Am Segula !!

Every day of Shiva – Rami Levi ( who owns one of the larger supermarket chains in Israel) comes by the shiva house in Itamar and fills the cupboards and refrigerator himself with food for the family and guests.

Today - one of the relatives expressed their appreciation to him and he said you will get used to my face. I have committed myself that every week I will deliver food and stock your home until the youngest orphan turns 18 years old.

The importance of giving.

It is brought down that a poor man is like someone who is dead.  Is this because of the uncertainty and the trials of being poor?  No, a poor man is like a dead man because he can not give, which means that he can not express his higher nature.

from a Shiur on Naaleh:  Rachel & Leah

Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Class: In the Merit of Righteous Women

If we want to grow spiritually we have to give to others.  In OA we say, if you want to keep what you have you have to give it away.

One seemingly simple act of kindness can literally save a life

Terror Victim's Kind Act Saved a Life, Parents Say

by Israel News staff

One of the victims of the recent terrorist shooting near Hevron was Kokhava Even-Chaim. Kokhava, 37, was a teacher in the city of Efrat. She was survived by a 10-year-old daughter and by her husband Maimon, a volunteer paramedic who was among the first at the scene of the attack that claimed his wife's life.

As Kokhava's family sat shiva, the seven-day mourning period, they were visited by neighbors and friends who came to give comfort and to share stories about Kokhava. One set of unexpected visitors shared a story about how Kokhava's kindness saved a young soldier.

The visitors, a middle aged irreligious couple from Kibbutz Hagoshrim in northern Israel, began their story by talking about the hospitality that Kokhava and her husband showed to soldiers stationed in the Hevron area. The family would invite at least two soldiers for every Sabbath meal.

On one Sabbath day a few years ago, the Even-Chaim family hosted two soldiers. Kokhava asked them if every soldier in the area had a place to eat the Sabbath meal, and was told that there was one soldier who had chosen to remain in the barracks because he was unhappy. Kokhava prepared a plate of food for the soldiers to bring to him when they left.

As the two were leaving, she asked why their fellow soldier was sad. They explained that it was his birthday, but his commanding officer had rejected his request to go home for the day and celebrate with his family. The soldier was very upset by the rejection, and had become depressed, they said.

Immediately after the Sabbath ended, Kokhava baked a cake and invited all the soldiers to come over for an impromptu birthday party.

The couple from Kibbutz Hagoshrim explained that the lonely, depressed soldier who Kokhava baked a cake for was their son. He had been so seriously depressed at the time that he considered running away from the army, and even thought of suicide. However, the kindness Kokhava showed him amazed him so much that he was shaken out of his depression.

For that reason, they said, they had come all the way from the north to southern Judea to mourn a woman they had never met.

As one person who heard the story said, "The story shows how one seemingly simple act of kindness can literally save a life."

Where is the balance between being dan l'kaf zechus and being a fool?

Don't be afraid of being too good.

  Rivka was too good.

 Sara was too good.

 It is never a problem being too good.


 We should be afraid of being too bad.                                                               

  from the Shiur on Aish Audio: The Teshuvah Process - 1 # HT 937 B

by Heller, Rebbitzen Tziporah

The fine line that separates Chesed from manipulation is almost invisible

You have to be careful when you are doing Chesed, the fine line that separates Chesed from manipulation is almost invisible and it is called Ego. If you want to succeed in these things you have to be doing it for Hashem. You have to be careful or you could wind up worshiping yourself instead of Hashem.

from the Shiur from Naaleh:
Depend Solely on G-d
Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Class: Bitachon: Meaning of Trust

Occupy ourselves with Chesed

It hath been told thee, O man, what is good, and what the L-rd doth require of thee: Only to do justice and to love mercy (Chesed) and to walk humbly with thy G-d. (Michah 6:8)

When we occupy ourselves with Chesed, we reap the benefits. Our program does not exist merely to "serve us", but we also need to do service. We need to be actively involved. By taking a phone call and giving words of encouragement, we help another. The act of abstinence, itself, demonstrates to others that we are not speaking of the impossible, and that this program is within the realm of reality. It is a way of life many have adopted successfully. And our example gives strength to others to join in our mutual success.

We reap the benefits of proper nutrition and also gain a grand opportunity to perform many acts of kindness.
Guest post by Hessie

An insight into the Kos Shel Eliyahu (the cup of Elijah)

From the Shiur on Naaleh:
The Fourth Dimension
Teacher: Mrs. Shira Smiles Class: Jewish Calendar III (Pesach-Shavuot)

What is the reason for the custom that some of us have to pour some of the wine from the Kos Shel Eliyahu into everyone's cup. To teach us that the real essence of receiving is sharing.

In OA we always say that the more service(chesed) you do, the stronger your program is. The more that we help others the the more we can receive from Hashem.

Anyone can do chesed- Rebbetzin Heller

From Torah Anytime --Chesed in Turbulent Times - Rebbetzin Heller

These are not really turbulent times. Our great grandparents didn’t have to worry about going on a diet. We have less then we had, but we still have a lot.

Giving keeps us spiritually alive. It is like oxygen for the soul. Chesed , the Maharal says, is spreading forth of yourself. This means knowing yourself and believing that you have something to give. Chesed means giving what you are, not just what you have. Everybody has the ability to do this.


In OA we talk about service, service is chesed. Sometimes just by being who we are we can influence and do chesed for others.