The first 4 letters of the Aleph-Bais are: אַ לֶּ ף ב ית גִ ימֶּ ל דָ לֶּ ת. Aleph means “Ich”, i.e., only me! Chazal say: לְׁעוֹלָם יַעֲסֹק אָדָם בַתוֹרָה וּבַמִצְׁווֹת אֲפִלוּ שֶּלֹא לִשְׁמָהּ פסחים נ ב A person needs to start off learning Shelo Li'shmah (for selfish reasons) and only later Li'shmah (he can become pure). First comes blowing up self-worth (Aleph), and then comes Bais, which stands for Bitachon, i.e., then you become L’shem Shamayim and a true Baal Bitachon. And only AFTER these first two comes: גִ ימֶּ ל דָ לֶּ ת Gimel and Daled, because once you are worth something you can be: גוֹמ ל דַלִים (help others)!
More in this printout
- Being Impressed by Scary or Important or Talented People Diminishes Your Self WorthAn exploration of how excessive admiration for people or nature can lead to Avoda Zara and diminish one's self-worth as a Tzelem Elokim.
- Your Broken Soul Side of You Brings You Closer to HashemExplore how personal struggles and brokenness can lead to a deeper connection with Hashem, drawing lessons from Moshe Rabeinu and the dangers of complacency.
- Being Inadequate Is a Bracha in Disguise but Having It All Can Be a Grave DangerExplore how personal shortcomings and lack of organization can be spiritual protections against arrogance, contrasting human struggle with the cold efficiency o
- Everything We Do Should Be with A TogethernessAn exploration of how the singular form of the Ten Commandments and the camping at Sinai teaches the importance of Achdus and communal unity in Torah life.
- The Greatness of a Cohen During the Times of The Bais HamikdashAn exploration of the sanctity of Cohanim during the First Temple era, contrasting the reverence of Avner and Amasa with the disregard shown by Doeg HaEdomi.
- Yerushalayim - The True Simcha of The Whole WorldExplore the profound joy of Yerushalayim and the Bais Hamikdash, and how serving Hashem with Simcha is the essential root of spiritual success.
- The Joy and Significance of Yerushalayim and the Bais HamikdashExplore the profound joy of the Bais Hamikdash, the significance of Bikkurim, and how mourning for Yerushalayim leads to witnessing its ultimate restoration.
- What Do You Do When Your Tefilos Don’t WorkExplore the power of persistent prayer and gratitude through two inspiring stories about overcoming disappointment and seeing the positive in others.
- Hashem Will Reward Your Positive LiesA story about a man who thanked Hashem for success in learning Gemara despite his struggles, leading to a miraculous breakthrough in his studies the next day.
- Novardok and R Yisroel Movshovitz ZatzalA tribute to R' Yisroel Movshovitz, Mashgiach of Novardok in Bialystok, highlighting his resilience in Siberia and his unique approach to Avodas Hashem.