Spiritual Elevation
Once a man walking through the forest came face to face with a ferocious lion. Shaking with fear, he picked up a stick and hoped to scare away the lion. Unbeknownst to him, a hunter was sitting in a nearby tree. He shot an arrow at the lion before he could attack. The man who was saved began kissing the stick, thinking that it had magical powers. "Don't be foolish!'" called out the hunter. "I shot an arrow that stopped the lion."
Lesson: Whenever we perform a Mitzvah or study Torah, we presume that we are elevating ourselves. In truth, all of the holiness and elevation that we receive through a Mitzvah or Torah study is bestowed upon us by HaShem.
App: As you engage in a Mitzvah or study Torah, reflect on the fact that all of the purity, joy, and elevation that you experience is delivered to you exclusively by HaShem.
You can still participate in this great merit....
Thank you for the many new names that our subscribers sent in.
May your kindness and care in sharing Mussar with your friends merit you with abundant blessings from HaShem.
If you have not yet sent in names, you can send in names today.
The 25th of Shevat is the ¥arzeit of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter (1810 -1883), the founder of the Mussar Movement.
Rabbi Salanter dedicated his life to inspire and encourage people to engage in self-improvement and character refinement. He taught that the foundation of the Torah is pleasing character traits and the living awareness of HaShem.
He innovated the daily study of Mussar as the primary spiritual remedy for our souls.
His teachings impacted the entire Jewish world and his holy influence continues today.
The global initiatives of the Salant Foundation are dedicated to inspire and provide opportunities for people to strive for personal excellence through Mussar study and practice.
At this auspicious time, we ask our subscribers to forward to us names and email addresses of friends who would benefit from our daily lessons. We will send a message to the new names, explaining that a friend suggested them to receive the Salant lessons. Please send the names to:
rabbimiller@salantfoundation.org
Rabbi Salanter said, "There is no greater merit than strengthening others to engage in Mussar."
By inspiring others to engage in Mussar study and practice, may you receive HaShem's sweetest blessings in this world as well as the eternal World to Come.
Rabbi Zvi Miller
Dean
*New printing of the Salant Foundation's "Ohr Yisrael"
*To schedule a ten-minute phone consultation with Rabbi Zvi Miller, send email to salantorg@gmail.com |
L"N Rav Yochanon Mordecai Ben Ephraim and Moras Esther Leach bas Yehudah
Refuah Shleimah
Yochanon Baruch ben Fruma Ettta
Leiba Zelta bas Chana |
