Therefore, a person should ask himself, ‘What shall I do? My evil inclination overpowers me.’ If the Holy One goes with him, he will prevail…
The teachers of ethics expounded allegorically: A person must appoint for himself judges and officers in all his “gates,” that is, in the mouth, the eyes, and the ears, to guard himself from sin. At night, one should always make a cheshbon ha’nefesh [accounting of the soul], judging whether he behaved himself properly.
From here we learn the profound power of influence that forefathers have over their descendants—even after many generations.
They asked the Chazon Ish, ‘What is the greatest success a person can attain?’ He answered, ‘To go through life without harming another…’
‘What is the service of the heart? This is Tefillah [Prayer].’ What, then, is the problem if our prayers are not being answered?
In Parashas Behar, we are taught the profound impact of our words. The concept of Ona’as Devarim (harmful speech) reminds us that our words hold immense power, capable of either uplifting or deeply wounding others. This lesson, emphasized in Yam HaTorah by Rabbi Yosef Goldstein calls us to be mindful of the consequences of our speech and to strive for words that bring peace, kindness, and healing.
What defines a true Ben Torah? Discover the power of identity, distinction, and spiritual unity in the banners of Yisrael.
“This is the way of the Yeitzer HaRa [Evil Inclination]: to entice a person with dimyon [imagination] and falsehood, with arguments based on nonsense.”
‘The blessing of HaShem brings wealth’ (Mishlei 10:22)—This refers to Shabbos, of which it is said, ‘And G-d blessed the Seventh Day.’
– Talmud Yerushalmi, Moed Katan 3:4