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Some time after, Rabbi Abba, as he was on his way to Rabbi Shimon, went into the town where this man lived. He found him expounding the verse: “A brutish man knows not, neither does a fool understand this” (Psalms 92, 6). ‘How foolish’, he said, ‘are mankind that they take no pains to know the ways of the Almighty by w... |
What happens if I want to do something very holy very strong, and the whole world laughs at me? Then I must have holy chutzpa, azuz d'kdusha, holy arrogance. If the whole world says I am crazy, how come I am not crazy? When I was born G-d gave me the holy arrogance to do what I know is right. Say for instance, I believ... |
Reb Nachman says something very sad. If you destroy the holy arrogance you have, the punishment is that you become a slave to people. Reb Nachman goes very strong. He says the question is, are you G-d's servant, or people's servant? There is no in between. G-d says, "Look at yourself. What are you? You were my servant ... |
When you listen to people you become their slave, you don't love them. Don't tell me you listen to people because you love them. Don't kid yourself. You listen to people because you are not standing on your own two feet. If you have azuz d'kedusha, this holy arrogance against people, then you can really love people bec... |
Reb Nachman says something else. What about the relationship of people to you? If you have holy chutzpa, if you are strong enough to stand on you own two feet, nothing can bend you. Then the world really loves you. People mamash love you. If someone walks in with a yarmulke, and everyone laughs at him, and he still wea... |
Can you imagine? Reb Nachman says you must have holy chutzpa against Tzaddikim, against holy people. It has to be so strong that if you look deep in your soul, you know what you have to do, and there is nothing, nobody in the world that can stop you. You have to be really plugged in – you have to do it mamash on G-d's ... |
Reb Nachman asks what it is to talk to a good friend. It is to take the little friend and instill into him the chutzpa which gives him strength to know how to do what is right. What is evil in the world? Imagine a person wants to learn, a person wants to do something holy. Evil doesn't say it is bad. You know how the d... |
What do you do then? You have to tell your evil, "Cut it out! I am not even listening to G-d if He kicks me. I am not listening to you, even if it is true. I am not listening to anyone. G-d is only testing you. G-d wants you to become strong. When Yaakov Avinu wrestled with the angel he was wrestling with G-d. What doe... |
Reb Nachman says all Yiddishkeit, all service of G-d, depends on how much holy chutzpa you have within you. He says you must have holy chutzpa against your physical desires, against your spiritual desires, and you must have holy chutzpa against even the holiest dreams you have, and just do exactly what you know G-d wan... |
Then he says that the truth is, all the holy Tzaddikim reached so high, not because they knew more, or because their souls were holier, but they got there only because they had this holy chutzpa. The people who didn't get there did not have enough azuz d'kdusha. Reb Nachman says the people who have this holy arrogance ... |
If I am doing something because I think it is right, or because you think it is right, then I am not humble anymore. If I wear a yarmulke is it because I want to, because I believe in yarmulkes? It is because G-d wants me to wear a, yarmulke. I am a Jew. I want the world to know I am a Jew. I am drawing my strength not... |
This is holy arrogance, to do it just because the thing has to be done. For instance, I walk on the street and I see someone beating someone up. I walk up, and I knock them off. I am doing it because that thing is right, not because of "I". It has nothing to do with me. The holy arrogant people have no "I". The not-so-... |
Then Reb Nachman warns: You must be very careful. You must have a good nose to know what is arrogance of holiness and what is arrogance of non-holiness. A lot of people preach this kind of chutzpa, but it is really for the destruction of the world, for your destruction. You have to know exactly what is holiness and wha... |
Deep down we ask the question, when am I supposed to love, and when am I supposed to hate? When am I supposed to be arrogant, and when am I supposed to be bashful? When am I supposed to speak up, and when am I supposed to be silent? Reb Nachman says if I could get to the roots of loving, to own the roots of my soul... ... |
The soul is all one, If I am not on the level of one, then to love is one department, to hate is another department, and I don't know which one to use. If I am on the level of my soul, of complete oneness, then I know exactly when to love and when to hate, when to be humble, and when to use my azuz d'kdusha. |
