| Bitachon |
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#18 The Difference Between Emunah and Bitachon – Four Levels To Emunah |
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Did you ever notice that no one does anything wrong? It seems that no matter how clear it is to you and me that this person is engaged in self destructive behavior, he doesn't admit that he is doing something wrong or harmful; rather he comes up with an entire rationale why it is good and in fact proper. To allow for Free Will, we humans had to be given this ability to rationalize away our ... |
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#50 Bitachon – Learning to Trust HASHEM |
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Part one of a three-part series on Bitachon, this Shmuz focuses us on the first stage of Bitachon: learning to trust HASHEM. Amazingly the Chovos Halevovos explains to us that by nature we trust. In fact, without trust we couldn’t function. If we didn’t trust, then every time we left our home we would fear death by a car crash, an earthquake, or a tornado. Every time we entered into a business ... |
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#51 Bitachon part II- Bitachon and Hishtadlus – Finding the balance |
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If you want to know if your bitachon is where it should be, there’s a very simple test. Do you go into a panic when you don’t know how you’re going to pay your next bill? Do you often think that you could have been more successful if only you’d done things differently? If your answer was “yes,” then you, like most of us, need to work on bitachon. Bu... |
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#52 Bitachon Part III- The Maaser Shmuz |
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The Torah tells us that when Yosef Ha Tzaddik was in prison and asked Pharaoh’s wine steward to put in a good word for him, HASHEM punished him for his lack of bitachon. Doesn’t that seem a bit extreme? He was in a terrible dungeon, far worse than the prisons of today. What was wrong about making an effort to free himself? The problem lies not i... |
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#122 - Parenting 102 |
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For thousands of years, parenting was a pretty straightforward responsibility. Society offered highly structured guidelines for behavior. Adult's roles were well-defined, as were children's roles, and throughout the strata of the community, everyone knew his place. New parents had their own parents as role models, and the techniques to use were time-tested and proven -- to fit that world. ... |
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#123 - Chanukah: Whose Side Are You On? |
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Chanukah centers on the ideological battle of two cultures; the hedonistic Yevanim (Greek / Syrian culture) waged war against Torah ideals. The battle was not fought for the physical survival of the Jewish nation, but rather for its ideology and way of life. Today, we live in very different times. We are no longer downtrodden and subjugated to oppressive regimes; we are free to choose ... |
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#124 - Life is Like a Box of Chocolates |
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Do you ever get the sense that there is always something going on? If it's not one thing, it's another. Just when you’ve finally gotten one area of your life under control, from out of nowhere crops up a whole new crisis with a completely different set of difficulties? Why is this? Why can't life just be simple? Why can't HASHEM just allow us to go about our business, work on ourselves, and... |
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#125 - Business Ethics |
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HASHEM created man with and an inborn need to do what is right. But one of the difficulties of ethical behavior is that on the slippery slope of life, that sense of right and wrong becomes dulled. This is especially true in the business world. The lines that distinguish honest and moral behavior from its opposite get quickly and easily blurred. In the post Enron era, when much of ... |
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#129 - HaKaras HaTov: Recognizing the Good |
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Shmuz Info Coming Soon... COMMENT ON THE SHMUZ HERE! ... |
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#130 - Living With Bitachon |
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We know that everything is from HASHEM. We also know that we must do our part -- our hishtadlus. In theory, it is easy to find the balance; I must act according to the ways of the world, knowing all the while that HASHEM runs everything. But actually personifying that tightrope walk between bitachon and proper hishtadlus is one of the great challenges of life. How hard should I b... |
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#131 - Working For A Living |
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We know that we were put on this planet for a few short years, to shape ourselves into who we will be for eternity. HASHEM has created this world specifically to give us the chance to mold our inner essence. We also know that the Torah and its mitzvahs are the greatest vehicles of self perfection. If so, one of the questions that a thinking person must ask themselves is, why do w... |
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#148 - Rich, Richer, Richest - How to be Wealthy |
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Hot, hotter, hottest. Fast, faster, fastest. In the English language we distinguish between the adjective, a descriptive word, and the superlative, an adjective taken to its extreme. Yet when we think about wealth, that distinction somehow gets lost. If I am not as rich as Bill Gates, then I am not rich. While the Torah does not guarantee that any individual will be... |
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#149 - The System of Tshuvah |
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We know that Tshuvah works. The Nivim told us it does, Chazal repeat it many, many times, and we even have Yom Kippur, a day created specifically for tshuvah. The question isn't whether Tshuvah works, but why I don't make use of it? Why is it that I don't stand there on Yom Kippur with tears flowing down my face, repenting, improving, ridding myself of a year's wort... |
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#150 - Being a Religious Atheist |
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An atheist is someone who doesn’t believe in G-d. A religious person is someone who practices a lifestyle that serves G-d. It would therefore seem obvious that “being a religious atheist” would be a contradiction in terms. Yet not only isn’t this correct, the phenomenon of religious atheists is far more prevalent than we realize. This Shmuz focuses us on some of the b... |
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#152 - In G-d's Image |
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Shmuz Info Coming Soon... ... |
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#155 - Chanukah - Flexi-dox Judaism |
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SHMUZ INFO COMING SOON... ... |
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#154 - Marriage: A Work in Progress PART II |
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Each one of us stands under the chuppah starry-eyed, knowing full well that we have found eternal love and bliss. Yet, something happens between that moment and real life. The reality is that getting married is easy, but staying married isn't. This Shmuz is Part II of a Marriage series that deals with the essential of creating long lasting Shalom Bayis. ... |
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| Davening |
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#8 Power of Prayer |
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We all daven, and on some level we know that Davening works. But do we really understand it? Do we really understand that our prayers have an effect on our lives? Do we really understand that my davening can change the circumstances of my life? This Shmuz helps us understand the profound effect that tefilah can have on situations and settings that directly affect our lives.... |
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#20 Davening - Making it Real |
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Of course we daven. Three times a day. Everyday. The question is how real our davening is, and to whom are we davening. It often seems that our davening is more talking to the walls than talking to Hashem. This Shmuz helps us focus on some of the most basic principles in Judaism, things we always knew, yet take for granted, and are so ... |
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#31 The Voice Inside |
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Have you ever heard of something called a guilty conscience? What about a Jewish guilty conscience? While we all recognize that “Voice Inside”, that seems to moralize and lecture to us when we have stepped over the line, we assume that this is just one of those things that we have to sort of ignore. In this Shmuz we are brought to understand that “Voice” that HASHEM put inside every human ... |
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#63 Davening – Close Encounters with our Creator |
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Plan your life; live your plan. Set goals for yourself; follow through with them. Davening by rote is nothing less than selling yourself short. HASHEM and only HASHEM has the power to provide you with whatever you want or need. So why rush through davening in one big mumble? The trick to planning your life effectively is in when you plan it. F... |
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#64 Davening Part II- The Love of a Father To A Son |
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Davening is an amazingly powerful tool, and any of us can use it. Hashem loves us so much, it’s as though He can’t resist our prayers. Yet somehow, most of us don’t believe it. We think we’re too small to be noticed or that if we ask for too much, it’s kvetching. Nothing could be further from the truth. This Shmuz gives us a taste of just how much HASHEM l... |
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#65 Davening Part III- The Third System – The Power of the Words |
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A close look at tefilla defies human logic. Simply by saying particular words with kavannah, we can reverse judgments in Heaven. How is it possible? It doesn’t make sense! The answer is that it doesn’t have to make sense. On one level, davening is a chok. But more than that, davening is a gift. It’s an escape hatch we can use to get out of trouble any time... |
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#101 - Why Pray? |
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One of the basic components of our religion is prayer. The question is: why does prayer work? We know that HASHEM loves his creations and does everything for them. When people deserve good, HASHEM bestows good upon them. If they are not worthy, then HASHEM will hold back that good. How can praying - just asking - affect His decision? Even more puzzling: how can someone else's prayers affect the... |
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#152 - In G-d's Image |
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Shmuz Info Coming Soon... ... |
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#164 - I Hate Criticism |
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Shmuz 164 - I Hate Criticism WATCH THE SHMUZ HERE ... |
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| Emunah |
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#2 Yomim Noraim – Issues of the Day |
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So many issues are decided on this day: who will live, who will die; who will be healthy, who will be sick; who will be successful, who won’t…. Since we accept and understand this, one would assume that we would be deeply moved by the davening on Rosh Hashanah. One would assume that we would spend the day in reverence and awe. Yet that seems to be very far from the way we ... |
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#7 Noach: Understanding Belief |
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By all accounts Noach was a Tzadik. Yet he didn’t go into the teivah until the water forced him in. Rashi tells us the reason was that Noach “Believed and he didn’t believe”. Whilst he knew that Hashem was going to bring a mabul, he still doubted it. What seems perplexing is that Hashem spoke to Noach telling him there would be a flood. Not only that, but Noach had spent the last 120 years buildin... |
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#9 Akaidas Yitzchak |
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After all is said and done, what was so great about the Akeidah? Throughout history many people have been called upon and have made great sacrifices. Yet this single act echoes through the millennia. What was so unique about what Avrahom did? What was so special about the way he did it? And more pointedly, what relevance does it have for us some 3,700 years later?... |
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#15 Chanukah G-d fights Our Wars |
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What actually happened in the war to recapture the Bais Hamikdash? How many battles were fought? How long did they last? What was it like living in Yerushlayim at the time? Detailing the story of Chanukah as brought in Megillas Chashmonaim, this Shmuz brings us closer to understanding the events of the time, and appreciating the miracle that unfolded. It then takes us forward in time to so... |
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#18 The Difference Between Emunah and Bitachon – Four Levels To Emunah |
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Did you ever notice that no one does anything wrong? It seems that no matter how clear it is to you and me that this person is engaged in self destructive behavior, he doesn't admit that he is doing something wrong or harmful; rather he comes up with an entire rationale why it is good and in fact proper. To allow for Free Will, we humans had to be given this ability to rationalize away our ... |
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#10 Questioning G-d: Finding and keeping your Bashert |
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The Shadchan says, "So tell me, what are you looking for?" And, out comes the laundry list. "I need someone who is extroverted, funny, and outgoing." "I need a woman who is very frum, good, kind, tolerant, and funny." "I need a guy who is tall, a take-charge type, strong but not headstrong." And unwittingly, many people make the first mi... |
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#20 Davening - Making it Real |
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Of course we daven. Three times a day. Everyday. The question is how real our davening is, and to whom are we davening. It often seems that our davening is more talking to the walls than talking to Hashem. This Shmuz helps us focus on some of the most basic principles in Judaism, things we always knew, yet take for granted, and are so ... |
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#21 Choosing a Career |
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It is clear that Hashem wants man to work for a living. But is there a particular profession that I should I be doing to make a living? Does the Torah have a formula for me to figure out exactly what line of work I should pursue? Using the system explained by the Chovos Halevovos we are given clear directions towards finding the right way for me to earn my living. (Essential hashkafa for a... |
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#22 Evolution - Does it Make Sense? |
