Short Stories and Inspiration
A Joke With A Lesson
The holy Steipler Gaon, R' Yisroel Yaakov Kanievsky zt”l, once asked a bus driver, “Do you get to learn?”
The bus driver looked down sadly and said, “I actually do go to a shiur, but I always fall asleep.”
The Steipler’s face became serious, and he said, “If you try your best, in Heaven you are considered a general soldier, a complete tzaddik.”
What’s the lesson? When you try your best, realize that in Heaven you are considered the best.
There was a terrible accident, and a young woman was hurt very badly and sadly lost one arm. The Rav in that town heard about the accident and invited her for Shabbos to give her some chizuk she probably really needed, especially since she was single, and her life was now very difficult.
At the meal, before the Rav could speak and give her chizuk, she spoke first and said, “You know, people look at me and feel so bad for what I lost. But I am thankful to be alive, and I am truly happy with what I still have!” (R' Zev Smith shlita)
What’s the lesson? She had the right mindset of appreciating life and the emunah that Hashem has a plan.
When the Steipler Gaon zt”l was older, he said, “From head to toe, there isn’t a bone that doesn’t hurt me constantly. I live with endless suffering. But the average life is 70 years. Once I reached age 70, every day I have is a gift. And when someone receives a gift, they appreciate it no matter what it is.”
That’s a positive way of thinking, a Torah way of thinking…
This connects to this week’s parsha:
Moshe Rabbeinu went to Pharaoh and asked for the Yidden to be released from Mitzrayim. Pharaoh got upset and then made the Yidden work harder. The Yidden complained to Moshe, saying, “You just made it harder for us.” Moshe felt bad and asked Hashem what happened. Hashem said, “Wait, and you will see, it’s all good.”
All of Klal Yisrael was supposed to be in Mitzrayim for 400 years, but because Hashem made it harder and more difficult, they only had to be there for 210 years, which was considered as if they were 400 years. This extra work that they were complaining about was actually one of the keys to being able to leave Mitzrayim. One must have a mindset of emunah and trust Hashem.
Everything is part of a bigger plan, every day of life, every part of life, the ups and downs, it’s all for your good.
Life is How You Think!
I Keep Falling Asleep… In Shiur…
A teacher asked one of his students, “If your father borrowed ten thousand dollars and paid back half, how much does he still owe?”
The student said, “Nothing, zero.”
The teacher asked, “Are you sure you understand the question?”
The student said, “Yes, but I don’t think you understand my father; because he never pays back anything…”
What’s the lesson? Of course, one isn’t allowed to steal.
In life, do we understand our Father in Heaven?
If you think Hashem hates you and is trying to ruin your life, you don’t know your Father.
Someone once told R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev zt”l that “he didn’t believe in Hashem.”
R' Levi Yitzchak said, “The Hashem you don’t believe in, I also don’t.”
You think He hates you, but in truth, He loves every Yid, looks out for us, and waits we should become better.
Hashem never gives up on us – so don’t give up on yourself either.
Two older Yidden were talking about the good old days.
Yankel yelled to Baruch, “Do you remember that in our town, it used to be either you were rich or poor?”
“Huh, what did you say? I can’t hear so good these days,” Baruch said.
Yankel repeated himself and yelled even louder.
Baruch laughed, “Then you knew who was who. But today, we don’t know who is who. Because the poor act as if they are rich…”
What’s the lesson? Be real.
This connects to this week’s parsha:
Basya saw a baby in a basket in the middle of the river and reached out her hand to save it.
Question: Why did she stick her hand out? It was so far away from her. What was she thinking?
Answer: The Kotzker Rebbe explained, from here we see that a person must try to do everything to save another person.
Even if you think your efforts won’t make a difference and you’ll probably never succeed, still try your best anyway.
You will be surprised that you will sometimes actually accomplish much more than you ever imagined.
Remember: “Failure to try is trying to fail.”
