B"H Top_of_Page	Return to home page Updated: 20 December 1998
Collection of Sayings

New profound sayings will be regularly added to this page. We try to have one per week.

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 January '98

'A simple hearted has his lot with hashem' (Yal Shoftim)	'Be wise in the fear of Hashem' (Ber 17).
If you are too compationate you will not have time to study. (Eruvim 22)	A compationate person is noticed by Heavin ) Hulin 84)

 Said the Koretzer: " One who needs to receive Tzedakah, should not accept it reluctantly with a distorted face. We know that when giving Tzedakah, an angel (Tzadkiel) is created. Why show ingratitude to the newly created angel of the Tzedakah !" (Nofet Tzufim p15)

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February '98

 #2 Said the Koetzer: ! " In the Shema we say
'And these words shall be on your heart, and you shall teach them diligently to your children.'
If you truely want to influence your children, let your words to them go out from your heart." In other words, if you are emotional about Torah,
then your children will learn more from that passion than when your
words are words of instructions without the same passion.

 (Nofet Tzufim p49)

 When the Yid Hakodesh heard that the Koznitzer Maggid was ill,
he sent two of his students who knew how to sing, to go sing before the Maggid.
They arrived on Erev Shabbos and sang zemiros over Shabbos.
The maggid recovered and said: "The Yid knew that I had already walked in all worlds except the world of music.
He was demonstrating to me that I still have a mission left in life- to explore the world of song. (Niflaot Hayahudi)

 The Apter told of an inn keeper who kept two boxes in which he placed whatever money he received,
equally.. The innkeeper said that he once fell upon hard times and lost everything he had.
His wife advised him to go to the village and seek a business partner.
When, on the way, he passed through a village it suddenly dawned upon him to take Hashem as his partner.
From then on he gave half of his earnings to Tzedakah and his business prospered.

 R Itzechok Horovitz, latter chief Rabbi of Hamburg, first served in Brody.
He was an opponent of the Besht and often spoke about him in unfavorable terms.
Once the Besht sent one of his students to him and told him to speak badly about him.
The student was dumbfounded. Then the Besht said:
"Do it in order that the great man find satisfaction and his heart rejoice.

 When the early reform rabbi, Dr Holdheim became old, he suffered from an ailment of the foot.
When asked how he contracted the disease, he said: "I went too far".

 A sick man once came to the Yid Hakodesh. He sent him to Shalom in an adjacent town,
but Shalom was a drunkard.
The man waited for the drunkard to sober up and was told to bring some strong drink.
Then the drunkard told him to bathe in a certain spring.
The sick man recovered.
The Yid later explained that Shaloms only vice was drink
- but that this saved him from every other sin.

(Niflaot Hayahudi)

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March '98

 #5 The Gerer Rebbe once visited a man who was eating non-kosher food. he wished him a hearty appetite.

The man said: " You would not wish me a hearty appetite if you knew I was eating non-kosher".

Replied the Rebbe:

"It is precisely because you are eating non-kosher that I wish you

for the transgression is worse if you eat non-kosher when you are not hungry !"

(Siach Sarfei kodesh 29) 

  #4 Here is an explanation as to why when two jews have a drink, they say L'Chaim:

The word L'Chaim is made up of the following letters: Lamed Ches yud yud mem

L'chaim

Consider that there are two Yid's drinking together which makes up the two yud's,

which leaves Lamed Ches Mem which spells: Lechem which means Bread/Sustenance

That is why when two jews sit down to have a L'chaim, they bring down their sustenance.

This is why when good things happen or a new venture is to undertaken between two Yids,

they should have a L'Chaim together.

As told by Reb Moshe Pshevocsker

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 April '98

 Said the Riziner: The Torah teaches that water has the ability to purify an unclean person.
But if the water is frozen, obviously it can not purify. A frozen heart has no ability to purify.

(Beit Pinchas pg42).

  Said the Belzer: There are three categories of exile:

1: Among the nations. This is the easiest to bear.

2: Exile among ones fellows jews.
This is harder as jews know each others secrets and how to be most harmful.

3: Exile among ones own deed and desires, when one knows they are wrong.

This is the most difficult to endure.

(Dover Shalom pg72)

  On R Simcha Binus deathbed, he said to his wife:
" Why do you cry- my whole life has been given to me that I may learn how to die.

(Midor Dor).