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To many of us the issue of belief in the Creator boils down to logic against faith. As if from a purely rational, intellectual point of view it would appear that the world evolved, and we who believe have to hold on to our faith against the onslaught of logic and scientific discoveries. In this Shmuz we are asked to look at matters from a very different vantage point, namely: that which pa... |
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#28 People Believe what they want to Believe |
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If Hashem would just show me one miracle, then I would really believe. If Hashem would just show me one clear sign -- it would change my life. This premise that seeing a miracle would make a person believe is brought into sharp relief by one central question: Why didn’t the ancient Egyptians believe in Hashem? They experienced all of the greatest miracles ever shown. They lived through the greates... |
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#32 Understanding Nature – Putting the “WOW” back into Nature |
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Who can look at a sunset and not say “Wow, look at the beauty of this world.”? Yet, it seems that we rarely do that. It is almost as if we are detached from the natural world -- As if the world of lions and tigers and bears is a place reserved for taking our children to when they are little, but has no connection to our lives. The Rishonim tell us that the surest way to come to understand t... |
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#37 Three Types of Miracles – The Fifth Level of Emunah |
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Hashem created this world. Hashem orchestrates this world but there is another dimension of Hashem’s relationship with this world -- Hashem is the maintainer of this world. A very deep Shmuz that deals with the way that HASHEM interacts with this world, and directly deals with some fundamental questions: • How I can have free will, when HASHEM knows what I am going to do? • How can ... |
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#38 Where is Hashem – The Sixth Level of Emunah |
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We are trained from our school years to say boruch Hashem and im yirtzeh Hashem. Yet it seems that something is lacking. While we mouth the words that Hashem is responsible and we thank Hashem, if we are honest with ourselves we will soon recognize that what is lacking from our sentiments is Hashem. The sense of Hashem’s presence and involvement in our life that we talk about is what is missing f... |
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#39 I Need, Needs |
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It is clear that Hashem is capable -- very capable. It is also clear that Hashem has great wisdom -- enough wisdom and capacity to create the cosmos and all that it contains, with words alone -- from galaxies that stretch over billons of light years, to tiny amoeba that float in a sea of flotsam, all parts of the whole, all harmoniously integrated, all so seemingly perfect. Yet Hashem created man... |
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#44 Bar Kamtza - Do you really have Free Will? |
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I accept that each person’s life span is set before they are born. I also accept that the question is visited on Rosh Hashanah when Hashem decides who will live and who will die. All that is fine and well, until I pick up a gun and say to myself, can’t I decide to end that person’s life? Isn’t it obvious that whether that person will live or die is now in my hands? Using the Tisha B’Av Gem... |
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#45 WYSIWYG- Developing Willpower |
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It’s true that I’m not quite where I hope to be one day. It’s even true that there are many thoughts that go through my head that I’m not proud of. I am still selfish and self centered, and there are many things that I feel that I would be deeply ashamed of if anyone else knew about them. But it’s OK, because one day I will change. This Shmuz focuses us on the shocking realization that as... |
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#122 - Parenting 102 |
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For thousands of years, parenting was a pretty straightforward responsibility. Society offered highly structured guidelines for behavior. Adult's roles were well-defined, as were children's roles, and throughout the strata of the community, everyone knew his place. New parents had their own parents as role models, and the techniques to use were time-tested and proven -- to fit that world. ... |
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#125 - Business Ethics |
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HASHEM created man with and an inborn need to do what is right. But one of the difficulties of ethical behavior is that on the slippery slope of life, that sense of right and wrong becomes dulled. This is especially true in the business world. The lines that distinguish honest and moral behavior from its opposite get quickly and easily blurred. In the post Enron era, when much of ... |
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#128 - Kiruv: The Message & The Medium |
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In 1996, sociologists Gordon and Horowitz published a study entitled, “Will Your Grandchildren Be Jewish?” Their conclusion: based on the general Jewish population’s ever-decreasing birth rates and skyrocketing intermarriage rates, the odds that any Jews will remain at the end of the 21st century are slim to none. However, one category of their study stood out in stark relief -- the Or... |
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#131 - Working For A Living |
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We know that we were put on this planet for a few short years, to shape ourselves into who we will be for eternity. HASHEM has created this world specifically to give us the chance to mold our inner essence. We also know that the Torah and its mitzvahs are the greatest vehicles of self perfection. If so, one of the questions that a thinking person must ask themselves is, why do w... |
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#132 - PURIM: Being Human |
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One of the most difficult character traits to work on is humility. Not only is it considered the most pervasive of the all of the middos, it is the most misunderstood. On one hand, we are obligated to appreciate the greatness of the human, yet on the other, we must remain humble. One technique to help identify the trait and its pathology is to see it in its extreme. U... |
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#148 - Rich, Richer, Richest - How to be Wealthy |
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Hot, hotter, hottest. Fast, faster, fastest. In the English language we distinguish between the adjective, a descriptive word, and the superlative, an adjective taken to its extreme. Yet when we think about wealth, that distinction somehow gets lost. If I am not as rich as Bill Gates, then I am not rich. While the Torah does not guarantee that any individual will be... |
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#149 - The System of Tshuvah |
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We know that Tshuvah works. The Nivim told us it does, Chazal repeat it many, many times, and we even have Yom Kippur, a day created specifically for tshuvah. The question isn't whether Tshuvah works, but why I don't make use of it? Why is it that I don't stand there on Yom Kippur with tears flowing down my face, repenting, improving, ridding myself of a year's wort... |
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#150 - Being a Religious Atheist |
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An atheist is someone who doesn’t believe in G-d. A religious person is someone who practices a lifestyle that serves G-d. It would therefore seem obvious that “being a religious atheist” would be a contradiction in terms. Yet not only isn’t this correct, the phenomenon of religious atheists is far more prevalent than we realize. This Shmuz focuses us on some of the b... |
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#152 - In G-d's Image |
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Shmuz Info Coming Soon... ... |
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#155 - Chanukah - Flexi-dox Judaism |
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SHMUZ INFO COMING SOON... ... |
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#154 - Marriage: A Work in Progress PART II |
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Each one of us stands under the chuppah starry-eyed, knowing full well that we have found eternal love and bliss. Yet, something happens between that moment and real life. The reality is that getting married is easy, but staying married isn't. This Shmuz is Part II of a Marriage series that deals with the essential of creating long lasting Shalom Bayis. ... |
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#161_April 15th: The Test of Emunah |
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To most of us, April 15th is nothing more than a deadline for filing our personal taxes. But when a person begins thinking about life from a broader perspective, they come to recognize that April 15th is a great test -- It is a test of my beliefs in practice. Do I truly believe that HASHEM runs this world and not I? Do I truly believe that HASHEM determines how much money... |
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#164 - I Hate Criticism |
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Shmuz 164 - I Hate Criticism WATCH THE SHMUZ HERE ... |
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| Hashkafa |
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#4 Appreciating Olam Hazeh |
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If a person looks at the features of this world they will quickly see that Hashem invested great wisdom and care in making man’s stay on the planet enjoyable. From the different foods, each one with its unique flavor, aroma and textures; to the colors of flowers and magnificent seascapes -- so much of the beauty of this world was not necessary. It is clear that Hashem put much thought into creat... |
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#5 Appreciating our Wealth |
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Never in the history of man have so many people enjoyed so much material wealth and possessions. The average tax paying citizen of today enjoys riches and comforts that kings of yesteryear couldn’t envision or imagine -- and yet it seems that we don’t appreciate what we have. We become so accustomed to the extraordinary wealth we possess that we no longer think of it as riches; we even start askin... |
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#6 Its not Geneivah, it’s Shtick |
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It is very difficult for us human beings to accept that we do things that are wrong, and so we rationalize. We create illusions and fanciful stories that we ourselves don’t believe. And so, you will find intelligent, otherwise rational people saying things like, “Of course I wouldn’t steal, stealing is dishonest, but this isn’t stealing .It’s “shtick”. We “mach shtick”. We “mach Shtick” with the t... |
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#10 Questioning G-d: Finding and keeping your Bashert |
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The Shadchan says, "So tell me, what are you looking for?" And, out comes the laundry list. "I need someone who is extroverted, funny, and outgoing." "I need a woman who is very frum, good, kind, tolerant, and funny." "I need a guy who is tall, a take-charge type, strong but not headstrong." And unwittingly, many people make the first mi... |
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#11 Kibud Av of Eisav – Appreciating Parents |
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Of course we appreciate our parents. Of course we respect them. Isn’t that only natural? Doesn’t everyone? And yet we don’t. We live in a society that doesn’t seem to know the meaning of the word respect. There is no respect for authority, no respect for institutions, no respect for elders, and even no respect for ourselves. Unfortunately, we are affected by this, and this lack of respect goes s... |
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#12 People of Principle |
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We know the Avos and Imahos were great individuals -- but what made them so great? Where did they get the moral courage to see what was right, and stick to it against all external pressures? Through the famous story of Rochel giving up her husband to her sister Leah so as not to embarrass her, we are introduced to some of the basic ingredients that shape any great person’s success – the mor... |
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#14 Living like a Rock |
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What if I just live my life, as any other occupant of this planet? What is so bad about that? Let’s say, I am no worse than Joe the UPS driver, or Bob the mechanic, will Hashem really be upset with me? In this Shmuz we are brought to understand how great the human is, and how much he can accomplish. Within the context of this understanding the question of “What am I accomplishing with my l... |
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#16 Olam Habba: The Greatest Motivator |
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Alan Dershowitz, in his book “ The Vanishing Jew”, describes that as part of a course he taught in Harvard Law school, one of his co-professors decided to rate G-d. They decided to sit in judgment of Hashem, to determine how good a job He did when He created this world. Their conclusion? They found much good, much wisdom and forethought, but they also found much suffering and pain, needless pain. ... |
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#17 Acquiring Olam Habba The Easy Way – “Everyone needs a Mike” |
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We spend our life trying to gain Olam Habbah. All of our learning, all of our chessesd, all of our davening, is directed towards creating “what I will be forever”. Yet sometimes it seems that we work harder and not smarter towards our goal. In this Shmuz, we are introduced to a simple method to dramatically increase our portion in Olam Habbah- a smarter way.... |
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#24 Understanding Life Settings |
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It almost seems as if some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth, while others are destined to suffer. Why is it is that some people are born with amazing capacity, and others are created so simple? Why is there autism in the world? Why Down Syndrome? If in fact God is just, why not mete out talents and abilities in an equal manner to all people? Using the backdrop of a famou... |
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#26 Loshon Horah – Squandering our Olam Habbah |
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Of course loshon horah is forbidden. We know it was the prime cause of the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash, and of course we know that we aren’t supposed to speak it--yet we do. A big part of the reason is that we don’t really see it as wrong, we don’t see it as damaging, and we certainly don’t see the act of speaking as something that will cost us in the future. This Shmuz is a powerful ... |
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#27 Respecting the Institution – America the Beautiful |
