SF - # The Blood of the Nile: A Warning Born of Mercy

The journey is beautiful

In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Naftali Tilson: With heartfelt gratitude, we wish you and your family bracha, hatzlacha, and abundant nachas!

"By this you shall know that I am HaShem: Behold, I will strike the water that is in the Nile... and it shall be turned to blood." (Shemos 7:17) When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to liberate the Jewish people, HaShem responded with the Ten Plagues, beginning with the transformation of the Nile into blood. On the surface, this was a rebuke of Egyptian theology. By striking the Nile, HaShem dismantled their primary deity, demonstrating that the very source of their life and economy was merely a tool in the hand of the All- Powerful, Eternal Creator. However, the Ohr HaChaim reveals a deeper, more personal message within this miracle. The plague was actually an expression of HaShem’s profound mercy toward Pharaoh. By turning the water to blood rather than Pharaoh’s own veins to water, HaShem was whispering a warning: "If I can transform the object of your worship into blood, I surely have the power to do the same to you. You are an idolater who leads an entire nation astray, yet I spare your life." HaShem struck the "god" to save the man, providing Pharaoh with a window of opportunity to repent before the strikes became more personal. The Moral: The Patience of the Infinite Even though HaShem possesses unlimited mastery over His creations, He is never "quick to strike." He is Erech Apayim (Slow to Anger). He first acts with compassion and subtle hints, hoping that the wayward will recognize the "message in the bottle" and choose to return to Him out of love and understanding rather than through devastating force. Today's Takeaway Visualize: Envision the vast Nile River and every canal in Egypt shimmering with deep, dark blood. Hear the shock of the Egyptians as they scramble for water. Among the chaos, see the few who stop to think: "What is the Creator telling me?" Reflect: Look at the challenges or "disruptions" in your own life. Instead of seeing them as mere obstacles, recognize them as HaShem’s compassionate communication. He often "shakes" our external world to wake up our internal soul. Act: Identify one "message" HaShem might be sending you through a current challenge. Make the necessary correction today, turning that moment of darkness into a source of spiritual light. _______________________________________________________ Life Advice – עצת חיים You are welcome to ask any question and receive a personal, private response from Rabbi Zvi Miller. Please email: salantorg@gmail.com Donations and Dedications Donate May the souls who left this world be remembered for a blessing. HaRav HaGaon Rebe Mordecai ben Rav Moshe and Rebbitzen Mazel Malka bas Sara R' Yochanon Mordecai ben Ephraim and Moras Esther Leah bas Yehudah Yoseph R' Asher Zelig ben Zvi Hirsch and Moras Raizel bas Pesach Meira Leah bas Michael Basha Elka bas Moshe HaCohen Devorah bas Moshe HaRav HaGaon Rebe Yisrael ben HaRav HaGaon Zev Wolf HaRav HaGaon Rebe Moshe ben HaRav HaGaon Yacov Moshe Fisher HaRav HaGaon Daniel Zvi ben Avraham Chanuch HaRav HaGaon Ben Zion Freid HaRav HaGoan Yaacov Yitzchak Abrahams HaRav HaGaon Gershon Chaim ben Nachum Zev HaRav Ha Gaon Yehoshua Bergman R' Maair Ben R' Yakutiel and Javayeer z"tl Rav Asher ben Chasha Mosha Basha and Chaya Breina Lazarus Refuah Shleimah Yochanon Baruch ben Fruma Ettta Zivia bas Raizel Tzvi ben Chana Avner Shimon ben Argamon Leah Hadassah bas Michal Chana Chava Bas Michal Chanah Nuna bas Nuna Yakir Efraim Ben Rachel Devora Chaya Leah bas Sara Chaya Shaina Chana Bas Itcha Netanel Ilan ben Shayna Tzipora Shmuel Ben Navat Chanah Tauba bat Tzilah. Daniella bat Sarah Rise bat Faiga Kal Cholei Yisrael salantfoundation.org US 305 653 1182 Israel 058 429 8471 Visit our website Connect with us Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email

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SF - # The Echo of Thought - Why Good Intentions Always Return

The journey is beautiful

In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Simcha (Joel) Brauser : With heartfelt gratitude, we wish you and your family bracha, hatzlacha, and abundant nachas!

