when she spoke about her brother Moshe. The Chofetz Chaim in Shaar Tvunah Perek 12 says that being Mikayem this mitzva can save you from the aveira of Lashon Hara. More than just saying the pasuk, says the Chofetz Chaim, one must think about the incident in order for it to have its intended effect.

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Source:RevachL’Neshama

Bringing Heaven Down to Earth – 4th Tammuz, 5769

 

Thought for the Day

Connecting

By Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

Daily Dose – Today’s Meditation – Connecting

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Tzvi Freeman. To order Tzvi’s book, “Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.

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Self-Growth – Keep Smiling – 4th Tammuz, 5769

 

 

Whatever we are able

By Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Schwartz

Whatever we are able to do, we must do — for we only receive our abilities that that we may use them. Moreover, only by using them can we reach lasting satisfaction and happiness.^*

^* Daas Torah, BaMidbar, B’haloscha, biurim

Have a growth-filled, uplifting day

By: Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Schwartz of “Self-Growth“

Blog – To view previous”Keep Smiling”s, click here, or copy this address to your browser: http://keep-smiling-self-wealth.blogspot.com/

“Heavenly Ways” gives us a Torah-based point of view 176 topics, affirmations to accelerate our journey along healthful, heavenly ways. To see excerpt, click here.

“Hearts on Fire“ expands on selected verses from Tehillim to motivate us to new growth. In hard-cover for sale, or otherwise as a free ebook. Click here for an excerpt.

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“A Handful of Light” expands on the very short, powerful “Letter of the Ramban” with classic mussar and outlook ideas. (287 pages) To see an excerpt, click here.

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Not just another book, but a series of lessons to change our lives, turning darkness to light, misery to joy, shame into dignity; giving us a sense of direction, that we may move through our days with enthusiasm and passion, turning each moment into a jewel, a treasure, and a source of great pleasure and enjoyment. Click here for more.

“Wealth – A Torah Approach” contains over 700 teachings from the Torah, Prophets and our earliest sages on this continually perplexing subject. Click here for an excerpt.

Daily “PiCK-ME-UPs” – 4th Tammuz, 5769

 

Quotes

from “PiCK-ME-UPs” the book

   

Self-Improvement

The Best Me

We need be no more than anyone else is, nor any less. We just need to be “the best me” we can be.

By: Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Schwartz of “Self-Growth.“

PiCK-ME-UPs:
Empower yourself, enjoy life!
Not just another book, but a series of lessons to change our lives, turning darkness to light, misery to joy, shame into dignity; giving us a sense of direction, that we may move through our days with enthusiasm and passion, turning each moment into a jewel, a treasure, and a source of great pleasure and enjoyment. Click here for more.

FREE INSPIRATIONAL POSTER – To download high resolution version, click here.

Please visit Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Schwartz’s blog at: Keep Smiling ~ Self-Wealth

DIVINE LIGHT – 4th Tammuz, 5769

 

The Mystical Light of the Baal Shem Tov

Section 13.

15.   When the Baal Shem Tov would study Torah with his students, they would be surrounded by fire and the ministering angels would gather around them. They would hear the voices and thunder heard by the Children of Israel during the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and the words “I am the L-rd your G-d,” from the mouth of G-d.
Heichal HaBracha Va’eschanan

Translation and Commentary by Translation and commentary by Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Shore.

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Source: The Baal Shem Tov Foundation

HEART OF PRAYER – 4th Tammuz, 5769

 

The Baal Shem Tov’s Teachings on Prayer

Section 4a2

There are many aspects of prayer, one higher than the other. On the lowest level, you pray for your own needs. This is the level of the world, as it is written, “All flesh is grass, and all their goodness is like the flowers of the field,”¹ and “Their acts of kindness are only for themselves.”²

The next level is to pray to fill a lack in the Shechinah. Indeed, by rectifying the Supernal Source, the deficiency below is also filled for Above and below are one. However, you should not intend to repair both Above and below, for this is like “uprooting the shoots”³ and creates a division.