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We live in a world of disrespect. Children don’t respect parents. Students don’t respect teachers, spouses don’t respect each other and I certainly can’t respect a President or world leader who gives in to his every passion and whim. In this Shmuz we find that Torah has a very different understanding of respect, and who is worthy of respect. We are introduced to the Torah’s concept of “r... |
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#29 The Busy Generation |
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While we boast of more labor saving devices that ever before in history, It seems that we are busier today than we have ever been. In fact, we are so busy that we don’t even have the time to ask ourselves what is that we are so busy with. This Shmuz focuses us on attitudes and perspectives that we pick up from the society in which we live – attitudes that may be against what the Torah views... |
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#31 The Voice Inside |
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Have you ever heard of something called a guilty conscience? What about a Jewish guilty conscience? While we all recognize that “Voice Inside”, that seems to moralize and lecture to us when we have stepped over the line, we assume that this is just one of those things that we have to sort of ignore. In this Shmuz we are brought to understand that “Voice” that HASHEM put inside every human ... |
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#33 Where Was G-D During the Holocaust? |
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We read about the Holocaust, we study about the holocaust, we memorialize the Holocaust, and yet it seems that this question isn’t dealt with. Where was G-d during the Holocaust? Yet, isn’t this one of the most basic questions a thinking person must deal with? Tracing the historical rise of Nazism and Adolph Hitler, a strong case is made for seeing the presence of G-d duri... |
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#34 Isreal: Exalted Nation / Oppressed People (Why did G-d allow the holocaust to happen?) |
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One of the most difficult character traits to work on is humility. Not only is it considered the most pervasive of the all of the middos, it is the most misunderstood. On one hand, we are obligated to appreciate the greatness of the human, yet on the other, we must remain humble. Throughout history all things change, the only constant that seems to cross all cultural ... |
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#36 For the Love of Money |
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“I heard he’s worth 10 million dollars”, is not so uncommon an expression for us to hear, even within our own community. The reality is that to many people, their self worth is equal to their net worth. While we assume that our values come exclusively from a Torah Perspective and not from the world around us, the reality is that the world we live in has a real effect on our thoughts and attitudes.... |
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#39 I Need, Needs |
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It is clear that Hashem is capable -- very capable. It is also clear that Hashem has great wisdom -- enough wisdom and capacity to create the cosmos and all that it contains, with words alone -- from galaxies that stretch over billons of light years, to tiny amoeba that float in a sea of flotsam, all parts of the whole, all harmoniously integrated, all so seemingly perfect. Yet Hashem created man... |
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#55 Staying Pure in an Impure World |
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SORRY - THIS SHMUZ IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE If you had any lingering doubts that 21st century America is an impure place, this Shmuz will dash them to bits. Fact after fact, statistic after statistic proves that we live in a world gone mad. So what’s a frum family to do? How can we maintain kedushah in our homes? The solutions m... |
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#56 Chanukah – The Death of Right and Wrong |
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According to the modern world, the worst thing we can do is judge others. I’m okay, and you’re okay. Even murderers are okay, or at least we should try and understand them. They have excuses – their upbringing, jealousy, pressures. How can they be responsible for their crimes? This moral relativism is eating away at the very fabric of society. It... |
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#60 Tidal Waves and Middas HaDin |
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Middas Ha Din and Middas Ha Rachamim may seem like esoteric Kabbalistic concepts beyond our understanding, but a look at history will give us a clear demonstration of how they operate. We’ve seen people die by the millions, not just in wars, but in famines, tidal waves, and other natural disasters. Even the media calls them “acts of G-d.” The question is: ... |
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#61 Heroes! |
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People have accomplished some extraordinary things. Muhammad Ali fought his way to becoming heavyweight champion of the world. Roger Bannister ran the first four-minute mile. And lehavdil, gedolim like Rav Shimon Shkop, Reb Chaim Brisker, and Rav Gifter became champions in Torah. What is the difference between them and us? Surprisingly, nothing ... |
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#62 Plan Your Life, Live Your Plan |
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Plan your life; live your plan. Set goals for yourself; follow through with them. It sounds like plain common sense, but somehow, most people don’t bother. They get sidetracked by the rat race and the pursuit of pleasure. Winging their way through life, they never reach their full potential. The trick to planning your life effectively is ... |
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Hashkafa 101 |
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Hashkafa 101 is a four part uplifting, motivating program that deals with topics that affect our lives Acquiring Olam Habba The Easy Way – "Everyone needs a Mike" We spend our life trying to gain Olam Habbah. All of our learning, all of our chessesd, all of our davening, is directed towards creating "what I will be forever". Yet sometimes it seems that we work harder and not s... |
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#73 Self Respect; The Basis of it All |
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Too many of us are familiar with “inner chatter,” the little voice that constantly says, “You’re no good. You’re a failure. Everything you touch turns to mud.” If only we could learn to shut that inner chatter off! It’s blocking us from reaching our full potential! Shutting it off may not be easy, but it’s definitely possible. The first success w... |
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#75 The Art of Appreciation |
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We live in times of unmatched wealth and comfort. People now live in more ease and luxury than at any other time in history. So why is there so much unhappiness? Why do the rich and famous seem to be the least happy of all? The trouble is that we take all this good for granted. And worse, we forget that HASHEM granted it. This Shmuz trains us in... |
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#76 Asking Advice |
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Making decisions is a challenge for many of us. Some people stall themselves into inaction. But more often, people just jump into things without thinking them through. The younger you are, the more likely you are to do this. But rushing into things is no way to live your life. Chances are, all you’ll end up with is regrets. And that’s why each of us needs ... |
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#77 Man-Based Morality |
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Whenever we follow our own desires, we mess up. Even when we act with the best of intentions, we mess up. High-minded ideologies have failed time and time again. History is chock-full of examples. There’s a very good reason why man-based morality consistently fails. We humans are imperfect. We can’t possibly see all the consequences to our actions. ... |
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#78 Kiddush HASHEM |
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Making a kiddush Hashem isn’t just about the big things – like sacrificing one’s life for the sake of a mitzvah – it’s something we can do every day. Ultimately, every Jew is a billboard for Torah. When we behave properly, we have a ripple effect on the people around us. Our “simple” mitzvos make the world a better place. It’s a heavy responsi... |
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#81 All for my People |
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Loving our fellow Jews is a beautiful concept, but really feeling one with them often seems far-removed from real life. It’s fine in theory, but in practice? It’s hard to do in the cold and indifferent 21st century. The story of Yonah is the prime example of ahavas Yisrael. He risked his life and his Olam Habo, all for the love of the Jewish people... |
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#82 Why Me? Understanding Suffering |
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Nobody gets through this life without some suffering. Some people suffer tragedies, others just stress and discomfort, but no matter the nature of the pain, it comes with a Divine purpose. Suffering, when viewed correctly, deepens you and makes you a better, more sensitive person. Unfortunately, it’s possible to completely miss HASHEM’s message. A person c... |
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#83 The Moon was Jealous- Understanding the Forces of Nature |
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The Midrash that tells us that the moon was jealous of the sun is much more than a mashal for kids. It contains deep and spiritual messages about how HASHEM runs the world, but it takes a mature mind to grasp them. The world is far more complex than meets the eye. To really understand it, you need a spiritual microscope. This Shmuz, drawing on the teachin... |
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#84 Why Me? |
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“Why me? Why now? It’s too much. I can’t take it anymore!” We’ve all said it when the going gets rough. The trials of life really can seem unbearable at times. But the moment you think you’re down for the count is the moment to turn to HASHEM – even if you’re angry at Him. This Shmuz gives you the chizuk you need to get through all the rough spot... |
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#88 Chanukah - The Effect of Outside Influences |
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The nisayon in the times of Chanukah was clear: fight for Torah or succumb to Greek culture. During the Spanish Expulsion, the nisayon was also clear: leave Spain as a Jew or convert and remain comfortable. What is the nisayon in our times? Our lives are no longer threatened. We enjoy tremendous wealth and freedom. What could be wrong? Make no mistake. Mod... |
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#97 Living the Good life |
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#98 The Power of Positive Thinking |
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#99 Men are from Mars |
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#100 Keeping The Dream Alive |
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WATCH THE SHMUZ HERE! ... |
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#102 Learning To Love HASHEM |
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When we speak about love of HASHEM, we normally think of some sort of elusive, vague concept. Yet not only are we commanded to love HASHEM, the Torah describes it as something that can prevent us from the sin of taking revenge. How is it possible for a regular person to actually love HASHEM with such zeal that it will change his behavior? Watch The Shmuz Here! ... |
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#104 Parenting 101 |
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We often hear about the importance of good parenting techniques, and while it is essential to learn them, there is more to being a good parent then being able to relate well to your child. After all, there are many individuals who have good people skills yet make lousy parents. Amazingly, Sarah Imainu herself wasn't ready to be a parent to Yitzchak until she was 90 years of age. Despit... |
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#105 - Understanding Life Settings PART II |
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HASHEM is merciful and kind. We learn it over and over again. As much as a mother loves her child, HASHEM loves each one of His creations many times more. We have been taught that since we were little children. Yet when we look around the world, there is so much that just doesn't make sense. There is pain and suffering. There are hurricanes and torn... |
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#108 - Servant of HASHEM |
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Said at the 3rd Annual Torah Retreat... |
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#114 - Creating a Balanced Self Esteem |
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In today's culture there is great emphasis on self-esteem. Countless studies and reports claim that the key to success is a good, strong sense of self. Does the Torah agree? Are there exceptions to this rule? Is self-esteem really all that integral to becoming a great person? And if I do need to have high self-esteem to reach my potential, how do I balance that with the concept of humil... |
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#116 - GROWTH |
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Every human needs to grow; it is an inborn trait in the species. Sometimes, that trait manifests itself into real, significant growth, but sometimes, it is channeled into lesser pursuits. A sure sign of this is when someone incessantly chases after something that never satisfies him. The multi-millionaire who constantly seeks more money, the king who goes to war to expand the boundaries of his alr... |
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#117 - Optimism |
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Optimism is one of the most essential ingredients to living a successful life: Without optimism the world is a bleak, dreary place. “Life stinks, and then you die.” And even if there is some meaning and purpose to existence, the odds of succeeding at it are very slim.Bad things are far more likely to befall me than good. By contrast, an optimist looks at the world as a positive place. ... |
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#119 - Bris Milah |
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The Jewish contribution to the cultural, scientific, and technological evolution of civilization is nothing short of astounding. Whether in academics, politics, the media, or the professions -- from curing polio to discovering atomic energy, from Hollywood to Wall Street-- Jews have had an extraordinary influence on culture and human progress. Between 1901 and 2006, 23% of all Nobel Prizes worldwi... |
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#120 - Thrift |
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Never before in the history of mankind has so much been available to so many. Even in recent times, the earning power and discretionary income of the average US citizen has increased dramatically. The typical American worker today earns far more than he did back in the 1950's. Yet the rate of savings has decreased fourfold since that time. Even more troubling, consumer debt has increased exponenti... |
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#122 - Parenting 102 |