The Lubliner Rav (a misnagid) once asked the Yid Hakodosh why Chassidim chose to socialize over drink,
while they do so through a "vort" of Torah.
Answered the Yid: When Elisha ben Avisha became an opostate, R Meir was prepared
to continue discussing Torah with him, but would drink no wine with him.

(niflaot Hayahudi pg 44)

The Rebbe R Meilech was once accompanied by a large throng of Chassidim who escorted his wagon out of town. Suddenly he got out and instructed the driver to continue without him, and he walked together with everyone else. "When I saw how delighted you were, I just couldn’t help from sharing the Mitzvah with you.

(Eser Tzachtzochot pg 19)

R Simcha Bunim :" Words are a form of medicine and can heal (Mishle 4:22).
This is why Avtalyon said in Pirkei Avot: Sages be careful of your words .
"Since words are a medicine, one must be careful of an overdose."

(Simchas Yisroel pg87)

Said the Gerer Rebbe:" Some parents believe it is good to allow their children to sow their wild oats so they can get it out of their systems and realize that they have to be more responsible in future.
This popular argument is flawed.
The Medrash says that Yisro pursued Moshe to allow his eldest son Gershom
to visit pagan temples in order that he be convinced of their worthlessness,
and as a result serve Hashem with conviction rather than tradition.

What happened though, was that in Gershom's family there remained a tradition of attraction to paganism.
When Gershom's son, Yehonatan had need of a certain thing, he readily became a priest in a pagan temple.
(Siac Sarfei Kodesh 11 36)

Said the Ropshitzer : " I was reluctant to accept a post of Rabbinical leadership as I believed I would have to flatter people in the course of the work, and I hate flattery. But then I observed that everybody engages in some kind of flattery, the tailor the shoemaker and I decided I might as well just enter the Rabbinate since flattery is unavoidable.

(Midor Dor pg109).

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May '98

 #6 The Radziminer said: Every person has a verse in Torah applicable to him, during a particular phase of his life.

Eg.. A lender has to be patient with the borrower (Ex 22:21)

The borrower must not delay his repayment (Ps 37:21)

It is wrong to remember the command directed on the other.

The borrower should not remind the lender to be patient,

and the lender should not remind the borrower that he is amiss for not repaying promptly.

Each must stick only to his verse.

(Siach Sarfei Kodesh 4,101)

  #7 Said the Kotzker: Do not hate someone who has wronged you.

It may be true that he offended you through the evil elements within him.

But it may just be that his good elements are greater than the goodness within yourself.

R.Simcha Bunim : "He saw a good resting place and the land was pleasant- and he bowed his shoulder to bear and become a servant under task work."(Ber49:15).

If one wants to be released from worry and stress bend your shoulder and bear complacently whatever befalls you, and be satisfied of spirit no matter what the outcome.

(Siach Sifrei Hakodesh 93)

R Moshe Leib Sasovor:" Why worry about a world that is not yours."

The Gerer Rebbe was invited to a bris which took place on Shabbos.

The people were not very observant and even somewhat anti Torah.

When he arrived, some guests threw away their cigars.

He said "There is a Medrash which says that Eliyahu Hanovi was punished

for complaining that his people were lax in performing the bris,

by being made to be present at every bris in the future. Hence the "Chair of Eliyahu".

I could never understand how being present at such a holy ceremony could be punishment. Now I see why it is sometimes a matter of great annoyance to be present at some of the functions of those of our faith.

('Siach Sifrei Kodesh 102)

June '98

  #8 The Amshinover said: "To sin against man is worse than to sin against G-d.
This is because the person you harmed may have gone to a distant place
and you might not be able to find him to set the matter straight.
However G-d is always everywhere and you can always find Him." (Siach Sarfei kodesh iv p119)

#9 The Maggid of Mezeritz explained the saying in Pirkei Avos (Sayings of the Fathers);
"Know what is above you" (2:1)

Know that everything that is above you is in fact a result of your own actions.
You create your own holiness and determine how G-d reacts to you.
You are a prime mover in the realm of your spirituality.

The berdichever said: "King Solomon was wiser than everyone, even the idiot.
Every idiot believes himself wiser than everyone else and it is impossible to convince him of this fallacy.

But Solomon was so wise that in his presence, even the idiots had to acknowledge themselves as fools.

