Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin of Salant
When he davened with a minyan, R’ Yisrael would hurry so as not to delay the congregation. But when he davened privately, he would pray at length, with tremendous concentration and dveikus.
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin of Salant
The head of a large company turned to R’ Yisrael with the following question. He had only one hour free a day to learn. What should he learn during that time? “Spend the hour learning Mussar,” answered R’ Yisrael. “If you do so, then you will discover many more free hours in the day.”
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin of Salant
“A person who works for the community must have three virtues: he must not get tired, he must not get angry, and he must not be eager to see a project completed.”
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin of Salant
In Koenigsberg, after R’ Yisrael had ascertained that he could not influence the storekeepers to close their stores on Shabbos, he made up with them that at least they would not bring their keys from the house to the store on Shabbos; but would hide the keys close to the store instead.
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
In line during a very hectic, draining, and busy week for me. I didn’t even read much on anything online, including email. Part of my week took me to the post office. While waiting in line I saw the follow quote from Benjamin Franklin (who’s writings, BTW, influenced this sefer):
Energy and persistence conquer all things.
This happened to be one of several things that I needed to read and think about this week. These also hit home:
Never despair. It is forbidden to give up hope! -Reb Nachman
There is no greater illness than discouragement.- Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin of Salant
Impossible Is Nothing!- Current ad campaign for Adidas
Have a great Shabbos Kodesh!
Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin of Salant
What a person of midos can achieve during a Purim seudah, a ‘pious’ man without good midos can lose during Kol Nidrei on Yom Kippur.
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin of Salant
A person who truly trusts in Hashem is truly rich. But a person who is only reputed to trust in Hashem is like a person who is only reputed to be rich.
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin of Salant
“When I first began to learn Mussar,” reminisced R’ Yisrael, “I would get angry at the world, but not at myself. Later, I would get angry also at myself. Finally, I got angry at myself alone.”
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Rabbi Yisroel Lipkin of Salant
R’ Yisrael was once praising his student R’ Simcha Zissel Ziv of Kelm. Said a rabbi who was present, “If R’ Simcha Zissel would devote his talents completely to Gemora, instead of spending time also on Mussar, he would become a tremendous goan.”
“The Shulchan Oruch,” answered R’ Yisroel, “teaches that if a person has before him a small, perfect challah and a large but imperfect one, he must cut the perfect challah first. Similary, spritual perfection takes priority over scholarly greatness.”
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