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For thousands of years, parenting was a pretty straightforward responsibility. Society offered highly structured guidelines for behavior. Adult's roles were well-defined, as were children's roles, and throughout the strata of the community, everyone knew his place. New parents had their own parents as role models, and the techniques to use were time-tested and proven -- to fit that world. ... |
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#123 - Chanukah: Whose Side Are You On? |
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Chanukah centers on the ideological battle of two cultures; the hedonistic Yevanim (Greek / Syrian culture) waged war against Torah ideals. The battle was not fought for the physical survival of the Jewish nation, but rather for its ideology and way of life. Today, we live in very different times. We are no longer downtrodden and subjugated to oppressive regimes; we are free to choose ... |
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#125 - Business Ethics |
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HASHEM created man with and an inborn need to do what is right. But one of the difficulties of ethical behavior is that on the slippery slope of life, that sense of right and wrong becomes dulled. This is especially true in the business world. The lines that distinguish honest and moral behavior from its opposite get quickly and easily blurred. In the post Enron era, when much of ... |
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#126 - Dignity of Man |
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While there is much talk today about the importance of self-esteem and its effect on a person's attitudes and accomplishments, there is a corollary benefit of understanding the greatness of man: if I am obligated to respect myself because I was created in the image of HASHEM, then so too, I must respect you, because you also were created in that same image. In fact, Ben Azzai teaches us that if a ... |
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#127 - Breaking The Forces Of Habits |
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We are creatures of habit. We act by habit, we react by habit and, to a large extent, we even think by habit. In truth, it has to be that way. If we didn't act based on previously established patterns of behavior, life would be unmanageable. If we had to think through each and every action, even simple things like turning a corner, our minds couldn’t focus on anything beyond navigating the basics ... |
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#129 - HaKaras HaTov: Recognizing the Good |
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Shmuz Info Coming Soon... COMMENT ON THE SHMUZ HERE! ... |
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#132 - PURIM: Being Human |
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One of the most difficult character traits to work on is humility. Not only is it considered the most pervasive of the all of the middos, it is the most misunderstood. On one hand, we are obligated to appreciate the greatness of the human, yet on the other, we must remain humble. One technique to help identify the trait and its pathology is to see it in its extreme. U... |
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#133 - ReJEWvinate |
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One of the tools of a highly successful person is the ability to stay focused and motivated over long periods of time. Whether in sports, academics or business the effort and consistency needed to accomplish long term goals, requires a high level of motivation and the ability to rejuvenate excitement and enthusiasm. Often times the difference between one who actually reach great ... |
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#134 - PARENTING 103: Setting Limits |
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If you were to poll our community, the average parent would admit “we probably give our children too much.” And while this sentiment may not be clearly spoken out by young parents, once children hit the teen age years, most parents upon reflection would say : “ I wish we had been more firm with them when they were younger”; “We’ve probably spoiled them”; “They would have been bet... |
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#135 - Imagination: The Devil's Playground |
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Eleanor Roosevelt has been credited with saying, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." The reality is that most of the battles that we fight are based on complex constructions -- created by us. Whether they be issues of misunderstanding other's motives, or our fight with passions and desire, or understanding our place in the universe - our fights and battles a... |
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#137 - Being Sensitive |
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"Considering where I come from and what I've been through, I'm doing pretty well..." While this may be a comforting position to take, the question a person must ask themselves is: is this really all that I can be? What if I were to stop making excuses? What if I was to truly hold myself accountable to live up to my potential? What if I was to go full blast - how great could I be?... |
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#138 - The Potential & The Present |
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"Considering where I come from and what I've been through, I'm doing pretty well... " While this may be a comforting position to take, the question a person must ask themselves is: is this really all that I can be? What if I were to stop making excuses? What if I was to truly hold myself accountable to live up to my potential? What if I was to go full blast -... |
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#140 - The Arabs and The Jews |
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The Palestinians have aspirations of political freedom as do every people. Their requests are merely of sovereignty and political rights-- and of course, once they have been granted these, they will live in harmony with their neighbors, recognizing Israel's right to peaceful coexistence. Or will they? An opened minded view of the current situation brings grave doubts ... |
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#142 - The Power of Laughter |
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There are certain life lessons that they don't teach you in school. One of them is the importance of maintaining a sense of humor. Not only is this one of the key elements for maintaining a sense of balance and joy as we travel through the trials of life, in terms of our relationships with others, a light touch often spells the difference between harmony and strife-love and ha... |
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#143 - Stages of Change – Part 1: Denial |
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The Vilna Gaon tells us that the main reason for life is to change our middos -"If not" he says, "Why should a person have life?" The difficulty with this mandate is that it means: I have to change. While in theory I may be open to grow -- I may even recognize the many advantage to my life, in practice we humans find it very difficult to change. Ask a person who has... |
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#144 - Stages of Change Part II: Support Groups |
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Recent studies show that in 2004, there were an estimated 44.5 million adult smokers in the United States, and 70% of them want to quit. Each year, 35% do attempt to stop, yet only 5% succeed -- clearly change isn't easy. Willpower alone isn't enough. A good program for change alone isn't enough. To make change permanent, we need outside help. Support groups are successful for ... |
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#145 - Stages of Change Part III: Taking Action |
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When a person recognizes that he needs to lose weight, it isn't enough for him to read all the latest diet books and find a great plan - the person has to actually "do it." He has to go on that diet and stick to it. But "doing it" requires motivation, not just the initial motivation to begin, but long-lasting motivation that will withstand the tests of life, allowing changes in b... |
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#146 - The Impact of One Mitzvah |
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I do daven with a minyan. I don't. I do a chesed -- I don't. Does it really matter? Does it really make a difference? Very often we find ourselves thinking what is the big deal? Will my actions really change my life? Will they change my world? Yet every once in a while, we come across a single action that does change the world-- a shot heard around the world. Our na... |
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#148 - Rich, Richer, Richest - How to be Wealthy |
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Hot, hotter, hottest. Fast, faster, fastest. In the English language we distinguish between the adjective, a descriptive word, and the superlative, an adjective taken to its extreme. Yet when we think about wealth, that distinction somehow gets lost. If I am not as rich as Bill Gates, then I am not rich. While the Torah does not guarantee that any individual will be... |
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#149 - The System of Tshuvah |
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We know that Tshuvah works. The Nivim told us it does, Chazal repeat it many, many times, and we even have Yom Kippur, a day created specifically for tshuvah. The question isn't whether Tshuvah works, but why I don't make use of it? Why is it that I don't stand there on Yom Kippur with tears flowing down my face, repenting, improving, ridding myself of a year's wort... |
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#150 - Being a Religious Atheist |
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An atheist is someone who doesn’t believe in G-d. A religious person is someone who practices a lifestyle that serves G-d. It would therefore seem obvious that “being a religious atheist” would be a contradiction in terms. Yet not only isn’t this correct, the phenomenon of religious atheists is far more prevalent than we realize. This Shmuz focuses us on some of the b... |
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#152 - In G-d's Image |
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Shmuz Info Coming Soon... ... |
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#155 - Chanukah - Flexi-dox Judaism |
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SHMUZ INFO COMING SOON... ... |
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#156 - Get Out of Debt |
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Shmuz Info Coming Soon... ... |
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#154 - Marriage: A Work in Progress PART II |
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Each one of us stands under the chuppah starry-eyed, knowing full well that we have found eternal love and bliss. Yet, something happens between that moment and real life. The reality is that getting married is easy, but staying married isn't. This Shmuz is Part II of a Marriage series that deals with the essential of creating long lasting Shalom Bayis. ... |
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#157 - Learning to Love Learning |
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Shmuz Info Coming Soon... ... |
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#158 - Me & My Big Mouth |
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Shmzu Info coming Soon... ... |
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#159 - 212 Degrees - Just One Degree Hotter |
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Shmuz Info to Come ... COMMENT ON THE SHMUZ HERE! ... |
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Hashkafa 102 |
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Hashkafa 102, the continuation of Hashkafa 101, is a four part uplifting, motivating program that deals with topics that affect our lives. #10 -Questioning G-d / Finding and keeping your Bashert Since the time we were little children we were schooled in the idea that, “You’re not allowed to ask questions about G-d”. But is that true? Is it true that a person isn’t allowed to hav... |
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#160_Purim: Sheep to the Slaughter and Concert Bans |
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When Adar enters we increase Joy. Yet how can we be happy when we live in such troubling times? From rockets falling daily on S'derot, to the brutal massacre of 8 of our Yeshiva Bochurim in Yeshivat Merkas HaRav -- It has been difficult to feel joy. In the midst of it all many are troubled by the recent ban by Gadolim on a concert in America. ... |
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#161_April 15th: The Test of Emunah |
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To most of us, April 15th is nothing more than a deadline for filing our personal taxes. But when a person begins thinking about life from a broader perspective, they come to recognize that April 15th is a great test -- It is a test of my beliefs in practice. Do I truly believe that HASHEM runs this world and not I? Do I truly believe that HASHEM determines how much money... |
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| Jewish History |
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#1 Eternal People |
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Isn't it amazing that century after century, after so many repeated attempts to slaughter them, to destroy them, to wipe them out as a people, the Jewish People are still here, and her enemies aren’t? She has withstood the test of time. Having lived through Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, Blood libels, pogroms, persecutions, mass murders, and finally Genocide. If ever there was a means devised... |
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#33 Where Was G-D During the Holocaust? |
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We read about the Holocaust, we study about the holocaust, we memorialize the Holocaust, and yet it seems that this question isn’t dealt with. Where was G-d during the Holocaust? Yet, isn’t this one of the most basic questions a thinking person must deal with? Tracing the historical rise of Nazism and Adolph Hitler, a strong case is made for seeing the presence of G-d duri... |
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#34 Isreal: Exalted Nation / Oppressed People (Why did G-d allow the holocaust to happen?) |
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One of the most difficult character traits to work on is humility. Not only is it considered the most pervasive of the all of the middos, it is the most misunderstood. On one hand, we are obligated to appreciate the greatness of the human, yet on the other, we must remain humble. Throughout history all things change, the only constant that seems to cross all cultural ... |
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#119 - Bris Milah |
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The Jewish contribution to the cultural, scientific, and technological evolution of civilization is nothing short of astounding. Whether in academics, politics, the media, or the professions -- from curing polio to discovering atomic energy, from Hollywood to Wall Street-- Jews have had an extraordinary influence on culture and human progress. Between 1901 and 2006, 23% of all Nobel Prizes worldwi... |
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#155 - Chanukah - Flexi-dox Judaism |
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SHMUZ INFO COMING SOON... ... |
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| Respecting Our Parents |
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#11 Kibud Av of Eisav – Appreciating Parents |
