“Writing is easy; erasing-very difficult”
as sited in “The Story of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter” by R Dr. Zalman F. Ury
Sunday’s Salanter Selection
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Category Archives: Salanter
Sunday’s Salanter Selection
Rabbi Yisrael Salanter says:
Persons who are in economic or other trouble will energetically seek to improve their lot. Why should people, who are in one kind of moral trouble or another, likewise seek to extricate themselves from evil and pursue the path of morality?
From Ohr Yisrael (the collected letters of RYS complied by R Yitzchak Blazer)
Available in Hebrew or English
Sunday’s Salanter Selection
During the Days of Awe, Rabbi Israel Salanter used to say that a person should try to become needed by the public. When we pray, “Inscribe us in the book of life,” we mean life dedicated to the needs of Heaven. (from SPARKS OF MUSSAR)
Sunday’s Spark of Mussar
Rabbi Yisrael Salanter
“The test of whether Mussar is being studied properly is whether it evokes a desire to continue learning Mussar.”
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Sunday’s Spark of Mussar
Rav Yisrael Salanter
His disciple, Rav Simcha Zissel testified: “Our master, of blessed memory, lit up the eyes of the exile with his investigations and knowledge in the laws of money, theft and damages. In this he was unique in these generations.”
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Sunday’s Spark of Mussar
Rav Yisrael Salanter
“Someone who cannot shut down a yeshiva cannot open one either.”
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Sunday’s Salanter Selection
Mussar is like a telescope, allowing one to see themselves in detail.
-R Yisrael Salanter
Sunday’s Spark of Mussar
Before Pesach Rabbi Yisrael Salanter was once unable to be present during the baking of this shmurah matzah, in which he was extremely meticulous. His disciples, who had undertaken to watch over the baking in his place, asked him for directions. R’ Yisrael instructed them to be extremely careful not to upset the woman who kneaded the dough and not to rush her, for she was widow, and to upset her would be a violation of the prohibition against oppressing widows and orphans. “The kashrus of the matzos is not complete,” added R’ Yisrael, “with hidurim in the laws of Pesach alone, but with the meticulous observance of the laws of behavior towards other people as well.”- from SPARKS OF MUSSAR
Sunday’s Salanter Selection
Rabbi Yisrael Salanter once witnessed someone running swiftly into the synagogue to say kedusha with the congregation. In his haste, the man stepped on someone’s newly polished shoes. After prayers, Rabbi Salanter told the man that he had a financial responsibility to pay for the shoes to be re-polished. Rabbi Salanter added, “The entire merit of reciting kedusha is lost if its recital causes someone a loss.”
(From Tenuas HaMussar, cited in Love Your Neighbor by R Zelig Pliskin)
Sunday’s Salanter Selection
Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin (Salanter)
“One who cannot explain properly does not understand properly.”
From Tenuas HaMussar (The Mussar Movement)
