The light of Chanukah is the light of appreciation.

Chanukah is a time of giving thanks. Part of giving thanks is keeping quiet.  If we really appreciate everything that Hashem gives us, we will understand that every thing that happens to us is for our good. Our ability to know how to use our mouth, and not  to complain and speak improperly creates Kedusha.  The power of silence is that it is a tool for building inner knowledge.  There are no words to express the deepest ideas. By controlling our mouths we are opening ourselves up to inner knowledge. When we think that we can express anything we want, we are acting as though we have the ability to express anything and we lose our ability to use silence to understand deeper depths. 

On Chanukah we can use silence as a tool for gaining spiritual insights. When we light the candles we are lighting a spark in our own soul.  We can use this spiritual spark to see how much we have received from Hashem.  The light of Chanukan is the light of clarity of being able to see all of the gifts that Hashem has given us. 

Chanukah: Inner and Outer Connection

Teacher: Mrs. Shira Smiles

Harbeh Shluchim L’Makom.

 If you are not getting what you think you deserve from a person , Hashem can find a different person to give it to you, and if Hashem doesn’t think that you should have it then it is better that you shouldn’t have it. Get rid of the illness called Resentment.

from: Depend Solely on G-d

Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Class: Bitachon: Meaning of Trust on Naaleh

Make Hashem your best friend.

Everyone has times in their lives when they are alone.  These are the times to work on making Hashem our best friend.  They times are for a purpose, they are times of growth, times of connection to Hashem.  We develop our relationship with Hashem by doing Mitzvot with passion.

from: Depend Solely on G-d

Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Class: Bitachon: Meaning of Trust on Naaleh

Philosophy of Food

Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin writes that the primal desire of man is to eat of the forbidden. Adam and Eve succumbed to that desire, and as a result it has remained predominant in the human psyche since that eventful day.

from:
Philosophy of Food  by Rabbi Binyomin Forst   on aish.com

The only difference between hope and despair is a good night's sleep.

One of my daughters brought this saying home from school and at times it is a lifesaver.  Yesterday was a very hard day.  I was in a bad mood.  I was afraid that I would do something that I would regret (pick up).  So I went to bed early.  It is much easier to face some problems after a good night's sleep.

Struggle For Simcha

When we feel that we’re missing something, we often feel sad. A Jew’s soul naturally thirsts for spirituality. Filling this void with material things only creates a false sense of happiness. We need to ask ourselves, “How much do I enjoy Torah and mitzvot and developing a connection with Hashem?” If we don’t feel a bond with our Creator, then there is no desire to create beauty and joy in the relationship. We need to work on bringing Hashem into our personal lives and infusing our avoda with passion and enthusiasm.  When we have an awareness of where we come from, our achievements and goals, and where we are ultimately headed, then we can begin to understand the purpose of life.

Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Mrs. Shira Smiles

Don't fall into temptation.

Last night I went to a Shiur by Rebbetzin Heller. she was talking about overcoming Nisyonot.  She pointed out that when Yosef was in Potifar's house and Potifar's wife wanted him, he thought that he had failed the test because he wanted her too.  Despite the fact that he thought that he had failed the test, he did not give in and fall into temptation further.  He strengthened himself with the image of his father and didn't give in.  He could have said, " I failed the test, the sin is even just wanting her, and I did want her, so I might as well do whatever I want since I failed the test" but he didn't do this, he realized that even when you do something wrong you should stop then and there and not do anything else wrong.

Henei Mah Tov

I just returned from an OA Shabboton.  I was so moved by the Achdus. warmth and caring that was shown by every "branch " of Orthodox Judaism from the most modern to the most chasidic.  It was a remarkable experience to see the way that everyone treated each other. 

At the end of the Shabbaton when close to 200 women formed a big circle and sang Henei Mah Tov together, it felt like we had all become united as one group without divisions.

When you stop and think that most of the ladies in the Shabboton have made a dramatic change in their health and their lives, that is a very impressive accomplishment!