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Of course we appreciate our parents. Of course we respect them. Isn’t that only natural? Doesn’t everyone? And yet we don’t. We live in a society that doesn’t seem to know the meaning of the word respect. There is no respect for authority, no respect for institutions, no respect for elders, and even no respect for ourselves. Unfortunately, we are affected by this, and this lack of respect goes s... |
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#104 Parenting 101 |
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We often hear about the importance of good parenting techniques, and while it is essential to learn them, there is more to being a good parent then being able to relate well to your child. After all, there are many individuals who have good people skills yet make lousy parents. Amazingly, Sarah Imainu herself wasn't ready to be a parent to Yitzchak until she was 90 years of age. Despit... |
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| Sets |
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Hashkafa 101 |
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Hashkafa 101 is a four part uplifting, motivating program that deals with topics that affect our lives Acquiring Olam Habba The Easy Way – "Everyone needs a Mike" We spend our life trying to gain Olam Habbah. All of our learning, all of our chessesd, all of our davening, is directed towards creating "what I will be forever". Yet sometimes it seems that we work harder and not s... |
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Tfilah 101 |
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Davening Part 1 - Making it Real Of course we daven. Three times a day. Everyday. The question is how real our davening is, and to whom are we davening. It often seems that our davening is more talking to the walls than talking to HASHEM. This Shmuz helps us focus on some of the most basic principles in Judaism, things we always knew, yet take for granted, and are so critical for... |
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Bitichon 101 |
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The Difference Between Emunah and Bitachon – Four Levels To Emunah Did you ever noticethat no one does anything wrong? It seems that no matter how clear it is to you and me that this person is engaged in self destructive behavior, he doesn't admit that he is doing something wrong or harmful; rather he comes up with an entire rationale why it is good and in fact proper. To allow ... |
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Purim 101 |
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Shmuz # 25A & 25B 25A - They don't make anti Semites like they used to Over the course of history, it seems that there has been no shortage of anti-Semites, people who truly hate Jews and would do anything in their power to put an end to the "Jewish Problem". Yet it also seems that if you ask the common anti-Semite, why is it that you hate the... |
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Hashkafa 102 |
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Hashkafa 102, the continuation of Hashkafa 101, is a four part uplifting, motivating program that deals with topics that affect our lives. #10 -Questioning G-d / Finding and keeping your Bashert Since the time we were little children we were schooled in the idea that, “You’re not allowed to ask questions about G-d”. But is that true? Is it true that a person isn’t allowed to hav... |
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The Hashkafa Workshop |
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“Now You, Can Get Inspired & Motivated & Enjoy... |
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| Middos |
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#11 Kibud Av of Eisav – Appreciating Parents |
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Of course we appreciate our parents. Of course we respect them. Isn’t that only natural? Doesn’t everyone? And yet we don’t. We live in a society that doesn’t seem to know the meaning of the word respect. There is no respect for authority, no respect for institutions, no respect for elders, and even no respect for ourselves. Unfortunately, we are affected by this, and this lack of respect goes s... |
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#30 Anger Management |
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We all know that anger is bad and if we have ever gotten into a situation where we lost our temper, we certainly wished that we hadn’t --but what can I do? This is the way I react. He said something, I saw red and exploded. That is just my nature. I didn’t ask to be born this way, and there is nothing that I can do about it. Right? In this Shmuz we are introduced to the motivation and the ... |
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#35 Hashem and Man: Master and Servant (Understanding Humility) |
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We know the Torah gave us a specific mitzvah - to work on our character traits, but how do I change my very basic, underlying emotional makeup? Much like as with any character trait, I didn’t wake up in the morning and say, “I just want to be a big, fat, arrogant buffoon”. I didn’t wake up and say, “I would like to consider myself the most important human on the planet – G-d's gift to humanity. Bu... |
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#48 Being a Nice Guy |
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Most people we meet are “nice guys”. If you were stuck on the road, or if you needed a place to sleep they would be the first to come forward and offer to help. Yet these very same people do things that really aren’t nice-- in fact, sometimes downright cruel. The question is why? Why is it that people who are kind and sweet, do things that are so unquestionably mean? Oftentimes the answe... |
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#53 I Hate Criticism |
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“You’re always late.” “Why can’t you ever be neat?” “You bounced another check, what’s wrong with you”… It seems that whether we are dealing with children, parents, siblings, coworkers or employees, there is so much that needs improvement, that we can’t help but comment. In fact, these lines slip out of our mouths so easily, that often we don’t even know we... |
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#54 Understanding Laziness |
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Have you ever found it hard to get out of bed in the morning? Lying there after a full night’s sleep, is it difficult to get yourself moving? It doesn’t take a genius to know that’s laziness, but the question is: how do we overcome it? For starters, we need to understand laziness – why we have it and why it drags us down. From there, the solution... |
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#58 Arrogance – Misdirected "Greatness of Man" |
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Nobody in the entire Torah was as arrogant as Pharaoh. He actually believed he was the Creator! But his delusion, though in an extreme form, is common in human beings. We’ve seen it in dictators like Hitler and Napoleon. We see it in larger-than-life tycoons like Donald Trump. And sometimes, we see it in ourselves. With a breakdown of why this mi... |
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#59 Humility – An Issue of Perspective |
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HASHEM gave everyone a unique set of talents. Some people are strong, others smart, and others musical. But no matter which talents you have, HASHEM gave them to you to help you accomplish a specific mission in this world. The trouble is, people often lose sight of this. They credit themselves for their talents and even expect praise and honor be... |
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#67 Understanding and Eliminating Jealously |
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If there’s one thing that makes smart people act dumb, it’s jealousy. When people are caught in its clutches, they forget every other bracha in their lives. Nothing is as important as what the other guy has, whether it be money, happiness, or kavod. The good news is that jealousy is surprisingly easy to work on. Because it’s so irrational and illogical, cl... |
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#68 People Skills |
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Getting along with people is the single most important of all life skills. Good human relations are the key to running a successful business, having a loving marriage, and above all, to raising happy kids. Because people skills are so essential, this Shmuz offers something unique: a mini-course in social relations. With these basics under your belt, you’l... |
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#70 Onah – The Torah’s Sensitivity to another’s pain |
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Often we think of ona’as devorim – of not saying cruel things to people – as referring to big things, like tearing someone down in public. In reality, it’s much more subtle. People hurt each other with callous remarks all the time. And usually, they didn’t even mean to. Those callous remarks cost. Even when we forget what we’ve said, our victims don’t, and... |
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#71 Chesed: Being Like HASHEM |
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One of the most detailed sections in Torah is the description of Avraham Avinu’s chesed to the three angels. Posuk after posuk tells us the minutiae of how Avraham served his guests. But of all his spiritual accomplishments, what is so great about this one? Why does the Torah give it so much attention? The answer is that chesed is the closest means we hav... |
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#72 Respect : The Students of Rebbe Akiva |
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Respect is the basis of all good human relations, but do we really give others their due? We know that every human is a tzelem Elokim, but how often do we think about that when we’re talking to our friends? Do we even remember it with our spouses? With stories of the gedolim, including some to make you laugh, this Shmuz shows how respect can work magic in ... |
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#75 The Art of Appreciation |
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We live in times of unmatched wealth and comfort. People now live in more ease and luxury than at any other time in history. So why is there so much unhappiness? Why do the rich and famous seem to be the least happy of all? The trouble is that we take all this good for granted. And worse, we forget that HASHEM granted it. This Shmuz trains us in... |
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#81 All for my People |
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Loving our fellow Jews is a beautiful concept, but really feeling one with them often seems far-removed from real life. It’s fine in theory, but in practice? It’s hard to do in the cold and indifferent 21st century. The story of Yonah is the prime example of ahavas Yisrael. He risked his life and his Olam Habo, all for the love of the Jewish people... |
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#89 Malbin Pnei Chavero |
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#94 On Being Judgmental |
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Why is it so important not to be judgmental of others? How do you not judge other people's words, ideas and actions even when you don't agree with them? The trick is knowing when to be judgmental, and when to reserve it for later, and when to not judge at all. Every situation needs an independent evaluation. This ability is key in many areas in life... |
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#109 - MACHLOKES! The Damage of Conflict |
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The Torah calls us a stiff-necked people. It seems to be part of our very nature; put two Jews together and you get three opinions. It is easy to see how conflict causes damage. Many of us have felt first hand the powerful downward spiral that spins into action when human beings live in a state of strife. How it is possible for such an argumentative people to live in harmo... |
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#112 - Chesed - The Essense of Judaism |
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We know that HASHEM is kinder than the kindest of human beings. HASHEM created this entire world with abundant love, solely to give to man. All the good within creation was specifically designed to give man more enjoyment. So why don't I see chessed of HASHEM? Why can't I simply open my eyes and be awed by the chessed that HASHEM invested in this world? In this Shmuz we fo... |
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#116 - GROWTH |
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Every human needs to grow; it is an inborn trait in the species. Sometimes, that trait manifests itself into real, significant growth, but sometimes, it is channeled into lesser pursuits. A sure sign of this is when someone incessantly chases after something that never satisfies him. The multi-millionaire who constantly seeks more money, the king who goes to war to expand the boundaries of his alr... |
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#120 - Thrift |
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Never before in the history of mankind has so much been available to so many. Even in recent times, the earning power and discretionary income of the average US citizen has increased dramatically. The typical American worker today earns far more than he did back in the 1950's. Yet the rate of savings has decreased fourfold since that time. Even more troubling, consumer debt has increased exponenti... |
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#121 - EMES The Whole Truth |
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Politicians lie, lawyers lie, salesmen lie -- but we are honest, moral people and we don't lie... Unfortunately, the reality is that the world we live in affects us, and lies - sometimes little ones, sometimes bigger ones, tend to seep into and become part of our lives. Reb Yisroel Salanter defines lying as "Saying words with our mouth that our heart knows aren't true". Using this as our... |
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#127 - Breaking The Forces Of Habits |
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We are creatures of habit. We act by habit, we react by habit and, to a large extent, we even think by habit. In truth, it has to be that way. If we didn't act based on previously established patterns of behavior, life would be unmanageable. If we had to think through each and every action, even simple things like turning a corner, our minds couldn’t focus on anything beyond navigating the basics ... |
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#128 - Kiruv: The Message & The Medium |
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In 1996, sociologists Gordon and Horowitz published a study entitled, “Will Your Grandchildren Be Jewish?” Their conclusion: based on the general Jewish population’s ever-decreasing birth rates and skyrocketing intermarriage rates, the odds that any Jews will remain at the end of the 21st century are slim to none. However, one category of their study stood out in stark relief -- the Or... |
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#129 - HaKaras HaTov: Recognizing the Good |
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Shmuz Info Coming Soon... COMMENT ON THE SHMUZ HERE! ... |
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#132 - PURIM: Being Human |
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One of the most difficult character traits to work on is humility. Not only is it considered the most pervasive of the all of the middos, it is the most misunderstood. On one hand, we are obligated to appreciate the greatness of the human, yet on the other, we must remain humble. One technique to help identify the trait and its pathology is to see it in its extreme. U... |
