Life in the desert.

Why did Hasehem send serpents to klal Yisrael in the desert? Because they stopped apreciating all of the miracles that he provided them on an ongoing basis and they started complaining. Hashem removed his protection from them for a small time and all of a sudden they became aware of all of the dangers that Hashem was protecting them from.

Any kind of problem in our life is a wake up call from Hashem, it is a way of reminding us that the only salvation comes from Hashem.

In our lives we face tremendous dangers on an ongoing basis but we do not appreciate the many ways that Hashem protects us. If we are ungrateful, Hashem sends reminders for us to appreciate what we have.

from the Shiur:
Parshat Chukat: Serpents Scream
Teacher: Mrs. Shira Smiles Class: Parsha for Our Lives 5770

Imagine if Hitler had been killed before he rose to power. We would never have known what we were saved from. We do not know all of the many things that Hashem saves us from. We have to work on increasing our gratitude.

Taking advantage of a new begining.

You remember the deeds done in the universe...For there is no forgetfulness before Your Throne of Glory and nothing is hidden from You before Your eyes. (Mussaf-Rosh Hashana)

I approach G-d, on this awesome day, with great trepidation. I know that He has perfect recall, and knows even my subconscious thoughts and motives. My embarrassment is great, due to previously failed commitments. Furthermore, true to the nature of mankind, I have erased from memory those deeds which reflect my inadequacies.

How do I utilize the full potential of this awesome day? I must internalize the concept that "The barrier to change is a lack of belief in my capacity to change". With the help of Hashem, all is possible.

Today is the birthday of the world. I have been given a new, pristine beginning.

Choosing between good and evil.

The Supreme King! G-d who dwells on high, who is powerful on high, may the strength of His hand be exalted--forever shall He reign. (Mussaf-Rosh Hashana)

The overriding theme of Rosh Hashana is the acceptance of Hashem's sovereignty. It is a message I easily relate to, this acknowledgment of Hashem's boundless Majesty.

As a direct result, I must also acknowledge my responsibility and purpose on earth, that of choosing between good and evil. My mission in life is to follow the precepts of the King, in all aspects of my life. I recognize that the Ribono Shel Olam is a loving Father and everything He desires for me is for my benefit and elevation.

How do I have the audacity to ask the Ribono Shel Olam for mercy, and yet live a life of contradiction?

Remember us for life, O King who desires life, and inscribe us in the Book of Life--for Your sake, O Living G-d (Amidah - Aseres Yemei Teshuva)

Obesity curtails life. There is a direct correlation between excess weight and the development of cardiac problems, diabetes and a myriad of other diseases R'L. I look with disdain at the alcoholic and drug addict who is obviously squandering his years. It is easy to see another's faults.

How do I have the audacity to ask the Ribono Shel Olam for mercy, and yet live a life of contradiction? Can I continue to wallow in physical indulgence and have the Chutzpah to ask for a "good life"? If I want my Tefillos to be pleasing, my actions must reflect the utterances of my lips. I must show Hashem that I am serious about tackling this challenge in my life.

It is then that I can hope for salvation and the blessings of infinite mercy. It is then that I can ask for a life filled with sanctity and purpose, that Hashem lead me in the path of His Service.

Trading one heartbreak for another.

Deliver me, Hashem, for the waters have reached until my soul. (Tehillim 69:2)

I've been wrong about a lot of things. One was the notion that I must avoid uncomfortable feelings. To this end, I anesthetized myself with food, trading one heartbreak for another.

I cannot avoid that which is destined for me. Pain comes and goes, but if I am anesthetized, so does joy. When I smooth the bumps of suffering in life with the product of my addiction, I also do not recognize the joys as they fly by.

Today when I feel I am drowning, I turn to the Al-mighty with my burdens. It leaves me with a feeling of lightness and freedom. The pressure on my joints is relieved, as well.

Two are better than one.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow, but woe to him that is alone when he falls and hath not another to lift him up. (Koheles 4:9)

A friend is a valuable aid in the art of good living. Life should not be a solitary journey. In the pursuit of truth, a friend affords us an honest evaluation and can keep an objective view of what is best, since his/her view is less colored by emotion than our thoughts are. Change may be necessary, but with a friend (sponsor) at our side, the pain is mitigated.

The price of friendship is trust, and the greater the investment in the sponsor/sponsee team, the greater the gain. Teamwork produces results.

The woman is the mainstay of her house .

Every wise woman buildeth her house; but the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands (Mishlei 14:1)


The heart of him that hath discernment seeketh knowledge (Mishlei 15:14)

The woman is the mainstay of her house and family. A woman's heart knows she must search out knowledge and truth to enable her to properly train and care for her family. As the nurturer and primary educator in the home, she taps into all the strengths she possesses to enable her to do an optimal job.

The Torah tells us, "Im Ein Kemach, Ein Torah". Eating properly is a foundation for Torah, and the wise woman teaches proper eating habits in her home. But she must also remember to "nurture the nurturer".

I have come to learn that there is no room for guilt when it comes to caring for myself. It is an obligation.

Compassion for all of Klal Yisrael.

