“And G-d saw all that He had made and behold it was very good.” (1:31)

This is written to teach Man that he should emulate his Creator and he too should always view all of Creation and he too should always perceive its goodness and should always declare that everything in Creation is “very good.” This world is full of joys, and men are required to be aware of these joys and to thank the Creator for them.

In accordance with the great principle that the Creation is intended to teach Man about the Creator, this verse is actually saying “And behold the Creator is very good.” “Good” includes “wise” and “kindly.” And “very” means “endlessly wise” and “endlessly kindly.” Abraham utilized this principle to spend his entire life in the study of the endless wisdom and endless kindliness of the Creator.

“He who gives a gift to his fellowman must let him know” (Shabbat 10B). The purpose is 1) to cause him to love the giver, 2) and to cause him to enjoy the gift (by informing him of the value and usefulness of the gift). Therefore: 1) the Creator informs us that He is the giver of the Creation to us, so that we love Him more because of His benevolence. 2) And also He informs us that this gift is very good, in order that we enjoy it more. Thus we are expected to study the endless benefits of Creation, and as a result we shall love the Giver more and more as our understanding of His gift increases.

But, as a result of this information, when men apply their minds to this subject and spend their lives in the study of this goodness of Hashem (as Abraham did), then the world becomes for them “very good.” Not only will they live happily and will sing to the Creator all their days, but they will be rewarded for this that they will sing in the World to Come forever. This is the true and ultimate meaning of “Behold, it was very good.” This very good world is merely a vestibule or a lobby before the Very Great Good which awaits those that prepare themselves in the vestibule to enter the great Banquet Hall (Olam Haba).

Quoted from “The Beginning” By Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

Shabbat Shalom

Happiness is a state of mind. You cannot buy it in any store or find it on a vacation. Happiness is in the mind. And it is peace of mind that is the only true happiness in this world. When a man has nothing to worry about and his mind is completely at rest, that is the ultimate form of Happiness in this world/Olam Haze’.

An idealist cannot have peace of mind unless he is making progress in learning Torah. Unless he is able to perform more Mitzvot. Unless he can have more children to bring up in the ways of the Torah. Accomplishments are necessary for obtaining peace of mind. Happiness is accomplishing something worthwhile. This is wealth that lasts forever.

Peace of mind (Menuhat Ha-Nefesh) is the common denominator. Bitahon (Trust in Hashem) is one of the great forms of Peace of Mind. Bitahon: To know that Hashem is in charge of the Universe. And in charge of the affairs of mankind. And in charge of our private individual history. Hashem is constantly thinking about it and is planning the very best for us. Therefore, whatever has happened in the past to us has been for our maximum benefit.”

Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L, Tape#466

“A good heart (mind) is at an everlasting feast.” (Mishle 15:15)

Happiness is not the result of possessions and pleasures, for the rich are not more happy than the poor. All happiness is in the mind. He who possesses an understanding of the Goodness of the world, rejoices always and in every circumstance. Life is full of intense pleasures which are available to all men, but almost all men fail to appreciate them because of improper mental attitudes. Thus the development of the mind is actually equivalent to the acquisition of riches.

Quoted from “Sing You Righteous” By Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

Hag Sameyach and Tizku L’shanim Rabot!

Preparing For Yom Hadeen/Rosh Hashana

The main Avoda/Theme of the Judgment Day is focusing on “Hashem Melech,” The King. Hashem created the Universe (which was created on Rosh Hashana) and He runs it all. He is the only One that has any power and only He can do anything for us. On Rosh Hashana we work on gaining clarity on our EMUNAH. The more Emunah you gain, the more you are ready for the Yom Hadeen, because Emunah includes everything.

Rambam: “I am Hashem your G-d”(10 Commandments”) this is the Mitzvah to gain Awareness and Belief in Hashem. This is most fundamental and supercedes even admitting our sins which we don’t do on Rosh Hashana. We have to first think about and do Teshuba for the sin of forgetting that Hakadosh Baruch Hu is in charge of everything, since the lacking of it is the root of our doing sins.