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#134 - PARENTING 103: Setting Limits |
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If you were to poll our community, the average parent would admit “we probably give our children too much.” And while this sentiment may not be clearly spoken out by young parents, once children hit the teen age years, most parents upon reflection would say : “ I wish we had been more firm with them when they were younger”; “We’ve probably spoiled them”; “They would have been bet... |
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#135 - Imagination: The Devil's Playground |
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Eleanor Roosevelt has been credited with saying, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." The reality is that most of the battles that we fight are based on complex constructions -- created by us. Whether they be issues of misunderstanding other's motives, or our fight with passions and desire, or understanding our place in the universe - our fights and battles a... |
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#136 - I'm Never Wrong |
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There is much truth in the adage: There are three sides to every story, your side, my side and the truth. And, even though I fully understand that you might be making a valid point, as soon as we get into an argument, I can no longer even see your side because, of course, I'm right. Why is that? We all make mistakes. That is part of being human. And while I certainly ... |
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#137 - Being Sensitive |
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"Considering where I come from and what I've been through, I'm doing pretty well..." While this may be a comforting position to take, the question a person must ask themselves is: is this really all that I can be? What if I were to stop making excuses? What if I was to truly hold myself accountable to live up to my potential? What if I was to go full blast - how great could I be?... |
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#138 - The Potential & The Present |
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"Considering where I come from and what I've been through, I'm doing pretty well... " While this may be a comforting position to take, the question a person must ask themselves is: is this really all that I can be? What if I were to stop making excuses? What if I was to truly hold myself accountable to live up to my potential? What if I was to go full blast -... |
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#142 - The Power of Laughter |
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There are certain life lessons that they don't teach you in school. One of them is the importance of maintaining a sense of humor. Not only is this one of the key elements for maintaining a sense of balance and joy as we travel through the trials of life, in terms of our relationships with others, a light touch often spells the difference between harmony and strife-love and ha... |
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#143 - Stages of Change – Part 1: Denial |
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The Vilna Gaon tells us that the main reason for life is to change our middos -"If not" he says, "Why should a person have life?" The difficulty with this mandate is that it means: I have to change. While in theory I may be open to grow -- I may even recognize the many advantage to my life, in practice we humans find it very difficult to change. Ask a person who has... |
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#144 - Stages of Change Part II: Support Groups |
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Recent studies show that in 2004, there were an estimated 44.5 million adult smokers in the United States, and 70% of them want to quit. Each year, 35% do attempt to stop, yet only 5% succeed -- clearly change isn't easy. Willpower alone isn't enough. A good program for change alone isn't enough. To make change permanent, we need outside help. Support groups are successful for ... |
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#145 - Stages of Change Part III: Taking Action |
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When a person recognizes that he needs to lose weight, it isn't enough for him to read all the latest diet books and find a great plan - the person has to actually "do it." He has to go on that diet and stick to it. But "doing it" requires motivation, not just the initial motivation to begin, but long-lasting motivation that will withstand the tests of life, allowing changes in b... |
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#146 - The Impact of One Mitzvah |
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I do daven with a minyan. I don't. I do a chesed -- I don't. Does it really matter? Does it really make a difference? Very often we find ourselves thinking what is the big deal? Will my actions really change my life? Will they change my world? Yet every once in a while, we come across a single action that does change the world-- a shot heard around the world. Our na... |
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#149 - The System of Tshuvah |
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We know that Tshuvah works. The Nivim told us it does, Chazal repeat it many, many times, and we even have Yom Kippur, a day created specifically for tshuvah. The question isn't whether Tshuvah works, but why I don't make use of it? Why is it that I don't stand there on Yom Kippur with tears flowing down my face, repenting, improving, ridding myself of a year's wort... |
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#153 - Marriage: A Work in Progress |
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Each one of us stands under the chuppah starry-eyed, knowing full well that we have found eternal love and bliss. Yet, something happens between that moment and real life. The reality is that getting married is easy, but staying married isn't. This Shmuz is Part I of a Marriage series that deals with the essential of creating long lasting Shalom Bayis. ... |
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#156 - Get Out of Debt |
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Shmuz Info Coming Soon... ... |
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#154 - Marriage: A Work in Progress PART II |
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Each one of us stands under the chuppah starry-eyed, knowing full well that we have found eternal love and bliss. Yet, something happens between that moment and real life. The reality is that getting married is easy, but staying married isn't. This Shmuz is Part II of a Marriage series that deals with the essential of creating long lasting Shalom Bayis. ... |
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#158 - Me & My Big Mouth |
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Shmzu Info coming Soon... ... |
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#159 - 212 Degrees - Just One Degree Hotter |
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Shmuz Info to Come ... COMMENT ON THE SHMUZ HERE! ... |
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| Mussar |
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#6 Its not Geneivah, it’s Shtick |
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It is very difficult for us human beings to accept that we do things that are wrong, and so we rationalize. We create illusions and fanciful stories that we ourselves don’t believe. And so, you will find intelligent, otherwise rational people saying things like, “Of course I wouldn’t steal, stealing is dishonest, but this isn’t stealing .It’s “shtick”. We “mach shtick”. We “mach Shtick” with the t... |
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#13 Free Will – Part 1: Nefesh Habahami, Nefesh Hasichli |
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Has there ever been a time when you reacted to something, and you couldn’t believe that it was you who was speaking that way? Have you ever said something and had a feeling of, “What came over me – it was as if I were possessed? In this introduction to the inner workings of the human being, we come face to face with the understanding that I am created from very diverse elements. Within me a... |
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#19 Free will - Part 2: I Never Do Anything Wrong |
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In this introduction to emunah, we are presented with four basic levels of belief: 1. Hashem created the world. 2. Hashem is involved in the really big picture issues - war, famine, life and death. 3. Hashem knows my inner thoughts. 4. Hashem is intimately involved in my day to day life. After outlining and defining the levels, we are given practical techniques to improve our level of belief in a... |
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#43 Soton out of the Box |
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It seems that it should be easier now to grow than in any previous generation. We have wealth, luxuries, freedom from oppression, and we have time. We enjoy so many time saving devices and conveniences that it would surely seems that we are finally free to sit and learn. And in fact, it seems that we should be able to reach great heights - and yet it is harder than ever to serve Hashem. It seems t... |
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#44 Bar Kamtza - Do you really have Free Will? |
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I accept that each person’s life span is set before they are born. I also accept that the question is visited on Rosh Hashanah when Hashem decides who will live and who will die. All that is fine and well, until I pick up a gun and say to myself, can’t I decide to end that person’s life? Isn’t it obvious that whether that person will live or die is now in my hands? Using the Tisha B’Av Gem... |
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#42 Tricks of the Soton |
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Chazal tell us that Hashem created a malach whose sole job it is to trip up man -- to get us to sin, to get us to fail, to get us to mess up. Where is he? What voice does he speak with? How can I identify him? For most of us, without direct guidance from chazal it is difficult to quantify and identify the soton. Does he speak in my head? Whose voice does he use? How ... |
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#23 I’ll never die. Not me. No way. |
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While this may be philosophy’s greatest question, isn’t it something that any thinking person must answer: “What is my purpose in existence”? Drawing from The Path of the Just, this Shmuz focuses us on finding the true meaning and purpose of our life. What is my purpose in life? What are my true core values? What does it mean after death I will live on? I will be dead! ... |
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#45 WYSIWYG- Developing Willpower |
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It’s true that I’m not quite where I hope to be one day. It’s even true that there are many thoughts that go through my head that I’m not proud of. I am still selfish and self centered, and there are many things that I feel that I would be deeply ashamed of if anyone else knew about them. But it’s OK, because one day I will change. This Shmuz focuses us on the shocking realization that as... |
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#46 Greatness of Man- Beyond our understanding |
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Chazal teach us that HASHEM would have created the entire world for one man: the sun, the moon and the stars, the planets and constellations, the oceans, the rivers and the birds -- all for one human being. The question is what exactly is so great about man? What is so fantastically meaningful and significant about one man that it was worth creating all of heaven and earth just for him? U... |
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#47 Cognitive Restructuring |
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The last of the Ten Commandments is “You shall not covet”. Simply stated one should not be desirous of his neighbor’s property, possessions or any attribute that he may have. On the face of things this seems to be a very difficult mitzvah to observe. If my neighbor has something that is beautiful, he owns a magnificent home, he drives a beautiful car or has a fantastic job, isn't it human nature... |
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#48 Being a Nice Guy |
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Most people we meet are “nice guys”. If you were stuck on the road, or if you needed a place to sleep they would be the first to come forward and offer to help. Yet these very same people do things that really aren’t nice-- in fact, sometimes downright cruel. The question is why? Why is it that people who are kind and sweet, do things that are so unquestionably mean? Oftentimes the answe... |
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#62 Plan Your Life, Live Your Plan |
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Plan your life; live your plan. Set goals for yourself; follow through with them. It sounds like plain common sense, but somehow, most people don’t bother. They get sidetracked by the rat race and the pursuit of pleasure. Winging their way through life, they never reach their full potential. The trick to planning your life effectively is ... |
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#74 Divaykus in Our Times |
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Falling in love is the most pleasurable and powerful experience most of us will have in our lifetimes. And it comes so naturally, too. Just look at any chosson and kallah. Loving Hashem takes more effort, but the reward can be even greater. After all, His love is all-powerful. Lofty as it sounds, we can all achieve d’vaykus with HASHE... |
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#78 Kiddush HASHEM |
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Making a kiddush Hashem isn’t just about the big things – like sacrificing one’s life for the sake of a mitzvah – it’s something we can do every day. Ultimately, every Jew is a billboard for Torah. When we behave properly, we have a ripple effect on the people around us. Our “simple” mitzvos make the world a better place. It’s a heavy responsi... |
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#80 It's Never Too Late |
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We put up many resistances to teshuva. The simplest one is denial. “I’ve never done anything wrong.” But deep down, we know it’s a lie, so guilt festers, perking up at odd moments to tell us, “Who do you think you are – doing mitzvos? You’re a slime and a faker. Stop pretending to be holy.” With all these obstacles, it could almost seem that teshuva is imp... |
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#85 MOTIVATION! |
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Success may be sweet, but to get there, you need motivation. When things are going swimmingly, motivation comes naturally. But when you hit those inevitable rough spots, you need an extra boost. Where do you get it, especially when you’re in a rut? How can you get motivated when you just aren’t? Motivation works on the positive side and the nega... |
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#86 To Tell the Truth |
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We’re surrounded by falsehood. We don’t believe our leaders, and we know that all the ads bombarding us are lies. We’re so used to it, we accept as normal. Tzaddikim don’t do that. Lies are anathema to them. They live by their word. Once upon a time, everyone lived that way. Truth and honor meant something, not just to tzaddikim, but to ordinary ... |