"Don't those who devise evil go astray? But kindness and truth shall be established for those who devise good." (Mishlei 14:22) In this passage, King Solomon, the wisest of all men, reveals a spiritual law regarding the power of the human imagination. He teaches us that our thoughts are not private; they are the blueprints for our future reality. The Path of the Deceiver A person who conspires against others has already "gone astray" before they even take their first step. They fall into the trap of believing that by obsessively visualizing another’s failure, they can force that failure into existence. However, the Metzudas Dovid explains that this is a critical error in judgment. HaShem is the Master of Thoughts; He perceives the negative energy being cultivated and causes it to "boomerang." Like Haman, who was so consumed with the gallows he built for Mordechai that he failed to see his own neck sliding into the noose, the "deviser of evil" eventually becomes the victim of their own architecture. The Power of the "Good Eye" Conversely, the person who "devises good"—who spends their mental energy wishing for the success and happiness of others—unlocks a Divine cycle of blessing. Kindness: Their positive thoughts act as a magnet, drawing HaShem’s Chessed (Kindness) down upon them. Truth: The good they envisioned for their friend becomes "established truth." It doesn't remain a mere wish; HaShem ensures those positive thoughts blossom into physical reality. When you hope for your friend to be blessed, HaShem views you as a partner in His goodness, and He blesses the "planner" along with the "recipient." Moral: Guarding the Mind As human beings, we often struggle to maintain a purely positive mindset. However, once we realize that our thoughts are "seeds" that we will eventually have to eat the fruit of, we become far more careful about what we plant. Today's Takeaway The Pivot: The next time a jealous or negative thought about another person enters your mind, consciously pivot. Replace it with a specific "good plan" for them. The Result: Realize that by "devising good" for your neighbor, you are actually building a palace of peace and joy for your own soul to inhabit. _______________________________________________________ Life Advice – עצת חיים You are welcome to ask any question and receive a personal, private response from Rabbi Zvi Miller. Please email: salantorg@gmail.com Donations and Dedications Donate May the souls who left this world be remembered for a blessing. HaRav HaGaon Rebe Mordecai ben Rav Moshe and Rebbitzen Mazel Malka bas Sara R' Yochanon Mordecai ben Ephraim and Moras Esther Leah bas Yehudah Yoseph R' Asher Zelig ben Zvi Hirsch and Moras Raizel bas Pesach Meira Leah bas Michael Basha Elka bas Moshe HaCohen Devorah bas Moshe HaRav HaGaon Rebe Yisrael ben HaRav HaGaon Zev Wolf HaRav HaGaon Rebe Moshe ben HaRav HaGaon Yacov Moshe Fisher HaRav HaGaon Daniel Zvi ben Avraham Chanuch HaRav HaGaon Ben Zion Freid HaRav HaGoan Yaacov Yitzchak Abrahams HaRav HaGaon Gershon Chaim ben Nachum Zev HaRav Ha Gaon Yehoshua Bergman R' Maair Ben R' Yakutiel and Javayeer z"tl Rav Asher ben Chasha Mosha Basha and Chaya Breina Lazarus Refuah Shleimah Yochanon Baruch ben Fruma Ettta Zivia bas Raizel Tzvi ben Chana Avner Shimon ben Argamon Leah Hadassah bas Michal Chana Chava Bas Michal Chanah Nuna bas Nuna Yakir Efraim Ben Rachel Devora Chaya Leah bas Sara Chaya Shaina Chana Bas Itcha Netanel Ilan ben Shayna Tzipora Shmuel Ben Navat Chanah Tauba bat Tzilah. Daniella bat Sarah Rise bat Faiga Kal Cholei Yisrael salantfoundation.org US 305 653 1182 Israel 058 429 8471 Visit our website Connect with us Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email

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SF - # The Breath of Life: Living by Faith

The journey is beautiful

In honor of Mr. and Ms. Yehudah Gittleson: With heartfelt gratitude, we wish you and your family bracha, hatzlacha, and abundant nachas!