I also heard an explanation of the Talmud’s statement, “There are things that stand at the height of the world, yet people belittle them.”⁴ Meaning, the effects of prayer are Above, in the heights of the world, and not always below. Therefore, people belittle prayer and imagine that their supplications are worthless. But this is not so.

There is yet a higher level, when you do not demand that even the Supernal rectifications be accomplished, for there is a danger in that as well. The story of Rabbi Yosef d’LeReina⁵ is proof. Therefore, the best thing for a wise person is to do what is required of them, to pray over whatever happens, and let the Master of Desire do as He knows best. This is the most exalted level – a service that is not for the sake of receiving repayment.
Toldos Yaakov Yosef p. 144b

¹Isaiah 40:6
²Tikunei Zohar, Tikun 30, p.73b
³A reference to heresy
⁴A reference to prayer
⁵A fifteenth century kabbalist who tried to force the coming of Moshiach but failed and caused the Spanish exile instead.

Translation and Commentary by Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Shore

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Source: The Baal Shem Tov Foundation

Daily Wisdom Portion of Kabbalah – 4th Tammuz, 5769

 

Exile and Redemption – Congruity and Unity between Torah and Blind Faith and the Development of Human Calculation

Hence, I hereby propose to the House of Israel to say to our troubles, “enough!” And at the very least, calculate a human calculation, regarding these adventures that have come upon us time and time again, and here in our country as well, where we want to start our country anew. We have no hope of clutching at the ground as a nation; as long as we do not accept our holy Torah without any extenuations, to the last condition of the work Lishma, and not for oneself, with any residue of selfishness as I have proven in the article “The Revelation of Godliness” (Matan Torah).

If we do not establish ourselves accordingly, then there are classes among us, and we will undoubtedly be pushed right and left as all nations are, and much more, because it is the nature of the developed that they cannot be restrained, for he who has a developed mind his mind is important, and will not bow before anything and knows no compromise. That is why our sages said Israel is the fiercest of the nations, because he whose mind is broader is most obstinate.

It is a psychological law. If you don’t understand me go and study this law among the contemporary members of the nation, and when we started to build, time was already showing us our fierceness and assertiveness of mind, and that which one builds the other ruins.

…It is known to all, but there is only one novelty in my words, and that is that they think that the other side will eventually understand the danger and will bow his head and accept their opinion. But I know that even if we tie them together in one basket, one will not surrender to the other as full note, and no danger will interrupt anyone from carrying out his ambition.

In one sentence: As long as we do not raise our goal above the corporeal life, we will have no corporeal revival, because the spiritual and the corporeal in us cannot live in one basket, for we are the children of the idea. Even if we are immersed in 49 gates of materialism, still we will not give up the idea. Hence, it is the holy purpose of His name that we need.

By Rabbi Yehuda Leib HaLevi Ashlag – Baal HaSulam, Exile and Redemption

Source: kabbalah.info

Today 4th Tammuz, 5769 – “Little Mitzvos”

 

You may think, how does one little Mitzvo help . . .

Our times are calling out to us to do Teshuva, but it’s too hard for us to change our lives. Even when we try, we end up reverting back to nothing, everything as was. We MUST show HaShem that we are seeing the signs and that it means something to us.

In this way, when HaShem asks what did we did, we can reply “I took this on…”

You must not consider this “Little Mitzvos” as a replacement for the Shulchan Oruch – you must continue learning Halochos via mainstream Seforim and with Shiurim.

Street

Do say hello to people you meet in the street.

Source: Little Mitzvos Org

The Daily GuardUrEyes Chizuk – 4th Tammuz, 5769

 

GuardUrEyes

A website for Jews struggling to maintain their moral purity in today’s world

Why is Sexual purity so important in Judaism? Our sages called Shmiras Habris “Yesod”, meaning “Foundation”. The foundation of a building is “underground” and no one sees it, yet it holds up the entire building! Shmiras Habris is the hidden part of a Jew, it’s the real you. If the foundation of a Jew is weak, his whole spiritual structure is fragile and in grave danger of collapse. At guardureyes.com we are finally joining together, for ourselves and for all future generations, to strengthen the foundations of our people!