Establish peace, goodness, blessing, graciousness, kindness and compassion upon us and upon all of Your people Israel. (Amidah)


Through program work in OA, I have been privileged to share, in an unprecedented way, with lofty Jewish Neshomos. They have shared from their innermost souls and I have been the beneficiary. The diversity of my friends in program enriches my life. It gives me the fulfilling experience of learning and sharing with others.

Overeaters Anonymous has reinforced the importance of sisterhood and love of one another. It is no longer necessary for me to be "right", but to avoid conflict. Focusing on unity brings serenity.

Working on meaningful relationships and trying to emulate Hashem, who showers compassion on all of Israel, is what satiates the void in me today. There is no need to turn to food for comfort.

The importance of the Table

The difference between a human being and an animal is the Table.
from a Shiur by Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman about preparing for Shavuos

We have the ability to sanctify ourselves at our table. Do we eat like an animal, or do we behave like a mentsch, making intelligent choices, saying Divrei Torah. Every choice that we make brings us closer to who we want to be.

Achdus is the essence of our ability to recieve the Torah by Rav itamar Schwartz from a Siur about Shavuos

The achdus of Klal Yisrael is the essence of receiving the Torah. Hashem chose us as a whole, he did not chose individual. That is why we say, "Atah Bacharbanu". We thank Hashem for choosing us, not for choosing me.

If a person holds himself as a yachid( an individual) he will not be worthy of receiving the Torah. That is why "V'ahavtah L'rayicha kimocha" is a Klal gadol b'Torah.

Two things bond us together, Ahavah and Emunah (Love and Faith). A parent will always love a child even if the child misbehaves, but the same parent may not have faith that the child will always behave properly.

Hashem always loves us and he always has faith in us. The difference is that Hashem created us and he knows that we have an inner essence that is pure because Hashem created us pure. We have to have Emunah in Hashem's creation that all of Klal Yisrael have an inner and pure neshamah.

How could Hashem give us the Torah if he knew that we would sin? The answer is that the Torah was given to us as a people, it was not given to individuals. If that is the case how can we have Emunah in individuals when we know that they may sin. The answer is that we have to be able to judge everyone favorably. We have to know that there essence is pure even if there outside is not.

Hashem gave us perfection and purity as a gift on Shavuos. We took this gift and defiled it. If that is the case why are we celebrating what happened on Shavuos? We don't make a holiday on the day that the Bais Hamikdash was completed because it was destroyed after that. The answer if that the Torah remained on the same level. Even though the Luchos were destroyed the Torah remains the same. The connection that Hashem created on Shavuos remains there and every person has the ability to connect to it. Klal Yisrael has the ability to be perfect. The way that Hashem created us and choose us means that this potential exists in us today.

Because Hashem has Emunah in us we have to have Emunah in this inner potential. Even though we fell we still have the potential.

We have to know that there are times of aliyah and yeridah in our lives but we have to grow. Hashem believes in us, and we believe in Hashem. This connection is Matan Torah.
Hashem does not give up on anyone.

If you want to be close to Matan Torah you have to make achdus the basis of your life. We fell from the level of the first Matan Torah, but we have to prepare to get back there. It seem so far, but we can do it.

If a person was in the hospital for a serious illness and he also had a minor problem and his family was busy running around looking for a doctor to cure the minor illness and forgets the life threatening problem, we would call them fools. Yet this is what we are like. We focus on particulars but don't work on our achdus. What distances us from the Torah is our lack of achdus.

Real freedom

Real freedom is knowing that Hashem can make me happy with what ever I have.

from the Shiur:
Shelanu: Discovering Your Personal Freedom # BY 678 B
by Berkovits, Rabbi Yitzchak

This is such an amazing Shiur I really recomend it.
http://www.aishaudio.com/search/results.php

A personal observation

We all walk around with our cell phones checking, waiting for something. What are we really trying to accomplish? To feel connected and important. Why is it that we forget that at any moment we can be connected to Hashem and we are always import in the eyes of Hashem. We allow the distractions of our lives to pull us away from the true purpose of our lives- to have pleasure with Hashem.

The power of an action.

We don't realize the power of an action. When we do something wrong once we feel bad. When we do it again we start to think that it is not so bad. When we do over and over we start to think it is permitted. The opposite also holds true. One small action in the right direction can bring us to real change.
from a Shiur by Rabbi Efraim Wachsman

There is a very powerful saying in OA- just do the next right thing.

The body soul relationship.

We should never say that our bodies are not important, only our soul is important. Rabbi Shimshon Pinchas gives that mashal of a large office building that has millions of dollars of equipment in it but one fuse in the basement breaks and all of the equipment is worthless. This is the relationship between the body and the soul, the body is our connection to this world and has to be taken care of.
from a Shiur by Rabbi Efraim Wachsman

Spiritual redemtion

Doing a mitzvah with bitachon and not routinely brings spiritual redemtion. Misilis Yesharim by Rabbi Luzato says that it brings us toward Ruach Hakodesh (divine inspiration).
from a Shiur on Naaleh:Simcha and Bitachon Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller
Class: Bitachon: Meaning of Trust
Many people on OA have shared that doing Mitzvot with true Kavanah (intent) was a very positive side result of the spititual growth through OA.