SF - Are You Making This Common Mistake?

The journey is beautiful

NEW: "Ask the Rabbi": salantorg@gmail.com Receive a personal, private response from Rabbi Zvi Miller. We're updating our contact information. If you'd like to receive important updates by phone or text, please reply with your mobile number to: salantorg@gmail.com בס״ד "Rabbi Eliezer says: 'Let the honor of your friend be as dear to you as your own.'" — Pirkei Avos 2:10 🕊️ The Foundation of True Friendship Honoring another person is not merely an act of polite words or formal etiquette; it requires a deep, internal commitment to their dignity. Based on the classic commentary of the Bartenura, the indispensable gateway to truly fulfilling Rabbi Eliezer’s directive is patience. Without patience, honor cannot survive. When you are short-tempered, dismissive, or reactive, it is impossible for your friend not to feel slighted—even if that was not your explicit intention. ⚖️ The Impact of Our Responses 💥 Anger is a Breach of Honor: When anger flares, respect dissolves. Quick-tempered responses signal to others that your mood or convenience matters more than their feelings and dignity. 🌿 Patience Enhances Honor: A generous and unending supply of patience demonstrates that you value your friend’s feelings as much as your own. It creates a safe, dignified space where relationships can flourish. 🎯 Daily Resolution Make a conscious commitment to preserve and elevate the honor of those around you: Pause Before Speaking: In moments of tension, allow patience to bridge the gap between reaction and response. Value Their Dignity: Treat your friend's self-respect with the same tenderness and care with which you guard your own. Practice Endurance: Cultivate a calm mindset so that minor friction never undermines lifelong respect. Donate May the souls who left this world be remembered for a blessing. R' Yochanon Mordecai ben Ephraim and Moras Esther Leah bas Yehudah Yoseph HaRav HaGaon Rebe Mordecai ben Rav Moshe and Rebbitzen Mazel Malka bas Sara 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 BZF HaRav HaGoan Yaacov Yitzchak HaRav HaGaon Gershon Chaim R' Maair Ben R' Yakutiel and Javayeer z"tl 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 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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Reminder: SF - Protecting the Light Within

The journey is beautiful

NEW: "Ask the Rabbi": salantorg@gmail.com Receive a personal, private response from Rabbi Zvi Miller. We're updating our contact information. If you'd like to receive important updates by phone or text, please reply with your mobile number to: salantorg@gmail.com בס״ד ⚙️ The Mechanics of Mitzvot and the Soul 👑 The Soul's Pure Origin The soul naturally inherently knows and loves HaShem because it is a Divine spark. However, being housed within a physical body creates a barrier of material coarseness that conceals this inner light. 🧰 The Role of Mitzvot The 613 commandments act as a protective barrier and a refining process. They guard the soul from the coarsening influence of the physical world and keep its pristine clarity intact. 🧺 The Parable of the Royal Garments (Shabbat 152b) A king gave royal garments to his servants. The wise stored them safely to keep them clean, while the foolish wore them during daily labor, getting them soiled. When the king called for their return, the wise returned spotless garments, whereas the foolish returned dirty ones. The Takeaway: HaShem entrusts us with a pure soul. Mitzvah observance ensures we return it unblemished, avoiding the painful purification process required for a soiled soul before entering Gan Eden. 💡 The Ultimate Purpose By keeping the 613 mitzvot, you remove the physical blockages obscuring your soul. Once those barriers are cleared, the soul naturally reverts to its original, unhindered state—which is deep, instinctual love for the Creator. "To love HaShem" is therefore the overarching objective of creation, and the mitzvot are the essential tools given to achieve it. (Based on the writings of Rav Yerucham Levovtiz) Donate May the souls who left this world be remembered for a blessing. R' Yochanon Mordecai ben Ephraim and Moras Esther Leah bas Yehudah Yoseph HaRav HaGaon Rebe Mordecai ben Rav Moshe and Rebbitzen Mazel Malka bas Sara 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 BZF HaRav HaGoan Yaacov Yitzchak HaRav HaGaon Gershon Chaim R' Maair Ben R' Yakutiel and Javayeer z"tl 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 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 Secret Benefit of a Mitzvah That Most People Miss

The journey is beautiful

NEW: "Ask the Rabbi": salantorg@gmail.com Receive a personal, private response from Rabbi Zvi Miller. We're updating our contact information. If you'd like to receive important updates by phone or text, please reply with your mobile number to: salantorg@gmail.com בס״ד 📜 The Power of a Mitzvah: Elevating the Soul and Body "See, I give before you today a blessing and a curse. The blessing emanates to you if you will observe the commandments of HaShem..." — Re'eh (Devarim 11:26) 🤔 A Curious Distinction Curiously, the Torah refers to the fulfillment of Mitzvot directly as "a blessing," rather than simply framing it as a choice of good over evil. 👑 The Earthly King: When a person carries out the will of a human king, the king rewards him. However, that reward is external—it does not change or improve the character of the servant. ✨ The Heavenly King: In contrast, the holiness of a Mitzvah does something far greater. It grants our reward, but it also elevates our entire being. After a person performs a Mitzvah, they are fundamentally a different person than they were before. 🕊️ The Heavenly Root of Action 🌌 Rooted Above: A Mitzvah is rooted in Heaven, for HaShem Himself commands us to fulfill His Mitzvot. 🕯️ Illuminated Below: When a person does a Mitzvah, the Light of HaShem illuminates upon them directly. 🌿 Total Transformation: The Blessing of the Mitzvah does not only purify and sanctify the soul—it purifies, sanctifies, and elevates the physical body as well.  Daily Reflection & Practice Reflect on the blessing we recite prior to fulfilling a Mitzvah: "Blessed are You, HaShem, King of the universe, Who sanctifies us with His commandments." 👑 During the Mitzvah: Experience the holiness of HaShem actively elevating, refining, and purifying your being. 🌱 After the Mitzvah: Consider yourself a brand-new creation. Donate May the souls who left this world be remembered for a blessing. R' Yochanon Mordecai ben Ephraim and Moras Esther Leah bas Yehudah Yoseph HaRav HaGaon Rebe Mordecai ben Rav Moshe and Rebbitzen Mazel Malka bas Sara 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 BZF HaRav HaGoan Yaacov Yitzchak HaRav HaGaon Gershon Chaim R' Maair Ben R' Yakutiel and Javayeer z"tl 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 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

Salant Foundation | 1330 NE 172 St. | North Miami Beach, FL 33162 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice