Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv, The Alter of Kelm
When R’ Simcha Zissel learned Mussar, his whole body was involved. He would pace back and forth singing penetrating, heart-rending melodies that touched the soul and awakened the mind. He himself composed the tunes.
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Rav Yisrael Lipkin of Salant
At twilight one evening he was seen gazing at the sky in order to determine the exact moment of nightfall. It turned out that his doctors had ordered him to rest for three days without learning, and R’ Yisrael carried out the instructions to the letter. At the end of the third day, he set out to determine the exact moment of nightfall, for “Just as it is forbidden to delay the study of Torah of even one moment, so is it forbidden to begin one moment too early, because of the obligation of guarding one’s health.”
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Rav Yitzchok Blazer
Sometimes our sages use the expression “goes down to Gehinom”; other times they say “falls into Gehinom.” R’ Itzele explained that the difference reflects the different kinds of sins. Sometimes the descent into Gehinom is a gradual decay process. But there are some sins that catapult a person into Gehinom in a flash.
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
Today’s world moves lightening fast. And with it, the challenges your children face and the issues they confront. What concerned you last year may be half of what you need to know today. Are there better ways to keep our children on track and ensure their success?
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Special keynote presentation by:
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Sunday, April 26th, 6:30-10:00 pm
Chicago Marriott at O’Hare Airport 8535 West Higgins Road, Chicago
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This important event is co-sponsored by the following local organizations:
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Jewish Child and Family Services
Like most people, I learn Pirkei Avos on Shabbos starting after Pesach and finishing six weeks later. The following is part of Rav Hirsch’s commentary on this Pirkei Avos: Shimon the Righteous was among the last surviving members of the Great assembly. He would say: The world stands on three things: Torah, the service of G-d, and deeds of kindness. (Chap 1, Mishna 2)
Torah implies the knowledge of the truth and the will of God with regard to every aspect of our lives, personal and public, individual and social. Avodah denotes dutiful obedience, service God by fulfilling His will in every phase of our lives, personal and pubic, individual and social. Gemiluth Chasidim signifies selfless, active loving-kindness to promote the welfare of our fellow-man. These are the three things which shape and perfect the world of man and all that pertains to it in accordance with the measure and way of its destiny. Whenever and wherever any of these three are inadequate or altogether lacking there is a gap which cannot be filled and there is no manifest destiny. Without Torah the human spirit lacks the wellsprings of true knowledge; it will be blind to the basic, indispensable element which makes man a human being and it will be receptive to everything except truth and light. Without Avodah man cannot have the proper attitude towards God, his Master and Creator, and toward the world into which God put him in order to develop and protect it in accordance with God’s will. Instead of serving God he will think he is a master when, as a matter of fact, he will be the slave of his passions and his lust. He will pander to anything that he feels can serve or prejudice his interests, instead of being exalted and ennobled by him in accordance with God’s purpose, everything he touches will receive the impress of his depravity and error. If he omits Gemiluth Chasadim he will be without that characteristic which is the very first trait of godliness. Instead of being God-like in acting as a creator of happiness and prosperity for his fellow-man, he will harden his heart in callous selfishness, and mankind will lack that bond of brotherhood and loving-kindness within which alone all happiness and joy of life can prosper.
Yeah, I know, it’s a long quote. But, in these words, Rav Hirsch (as rendered into English by Gertrude Hirschler in 1967) really sums up Torah Judaism and our place in the world. He not only shows us how Torah, Avodah, and Gemilus Chassadim must enhance our world, but Rav Hirsch skillfully draws a picture of what a person is like who doesn’t engage in these three things. He willl: “be receptive to everything except truth and light”, “be the slave of his passions and his lust”, and “harden his heart in callous selfishness, and mankind will lack that bond of brotherhood and loving-kindness within which alone all happiness and joy of life can prosper”.
The image of a three-legged table isn’t just a random picture. If one doesn’t exercise a balance of Torah, Avodah, and Gemilus Chassadim then it’s as if the table is either missing a leg or the table is slanted. Either way, it isn’t stable. We see that all three elements must exist in order to achieve a “balanced” Torah observant Jew.
Rav Nosson Zvi Finkel, the Alter of Slabodka
Entering R’ Nosson Zvi’s house, a tamid removed his hat, and placed it, brim down, on the table. R’ Nosson Zvi scolded him, saying, “The brim of the hat is wet from perspiration. How can you soil the tablecloth with it? This is considered doing damage.”
From Sparks of Mussar by R Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