How can you know whether your arrogance is holy or not? The only thing I can tell you is Reb Nachman says, "Don't be a shlemazl." That means you have to know in your heart whether you are a shlemazl or not. Ultimately it is up to your own nose. You know very well deep down. |
The world is bad not because they don't know enough. It is bad because they don't do enough. What is teshuva? What does it mean to repent? Why did I sin basically? Because I wasn't strong enough, right? I didn't have holy arrogance against my own self! To repent, to do teshuva, to return to G-d means to correct the hol... |
At the end of days, or maybe tomorrow, there will be two Mashiachs, a Mashiach who will be the son of Yosef, and a Mashiach ben David, from the tribe of Yehuda. Yehuda was the one who did everything wrong. If you remember, Yehuda was the one who told his brothers, "Let's sell Yosef." According to this theory, in the de... |
He gets married, and two of his children die. G-d is letting him know he is wrong. Everything goes wrong. He takes the guarantee for Benjamin, and Benjamin gets caught. What should he do? He does not give up. Yehuda is the holy Yidele who doesn't give up even at the very last second. He doesn't give up. He knew if Benj... |
The world needs two Mashiachs, because it is a combination of billions of little things. Yosef is the one who has such holy chutzpa that he never did wrong. You know how much strength it takes never to do wrong? Certain parts of us are on the level of Mashiach ben Yosef; in certain parts we never did wrong. We have, th... |
According to the Bais Yaakov, before the story of Yosef, Yosef was holier than Yehuda. When did Yehuda become holy? After he sold his brother Yosef into slavery, after he started doing wrong, then he became so strong, so whole. In Bereshit it says, "mi teref bni alisa" which is usually translated, "from the prey, my so... |
He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord seeks from you: only to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God. |
Until the tent of meeting was established, God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, afterwards he spoke to him in the Land of Egypt (in public,) but once the Mishkan was established God said, privacy and humility are the best, as it is states "and walk humbly with your God," therefore He spoke to Moses (only) from ins... |
(This midrash) understands the verse to mean: we are obligated to act with humility in relation to God just as He acted with humility toward us. Thus the verse does not say "walk humbly before your God" but rather "walk humbly with your God" for He too acts with humility. |
A person may say, "Since envy, desire, [the pursuit of] honor, and the like are an evil path and drive a person from the world, I should separate myself from them and move entirely to the other extreme" and as a result he will not eat meat, or drink wine, nor marry, nor live in a fine home, nor wear proper clothes, but... |
Our sages declared: If the Nazirite, who abstained only from wine, requires atonement, how much more so does one who abstains from everything. Therefore, our sages directed man to abstain only from those things which the Torah denied him… A person should direct his heart and all his actions exclusively to the knowledge... |
Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel and say to them: ‘You shall be holy for I the Lord your God am holy. |
In my opinion this abstinence does not refer only to restraint from acts of immorality, as Rashi wrote, but it is rather the self-control mentioned throughout the Talmud, which confers upon those who practice it the title Perushim. The meaning thereof is as follows: the Torah has admonished us against immorality and fo... |
Therefore, after having listed the matters which are altogether prohibited, the Torah followed them with a generalized obligation to practice moderation even in matters which are [technically] permitted, [such as the following]: one should minimize sexual intercourse…and should not engage in it except as required in th... |
Formerly, it was the practice to deliver food to the house of mourning, for the rich in silver and gold baskets, and for the poor in willow baskets. As a result, the poor felt ashamed. It was therefore instituted that all food for the house of mourning should be brought in baskets of willows. Formerly, it was common to... |
Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: "Israel had no greater days as festive as the fifteenth of Av and Yom Kippur. For on those days the maidens of Jerusalem would go out dressed in white garments that were borrowed, so as not to embarrass those maidens who were poor. |
The eyes of most of the multitude of the [Jewish] people are fixated on imitating the Gentiles and following in their paths. This is their goal, to which they direct their energy and effort. It is the purpose for which they strive after wealth. And even if they remain outwardly observant of tradition, it is observance ... |