When you go out into the world and you have to make a living and feel you are all alone, know that Hashem remembers people. He remembers Noach (Mussaf Amidah); and so too He remembers the descendants of Noach. This is part of Rosh Hashana, realizing and remembering that He is “Hazan et haolam kulo”/He is sustaining the whole world. That is, your livelihood that you have every day.

The great Purpose in life is to constantly improve, that is something that Hashem is urging us and weighing. “Hashem imparts wisdom to the wise person” (not the jester) because He sees that this wise person will make the best use of this gift. So, we want to improve ourselves to be in this position for the Great Day of Judgment, Yom Hadeen. “Asher Bara Elokim Laasot,” “That Hashem created to do.”

The words ‘to do’ seem superfluous since it was already stated that “Hashem rested from all of the work that He did.” Rabbi Miller ZT”L explains that the words “to do” come to teach us the great purpose of life is to be a doer, to make something out of ourselves through constant improvement. Hashem, our Father, Avinu Malkenu, is waiting on Rosh Hashana to hear our commitment to improve. We can say, “Hashem, we are going to utilize the coming year to love & fear Hashem. To do everything to serve Hashem. I am going to make something out of myself.” When Hashem hears our commitment for the New Year, He says: “My child, I see that you are committing to improvement, I commit to giving you another year of life and blessing”

Tizku Leshanim Rabot

Preparing For Yom Hadeen/Rosh Hashana

Rosh Hashana is the Yom Hadeen, a day of danger, of great peril. One more Mitzvah or one less sin could tip the scales in our favor. If you are a ‘benoni’, if your mitzvoth and sins balance each other, then Hashem allows you to wait until Yom Kippur before your judgment is sealed. In that case, whatever remains to be done, you do on Yom Kippur. But in most cases the very greatest effort should be on Rosh Hashana. That is the day when we hope to be written and sealed immediately for a successful year. If that is the day for doing Teshuba, repentance, why shouldn’t we say ‘al chet’, and mention our sins, all day long?

It is more fundamental to understand the great principles included in the words ‘Hashem Melech’- The Dominion of Hashem! Not only when you sit and say it in the siddur, but even when you walk in the street, you must think ‘Hashem Melech’, Hashem is King. Practice up on it during weekdays. Every day for a minute or two, as you walk in the street, think ‘Hashem Melech’; Hashem is in charge of the World; He is looking at me every second; He is thinking of me. Then Hashem says: You are fulfilling the purpose of Rosh Hashana, and when Rosh Hashana comes and we shout Hashem Melech, it brings forth that potential greatness that we stored up in our minds all year. It bursts forth from our lungs: “Hashem Melech, Hashem Malach, Hashem Yimloch L’Olam Va’ed” Long before Rosh Hashana we have to work on this great concept and to realize that Hashem is Watching us, to know that the whole world is filled with His Glory.

That is our great preparation for the Yom Hadeen.

Quoted from “Rabbi Avigdor Miller Speaks” ArtScroll
“Step 1 to Teshuvah-realizing how much Hashem has done for you”

Shabbat Shalom

“Remember that which Hashem your G-d did to Miriam on the way when you went out from Egypt.” (24:9)

This is a command of the Torah. I cannot tell you how often we are to fulfill this commandment. Some Siddurim say it should be said every day. The Chafetz Chaim based his sefer on this. We are not merely commanded, “Not to go around being tale-bearers amongst our people,” (Vayikra 19:16) but to remember what happened to Miriam, and the sin of Miriam was the sin that she was not judging others favorably.

Miriam’s sin was really quite small. First, she posed it as a question. “Is it not that we also speak with Hashem?” (Bamidbar 12:2) It was a legitimate question. After all Miriam was a prophetess herself, and received prophecy before Moshe. So why was she punished? Because the closer one is to Hashem, the more one is held accountable, and Miriam was very great. However, she misunderstood the perfection of Moshe and the immensity of the prophecy Moshe received from Hashem.

This event was made part of the Torah with the intention of teaching us the importance of judging others favorably and giving them the benefit of the doubt, and that the evil of lashon hara does not only bring Tzaraat, but a great many other forms of suffering. Much suffering descends upon a person because of speaking lashon hara.