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#87 Self Control! |
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Most of us are wimps. If you don’t believe it, ask yourself what you do when faced with a choice between doing what you want and doing what you should. The nisyonos are different for everybody, but how many of us can claim to be masters over our desires? How many of us have real inner strength, real self-control? Just like a body builder develops his stren... |
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#97 Living the Good life |
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#116 - GROWTH |
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Every human needs to grow; it is an inborn trait in the species. Sometimes, that trait manifests itself into real, significant growth, but sometimes, it is channeled into lesser pursuits. A sure sign of this is when someone incessantly chases after something that never satisfies him. The multi-millionaire who constantly seeks more money, the king who goes to war to expand the boundaries of his alr... |
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#121 - EMES The Whole Truth |
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Politicians lie, lawyers lie, salesmen lie -- but we are honest, moral people and we don't lie... Unfortunately, the reality is that the world we live in affects us, and lies - sometimes little ones, sometimes bigger ones, tend to seep into and become part of our lives. Reb Yisroel Salanter defines lying as "Saying words with our mouth that our heart knows aren't true". Using this as our... |
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#122 - Parenting 102 |
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For thousands of years, parenting was a pretty straightforward responsibility. Society offered highly structured guidelines for behavior. Adult's roles were well-defined, as were children's roles, and throughout the strata of the community, everyone knew his place. New parents had their own parents as role models, and the techniques to use were time-tested and proven -- to fit that world. ... |
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#126 - Dignity of Man |
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While there is much talk today about the importance of self-esteem and its effect on a person's attitudes and accomplishments, there is a corollary benefit of understanding the greatness of man: if I am obligated to respect myself because I was created in the image of HASHEM, then so too, I must respect you, because you also were created in that same image. In fact, Ben Azzai teaches us that if a ... |
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#127 - Breaking The Forces Of Habits |
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We are creatures of habit. We act by habit, we react by habit and, to a large extent, we even think by habit. In truth, it has to be that way. If we didn't act based on previously established patterns of behavior, life would be unmanageable. If we had to think through each and every action, even simple things like turning a corner, our minds couldn’t focus on anything beyond navigating the basics ... |
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#128 - Kiruv: The Message & The Medium |
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In 1996, sociologists Gordon and Horowitz published a study entitled, “Will Your Grandchildren Be Jewish?” Their conclusion: based on the general Jewish population’s ever-decreasing birth rates and skyrocketing intermarriage rates, the odds that any Jews will remain at the end of the 21st century are slim to none. However, one category of their study stood out in stark relief -- the Or... |
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#133 - ReJEWvinate |
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One of the tools of a highly successful person is the ability to stay focused and motivated over long periods of time. Whether in sports, academics or business the effort and consistency needed to accomplish long term goals, requires a high level of motivation and the ability to rejuvenate excitement and enthusiasm. Often times the difference between one who actually reach great ... |
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#134 - PARENTING 103: Setting Limits |
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If you were to poll our community, the average parent would admit “we probably give our children too much.” And while this sentiment may not be clearly spoken out by young parents, once children hit the teen age years, most parents upon reflection would say : “ I wish we had been more firm with them when they were younger”; “We’ve probably spoiled them”; “They would have been bet... |
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#135 - Imagination: The Devil's Playground |
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Eleanor Roosevelt has been credited with saying, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." The reality is that most of the battles that we fight are based on complex constructions -- created by us. Whether they be issues of misunderstanding other's motives, or our fight with passions and desire, or understanding our place in the universe - our fights and battles a... |
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#136 - I'm Never Wrong |
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There is much truth in the adage: There are three sides to every story, your side, my side and the truth. And, even though I fully understand that you might be making a valid point, as soon as we get into an argument, I can no longer even see your side because, of course, I'm right. Why is that? We all make mistakes. That is part of being human. And while I certainly ... |
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#138 - The Potential & The Present |
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"Considering where I come from and what I've been through, I'm doing pretty well... " While this may be a comforting position to take, the question a person must ask themselves is: is this really all that I can be? What if I were to stop making excuses? What if I was to truly hold myself accountable to live up to my potential? What if I was to go full blast -... |
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#142 - The Power of Laughter |
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There are certain life lessons that they don't teach you in school. One of them is the importance of maintaining a sense of humor. Not only is this one of the key elements for maintaining a sense of balance and joy as we travel through the trials of life, in terms of our relationships with others, a light touch often spells the difference between harmony and strife-love and ha... |
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#143 - Stages of Change – Part 1: Denial |
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The Vilna Gaon tells us that the main reason for life is to change our middos -"If not" he says, "Why should a person have life?" The difficulty with this mandate is that it means: I have to change. While in theory I may be open to grow -- I may even recognize the many advantage to my life, in practice we humans find it very difficult to change. Ask a person who has... |
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#144 - Stages of Change Part II: Support Groups |
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Recent studies show that in 2004, there were an estimated 44.5 million adult smokers in the United States, and 70% of them want to quit. Each year, 35% do attempt to stop, yet only 5% succeed -- clearly change isn't easy. Willpower alone isn't enough. A good program for change alone isn't enough. To make change permanent, we need outside help. Support groups are successful for ... |
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#145 - Stages of Change Part III: Taking Action |
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When a person recognizes that he needs to lose weight, it isn't enough for him to read all the latest diet books and find a great plan - the person has to actually "do it." He has to go on that diet and stick to it. But "doing it" requires motivation, not just the initial motivation to begin, but long-lasting motivation that will withstand the tests of life, allowing changes in b... |
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#146 - The Impact of One Mitzvah |
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I do daven with a minyan. I don't. I do a chesed -- I don't. Does it really matter? Does it really make a difference? Very often we find ourselves thinking what is the big deal? Will my actions really change my life? Will they change my world? Yet every once in a while, we come across a single action that does change the world-- a shot heard around the world. Our na... |
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#149 - The System of Tshuvah |
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We know that Tshuvah works. The Nivim told us it does, Chazal repeat it many, many times, and we even have Yom Kippur, a day created specifically for tshuvah. The question isn't whether Tshuvah works, but why I don't make use of it? Why is it that I don't stand there on Yom Kippur with tears flowing down my face, repenting, improving, ridding myself of a year's wort... |
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#151 - Be Brave, Be Bold |
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All the great leaders and teachers of the Jewish Nation had faults and flaws. The Torah tells us the shortcomings of Avrohom, Dovid, and Shlomo. More amazingly, the Gemarah tells us that the four men who never sinned aren't counted amongst the greatest of our nation. Why? The reason is simple. HASHEM didn't put us on the planet not to sin. HASHEM created us to act - ... |
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#153 - Marriage: A Work in Progress |
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Each one of us stands under the chuppah starry-eyed, knowing full well that we have found eternal love and bliss. Yet, something happens between that moment and real life. The reality is that getting married is easy, but staying married isn't. This Shmuz is Part I of a Marriage series that deals with the essential of creating long lasting Shalom Bayis. ... |
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#156 - Get Out of Debt |
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Shmuz Info Coming Soon... ... |
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#154 - Marriage: A Work in Progress PART II |
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Each one of us stands under the chuppah starry-eyed, knowing full well that we have found eternal love and bliss. Yet, something happens between that moment and real life. The reality is that getting married is easy, but staying married isn't. This Shmuz is Part II of a Marriage series that deals with the essential of creating long lasting Shalom Bayis. ... |
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#157 - Learning to Love Learning |
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Shmuz Info Coming Soon... ... |
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#159 - 212 Degrees - Just One Degree Hotter |
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Shmuz Info to Come ... COMMENT ON THE SHMUZ HERE! ... |
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#160_Purim: Sheep to the Slaughter and Concert Bans |
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When Adar enters we increase Joy. Yet how can we be happy when we live in such troubling times? From rockets falling daily on S'derot, to the brutal massacre of 8 of our Yeshiva Bochurim in Yeshivat Merkas HaRav -- It has been difficult to feel joy. In the midst of it all many are troubled by the recent ban by Gadolim on a concert in America. ... |
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Misilos Yesharim - Understanding Life |
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Misilos Yesharim - Understanding Life According to what you are saying I wasted my entire life He might well be correct Had he thought about ... |
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#162_Learning to Care |
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Shmuz #162 Learning to Care WATCH THE SHMUZ HERE ... |
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#173 - Children of HASHEM |
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Am I worthy to ask for even more than what I have been given? Why should HASHEM grant my requests? This Shmuz deals with our relationship with HASHEM, and helps us focus on some basic issues of davening and Bitachon: ... |
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| Yom Tov |
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#2 Yomim Noraim – Issues of the Day |
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So many issues are decided on this day: who will live, who will die; who will be healthy, who will be sick; who will be successful, who won’t…. Since we accept and understand this, one would assume that we would be deeply moved by the davening on Rosh Hashanah. One would assume that we would spend the day in reverence and awe. Yet that seems to be very far from the way we ... |
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#3 Yom Kippur – The power of Teshuvah |
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Using the event of Eliezer Bar Dudia gaining the title of “Rebbe”, we are introduced to one of the greatest acts of teshuvah ever achieved by a human. We witness a human rise from the depths of depravity to the heights of spirituality in the course of a few hours. Through the story of his life, we see what a man accomplished in but a day -- and we are brought to a new appreciation of how great th... |
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#15 Chanukah G-d fights Our Wars |
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What actually happened in the war to recapture the Bais Hamikdash? How many battles were fought? How long did they last? What was it like living in Yerushlayim at the time? Detailing the story of Chanukah as brought in Megillas Chashmonaim, this Shmuz brings us closer to understanding the events of the time, and appreciating the miracle that unfolded. It then takes us forward in time to so... |
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#25 They don’t make anti Semites like they used to |
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Over the course of history, it seems that there has been no shortage of anti-Semites, people who truly hate Jews and would do anything in their power to put an end to the “Jewish Problem”. Yet it also seems that if you ask the common anti-Semite, why is it that you hate the Jew? Likely, he wouldn’t be able to answer. I know that you dream about their demise- but why? What is it about them that bot... |
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#28 People Believe what they want to Believe |
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If Hashem would just show me one miracle, then I would really believe. If Hashem would just show me one clear sign -- it would change my life. This premise that seeing a miracle would make a person believe is brought into sharp relief by one central question: Why didn’t the ancient Egyptians believe in Hashem? They experienced all of the greatest miracles ever shown. They lived through the greates... |
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#49 Yom Kippur- The Capacity of a human |
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Nachum Ish Gam Zu, one of the greatest Tanaim who ever lived, was a complete Tzadik. Yet, at one point in his life, he made a minor mistake, and from then on suffered terribly. When he explained to his students that it was because of this minor oversight that he was suffering they said to him, “Woe to us, that we have to see you this way”. He responded, “Woe to me, if you didn’t see me this way”.... |
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#56 Chanukah – The Death of Right and Wrong |
