The weight of Truth

Hi,

"The sages of ethical instruction have said: Truth is a heavy load, which is why so few people carry it."

(Meiri, Sefer haMidot, Emet v'Sheker (based on Mishlei 1:4))

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Speak gently

Hi,


"Accustom yourself to utter all of your words gently when speaking with anyone, at any time, and so you will be saved from anger - a bad trait which causes people to sin."

(Iggeret haRamban)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The need for self-confidence

Hi,


"Just as it is not possible to achieve any goal without will and to maintain consistency without commitment, so it is not possible to achieve any growth without faith in one's self and trust in the power of one's efforts."

(R' Klonymus Kalman of Piaseczna, Chovat haTalmidim, Chapter 13)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

On Shabbat, keep the floor clean

Hi,

An oft-overlooked way to create honor for Shabbat:

"In order not to dirty the house, one should not allow anything to fall off the table at the Friday night meal, unless one will sweep the floor afterward in a permitted fashion. The same is true for the Shabbat morning meal, unless will sweep the floor afterward."

(Mishneh Berurah 262:3)

[Of course, this is easier said than done when one has small children...]

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The generation of Mashiach

Hi,

"R' Zeira said, citing R' Yirmiyah bar Abba: In the generation when the son of David arrives, there will be persecution of Torah scholars."

(Talmud, Ketuvot 112b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Smile!

Hi,

On the importance of smiling to other people:

"Rabbi Yochanan said: Better to expose the white of one's teeth (ie smile) to another person, than to provide him with milk to drink.

"It is written (Genesis 49), 'And the whiteness of teeth from milk,' which could be read (homiletically) as 'And exposing the white of one's teeth (is better than milk).'"

(Talmud, Ketuvot 111b)

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