18 Tishrei 5784 – 3 October 2023 Rabbi Mordechai Neschiz was extremely poor and had to save pennies all year in order to purchase an esrog for Sukkos. One year, on his way to buy his esrog, he met someone who was weeping bitterly. This man had been making a… Read More »SUKKOS – WITH A HORSE
17 Tishrei 5784 – 2 October 2023 The Talmud (Sukkah 28b) expresses the primary mitzvah of the Sukkot holiday as “teishvu k’ein t’duru” – literally translated, “to sit [in the sukkah] as if it’s your [primary] dwelling.” “Teishvu” comes from the linguistic root that means, “sit,” “dwell” or “settle” and… Read More »AN UNSETTLED MIND? VISIT A PLACE IN NATURE
24 Elul 5783 – 10 September 2023 There was once a prince who behaved badly and was banished from his father’s kingdom. In exile, he took up with a rough crowd and became indistinguishable from them. Still, he had noble roots, and the day came when he regretted his mistakes… Read More »THE KING’S SON
7 Elul 5783 – 24 August 2023 While lying in bed one night, R’ Yitzchak of Vorka had a sudden urge to sniff some tobacco. The snuff box, however, was in the next room. He began contemplating: If I get up and go into the next room for the box,… Read More »OVERCOME YETZER HARA
3 Elul 5783 – 20 August 2023 If you get caught in a rainstorm, you’ll wear any boots – even if they don’t fit perfectly or aren’t of the best quality. Obviously, during a storm there’s no choice. When it comes to Teshuva – this month of Elul is the… Read More »HELP! MY REPENTANCE IS NOT PERFECT
28 Av 5783 – 15 August 2023 “It isn’t possible for a reasonable person to think that the purpose of man’s creation is totally fulfilled in this material world.” (Ramchal, ‘Path of the Just’ chapter 1) If you see a child dressed in a coat whose sleeves are way too… Read More »IS THE PURPOSE OF MAN’S CREATION TOTALLY FULFILLED?
בס”ד 8 Av 5783 – 26 July 2023 The essence of perfect faith is to believe that all of nature is governed by G-d and that every phenomenon in nature is itself a result of Divine Providence. Someone whose belief in this principle is complete is able to alter nature… Read More »FEEL AWE THROUGH THE MUNDANE
בס”ד 16 Tammuz 5783 – 5 July 2023 Rebbe Nachman writes[1]: Faith is the basis of everything. that is, faith in G-d, faith in His Torah, faith in His tzaddikim [righteous teachers] ~ and faith in ourselves. Without faith, nothing is complete (Advice, Faith #17) This almost sounds like the… Read More »FAITH IN G-D, TORAH AND…
17 Tammuz 5783 – 6 July 2023 “Always look for the good in the other. Focus on that good, highlight it, and turn even sinner into saint. Always look for the good in yourself. Focus on that good, highlight it, and turn even depression into joy.” Rebbe Nachman of Breslov,… Read More »ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE GOOD IN THE OTHER
16 Tammuz 5783 – 5 July 2023 Two pious people in one town are too many. One pious person in a town is not enough. It is best to have one-and-a-half pious people. How is this possible? Everyone should see oneself as half of a pious person, and see one’s… Read More »ONE-AND-A-HALF PIOUS PEOPLE?
