Learning A Mitzvah Aday, will Keep our Yetzer Hora at Bay

Motek

Tue, Apr 12 2005, 12:31 pm

proudmom wrote:

Someone please explain this to me. it is contradictory. Thank you in advance

To a mother who asked advice on becoming a typist to supplement the family income:

Don’t become a typist. You are a mother. Type, if you feel you need to in order to support your family. But don’t become a typist.

I think it's similar to the idea that some advise that a person who smokes, who wants to stop, should think of himself as a PERSON who smokes, not as a SMOKER.

The Rebbe was saying, don't become a TYPIST, which implies this is what she is all about. She's a MOTHER who might want to type in order to bring in money, but she's not a typist, by definition.

proudmom

Tue, Apr 19 2005, 1:12 pm

Mentors
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Every person needs a mentor. And that mentor needs a mentor. And that mentor as well --nobody pulls himself up by tugging at his own hair.

Go out and find yourself someone you can rely on for advice and counsel, someone who understands you and whom you can trust and respect. If that person turns you down, insist and persist. Don’t wait to become a student. Be proactive and make someone into your teacher.

A Daily Dose of Wisdom from the Lubavitcher Rebbe
-words and condensation by Tzvi Freeman
Nissan 10, 5765 * April 19, 2005

proudmom

Wed, Apr 20 2005, 10:07 am

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P L E A S E T E L L M E W H A T T H E L U B A VI T C H E R R E B B E S A I D
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Parshas Achrei
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The Parshah tells us about Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year. On this holy day we don’t drink, eat, wash, or wear leather shoes. It’s not very hard to feel holy on this special day when so many things are different. But the name of the Parshah is Acharei, which means “afterwards.” A Jew must make his life holy not only on Yom Kippur, but also afterwards, during every other day of the year.

How would you describe a holy person?

Some people think a holy person lives far away from the city. There, in peace and quiet, he can concentrate on making himself a better person. He might dress differently from most people, or fast, or eat a very simple diet. He might not take part in what goes on outside of his house, and would spend his time thinking and praying.

But this is not how the Torah teaches us to be holy. Quite the opposite! The Torah tells us to be holy, and connects that more commandment with mitzvos that concern food, clothing, marriage, business, farming and. When we prepare food the way Hashem instructs us, we become holy. When we sew our clothes the way Hashem commands us to — we become holy. When we conduct our business and farm the way Hashem wants us to — we become holy.

We do not have to remove ourselves from everyday life or live far away from people to be holy. We should be involved with everyday things, but in the way that Hashem wants.

Hashem tells us to “be holy, for I am holy.” He put His holiness into everything which exists — into clothes, food, and business. If we do these things in the Torah way, then we reveal the holiness which HaShem has placed in them. That is what makes us holy.

(Adapted from Likkutei Sichos, Vol. I, Parshas Kedoshim)

proudmom

Thu, Dec 15 2005, 11:24 am

Proof
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In life, we almost never wait for 100% guarantees. We trust that the dentist is a dentist, the taxi driver is a taxi driver, and so on --and put our lives in their hands --on flimsy tacit evidence. Yet, when it comes to a simple good deed, people demand 100% proof that this is really what G-d wants them to do!

A Daily Dose of Wisdom from the Rebbe
-words and condensation by Tzvi Freeman
Kislev 14, 5766 * December 15, 2005