Category Archives: Uncategorized

Quoting: Bring It Home

The mitzvah to develop our character is the mitzvah to “walk in the ways of our Creator.” Viewing events and situations in this light will elevate the mundane, for in the ultimate view of life nothing is mundane. Every moment presents its unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

By acting and reacting in ways that are kind, compassionate, understanding, and sensitive, you emulate the Creator and bring the Shechinah (Divine presence) into your home. No accomplishment could be greater.

-from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin”s book entitled “Marriage” – ArtScroll Publications, 1998, Introduction, p.11

Quoting: Radiate Friendliness

I remember walking with my father to his synagogue in East Baltimore on Shabbat. The neighborhood was a tough one. There weren’t very many individuals with yarmulkes, and I would feel a bit uncomfortable. But my father kept telling me not to be self-conscious. He radiated self-confidence and friendliness.

People of all races would ask him for his blessings and prayers. His good nature enabled him to view everyone as a friend — and people reciprocated.

-from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s book, “Courage”

Quoting: Appropriate Sadness

While it is theoretically possible to develop an attitude to totally prevent sadness, the Jewish view is there are times when such feelings are appropriate.

For example, we have an obligation to cry over the death of another person. Also, we should care enough about potential suffering to pray that it will not come. And we utilize these situations as reminders to improve ourselves.

-Sources: from Chochmah Umussar, vol.2, p.203; Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s Gateway to Happiness, p.172

Quoting: Courageous Progress

Choose to focus on the progress you are making. You have infinitely more courage now than you did when you were born. Since each courageous act makes you a more courageous person, by focusing on progress, you will almost always feel that you are increasing your level of courage.

This perspective will give you the encouragement to continue developing this quality. Even if you feel that you are backsliding, you still have made progress from the place where you were when you started your journey in life.

-from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s book, “Courage”

Quoting: Expand Your Consciousness

When you connect with the Creator, you will expand your consciousness of infinity and eternity. You will plug into the source of all serenity. Each time you make a blessing, or pray, or perform a good deed, you will be connecting with your love for your Father, your King, Creator and Sustainer of the universe. You will be able to connect with the love that your Creator has for you. Gaining this awareness will add a spiritual dimension to all aspects of a person’s life. Those who have integrated this live an elevated life and make wiser choices.

-from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s book, Serenity, p.93

Quoting: Taking a Break From Stress

You feel relaxed when you take a vacation, because your mind is at rest. The change in external environment makes it easier to put aside the stressful aspects of your daily life.

While we do not always have the ability to go to the mountains or travel to Switzerland whenever we feel excessive stress, we do have the ability to take a MENTAL trip to peaceful and serene locations. Sit in your chair with your eyes closed, and imagine that you are any place in the world where you can feel calm. Don’t WISH you were there, but actually FEEL as if you are there. See how calm you start feeling as you mentally picture yourself in a peaceful meadow or forest. Imagine yourself being without any worries or anxieties.

Try it this evening when you get home from work. While this should not be used as an escape from dealing with problems, ten or fifteen minutes can be as relaxing as a short nap. You’ll be amazed at how it can ease tension!

-from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s book “Gateway to Happiness,” pp.89-90

Sound advice given the recent political shenanigans we’ve experienced from both sides of the Senate in the past couple of weeks.

Kavanaugh Protests Right Here In River City

boise protest

Screenshot from my Facebook page – Kavanaugh protests in Boise, Idaho

Since my grandchildren are coming over soon, and since the vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh won’t be held until between four and five this evening Eastern Time (two to three my time), I was going to give this a rest, but a friend of mine on Facebook (and in real life) posted the question above.

Here’s the link to the full news video courtesy of the Idaho Republican Party’s Facebook page. It’s not very long and I encourage you to view it before continuing.

Continue reading →

Quoting: Push Off Laziness

A person is lazy because he wants serenity and quiet. Comfort-seeking is the root of laziness. But realize that although the lazy way might at first appear to give comfort, in the long run, a person who is lazy will lose greatness. Why? His life will be one of mediocrity!

Today, think about what have you been pushing off because of laziness. Then commit to begin one action to counteract this tendency.

Sources: see Vilna Gaon – Proverbs 15:19; Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s – “Consulting the Wise”

Seeking Kindness in the Aftermath of Kavanaugh – It’s Not Easy

violence

Screenshot of a video on twitter showing a young woman grabbing and destroying signs made by a conservative students group.

It occurs to me that there is a certain inconsistency in promoting kindness and then, at least to some, coming off as politically snarky. Okay, it wasn’t my intent, but I can see how some folks might take it that way.

Today’s the day when the full Senate votes on whether or not to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Frankly, I don’t think either the Republicans or Democrats come away from this clean, and the result, as I said yesterday, is that American politics has officially become a denizen of the foulest sewer, like a mythical alligator.

As I also previously stated, no matter which way the vote goes, we all lose. Oh sure, some people will feel like they’ve won, but look what had to happen to achieve “victory.” Each side accused the other of some pretty vile political tricks, not to mention what ordinary people said and did. Both sides tried to destroy a human being. Both Kavanaugh’s and Ford’s reputations were dragged through the fecal matter, along with their families and anyone who might corroborate their stories, and even children were plagued with death threats.

Anyone who has ever been sexually assaulted or had a family member assaulted in such a manner absolutely projects all of their emotions onto Kavanaugh, as if confirming him to SCOTUS is tacit approval of all sexual crimes, and a total discounting of all victims everywhere.

Continue reading →

Quoting: Seek to do Kindness

A person who has a love for money will constantly look for ways to obtain more money. So, too, when you develop a love for doing acts of kindness, you will look for every possible opportunity to do so. Even though someone else might be able to do the kindness instead, you will feel a strong desire to do it yourself. Rather than looking for ways to free yourself from doing acts of kindness, you realize that you personally gain from helping others.

Today, try doing a kindness for someone even when they do not ask for your help. Be motivated because of an inner drive.

Sources: see Rabbi Yechezkail Levenstein – Ohr Yechezkail, Midos, pp.105, 174-5; Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s “Consulting the Wise”