The Importance of "Little things"

This Shabbos was the Yahrzeit of my mother, Mirka Bas Yosef (who I have dedicated this blog to), please have her in mind when you read this Devar Torah.

Yakov went back to retreive the small pots that had been left behind.  We learn from this that the Chachamim value their possessions.  This may not seem to make sense, why should a few small possessions be so important?  The answer is that everything that Hashem gives us, was given to us to use for a reason, and can be a means to attaining kedusha.  If we value everything that we own, we will be able to make the most of all of the gifts that Hashem gives us and we will be able to grow more spiritually.

from a Siyum by Reb Yakov Pascal in memory of Mirka Bas Yosef

Fighting the idols of our time

When Benei Yisrael were in Mitzrayim they had to tie a lamb to the bedpost.  This was a major act of defiance because it was the Avodah Zarah of the Mitzrim.  In our times we have to fight the avodah zarah of secular society, whether it is "Hello Kitty" or other pop figures.

from a Shiur on Kol Haloshon by Rebbetzin Kalmonovitz

For a real pick me up listen to:

"HaSimcha Tamid BaLev" - Erez Levanon, HY"D

http://asimplejew.blogspot.com/2007/12/hasimcha-tamid-balev-erez-levanon-hyd.html

This CD suddenly showed up on my mp3, I forgot how much I love this song.  It never fails to make me feel better.  Follow this link, it will let you play the song.

for  more about him go to:
http://www.breslev.co.il/articles/breslev/baal_shem_tov_and_students/a_holy_spark_of_rebbe_nachman.aspx?id=8202&language=english

Self control as a path of spiritual growth.

Last night I was at my regular shiur about Tefilah (by a Rebbetzin who does not want to be quoted) based on the book by Rabbi Shimshon Pinchus about Tefilah.  We were learning about the idea of Amidah- standing before Hashem.  Our teacher said that the more that we nullify our body the closer that we come to Hashem. 

 This morning I got up early to weigh a lot of portions of food for the future.  Sometimes it is very difficult to weigh out 8 ounces of vegetable and have to put that extra onion back, but I realized this morning that every time I put back that extra piece of vegetable, I am exercising self control that is nullifying my self and bringing me closer to Hashem.

If you want to be a real nonconformist in today's society-conform.

  Today's society values relative truth and each person doing what they think is right.  In today's world it is important to accept Hashem's rule and truth despite outside influences.

We have to accept the challenge of accepting Hashem's agenda for us and not our own.

from the Shiur-Discovering your personal freedom from Rabbi Yitzchack Berkowitz

This morning my OA literature talked about how everyone's truth is relative, I was glad to have this insight from Rabbi Berkowitz to keep me grounded.

Following Hashem's agenda

Unfortunately many children view school as something that they have to tolerate, and find a way to beat the system.  Instead of trying to grow and learn in school they are busy trying to find ways of getting by.

Even more unfortunately many adults look at life this way.  Instead of looking for ways to grow and become a better person they are looking for ways to beat the system.

Everything that happens in our lives is from Hashem to help us reach perfection and shlaimus.  We have to follow Hashem's agenda for us and not our own.  Much of the suffering in our lives comes from our refusal to see life in Hashem's terms instead of our own.

from a Shiur on Aish.com by Rabbi Yitzchak Berkowitz

One small step

"Let us return to the words of the Vina Gaon: "One who goes in the ways of Hashem must go gradually, step by step. The key word is: gradually. One rung at a time. A person's task is, whatever spiritual state he is in, to take one step further, only the little bit the he can maintain now, and he should keep up this one addition constantly until he becomes accustomed to it, and then he can move on. This is exactly what Hakadosh Baruch Hu expects of him-that he should do what he is capable of now."

from the Mishpacha Magazine 27th of Elul 5770 page 19 Rabbi Moshe Grylak

This Shabbos I happened on this old Mishpacha magazine and opened to this page. It really spoke to me. Sometimes it is frustrating to look at all of the accomplishments that we wanted to gain and didn't. This reminder that we have to focus on small steps was very important to me.