Regarding the sin of stealing, which is rampant amongst some people, there are numerous reasons... 1. The excessive expenditures and the [monies spent on the] luxuries of wearing fine clothing which have become commonplace, because of our sins. These have caused all the problems, both internally and externally, in our ... |
So too, when God, in His kindness, first provides man with money so that he will be able to sustain himself and fulfill the obligations to his Creator such as Tzedakah and acts of Chesed and the support of Torah, the evil inclination seduces him, telling him that it is appropriate for him to now spend more than his sta... |
And as time passes, he becomes a thief and cheat who is unconcerned with the welfare of his fellow human being. In addition he might often endanger himself through such behavior, in that he becomes ill from anxiety and worry as a result of all the embarrassment and abuse that he experiences from all sides. In place of ... |
However, our sages have stated "Who is wise? He who can anticipate and see what is to come," i.e., a person, even when he is vigorous and successful in his state, should consider and contemplate the upheavals of the times, which are very common, on account of our sins. For we should only act in accordance with the gold... |
As a result of these luxurious lifestyles, the expenditures for wedding clothes have risen greatly, to the point that many young women are embarrassed when they reach their wedding. Father and mother cry and there is none to help them [afford the cost], even as other similar troubles fall upon the heads of the poor. Wh... |
When the Almighty created human beings, he made them capable of both giving and taking. The faculty of giving is a sublime power; it is one of the attributes of the blessed Creator of all things. He is the giver par excellence; His mercy; His bounty; and His goodness extend to all his creatures...On the other side stan... |
This is why I always say to a couple in the joyousness of their wedding day: "Filling your hearts at this moment is a wonderous desire to give pleasure and happiness to each other. Take care, my dear ones, that you strive to keep this desire always as fresh and strong as it is at the present moment. You should know tha... |
There are some people who do not want to enter into marriage. This is because they are unable to shake themselves free of the power of taking, and even their natural instincts cannot turn them into "givers", even temporarily. Similarly, there are couples who want as few children as possible --- a very prevalent phenome... |
Many years ago, when I was wandering in the lands of the north, I observed a pack of ravenous wolves running in search of food. All of a sudden they found the carcass of a small animal lying in their path, and they all pounced on it in ferocious intensity. But they were unable to devour the prey because each one attack... |
Now when I reflect on the hunger of a man who craves material things, this memory from earlier times arises in my mind. It can serve as a parable for the human situation. The victor in the battle of life also comes out of it wounded, ill and exhausted. And what is more, his victory is a hollow one, because his hunger i... |
"The earliest sages already decried the wasteful spending for all types of celebrations. And unfortunately, in our generationspecifically, it has reached untenable proportions. I was astounded to see bar mitzvah celebrations that even include musical instruments, in a large hall! |
This custom to make all types of celebrations, whether weddings or engagement meals or bar mitzvah celebrations, with great excess, is becoming more and more established, with every person being envious of his neighbor, and people assuming tremendous debts [to pay for these celebrations]..." |
For a long time I, and I am sure many others as well, have thought, that it is the right time to explain to the public and to right a book discussing the terrible behavior that has taken root in the last number of years with the excessive wasteful spending, in all types of celebrations, such as weddings and tenaim, and... |
Though these are all celebrations of mitzvah, they do not obligate a person to spend large amounts of money beyond his means, and specifically to assume large debts as a result of them, debts whose consequences who can foretell, as we all know, the great amount of suffering that is caused by this to parents. |
15. Excerpts from a public declaration of the Rabbis of Bnei Brak, reprinted in The Jewish Observer June 1971 |
To all our brethren, beloved sons of Israel, who fear God and revere his name: From the time of our inception as a nation we were distinguished as a people of spirit and nobility, leading modest and wholesome lives... "Nothing is more beautiful than modesty", our rabbis proclaimed, and a life of modesty was the crownin... |
