Blame can keep us from Teshuvah.

When Adam and Chava did the first sin, Hashem called out to them asking what they did. They should have admitted that they did something wrong, but instead they blamed someone else. This kept them from doing proper Teshuvah. Whenever we do something wrong, we should look for our own part in the problem and not look for who we can blame.

Mother of Mankind

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

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.

The effect of the breakdown of trust

When a person tells a lie it has an effect on the whole world. The more that people do not respect truth and honesty it causes a breakdown of society.  We have to realize that every action that we take has an effect  on a larger basis.
Heard in a Shiur by Rebbetzin Heller
Last week on vacation we saw many self serve businesses.  They had a locking cash box and you were supposed to help yourself and put the money in the box.  Imagine if they could have such a thing in New York City.  To me this really illustrated the way that the breakdown of trust in the urban city has effected our world.

The real root of Yiras Shamayim

The real root of Yiras Shamayim is fearing Hashem in private. We have to be able to tell the truth in the deepest recesses of our heart. Doing Mitzvot in public but not is private is real apikorsis, we have to remember that Hashem always sees us no matter where we are.
from the Shiur:
Parshat Acharei Mot & Kedoshim: Respecting the Respected
Teacher: Mrs. Shira Smiles Class: Parsha for Our Lives 5770
Added: April 19, 2010

What we do and think in private is what really defines who we are. We can not grow without total honesty. We can pretend to work the tools of OA, but if we want success, we need honesty.

Hidden Truth

When a Talmud Hacham teaches a little boy Torah, he simplifies it in such a way that the boy will understand it. This does not mean that the simple Torah that he is teaching him is the whole truth, it is just that in order for him to understand it, the Talmud Hacham has to "hide" parts of it.
When Hashem, who is infinite, wants us to understand Torah concepts, Hashem simplifies things in such a way that we are able to absorb it. When we experience Hashem's truths, it is important for us to understand, that we are only seeing a small part of Hashem's truth.

From a Shiur on Naaleh:Seeking G-d Teacher: Rabbi Moshe Weinberger

Sometimes we feel like a great black cloud has lifted as we experience growth through the 12 steps, and that we know so much. We have to remember that we are only seeing a crumb of truth.

Truth Obligates Us

From a Shiur by Rabbi Daniel Mechanic


The Truth of Judaism My Conversation With Hollywood
 
From Torah Anytime
 
Truth Obligates Us-Why is it that even when we recognize the truth it is often very hard for us to change our lives.  This is one of the most important jobs of our life- to make our lives coincide with what we believe.  That is why the Torah tells us. "You should know it today, and place it in your heart"  People very seldom make major changes immediately after they see the truth.  They have to review the information and slowly assimilate it into their lives.  Rabbi Mechanic gave the example of a person who knows that they have high cholesterol, yet they can not stop eating foods that are bad for them.  This is an avodah that we have to work on.
 
The longer that I am on OA the more that I see the major difference that eating like this is making to my health, I daven to Hashem that I should continue to be able to follow the program, because Truth Obligates Us.

Prisoner to desire.

From a Shiur on Naaleh

Relating to Torah Leaders

Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller


Rebbetzin Heller says that Rebbe Nachman says that anyone who is a prisoner to their desire for food is a liar. What does that mean? It means that if you are a baal teivah all that you can see is what you want, when you want it. That very much characterizes our lives. Anyone who can push on line, who can do any "normal" behavior that we often excuse, is not seeing the truth.

This is our goal, not to be a Baal Teivah. To see the truth, to admit to the truth, and to follow the truth.

Hashem's Reality

From a Shiur by Rebbetzin Heller on Emes and Sheker

http://www.naaleh.com/viewclass/2310/single/


When you do not tell the truth you are distorting Hashem's reality. We live in a world of falsehood, and our job is to bring the truth to light.

Rebbetzin Heller on Truth

From a Shiur by Rebbetzin Heller

Questions and Answers for Today's Jewish Woman, Part 7


Telling the truth is only the tip of the iceberg, thinking the truth is where we have to take ourselves.