Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv, the Alter of Kelm
Walking along Kelm’s main road, which had been paved by the king’s prisoners sentenced to slave labor, the Alter would think of their suffering. “How can people walk calmly through this place,” he wondered, “when people suffered so much and invested their blood and sweat?”
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv, the Alter of Kelm
The moment he woke up in the morning, he would jump out of bed as if a bandit had been standing over him with a knife. His purpose was to break the middah of laziness and to train himself in alacrity.
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, Rav Yisrael Salanter would instruct each member of the family how to behave. He would warn them against getting angry and against idle conversation, for they were all in grave danger. Their carefulness was to last at least through the morning when the judgement is strictest.
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv, the Alter of Kelm
Someone once left a coin on the window sill in Beis HaTalmud, and it remained there for many yearss. No one touched it.
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv, The Alter of Kelm
A visitor forget his cane in Beis HaTalmud (the Alter’s yeshiva in Kelm). When he returned for another visit thirteeen later, having lone since despaired of recoving the cane, he found it hanging in the same spot where he had left it.
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv, the Alter of Kelm
R’ Simcha Zissel also instituted a five-minute seder, for which the students were required to come in specially. Its purpose was to accustom them to value time and concentrate their thoughts quickly.
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv, the Alter of Kelm
When they wash before meals, it was customary of every student in Kelm, after he had washed his hands, to fill the cup with water for the next one.
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv, The Alter of Kelm
He aroused his small children early in the morning gently with the words, “Kinderlach, your’re sleeping away a kingdom!” for G-d appointed man king over creation.
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
To read more about this middah, click here.
Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv, The Alter of Kelm
The words of our Sages are like sparkling stars hidden in the recesses of space. The study of Mussar is a telescope that brings the stars within view of our human eyes.
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
