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1. WIY
   Member

   I have an idea that I hope will be welcomed by all of you here. I want to start having a thread updated every Motzai Shabbos dedicated to Divrei Chizzuk only.

   One can either cut and paste an inspiring vort from a Torah website or write from what they saw in a sefer or heard in a shiur...When doing so, please quote the sefer or Rav you heard it from if you remember.
   If you are making up your own "vort" please say that it is your own.
   Now on to tonight vort.

   Tefila: Kotzer Rebbe: It's Late, But Not Too Late
   By Maariv in the Bracha of Hashkiveinu we ask Hashem, "V'Haser Satan Milfaneinu U'Mei Achoreinu", the remove the Yetzer Hara from in front of us and from behind us. What does this mean?

   The seforim answer that when we want to do something good the Satan tells us there is no rush, start "tomorrow". Yet tomorrow never comes because there is always another tomorrow. But if we are ready, anxious, and willing to star immediately the Satan employs a different strategy. He tells us it is too late. Had we done it yesterday it would have been great, but not anymore.

   We ask Hashem to remove both these obstacles to our good deeds and self improvement. We ask Hashem to remove the Satan standing before us blocking us from taking action today. We also ask Hashem to remove the Satan from our rear-view mirror telling us to look back and see we missed our chance. This is the Kotzker saying, "It is always late but never too late".

   From Revach.net

   Posted 3 months ago #

2. Logician
   Member

   This is from the Ohr Someyach, Hilchos Talmud Torah.
   The Torah addresses itself, with every mitzvah, to every single Jew, and everyone is , theoretically, (unless they’re in circumstances out of their control) able to keep them all. (am not discussing those that are aimed at a segment of Jews, like kohanim, men/women, etc).
   Sounds simple, huh ? Let’s see:
   The Torah makes many demands of us. We feel that we are all equally obligated, and must try to do as much as we can, and if we don’t manage then, b’dieved, we won’t be held accountable - “onais”.
   This is inherently not so. An example: The passuk says we have to learn Torah day and night. Hmn, that would certainly leave most of us without having fulfilled our obligations. Hopefully we’re onais. Nope - the Gemara says you fulfill your obligation by reciting krias shema twice daily. Obvious contradiction ? Says R’ Meir Simchah, the minimum for every mitzvah is something any reasonable person will realize they are able to do. After that, you are obligated to do more - but only according to your capability, temperament, background, etc. In this case, he says, it would make a difference if you are a person who naturally enjoys Talmudic discussions!
   The difference may be subtle, but it can have an enormous effect on your attitude towards your obligations - If we realize that our personal difficulties with our obligations will not only be taken into account at Judgement Day, but that Hashem originally, in the Torah, only asked of me what He feels I can do today, we would act differently.
   This, he says, is the meaning of the passuk in this weeks parshah (18,20)- "v'hizharta osam etc", and afterwards "v'hodata etc" - first the chukim and toros, thats equal for everyone, then the "derech" they should go on, and the "ma'aseh" they should do - thats a separate part of the passuk, because that's according to the individual.

   Posted 3 months ago #

3. MiddlePath
   Member

   WIY, thanks for starting this thread, it is a great idea, and thanks for your very nice piece. I was just a little confused because I thought the Satan and the Yetzer Harah are two different things.. are those terms actually interchangeable? Thanks again.

   Logician, thank you, that was a wonderful piece. And if you are new here, welcome! If I may add something to your piece which is very much in line with what you are saying: It is better to be positive about doing good deeds at a lower level than to be resentful and negative about doing good deeds at a higher level. G-d wants us to be happy when we fulfill His commandments.

   Posted 3 months ago #

4. Logician
   Member

   MP - thank you,and thanks for the welcome!
   I absolutely agree. The sifrei mussar caution against "too much, too fast", because the overload can cause the opposite reaction than intended, by triggering feelings of rebellion and resentment.
   Alei Shur cautions against making kabbalos in the externals, without really feeling the inner need in your avodah.

   Posted 3 months ago #

5. Logician
   Member

   MP - chazal say the yetzer harah, satan, and malach hamaves are the same. First he gets someone to sin, then he prosecutes the case against him, then he comes and takes his neshamah.
   A nice remez for this: the word satan, and "nachash" (representing the original yetzer harah) are the same letters, except one has a "tes", and one a "ches". the nachash has a ches, which "faces" down - his job is down here. Then he becomes the satan - the tes faces up, then his job is being mastin in shamayim.

   Posted 3 months ago #

6. WIY
   Member

   MP
   You are welcome. I hope that the readers enjoy and gain chizuk from it. It's a great way to kick off a new week.

   I see logician beat me to the response to your question. His answer is very informative.

   Posted 3 months ago #

7. MiddlePath
   Member

   Thanks, Logician and WIY. And yes, it is really a wonderful way to start the week.

   Posted 3 months ago #

8. Logician
   Member

   WIY - thanks for the thread. I like the weekly format - when you just read vort after vort, you can become a bit inured by them. By starting the week with a few nice thoughts, you can really think about and try to learn from the ideas.
   I also hope it sticks to divrei chizuk, not just any vort - your piece was perfect.

   Posted 3 months ago #

9. Logician
   Member

   YIW - where are you? I was away for the weekend. I come today waiting to be mechuzek, and.......

   Posted 3 months ago #

10. Toi
    Shruikin

    tho thpecial.

    Posted 3 months ago #

11. Logician
    Member

    if that means what i think it means, i hereby, in spirit, post a reply that would get me permanently banned from the cr

    Posted 3 months ago #

12. MiddlePath
    Member

    WIY, I haven't seen you around lately. Hope everything is ok.

    Toi, wow, that was warm and fuzzy.

    Posted 3 months ago #

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