Creator of Heaven and Hell?

Hi,

"In truth, Olam HaBa [The reward in the Next World] is the work of one's own hands, in that a person broadened, added or repaired a part for himself, with his deeds... And Gehennom [Hell] is likewise, for the sin is its own punishment."

(Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, Nefesh haChaim 1:12)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

The purpose of our existence

Hi,

Worth repeating, in the run-up to Yom Kippur:

"My father always used to rebuke me, as he saw that I would not take part in the pain of others.

"This is what he always told me: 'This is a person's entire purpose. A person is not created for himself. A person is created only to benefit others, with whatever power is in his possession.'"

(R' Yitzchak of Volozhin, citing his father Rav Chaim of Volozhin, Introduction to Nefesh haChaim)

Gmar tov,
Mordechai

Our purpose in this world

Hi,

"My father always used to rebuke me, as he saw that I would not take part in the pain of others.

"This is what he always told me: 'This is a person's entire purpose. A person is not created for himself. A person is created only to benefit others, with whatever power is in his possession."

(Rabbi Yitzchak, son of Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, in his preface to Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin's "Nefesh haChaim")

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Awe of Gd and Torah growth: A proportional relationship

Hi,

An interesting proportional relationship between spiritual and intellectual development

"A person is able to absorb and retain an amount of Torah in direct proportion to the degree of awe of Gd he has developed for himself."

(R' Chaim of Volozhin, Nefesh haChaim 5:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Becoming a home for the Shechinah

Hi,

"Since the time of the destruction of the Temple and the exile of the children from their Father’s table, the Shechinah wanders, as it were, and cannot find rest, and the only thing that remains is the Torah.

"When the Jews, holy nation, speak appropriate words of Torah, then they become a mini-Temple for the Shechinah…as it is written, ‘From the day when the Temple was destroyed, Gd has nothing in His world other than the four cubits of Jewish law.’"

(R' Chaim of Volozhin, Nefesh haChaim 4:34, citing the Zohar)

Have a great day,
Mordechai