(Siach Sarfei Kodesh,136)

R Schmelke said: Whenever the word "to" is used, we are not sure whether it is inclusive or exclusive.
The verse says: "Return, Israel to Hashem". There the word "to" assumes both meanings.
Returning to G-d out of fear, reaches Hashem, but not to his presence, as there is no fear in Him.
BUT returning from love reaches the essence of Hashem Himself since there is love in Him.

(Shmen Ha Tov p37)

Said the Gerer Rebbe: "Fear is a form of idolatry - as fear is to offer worship to the thing feared.
Therefore to fear anything other than the Creator is to withhold from Him that that is supposed to be for G-d exclusively.
This form of worship may only be offered to Him.

(Siach Sarfei Kodesh I,75)

When the Gerer Rebbe noticed that some of his Chasidim were loath to help outsiders who may have needed
assistance, he said: "Why is the Casida (the stork) not a kosher animal ? -
Because of it's habit of bringing food to the nests of it's friends (Hulin 63).
But if it is sensitive to the needs of others, why is it not eaten ?
The answer is because it is only concerned about it's immediate circle, and not outsiders !"

The Premislaner was reluctant to encourage people to seek help from others.
He said: "When you are about to do a good deed, say the following prayer:
'Hashem I am trying to do your will, and I ask You to help me find success in my endeavors.'
This way you will not need to rely on the help of man. If you call mortal man to assist you,
they will undoubtedly soon have you engulfed in arguments and quarrels and matters may get worse. "

A chasid once complained to the Gerer Rebbe that he was prone to forget his Torah studies.
"Did you remember to eat this morning?", asked the Rebbe.
"Yes, of course I did - because if I didn't eat I wouldn't survive." Came the answer.
"So it is with Torah - You cannot live without Torah. -Remember this and you will not forget !

(Ohel Shlomoh p9)

#10 Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev heard some young chassidim davening (praying) fast and mumbling the words.

When they were finished he approached them and mumbled something to them.

They said pardon: "We didn't hear you". So he mumbled again, and again they said:
"Pardon, We can't understand what you are saying."

Rabbi Levy Yitzchak said: "Exactly !, you were davening fast, and just mumbling your words
how do you expect Hashem (G-d) to understand your prayers ?"

The one young chassid was clever and answered: "When a baby cries or mumbles,
the father knows what the baby needs, so when I mumble, The Father will understand my needs !"

When Rabbi Levi Yitzchak heard this, he danced and said "You are right ! The davening comes from the heart,
and if you have sincerity, Hashem will understand exactly what you are saying!"

July '98

 #11 Said the Mezeritzer: A royal guard can stand in his armour with a sword by his side, and seem to inspire fear.

But it would be foolish to fear him has he has no power of his own.

On the other hand, a pleasant faced royal messenger may summon one to the palace, and again it would be foolish to feel confident as he too has no power of his own.

- Let the man rather go to the king and then he will know for himself whether to feel afraid or pleased.

So too do we have to look to G-d himself and not to how the world appears to us, before we can know how to feel.

(Toras HaMagid Mi Mezrich ve Sichotav p237)

#12 Kindness is the inability to remain at ease in the presence of another person who is ill at ease, the inability to remain comfortable in the presence of another who is uncomfortable, the inability to have peace of mind when one's neighbour is troubled. - Rabbi Samuel H. Holdenson

  The Storekeeper complained to the Premislaner that someone had opened a similar store next door and was threatening his livelihood. The Premislaner said: Watch a horse drink water from a pool. He stamps his hoof in the water. The reason is that when he bends down to drink he sees his shadow. He imagines that another horse is also drinking next to him and he tries to frighten him away. In reality there is plenty of water for plenty of horses. - You too are afraid of an imaginary enemy. G-d's abundance flows like a river. No man can touch another's livelihood.

 #13 Said Rabbi Moshe of Kobrin: "It is impossible to fool G-d. It is forbidden to fool one's fellow man.
The only one that one can fool is oneself."

  #13 "The worst thing about falsehood," Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch
would say, "is not that it is not true, but that it presents itself as truth."

  Someone asked the Kozimrer Rebbe why Chassidic Rebbes often displayed a little hostility towards each other, while non-Hasidoc rabbi's were more friendly to each other.
He replied with a parable: "A well known artist painted a beautiful painting of workers in a field. When it was exhibited everyone was full of praise - except a real farmer. He noticed that in the painting the workers were upright, while in reality they bend. The artist said he had distorted this fact otherwise the faces would be obscured.