There is a lot of material out there on the subject of guarding the eyes and the Bris, but sometimes “too much” is overwhelming.
A little bit each day is just right, to be able to read, digest and apply it to our lives.

Today’s Shmiras Ainayim Chizuk

The Zohar compares this world to a churning ocean and the body of a man to a ship in the sea. Therefore, man requires knowledge in order to guide himself on a straight course, avoiding mishap and losing his way. The ocean of life roars fearfully and continuously. The winds of challenge blow and the negative impulse rips about like a tornado with unimaginable force. All of life comprises great and endless tests, which can easily capsize the ship and sink it into the murky, nethermost depths.

Yirat Shamayim and the study of Mussar will prevent the body from sinking into the miry depths of desire and corrupt character traits.
(Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer, Ohr Yisrael)

The Cornerstone of a Successful Marriage

The source of the prohibition to not look at a woman if she is immodestly dressed is the verse (Bamidbar 15:39): “Do not stray after your eyes”.

What is so bad about admiring women?

The Torah’s purpose is not to deny us the joy of a meaningful relationship with a woman. In fact, one of the most important Mitzvot in the Torah is to have children, in keeping with the verse (Bereishit 1:28): “And Elokim blessed them and Elokim said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply.’”

Rather, the purpose of the Torah’s laws are to help us give our full love and attention to our wives. The awareness that your wife is the only woman permitted to you strengthens the unique and special bond of love between husband and wife.

Once we understand the benefits of the laws, we realize that they are not restrictions but reinforcements. We cherish these holy laws because they are the cornerstone of a successful marriage and the foundation for a healthy family.

Men, in general, have a strong natural desire for women. Therefore, the Torah gives us guidelines so that these inclinations do not rule our lives. Compliance with these guidelines saves us from distraction and even destruction.

The Rambam says (Hilchot Teshuvah, Chapter 4, Law 4): “There are some transgressions for which a person is not motivated to repent because he considers them trivial and of no real consequence. Amongst them is the transgression of looking at women. A man who looks at a woman asks himself, “Did I have relations with her?” Did I get close to her?” He doesn’t realize that gazing at women who are forbidden to him is a transgression because it leads him to inappropriate conduct, as the verse says, ‘Do not stray after your heart and after your eyes.”

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The Guard Your Eyes Handbook. Courtesy of GuardUrEyes
The Guard Your Eyes Attitude. Courtesy of GuardUrEyes

The GuardUrEyes E-mail Chizuk Lists

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List 1.The GuardUrEyes Chizuk List – Breaking Free.
Receive each day antidotes, tips, articles or quotes from the holy texts, therapists and fellow strugglers, to help you break free of sexual addictions, pornography and/or masturbation. (Click the light-blue tool-bar above to browse the hundreds of previous chizuk e-mails sent out from this list).

List 2.General Chizuk in Shmiras Ainayim
This list will focus less on the “addiction” aspect and more on general Chizuk in Shmiras Ainayim that anyone can use, addicted or not. This list is less intense and explicit than the first, and is appropriate for everyone. (Click the light-pink tool-bar above to browse the previous chizuk e-mails sent out from this list).

Please note: We strongly advise anyone who struggles with masturbation or pornography, even if infrequently, to join the first list as well.

Click here to join one (OR BOTH) of the Chizuk lists described below.

Source: GuardUrEyes

Daily Writings on Kabbalah and Torah – 4th Tammuz, 5769

 

Everyone has different abilities depending on the tribe they represent.
Let us all unify and work together in the battle against the Sitra Acher.

WISDOM CAN ONLY BE LOWERED TO A CERTAIN POINT – IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND IT READ IT OVER TWO THREE TIMES AND THINK ABOUT IT

In regard to the nation of Yisroel traveling on the wings of eagles

-   When Bnei Yisroel (Nation of Israel) left Egypt, they were gathered from all over Egypt to Suchot, which was a distance of 120 Mill.
-   This gathering was referred to as: “I carried you on the wings of eagles.”
-   What happened was very similar to Kfitzos Haderech, “jumping of the path,” where subjects warp through space to travel to a second point.
-   The reason it happened is as follows:
-   Egypt was at the time the world center of tumah (unclean power).
-   Yisroel had reached very low spiritual levels during their stay in Egypt.
-   They now had to be raised, this involves a process.
-   The spiritual worlds are not bound to time and space.
-    In the physical world the closer you are to holiness the less bound you become to space.
-   The more one is busy with physical matter (chomer), the more he is limited by space.
-   Egypt was very busy with these issues.
-   By warping Yisroel above space they become less bound to the tumah of Egypt.

