Elul: Repentance

Dear Friends,

This post is about the Jewish month of Elul as it relates to The Chazak Plan: A 12 Month Journey to Spiritual Strength.

Rosh Chodesh Elul begins Motzai Shabbat, Saturday night, August 7th and lasts for two days.

Elul is the time of year we take stock of our lives and prepare for the High Holidays. Most of us have at least one area in which we struggle; perhaps it is being ethical in business, being moral, being charitable and kind, refraining from hurting others and studying Torah. Correcting our key flaw(s) is a major part of our life’s mission and why God put us in this world.

Pick one area on which to focus and choose a manageable change you will make on a daily or weekly basis; input this change into your calendar or checklist. If possible, speak to your rabbi or spiritual mentor for guidance. The focus on repentance continues into next month until after Yom Kippur.

As the High Holidays involve reciting many prayers, for suggestions on how to enhance your prayers, see, “How to Unlock the Hidden Power of Prayer.”

Questions for the month:

“Which area do I struggle with that I’m motivated to address this Elul?”

“What is a manageable commitment I will make?

“Is it clear to me what area to focus on and how to repent (if necessary)? If it is not clear, who can I speak to for guidance?”

May God grant us success in the coming month,

Yaakov

What Motivates You to be Kind? Two Possibilities

Dear Friends,

Have you ever wondered,

What Motivates You to be Kind? Two Possibilities (please click on the link to access the article) 

Have a great week,

Yaakov 

Article: "Seeking the Divine Presence" and Change in Email Provider

Dear Friends,

Due to a change in Google's Feedburner, we have switched over to Follow.it to deliver these blog posts.

If you have any issues with the new service, please let me know 

Today is Tisha B’av. While we mourn the loss of the First and Second Temples, we pray that the Messiah will come soon and rebuild the Temple, turning this day into a day of rejoicing. 

May it be today.

Seeking the Divine Presence

Yaakov 

Responding to Tragedy

Dear friends, 

Only a short while ago I posted about the tragedy in Meron and now another tragedy in Florida.  

The tools are the same. The ever powerful tools of prayer, charity and Torah study. 

Life is so fleeting and it is so easy to get distracted from what is truly important. Let us strive even more to use our time wisely and focus on pursuits of lasting value. 

How to Respond Effectively to a Tragedy or Crisis

We pray for the wounded and for the success of the rescue efforts. 

May God send comfort, healing and protection to our people, 

Yaakov 

“Why?” 5 Reasons for Suffering

 Dear Friends, 

When faced with difficulties, many of us have asked: "Why God?"

“Why?” 5 Reasons for Suffering

Have a great week,

Yaakov 

Conflict Resolution: How to Win the Battle for Peace

Dear Friends, 

Conflict Resolution: How to Win the Battle for Peace

Have a great week,

Yaakov 

Tammuz: Forgiveness

Dear Friends,

This post is about the Jewish month of Tammuz as it relates to The Chazak Plan: A 12 Month Journey to Spiritual Strength.

Rosh Chodesh Tammuz begins Wednesday night, June 9th and lasts for two days.

On the 17th of this month, we fast to commemorate the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem before the destruction of the First Temple. This is the beginning of the period known as The Three Weeks which ends next month on Tisha B’Av, the day we mourn the destruction of the First and Second Temples. The Sages teach that a key reason the Messiah has not yet come to rebuild the Temple is because of the sin of hating one’s fellow Jew.

We are a small nation surrounded by enemies bent on our destruction. To defeat the hatred against our people, we must defeat the hatred within our people. This month, go out of your way to be forgiving and overlook the faults of others.

One of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov’s most transformative teachings is his emphasis on finding the good in ourselves and others (Likutey Moharan I, 282). A complementary practice is to realize that we all have difficulties and to feel compassion for our own challenges and for those of others. Each day, look for the good in yourself and others, and feel compassion for the struggles we all face. Then, you will be more forgiving and loving toward yourself and others.

Check off on your checklist each day you complimented someone, or at least spent time thinking about a person’s good points (including your own).

Questions for the month:

“Who in my life do I feel hatred toward or greatly dislike?” (Pick one person and depending on the situation, either work on forgiving them or on reducing the hurt you feel, as this hurt only harms you.)

“Who pushes my buttons? Can I focus on their good points and be more complimentary and understanding?”

“What is the first step I can take to try to resolve a conflict I have with someone?”

Reading:

The Freedom of Forgiveness: 3 Strategies to Letting Go

May God grant us success in the coming month,

Yaakov