In the same way, if the Chassidic Rebbes were always in agreement the uniqueness of each teaching would be lost, and we would have lost new approaches within the service of G-d (i.e.. their faces would be obscure). Therefore let us distort reality (let it seem as if they are antagonists) and that way at least there will be a variety leading up to the ways of G-d. That choice is critical.

(Shirchei Tzadikim p43)

August '98

 #14 R Ze'ev Zitomirer, the Or Ha Meir, once saw a father and son sitting together, drunk in the gutter.

"I envy that father" R Ze'ev said to his son Yisrael Dov, because he succeeded in having a son just like himself.

Please don't let that drunkard have more success than me"

  #15 The Riziner said: "Sometimes people are like snow. Initially clean and white and pure - but later muddy and dirty."

(Midor Dor p223)

  #16 Said the Ropshitzer: To receive one's livelihood fromanother human being is often like receiving honey from a bee. The honey is sweet, but be aware of the sting.

  R Ber of Radishvitz once asked the Lubliner which was the best path to follow, in the service of G-d.

The Lubliner replied: 'That to which your heart is drawn'.

(Derech Tzadikim p41)

Leib Saras said: "I did not travel to R Dov Ber of Mezerich to study Torah from him, but to observe how he fastens his shoes. For it is in a man's actions that Torah really manifests".

The Gerer Rebbe explained that the reason we have a feast on Purim and not on Hanukah; is that on Purim there was a decree to destroy the body, while on Hanukah the decree was to destroy the soul.
This is why on Hanukah we recite Hallel which satisfies the soul - and eat a meal on Purim, which satisfies the body.

(Siach Sarfei Kodesh ii,46)

Said the Rizinev: "The Tzadicmust be like quicksilver, which instantly records a change of temperature. He likewise must instantly be able to detect a lack of tranquility among his students".

(Niflaos Yisrael p39)

 #18 R.Shlomo Karliner said. " G-d treats a person the same way they treat their children."

 #19 R.Simcha Bunim said: "Consider life to be a chess game.

Think carefully before making a move, lest you will regret it."

(Siach Sarfei Kodesh 58)

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#20 The Baal Shem Tov said: "There are 4 categories among those who give Tzedakah (charity):

• Why is the 4^th included among those who "give"?
  Because in this world, light exists because of darkness.
  Pleasure exists because of pain.
  Memory because of forgetfulness.
  Tzedakah because some don't give at all.
• (keter shem tov 14a)

#21 Said the Alexanderer: " Sadness is the worst quality in man,
It is the attribute of an incurable egotist,
who constantly expects everything to go his way, and always expects something special."

(Siach Sarfei Kodesh I, p115)

The Koznitzer Magid says: "After one has sinned, one should not immediately dwell on the sin and try to repair it. Rather one should just move on and do other mitzvot and good deeds.
Should he ignore this teaching and immediately begin fasting and punishing himself,
he would be compared to a soldier injured in battle, who stops to dress his wounds instead of escaping first.
If he stops he is likely to be captured. Let him first escape and then later take care of the wound." (Eser Orot p81)

The Medzibozer said: "G-d is called 'G-d of G-ds' (Dev 10:17) to demonstrate to us that G-d is above any conception we may have of him. Whatever level man is able to comprehend, G-d is still infinitely higher."

This teaching is significant in terms of the common mistake people make
when they try explain why the various vicissitudes befall others.

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November 1998

#22 The Berditchever came to a village and a jewish butcher asked him if he was a shochet,
because he was out of meat and needed stock urgently.
The Berdichever answered in the affirmative.
Then he asked the Butcher to lend him a sum of money.

The butcher refused, saying that he didn't know him and how could he lend a stranger money ?

R. Levi said: "You refuse to trust me with a sum of money,
yet you are comfortable with trusting my word when if come to matters of religion ?"

(Niflaos Beis Levi p16)

#23 R. Schmelka once had no money to give to a poor person.

He found his wife's ring in a drawer and gave it to the poor person.

When his wife returend she became furious saying it was worth 50 thalers and demanded that

he run after the begger.

This he swiftly did. When he caught up with him he said: "I've just heard it's worth 50 thalers. Don't

let anyone cheat you into accepting less than it's worth."

#24 The Riziner said: "Not all who come to the Tzadik are able to improve themselves. If you cover

a man with a blanket, he becomes warm. But if you cover a stone with a blanket, nothing happens."