Source: TrueKabbalah.org

Teachings of the Sages – 4th Tammuz, 5769

 

ON PRAYER

R’ Pinchas said: “If you feel the urge to praise, praise G-d; if you feel the urge to blame, blame yourself”.^*

^*Four Hasidic Masters and Their Struggle against Melancholy, by Elie Wiesel, p. 18. Copyright © 1978 by Elie Wiesel. Reprinted with permission of Georges Borchardt, Inc., on behalf of Elirion Associates (B)

By Rebbe Pinchas of Koretz

Source: Two Tzaddiks

Rabbi Nachman’s – Sayings & Teachings – 4th Tammuz, 5769

 

Rabbi Nachman’s – Sayings & Teachings

THE PURPOSE OF LIFE – The grave

Don’t say that “the pit and the grave will be your refuge” ( Avot 4:22 ) . In this world you have the burden of making a living and many other worries. You might get bitten by a flea, but you won’t feel it because your thoughts are preoccupied with your livelihood and other concerns.

In the grave, however, there are no other distractions. You can then hear even the sound of the maggots crawling towards you and feel the pain of their every bite, with nothing to distract your mind from this terrible suffering. G-d help us!

Sichot Haran #84

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov
“It is a great mitzvah to be happy.”

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Azamra means “I will sing” (Psalms 146:2)

“And the way to sing the song of joy is by seeking the good in all people, especially in ourselves. Each good point is one more note in the song of life!”

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov

From our Sages on the Parshah – Parshah: Korach Verses: Numbers 16:1-18:32

 

From our Sages on the Parshah
“The entire community is holy and G-d is amongst them; why do you raise yourselves above the congregation of G-d?” (Numbers 16:3)

Korach took 250 magistrates… and dressed them in garments that were wholly of blue wool. They stood before Moses and asked him: “If a garment is made entirely of blue wool, what is the law as regarding the obligation of tzitzit?” Moses answered them: “It is obligated.” They began to laugh at him, saying: “If a garment of another sort is absolved by a single thread of blue wool, this garment, composed wholly of blue wool, cannot absolve itself?”

Korach further challenged Moses: “If a house is full of Torah scrolls, does it need a mezuzah on its doorpost?” Replied Moses, “It is obligated.” Said Korach: “The entire Torah, consisting of 275 chapters, does not absolve this house, and the [two] chapters in the mezuzah absolve it? G-d did not command you these laws — you have invented them yourself.”

(Midrash Rabbah)

From Parshah In Depth

Avodah – Perek Shira – 4th Tammuz, 5769

 

Perek Shira – 4th Tammuz, 5769

Perek Shira: Dinner At The Homeless Shelter – Caviar and Fine Wine?

A starving pauper came the door of the great amora, Rava, begging for food to eat. Rava asked him what he would like to eat, to which he replied fattened chickens and old wine. “Aren’t you asking a little much from the public which you expect to support you?” asked Rava. The pauper then had the nerve to start quoting pasukim and giving Rava a lecture about bitachon and how, when, and what we eat is all in Hashem’s hands! Just then Rava’s sister whom he hadn’t seen in 13 years came to visit. She brought for him a gift… you guessed it, a fattened chicken and old wine. Rava then turned to the pauper and said (in his language) touché.

This says the Shiras Meir is the song of the Stuffed Chicken, “Bitchu BaHashem Adei Ad, Ki B’Ka Hashem Tzur Olamim”, have faith in Hashem always… Smart people aren’t guaranteed to make a living and unemployed paupers don’t necessarily eat moldy bread. No matter what your status or level of wealth only Hashem decides where your next meal will come from and what’s on the menu.

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Source:RevachL’Neshama