Short Stories and Inspiration
A Joke With A Lesson
When R’ Mattisyahu Salomon zt”l was still a bachur, he saw a friend crying. R’ Mattisyahu asked what was wrong. He said his parents pressured him and would not let him continue learning in yeshiva and has to go to college. The yeshiva had already tried to speak to the parents, but nothing changed their minds.
R’ Mattisyahu understood he could not fix this, but he decided he could help him in another way. “I have an idea. I will write to you every week and send you the talks of the mashgiach so that you can still get chizuk and inspiration and still grow even though you are no longer in the walls of yeshiva.” This bachur loved the idea and later said he stayed frum and continued learning because of it.
That’s the lesson! You can’t always fix everything; just try to help the best you can. In life, there are many things you cannot do or help others with, but there are still small things you can do that may help them forever.
This Connects To This Week’s Parsha:
We learn about the makkos of darkness. Chazal say there was only darkness for the Mitzrim, but for the Yidden, there was light.
Today, there is so much spiritual darkness. One of the darknesses today is thinking that if you can’t be perfect, if you can’t accomplish everything, then don’t do anything. However, Chazal taught us the power of even just a little good, how just a little light is all it takes to fight the night. “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good.”
R’ Eli Stefansky keeps saying this: “It’s not only about the daf, but it’s about learning every day.” Each day is powerful. Don’t let perfection stop you. Even if you missed a day, just keep going. It’s not always good to try to fix everything and catch up, since it can put too much pressure and stop you from learning altogether. Don’t make the mistake. Chazal say “sometimes grabbing too much is not good.”
In life, realize and appreciate that every good thing we do is powerful.
A Restaurant Story
Yovi went to a dairy restaurant, and after sitting down, a waiter asked, “Are you ready to order?”
“Yes,” Yovi said, “but I am allergic to nuts, eggs, fish, gluten, milk, and sugar. What can I order?”
The waiter said, “There is only one thing you can order.”
“Really? What is it?” Yovi asked.
The waiter said with a wink, “Order an Uber…”
That’s the lesson! The soul also has certain things it’s allergic to; one of them is bad influence. Order an Uber and stay far away from bad friends.
But good friends are a good influence, and it’s even worth ordering an Uber to spend time with them.
A Shabbos Table Story
It was Friday night, and Yoily always had guests and served amazing food.
A fancy meat platter was brought in, and Yitzy, a guest, said to another guest, “Look how Yoily barely eats anything! It’s a true wonder.”
“I’m telling you, he must be a hidden tzaddik.”
The guest laughed and said with a wink, “Hidden tzaddik? You should’ve seen how on erev Shabbos he ate up a whole pan of yapchik by himself. It’s a true wonder he can even put anything in his mouth now…”
That’s the lesson! In life, it’s all about what one has in mind; one can eat, and it becomes a way to come closer to Hashem, if he’s eating to have energy to serve Hashem (e.g., to learn, to do chessed).
The Chafetz Chaim On Emunah
The Chafetz Chaim zt”l overheard a few people speaking and was shocked. He told his talmidim that he heard people talking, and by listening to their conversations realized they were missing true emunah.
They were saying, “I lost money,” “I made mistakes in business,” and things like that, as if they are in control.
“This is a lack of emunah!” The Chafetz Chaim said, “In truth, it is all from Hashem. Today, all of us, even frum people, need to strengthen our emunah. In today’s times, to strengthen our emunah, we must learn topics in emunah for an hour every day!”
The talmidim asked, “Where will we find an extra hour to learn emunah?”
The Chafetz Chaim said, “Ok, then, at least when davening, have in mind the words, even the simple translation of what you’re saying, and this is also counted as learning emunah.”
That’s the lesson! It’s not enough to believe in Hashem; one must work on their emunah every day. Either by learning about emunah (e.g., “Chovos HaLevavos,” “Living Emunah,” or “Garden of Emunah” are great seforim to learn from) or by learning what we’re saying when we daven; davening shows we believe in Hashem.
This Connects To This Week’s Parsha:
Chazal say that during the makkos of darkness, 1/5 of Klal Yisrael died, because they did not want to leave and did not have emunah that Hashem would take them out. Only 1/5 of Klal Yisroel who had emunah survived. Chazal said that before Mashiach, the same will happen again. Only 1/5 will make it. The test before Mashiach will be emunah.
Today, people go through difficult tests in life, but we must strengthen our emunah and never give up.
In today’s times, you can always follow good advice.