As of late, the stress on luxurious living is taking a toll an ever-increasing toll on our resources of time and money, and as a result the health and stability of entire families suffer... At an assembly of the rabbis we have decided to enact the following ordinances and enforce them with all the powers vested in us b... |
It is difficult to define what a religious Jew is... but one thing a religious Jew is not: smug, or self-righteous, or condescending... His or hers is a piety that is not competitive, not ostentatious... It is a way of living that is not touched by the grossness and vulgarity and consumerism which marks modern life... ... |
Then, of course, there is the bar mitzva seuda. One need not throw a "big bash" to send his son the wrong message. Once I attended a rather plain bar mitzva at which a slide show was presented, showing the "star of the show" at his best from birth to bar mitzva, certainly not a lesson in humility. A bar mitzva is a tim... |
One area of our lifestyle must, however, undergo serious reevaluation. The scale of smachot of all kinds must undergo sharp and significant downsizing. The reasons are many. First, this is the one area of our lives where we can realize significant savings without impinging on basic lifestyle. Second, with the increased... |
Bar Mitzvas are a good place to start. There is no reason that bar mitzvah should not be limited to close immediate family. For the most part they can be done at home. Where that is impossible, a small shul hall will do just fine. For kiddush in shul, a lechayim is quite sufficient. Several chasidic communities have ma... |
We must find ways to drastically cut the cost of the chatuna night itself. Unless tough takanot are put into place we are bound to continue the present system. We invite many friends and relatives because we are obliged to do so. They are obligated to come because they have no alternative. The invitors would be happy t... |
The costs of Sheva Berachot need to be sharply diminished. Catered meals on four or five successive nights can run anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000 for the week --- excluding Shabbat. It would be quite sufficient to have the chatan and kalla and parents for dinner and invite a small group of friends for Birkat Hamazon..... |
Some time before this, on the first night that Ruth returned home with the produce of her gleaning, Naomi described Boaz with the stronger word, the word that means redeemer. |
Rut 2:19 Her mother-in-law then said to her, "Where did you glean today and where did you work? May he who took notice of you be blessed." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, "The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz."<eot>Hey, Google: De Blasio is alive and well | 1010 WINS |
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Thursday was a big day for mayor Bill de Blasio. |
After all, it's the day he announced that he's entering the crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates -- that's enough of a milestone. |
BUT it seems Google thinks otherwise: When "Bill de Blasio" is entered in the Google search bar, a brief biography of the mayor comes up, including his basic vitals -- and apparently his date of death! (see below) |
"Died: May 16, 2019," reads his bio. As of 7 p.m., it remained there, and had been for a few hours. |
Fear not, New Yorkers: Our mayor is alive and well. If you need proof, the photo above was taken Thursday too.<eot>Sharp action has hit tonight's NBA slate on four games in particular, including Spurs-Blazers (10:30 p.m. ET on TNT). |
Sports Insights' Bet Signals and betting market percentages help reveal which way the smart money is going. |
For the second straight night, the NBA slate is a bit… boring. Other than Lakers-Celtics, none of tonight’s NBA games would be on pace to be in the top five of Thursday’s most heavily bet college games. |
Still, as they seemingly always do, sharps have found value on three of tonight’s matchups, capped off with Spurs-Blazers at 10:30 p.m. ET. |
>> All odds as of 2:30 p.m. ET. Download The Action Network App to get real-time NBA odds and track your bets. |
While it might end up being the least heavily bet game among tonight’s NBA matchups, this one has attracted as much sharp action as any other. |
Fifty-four percent of bets on the total have hit the under, which makes this a somewhat rare case in which sharp bettors aren’t in disagreement with the public. Those 54% of bettors, however, have generated 96% of actual money being wagered, meaning bigger bets — the ones more likely to be from sharps — are playing the... |
That indication is confirmed by three Sports Insights Bet Signals, revealing three cases of sharp action on the under. In combination with the massive bet vs. money discrepancy, that’s caused this total to see as much movement since opening as any other number on tonight’s slate. |