(Beit Pinchas p60)

  A chassid once told R. Simcha Bunim that the farmers father had appeared to him in a dream and had counseled him to become a rabbi.
R. Simcha replied: " Now go and tell your father to appear to the chassidim and tell them to be your students."

(Siach Sarfei Kodesh)

  Said R. Simcha Bunim" " Three things can be learned from a thief:
1) He is not lazy and is prepared to work at any time.
2). If he does not succeed the first time, he will come back and try again.
3). He finds the worth in every article.

(Siach Sarfei kodesh iii, 5)

  R Simcha Bunim said: " Three things can be learned from a child:
1) The child is happy at just being alive.
2) The child is always active and never bored.
3) The child always cries for everything it needs.
So too we should serve Hashem with joy, we should always be performing mitzvos,
and we should implore Hashem with tears for everything we need.

(Siach Sarfei Kodesh 53)

  After R' Noach became rabbi at Lekhivitz, some people asked him:
"Why can't you be like your late father", (who was the rabbi before).
"I do", replied R Noach, "He did not imitate anyone - nor do I imitate anyone."

(Or yesharim)

  The kotzker said: "The Chassid has the fear of Hashem,
and the Misnaged has fear of the Shulchan Aruch" (Siach Safei Kodesh p44)

  R Simcha Bunim siad" Always (to the world) a man should have fear of Heaven in secret'
- To the world you should appear as an ordinary man and your piety should be in secret"

(Siach Sarfei kodesh I, 11)

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December 1998

#25 The Lekhivitzer says: " Yakov (Jacob) was afraid and distressed (Ber 32:8 - Genesis 32-8) - The verse teaches that Jacob was terrified of his brother Esav (Esau).
When he realized that fear of man was in place of fear of G-d,
he was distressed at his shortcoming."

(Or Yesharim p14)

An old man told R Ber of Radeshitz: " Unless one achieves something by himself, it will never be his."
After hearing this, the Rebbe used to repeat it frequently to his students.

(Siach Sarfei kodesh. p112)

The Yid Hakodesh said: " We see that a father helps his son to become learned and worthy.
When the son grows up, he tries to make his son become observant too.
But when will the father try to become pious instead of leaving it up to his children ?
We read: 'These are the children of Noah - Noah was a whole hearted man'
- Noah became himself what he wanted his sons to be !

(Niflaos Ha Yehudi p65)

R. Wold Zbarazer would not permit the waggon drivers to beat their horses.
He would say: "If you know how to speak to them properly,
you will have no need to cause them pain."

(Seder Ha Dorst He Chadash ch4)

Said the Mezericher: "Since nothing can exist outside G-d,
it follows then G-d is even there in a tribulation.
Some times even more so.
So call to him out of your tribulations.
It is only in tangible things that we can see or hear G-d.

(Toras Ha Magid MiMezrich veSichosav p9-17)

Rebbe Nachman said: Other can dominate you and have authority over you
if you possess a will distinct from G-d's."

(Nitzur Likutei Moharan p5)

 The Kobriner interpreted the verse in Tehillim (145,17):
"Hashem is righteous (Tzadik) in all his ways, and pious (Chasid) in all his deeds"

A Tzadic shows how G-d encompasses his every movement and the entire sphere of his very being.
A chasid hoever is not on such a level and only when he tries hard through his actions and deeds,
is G-ds presence felt

(Or Yesharim p110)

#26 Said the Baal Shem Tov: " I have set (Shiviti) Hashem before me, always (Ps 16: 8).
The word 'Shiviti' can also mean 'I equalised'.
Everything becomes of equal worth.
I don't mind if I'm praised or blamed; whether cheap or expensive food;
I'm at home when I'm alone and when I'm on the road.
When people talk to me I respond because I know I can serve G-d through my speech.
When it's quiet I know that my silence is needed.
It is not I but G-d who knows what is good for me
and I react and respond equally and accordingly.

Keser Shem Tov p166)

#27Said the Baal Shem Tov: "Some have faith because of their fathers
(i.e.. The way they were raised?).
This is good because it is unlikely for anything to shatter their belief.

However, on the other hand, they have no personal conviction.

Others have faith from their individual research, unaided by their fathers.
This is good because it is personal,
but there is still a risk that they be attracted to some other phylosophy
(just as they were attracted to Torah).

For this reason we say in our prayers:"G-d and G-d of our fathers"
- to emphasize that we need to approach G-d both from without and within."