| Lilui Nishmas Asher Zelig ben Zvi Hirsh
A New Take on Self-Improvement \ Mesilat Yesharim D'var Torah: One of the most effective tools for self-improvement is "spiritual accounting." That is the method of reviewing our actions at the end of each day. When reviewing our day, if we find positive actions we strengthen and reinforce them, so that we will be motivated to continue performing them tomorrow. If we find a negative action or character trait, we initiate an effective strategy to avoid repeating it. Even more, we expand our yearning for purification to all of mankind. We achieve this by intending to totally nullify this negative trait from the entire world.
Moral: The ultimate effort for self-improvement encompasses striving and intending to uplift, cleanse, and enlighten ourselves, as well as, the entire world.
Application: Once Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendelowitz ztz"l, was with his students in the woods. He asked one of his students to turn over a rock. As soon as he did so insects that were hidden under the rock scurried forth. Rabbi Mendelowitz said, "Do you see those creatures? For their entire existence under that rock, they believed the world was dark and dreary. By turning over the rock you revealed to them a new world that is filled with light and beauty. This is our mission in this world -- to roll the heavy stones off souls and reveal the Yiddishe Neshama, to allow the Ohr HaShechinah to shine upon them. When we have removed the boulders, we will lift up our eyes to the Heavens, behold our Creator, and know our Yiddishkeit." (Based on Mesilat Yesharim, quote of Rav Mendelowitz - Mishpacha Magazine) |
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Refuah Shleimah
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