"The righteous person shall live by his faith." (Chavakuk 2:4) The Prophet Chavakuk taught that the entirety of the 613 Mitzvos can be distilled into a single, foundational principle: Emunah (Faith). However, the Saba of Slabodka (Rav Nosson Zvi Finkel) explains that Emunah is not merely a cognitive belief or a set of rules; it is the very "oxygen" of the soul. Vibrant faith in HaShem is life itself. When we cultivate a sincere belief in HaShem’s absolute goodness and His constant presence, we aren't just "surviving"—we are truly alive. This brand of faith infuses a person with a distinct type of happiness, a resilient optimism, and a tireless spiritual energy. Without Emunah, a person may be physically breathing, but through the lens of the Ohr HaZafon, it is only through faith that one truly lives. The Moral: The Soul's Inherent Value The pinnacle of faith is not only believing in HaShem "up there," but also trusting in what He put "down here"—within you. The greatest expression of Emunah is the unwavering trust that HaShem has granted every single human being a wise, eternal, and infinitely holy soul. We often focus on our flaws, but true faith requires us to believe in the "Divine spark" that HaShem deemed worthy of existence. Today's Takeaway Take a moment each day to internalize this reality: At every single second, HaShem is actively breathing a living soul into you—a soul that emanates directly from the highest heights of Gan Eden. * Practice: Close your eyes for a moment and sense that your vitality is not just biological, but a continuous gift from the Creator. Result: When you realize your soul is a "piece" of the Divine, your self-worth ceases to depend on worldly success and begins to rest on your eternal, holy essence. _______________________________________________________ Life Advice – עצת חיים You are welcome to ask any question and receive a personal, private response from Rabbi Zvi Miller. Please email: salantorg@gmail.com Donations and Dedications Donate May the souls who left this world be remembered for a blessing. HaRav HaGaon Rebe Mordecai ben Rav Moshe and Rebbitzen Mazel Malka bas Sara R' Yochanon Mordecai ben Ephraim and Moras Esther Leah bas Yehudah Yoseph R' Asher Zelig ben Zvi Hirsch and Moras Raizel bas Pesach Meira Leah bas Michael Basha Elka bas Moshe HaCohen Devorah bas Moshe HaRav HaGaon Rebe Yisrael ben HaRav HaGaon Zev Wolf HaRav HaGaon Rebe Moshe ben HaRav HaGaon Yacov Moshe Fisher HaRav HaGaon Daniel Zvi ben Avraham Chanuch HaRav HaGaon Ben Zion Freid HaRav HaGoan Yaacov Yitzchak Abrahams HaRav HaGaon Gershon Chaim ben Nachum Zev HaRav Ha Gaon Yehoshua Bergman R' Maair Ben R' Yakutiel and Javayeer z"tl Rav Asher ben Chasha Mosha Basha and Chaya Breina Lazarus Refuah Shleimah Yochanon Baruch ben Fruma Ettta Zivia bas Raizel Tzvi ben Chana Avner Shimon ben Argamon Leah Hadassah bas Michal Chana Chava Bas Michal Chanah Nuna bas Nuna Yakir Efraim Ben Rachel Devora Chaya Leah bas Sara Chaya Shaina Chana Bas Itcha Netanel Ilan ben Shayna Tzipora Shmuel Ben Navat Chanah Tauba bat Tzilah. Daniella bat Sarah Rise bat Faiga Kal Cholei Yisrael salantfoundation.org US 305 653 1182 Israel 058 429 8471 Visit our website Connect with us Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email

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