“When a camp goes out to war against your enemies.” (Debarim 23:10) You have no enemies except for yourself, and except for the Yetzer Hara, which everyone ignores. Your enemy is not that other man. Oh, he may want to kill you, but he can only take away your life. The Yetzer Hara wants to take away your Neshama/Soul. He is the real enemy.

Quoted from “The Path of Life” By Rabbi Yehoshua Danese

Shabbat Shalom

“You shall be wholehearted with Hashem your G-d.” (18:13)

‘Tamim’ means “complete” or “perfect.” Rabbenu Yonah (Shaare Teshuva 3:17) explains that perfection in Trust in Hashem (Bitachon) is here commanded. This comes to exclude the practices enumerated in the preceding verses (18:9-12). These practices demonstrate an appeal for the favor of non-existent spiritual forces, and like idolatry, they constitute some measure of disloyalty to Hashem.

But just as is it wrong to transfer any trust to any strange imaginary gods, so also it is forbidden to transfer our trust to our own abilities and resources. Or to trust in men (no matter how righteous and powerful they may be). Or to trust in the forces of nature.

“Complete” Trust in Hashem is required, even when one is energetic and capable of earning his livelihood. And even when he is diligent in maintaining his good health, and even if he lives in a community or a nation that maintains law and order and is secure against all foreign enemies. Even the young man must look to Hashem every day for his life to continue on the morrow.

Certainly, every man must seek to earn his livelihood and to preserve his health and safety. But all of his Trust must be solely in Hashem. Bitachon (Trust in Hashem) is one of the great forms of Peace of Mind. To know that Hashem is in charge of the Universe. And in charge of the affairs of mankind. And in charge of our private individual history. Hashem is constantly thinking about it and is planning the very best for us. Therefore, whatever has happened in the past to us has been for our maximum benefit.

Quoted from “Fortunate Nation” by Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

Shabbat Shalom

“And you shall eat there before Hashem your G-d, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.” (14:26)

To speak in prayer or praise seems more proper “Before Hashem,” but to eat before Hashem seems animalistic and insolent. But this form of service “before Hashem” is repeatedly emphasized. “You shall eat (the Pesach lamb) in the place that Hashem your G-d shall choose.” (16:7) “And you shall rejoice before Hashem your G-d” (16:11) (which means to eat & drink on the Shavuot festival). “And you shall rejoice on your festival” (16:14) on Succot. “And you shall rejoice” (26:11) at the Bikurim procedure.

We learn therefrom the Torah lesson that physical pleasure of food and drink can be employed to enhance our emotions of gratitude and love toward Hashem. “There is no persuasion, except by eating and drinking.” (Hullin 4B) We become more receptive and amiable when we are satiated by eating and drinking due to the reaction of enzymes, as planned by Hashem.

Thus the Shabbat meals can be utilized to emphasize the lessons of:
1) the Creation of the Universe ex-nihilo/from nothing,
2) the Creation of the Universe for Kindliness,
3) and the Covenant “”Between Me and the sons of Israel” (Shemot 31:17)

And even our daily food can serve us as a powerful stimulus to love the Giver. “And you shall eat and be satiated and you bless Hashem your G-d.” (8:10) Without being happy, it is more difficult to be thankful to Hashem.

Quoted from “Fortunate Nation” by Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

Shabbat Shalom

“And You shall bless Hashem.” (8:10)

The word U’Berachta (you shall bless) is from Barech, derived from Berech (a knee). It literally means not “bless” but “to bend the knees” in humility of deep gratitude. When one receives a gift from a Donor to Whom he is unable to repay, all that he can do is to demonstrate his humble gratitude (”bending the knee”) to his Benefactor. We cannot “bless Him,” but we can express our endless Gratitude toward Him.

This principle of expressing our gratitude to our Benefactor is a cause of the greatest excellence in ourselves. “Sing, you righteous ones, to Hashem; for the upright, praise is befitting” (Tehillim 33:1). This means: for those who desire to be upright, it is for their benefit to praise Hashem. Those persons that develop the genuine attitude of appreciating Hashem’s countless forms of kindliness will thereby gain a love of the Benefactor. And as they continue to sing to Him and to express His praise, they come closer to Him and thereby gain excellence of mind and character.