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According to the modern world, the worst thing we can do is judge others. I’m okay, and you’re okay. Even murderers are okay, or at least we should try and understand them. They have excuses – their upbringing, jealousy, pressures. How can they be responsible for their crimes? This moral relativism is eating away at the very fabric of society. It... |
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Purim 101 |
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Shmuz # 25A & 25B 25A - They don't make anti Semites like they used to Over the course of history, it seems that there has been no shortage of anti-Semites, people who truly hate Jews and would do anything in their power to put an end to the "Jewish Problem". Yet it also seems that if you ask the common anti-Semite, why is it that you hate the... |
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#88 Chanukah - The Effect of Outside Influences |
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The nisayon in the times of Chanukah was clear: fight for Torah or succumb to Greek culture. During the Spanish Expulsion, the nisayon was also clear: leave Spain as a Jew or convert and remain comfortable. What is the nisayon in our times? Our lives are no longer threatened. We enjoy tremendous wealth and freedom. What could be wrong? Make no mistake. Mod... |
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#93 Shabbos- Foundation of our Emunah |
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#115 - Preparing For Yom Kipper |
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While Yom Kippur is known as the Day of Forgiveness, there are two other concerns people should focus on that day: praying for their needs for the coming year, and asking themselves the key question, “Is the life I am leadingthe life I wish to be leading?” This Shmuz focuses us on the importance of all three issues, and gives us some powerful motivation to use the day to its fullest. ... |
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#123 - Chanukah: Whose Side Are You On? |
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Chanukah centers on the ideological battle of two cultures; the hedonistic Yevanim (Greek / Syrian culture) waged war against Torah ideals. The battle was not fought for the physical survival of the Jewish nation, but rather for its ideology and way of life. Today, we live in very different times. We are no longer downtrodden and subjugated to oppressive regimes; we are free to choose ... |
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#149 - The System of Tshuvah |
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We know that Tshuvah works. The Nivim told us it does, Chazal repeat it many, many times, and we even have Yom Kippur, a day created specifically for tshuvah. The question isn't whether Tshuvah works, but why I don't make use of it? Why is it that I don't stand there on Yom Kippur with tears flowing down my face, repenting, improving, ridding myself of a year's wort... |
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| Tshuvah |
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#3 Yom Kippur – The power of Teshuvah |
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Using the event of Eliezer Bar Dudia gaining the title of “Rebbe”, we are introduced to one of the greatest acts of teshuvah ever achieved by a human. We witness a human rise from the depths of depravity to the heights of spirituality in the course of a few hours. Through the story of his life, we see what a man accomplished in but a day -- and we are brought to a new appreciation of how great th... |
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#79 Reward & Punishment |
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Reward and punishment is not a matter of HASHEM giving a potch to a rasha and making nice to a tzaddik. Each person’s cheshbon is meted out with fine precision, sometimes over generations. It’s so complex we cannot begin to fathom it. But there’s one thing we can understand: our actions, whether for the good or the bad, have a forceful impact. By... |
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#80 It's Never Too Late |
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We put up many resistances to teshuva. The simplest one is denial. “I’ve never done anything wrong.” But deep down, we know it’s a lie, so guilt festers, perking up at odd moments to tell us, “Who do you think you are – doing mitzvos? You’re a slime and a faker. Stop pretending to be holy.” With all these obstacles, it could almost seem that teshuva is imp... |
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#115 - Preparing For Yom Kipper |
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While Yom Kippur is known as the Day of Forgiveness, there are two other concerns people should focus on that day: praying for their needs for the coming year, and asking themselves the key question, “Is the life I am leadingthe life I wish to be leading?” This Shmuz focuses us on the importance of all three issues, and gives us some powerful motivation to use the day to its fullest. ... |
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Hilchos Teshuvah Boot Camp CD set |
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Hilchos Teshuvah Boot Camp DOWNLOAD |
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Hilchos Teshuvah Boot Camp MP3 CD |
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The Lost Art of Teshuva 4 CD set |
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The Lost Art of Teshuva CD MP3 |
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Teshuva boot camp and FREE Lost Art of Teshuva MP3 |
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| Torah |
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#40 Acher – The Importance of Torah – Founding an Organization |
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Elisha Ben Avuha was one of the greatest Torah scholars who ever lived--He was a tanna, a great Torah teacher, and the rebbe of Rebbe Meir -- until he became Acher, the Heretic. In that state he undid all of the good that he had accomplished, and did things that were purely evil. Yet, when he died, he wasn’t allowed into “Gehenom”, because of the merit of Torah until his student, Rebbe Meir, begge... |
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#41 Rebbe Akiva and Rochel – Potential of the individual |
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At the age of 40, Akiva the shepherd went off to learn and transformed himself into the Torah giant known throughout history. We all know the basic story line, but we may not know that he promptly quit and set back home -- a failure. One event changed his life and gave him the strength and fortitude to turn back and succeed. Detailing the events of Rebbe Akiva’s struggle, the story of sacrifice, ... |
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#57 Torah – Creating Worlds |
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#66 Torah – The Mark of the Man |
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A popular notion in the secular world is that people are just like animals. Animals live and breathe; we live and breathe. Animals walk on four legs; we walk on two. What’s the big difference? The Torah tells us that the difference is staggering. It’s true that humans have an animalistic side, but we also have nishomas. By nurturing the nishoma, we can rea... |
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#103 Torah Study - The Key To It All |
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Everyone wants to grow. It’s a natural human drive. The problem is that we often find ourselves stuck. Even when we fully understand the gravity of our actions, even when we can truly appreciate the greatness of our potential,- it is difficult to change. Yet the Torah expects us to change, to grow, to become better people. The question is: how? How do I get the strength and motivation ... |
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#111 - Sustaining Spiritual Growth |
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Any level of spiritual attainment comes with hard work and perseverance. Often, it takes months or years to change one’s outlook on life, to bring one’s value system in line with the Torah's values. But once someone has invested the time, energy, and effort, and reaches a certain level of understanding, how can he maintain it? How do we keep up the growth that we have achieved? This S... |
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#118 - Da'as Torah |
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When we have medical questions, we go to a doctor. When we have legal questions, we go to a lawyer. When we have financial questions, we go to an accountant. But who do we go to when we have "life questions?" Who do we approach when we have the really big deal questions - questions that shape our future and the future of our families? Since our early days in yeshiva we were taught the answer: Da'... |
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#157 - Learning to Love Learning |
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Shmuz Info Coming Soon... ... |
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#163 Only the Good Die Young |
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Shmuz #163 Only the Good Die Young WATCH THE SHMUZ HERE ... |
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| Free Samples |
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#44 Bar Kamtza - Do you really have Free Will? |
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I accept that each person’s life span is set before they are born. I also accept that the question is visited on Rosh Hashanah when Hashem decides who will live and who will die. All that is fine and well, until I pick up a gun and say to myself, can’t I decide to end that person’s life? Isn’t it obvious that whether that person will live or die is now in my hands? Using the Tisha B’Av Gem... |
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#19 Free will - Part 2: I Never Do Anything Wrong |
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In this introduction to emunah, we are presented with four basic levels of belief: 1. Hashem created the world. 2. Hashem is involved in the really big picture issues - war, famine, life and death. 3. Hashem knows my inner thoughts. 4. Hashem is intimately involved in my day to day life. After outlining and defining the levels, we are given practical techniques to improve our level of belief in a... |
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#24 Understanding Life Settings |
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It almost seems as if some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth, while others are destined to suffer. Why is it is that some people are born with amazing capacity, and others are created so simple? Why is there autism in the world? Why Down Syndrome? If in fact God is just, why not mete out talents and abilities in an equal manner to all people? Using the backdrop of a famou... |
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#20 Davening - Making it Real |
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Of course we daven. Three times a day. Everyday. The question is how real our davening is, and to whom are we davening. It often seems that our davening is more talking to the walls than talking to Hashem. This Shmuz helps us focus on some of the most basic principles in Judaism, things we always knew, yet take for granted, and are so ... |
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#31 The Voice Inside |
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Have you ever heard of something called a guilty conscience? What about a Jewish guilty conscience? While we all recognize that “Voice Inside”, that seems to moralize and lecture to us when we have stepped over the line, we assume that this is just one of those things that we have to sort of ignore. In this Shmuz we are brought to understand that “Voice” that HASHEM put inside every human ... |
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| Holiday |
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#69 Yitzias Mitzraim – A War of Ideology |
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When we look at Pharaoh and his pagan beliefs, we usually write him off as primitive. The same goes for all idol worshippers. But surprisingly, they were tuned into spiritual secrets we modern folks tend to ignore. They just made one fatal error. Modern science isn’t all that different. Scientists have uncovered some astounding facts of nature. But for all... |
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#74 Divaykus in Our Times |
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Falling in love is the most pleasurable and powerful experience most of us will have in our lifetimes. And it comes so naturally, too. Just look at any chosson and kallah. Loving Hashem takes more effort, but the reward can be even greater. After all, His love is all-powerful. Lofty as it sounds, we can all achieve d’vaykus with HASHE... |
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#88 Chanukah - The Effect of Outside Influences |
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The nisayon in the times of Chanukah was clear: fight for Torah or succumb to Greek culture. During the Spanish Expulsion, the nisayon was also clear: leave Spain as a Jew or convert and remain comfortable. What is the nisayon in our times? Our lives are no longer threatened. We enjoy tremendous wealth and freedom. What could be wrong? Make no mistake. Mod... |
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#96 Purim III-Sieze the Moment |
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#113 - Tshuvah - Two Elements to a Sin |
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As we come close to Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur, we focus on teshuva. Most of us understand that there are areas we must improve, but only in a theoretical sense. It is rare to find a person who walks into shul on Yom Kippur with a fierce determination to get rid of his sins. Most of us just daven and try to focus on improving ourselves. The idea of heartfelt remorse and repentance just doesn't ... |
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#115 - Preparing For Yom Kipper |
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While Yom Kippur is known as the Day of Forgiveness, there are two other concerns people should focus on that day: praying for their needs for the coming year, and asking themselves the key question, “Is the life I am leadingthe life I wish to be leading?” This Shmuz focuses us on the importance of all three issues, and gives us some powerful motivation to use the day to its fullest. ... |
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#123 - Chanukah: Whose Side Are You On? |
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Chanukah centers on the ideological battle of two cultures; the hedonistic Yevanim (Greek / Syrian culture) waged war against Torah ideals. The battle was not fought for the physical survival of the Jewish nation, but rather for its ideology and way of life. Today, we live in very different times. We are no longer downtrodden and subjugated to oppressive regimes; we are free to choose ... |
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#155 - Chanukah - Flexi-dox Judaism |
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SHMUZ INFO COMING SOON... ... |
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#203 - Disney Land USA, the ADD Generation |
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Disney Land USA, the ADD Generation New statistics show that 64% of Americans are overweight or obese. The only thing larger than the American waist line is the wallets bulging with credit card debt. This country was founded on the principles of hard work, thrift and personal responsibility, yet it seems that much of that is gone. Even the American Dream of a good job... |
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