The Hawks have been a frequent guest on recent NBA Sharp Reports, and tonight is proving to be no different. At 18-35, the Hawks don’t tend to attract many public bettors — especially against a team like the Raptors — which often gives sharps a slightly inflated line to exploit.<eot>Boroughbridge Surveyors | Chartered ... |
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Our RICS Chartered Boroughbridge Surveyors provide house surveys for most types of property. A survey from Boroughbridge Surveyors can help whether you are buying a new building or need an assessment for problems in an older building you are purchasing. Our Chartered Surveyors cover the whole of North Yorkshire and are... |
Get a quote for a survey in Boroughbridge |
We carry out building surveys to suit every property and budget. With our Chartered Surveyors' extensive knowledge of Boroughbridge and North Yorkshire, we provide comprehensive, quality advice you can trust. Our emphasis is on guiding you through your property purchase or building work, by getting to know the building... |
Boroughbridge Surveyors are independent Chartered Surveyors covering Boroughbridge and the surrounding area. We provide expert, tailored advice on all types of property and buildings, including residential and commercial properties. |
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Party Wall surveys and awards for residential and commercial properties, as well as schedules of condition and dilapidations, can be carried out to assist you in Boroughbridge and throughout North Yorkshire. |
Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, every 'adjoining owner' is subject to the provisions of the Act when one person carries out work on their home. In a typical domestic property scenario this is usually limited to one or two parties. Larger commercial developments can encompass many freehold properties and tenanted pr... |
Some of the building survey and property work we provide in the Boroughbridge area: |
If you're interested in a building or property service in Boroughbridge that is not listed above, please contact us for advice as it is likely we can still help, or will be able to assist you to find a property professional who can help you. |
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Boroughbridge Surveyors are a practice of chartered surveyors covering Boroughbridge and the surrounding North Yorkshire area. Our emphasis is in helping clients with both residential survey and commercial property issues. Please telephone the team to discuss our services or your property requirements. |
Boroughbridge Surveyors is a marketing name of Right Surveyors Yorkshire Ltd which is regulated by the RICS.<eot>Cleveland Baseball Cards: More gift packs are shipping out Friday! |
More gift packs are shipping out Friday! |
It has occurred to me that I might need to remove the "Always" from the title of my blog! LOL - nah.... |
Do not worry if you do not see your request listed yet! I am still putting these together and having quite a bit of fun in the process. I really had no idea how many of the same players were on so many different teams! I must say it lends itself to more than a few double-takes... |
Rocco requested Braves, Falcons, and FSU Football players. I didn't think I could pull it off, but I will let you be the judge: Twelve Chris Chandlers, eleven Jamal Anderson, ten Warrick Dunn, nine Leaf/Donruss Falcons, eight Braves pitchers, seven Seminole players, six Greg Vaughn cards, FIVE JEFF BLAUSERS... Four Dev... |
Joey, your twelfth day goes something like this: Twelve Nolan Ryans, eleven random Rangers, ten Don Mattinglys, nine Rusty Greer's, eight Richard Hildagos, seven Billy Wagners, six Jeff Bagwells, FIVE '76 RANGERS.... four Pudge cards, three Paul O'Neills, two Blaylock Goudeys, and a Doug Rader '71 Topps! |
Bo, who asked for Yankees this year, gets a slightly different kind of surprise because I forgot to write down what was on the fourth day! So, here's the best I can do for ya: Twelve assorted Upper Deck cards, eleven Pinnacle Brand guys, ten random Fleer ones, nine Donruss too, eight Bernie Williams, seven Nick Johnson... |
Bart collects Royals with a little Carlton Fisk thrown in for good measure: Twelve '88 Topps cards, eleven assorted Royals, ten more random Royals, nine positions on the field, eight Bret Saberhagen, seven Bo Jackson, six Kevin Appier, FIVE MARK QUINN CARDS.... four George Brett, three Carlton Fisk, two Wally Joyners, ... |
And the last one for this evening (well, okay - this morning, given it is now 2:30am) goes to Mark who collects Mets mainly: Twelve draft/rookie/prospects, eleven random Mets cards, ten chrome/best/finest cards, nine assorted Donruss, eight Edgardo Alfonzos, seven Al Leiter cards, six Dwight Goodens, FIVE VINTAGE METS.... |
Remember, I am still putting gift packs together, so if you haven't seen yours yet, it just means the elves are still sorting and assembling!! |
Posted by --David at 2:40 AM |
Anonymous December 21, 2007 at 10:29 AM |
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