The secret is to spend time to learn how to thank Hashem. But first we must learn why you should be Grateful to Hashem. For example: you have to learn to appreciate your shoes and even shoe laces. Remember how you felt when one of your laces broke and you didn’t have a replacement? Did you appreciate the metal tips on the laces? Do you appreciate your belt? Do you have gratitude for the holes in your belt? Some of the holes are for “before breakfast” and others are for “after breakfast.” These, and thousands of similar items must be studied so that you can eventually learn to be grateful for them.

To attain the state of true Love of Hashem is the highest Perfection. “He that sings (to Hashem) in this life is rewarded that he shall sing in the World to Come.” (Sanhedrin 91B) “The righteous sit with crowns on their heads and enjoy the splendor of the Shechina” (Berachot 17A). “These crowns are the understanding of Hashem that they gained in this life.” (RMBM)

Adapted from “Fortunate Nation” by Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

Shabbat Shalom

“Hear, Israel! Hashem (is) our G-d, Hashem is one.” (6:4)

The recitation of the following is a Torah obligation. The exhortation “Hear!” is actually the Israelite’s way of life. “We shall do and we shall listen,” (Shemot 24:7) was the vow that Israel made at Sinai. “We shall do” means “We shall obey and fulfill,” but “We shall listen” means “We shall Learn.” This is the Israelite’s career of listening (”Hear, Israel”) to the word of Hashem.

It bespeaks the attitude of eagerness to hear and learn, to understand and to become saturated with Hashem’s teachings and ways of thought and opinion. In many instances, the word ‘Shamoa’ (to hear) means also “to obey,” but always it bears the connotation of giving attention and thought. Thus “Hear, Israel” is the summons to all Israel forever to devote their lives to learning the Oneness of Hashem and His attributes and His ways, and the following verses (6:6-9) summon Israel to implement the first verse by means of Torah-study.

Because of the extraordinary importance of the statement, it is preceded by “Hear, Israel,” which means: Put your heart into this great teaching and consider it well. The name Israel is here mentioned, for this matter is the foundation of the name Israel, and it is the identity of the people of Israel. Hashem, the particular name by which He is known to His people, is the Creator (the word Hashem in the Hebrew original denotes both 1) Being and 2) Cause of being (”He that spoke and caused the world to be” – Zevachim 46B). But He is particularly the G-d of Israel (as stated in the scriptures more than 165 times). “He is Hashem our G-d.” (Tehillim/Hodu)

Quoted from “Fortunate Nation” by Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

Shabbat Shalom

“And I shall bless those that bless you.” (12:3)

From the very beginning Hakadosh Baruch Hu decreed: “va’avarecha mevarachecha” – I will give berachot to all those who bless Am Yisrael. The Talmud (Hullin 49A) states that this promise extends also to the descendants of Abraham Abinu. Therefore, the first thing for us to understand is how great is our duty to bless the Jewish nation.

When you come to the last beracha in the Amida, you put all you have into it as you pray for Am Yisrael you say, “Establish peace, goodness and blessing, life, grace and kindness, and compassion over us and over all of Israel Your nation.” This beracha is so important because it is a mitzvah in the Torah to bless Am Yisrael.

When you walk down a Jewish street and every house has a big mezuzah on the door, say a beracha for the people who live in those houses. Say aloud that everyone in those homes should be well for many happy years. They should all have a comfortable livelihood, pleasure and satisfaction from their children, fine matches for their children, only semahot/happy occasions in their houses, nothing but joy. And Hashem will say: I’m listening, and I shower my blessings on you.

When you gain this attribute of constantly blessing Jews you will:

* receive blessings from Hashem,
* and fulfill a mitzvah from the Torah,
* and emulate Hashem who “Loves His Jewish nation” (Daily Prayers),
* and you will cause yourself to increase your own love of your Jewish brothers, which is another mitzvah of loving your fellow Jew, Ahavat Yisrael.

Daily Prayer: “I hereby accept upon myself the positive commandment to: “Love my fellow Jew as I love myself.” And I hereby Love every one of the Bene Yisrael as I love myself and all I possess.”

May we thereby gain the merit to see the rebuilding of The Bet Hamikdash soon.

Adapted from “The Beginning” By Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

Shabbat Shalom