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True Strength

  It was taught that when Zusya was young and in the house of his teacher, a man came before Rabbi Baer and begged him to advise and assist him in an enterprise. Zusya saw that this man was full of sin and untouched by any breath of repentance, he grew angry, and spoke to him harshly, saying, “How can a man like yourself, a man who has committed this crime and that, have the boldness to stand before a holy man such as my teacher without shame, and without longing to atone?” The man, as you might imagine, turned and left in silence. But Zusya regretted what he had said almost immediately and did not know what to do about it. Then his teacher pronounced a blessing over him, that from that moment on, he might see only the good in people, even if a person sinned before his very eyes.   -Martin Buber Who has the internal strength to realize a wrong and bring about a life-long change?  Only a person of resolute character.
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Faith

Soren Kierkegaard used the example of a ship at sea.  When the sea is calm, the sun is shining and the captain is sober and you have faith that the ship will reach its destination, that is not faith. Faith is when the waves are rough, the sea is tumultuous, the ship is floundering and the captain is drunk and you still believe the ship will reach its destination, that is faith. In a famous illustration of Kierkegaard, when the sea is calm, the sun is shining, and the captain sober, and you have faith that the ship will reach its destination, that is not faith. When the seas are raging, the ship floundering, and the captain drunk, however, and you still have faith that the ship will reach its destination, that is really faith. For In a famous illustration of Kierkegaard, when the sea is calm, the sun is shining, and the captain sober, and you have faith that the ship will reach its destination, that is not faith. When the seas are raging, the ship floundering, and the captain drunk,...
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Ecstacy

Once Rabbi Zushya was in a class taught by the Maggid of Mezeritch. The Maggid began the class with a commonplace verse from the Torah: "And God spoke to Moses..." Just these few words were enough to excite and astonish Rabbi Zusha. He exclaimed "God spoke... GOD spoke... God SPOKE!" over and over until he had to be removed from the classroom due to the disruption he was causing.   M. Buber
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What Can be Learned from a Thief

Rabbi Zushya once said: "I learned seven things from the thief: 1) What he does, he keeps to himself. 2) He is willing to take risks to attain his goal. 3) He does not distinguish between "major" and "minor" things, but takes equally exacting care of each and every detail. 4) He invests great effort in what he does. 5) He is swift. 6) He is always optimistic. 7) If at first he fails, he is back time and again for another try." We can learn from every one in every instance...if we are attentive.
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To be Happy....

  A man had written to the Rebbe in roughly these terms: “I am depressed. I am lonely. I feel that life is meaningless. I try to pray, but the words do not come. I keep mitzvot but find no peace of mind. I need the Rebbe’s help.” The Rebbe sent a brilliant reply without using a single word. He simply circled the first word of every sentence and sent the letter back. The word in each case was “I.” -Rabbi Jonathan Sacks To be happy is to realize it's about "us" not "me."
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Saints Among Us

Professor Solomon Schechter, newly designated President of Jewish Theological Seminary (1902-1915),  frequently took part in the Christian-Jewish Relations Programs. He was once asked by a Christian lady, "Sir, don't you Jews believe in saints? We Christians always pray to our saints. But I never hear you Jews doing so." Prof. Schechter nodded in the affirmative. "Yes, Madame, we certainly have saints. But they are  indistinguishable from the rest of the congregation."   - Rabbi Murray Stadtmauer Is not every person a potential tzaddik?  Each person must be treated as such for if we err and wound one of these holy souls we may destroy a world.
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The Schwab Doctrine

Back in 1921 Charles Schwab was earning one million dollars each year.  He was hand  picked by Andrew Carnegie to construct the steel industry.  Why was he paid such an exorbitant amount?  Schwab admitted that he was paid this salary because of his unique ability to deal with people. Dale Carnegie interviewed him.   “I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among my people the greatest asset I possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.“There is nothing else that so kills the ambitions of a person as criticisms from superiors. I never criticize any-one. I believe in giving a person incentive to work. So Iam anxious to praise but loath to find fault. If I like anything,I am hearty in my approbation and lavish in my praise."    How To Win Friends and Influence People It is much easier to find fault than praise but what does it benefit  the person who receives it?  More, how does it  ...
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