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Every thing that we do is either a choice between the advice given by the yetzer tov (good inclination) and the advice given by the yetzer hora (evil inclination) and we must know that these are real entities in our lives. What Hashem did was give us a gift, a tremendous benefit, a chessed (kindness), the human seichel (intelligence/wisdom). Are we going to ignore that benefit, and wander away after the one who’s our worst enemy, the yetzer hora that’s our enemy. Therefore you see you must encourage your yetzer tov. - (E - 137 - Listen to the voice of the Yetzer Tov)
Every man has an infinitely deep reservoir of potential wisdom upon which he can draw. Hashem is waiting for him to bring that wisdom to the surface and apply it as situations arise. But utilizing opportunities that arise in his life, he can draw upon and bring forth this wisdom with the aid of the Torah, and so he can acquire the gift of chachmoh (wisdom) - . (Ohr Avigdor Hakdama)
We have said that the pinnacle of the great gift of wisdom (chachmah) is the awareness of Hashem. It also includes the awareness of all the truths of the world such as the awareness of olam haba (the world to come) and the knowledge of what is right and what is wrong. - (Ohr Avigdor Hakdama)
Wisdom is the light of man’s existence. It is the basis of the world, as we find in Mishlei (Proverbs), “With wisdom He founded the world.” Not only did Hashem give us life, He gave us the power of speech and rational thought. But even more, He created the world with wisdom and gave us access to that wisdom. - (Ohr Avigdor Hakdama.)
Each morning we say, “He makes peace and creates everything.” Why are we associating peace with the creation of the world? Hashem created the world so that all of its forces are at peace. If they were to clash and collide with each other, the world could not exist. Instead, Hashem makes peace between everything in the world, and all His creations cooperate for His purpose. - (Ohr Avigdor Hakdama)
"V'oneh l'Amo Yisrael b'eis shavam eilav — He answers His people Yisrael at the time that they cry out to Him." It doesn't say merely He is at hand to help them. It says v'oneh — He is ready to answer them. When? B'eis shavam eilav, at the time that they cry out. Shavam means a great outcry. So we see it's not sufficient to mumble a little prayer. It's important to make a big outcry to Hashem. — The Wine of Prayer (#555)
Yo'na'ti... b'chag'vi ha'selah... (My dove in the cracks of the rock). (Shir Hashirim)
The Torah is a refuge... and is our guarantee for security and existence forever. All the nations are going to go down underground and they will have to be discovered through archaeology. The Jew will remain on top of the ground forever and ever, because he hides in the cleft of the rock. That cleft is Hashem and the Torah. — Shir Hashirim 15 When Hashem gave the Torah, it wasn't a case where Moshe came out of his tent and said, "Fellow Israelites, a voice spoke to me and told me this." They didn't believe because Moshe Rabbeinu told them it happened. They heard what he heard. The entire nation heard. By the way, there isn't a single nation in the world to ever claim anything remotely similar. — Eternal Sanctuary of Marriage (#516)
The Jew is unlike all the nations of the world; he has something to do at all times. The mezuzah is like the yeshiva mashgiach asking the boys going out the door, "Where are you going?" The mezuzah is asking us, "Where are you going?" You have to be mindful of your function as a student of Torah because you are one of the members of the mamleches kohanim, the nation of priests. – Preface to Shabbos (#439)
What greater gift could Hashem give anybody in this world that's bigger than the Torah? But in order that Am Yisrael should accept the Torah, they needed another gift as a prelude, and that was the gift of tzaros (suffering). And so Pharaoh was even more influential than Moshe Rabbeinu in getting them to accept the Torah.
- Pesach, Matzoh and Maror (#638) The man who is zealous for Hashem and His Torah is considered as one who brings peace to Israel and protects them against misfortune; and therefore he deserves a long life enjoying the fruits of his deeds. -- Journey Into Greatness
Because of the harmful influence of our environment, one dose of hashkafah (Torah philosophy) is never enough. Even the best of us must constantly refresh our minds and return to the same logical arguments to think them through again and again.
— Ohr Avigdor Shaar Habechinah The Torah is meant to make a person happy. "V'tov lach l'olam haba" — no question about being happy in the World to Come. "Ashrecha b'olam hazeh," and even in olam hazeh (this world), when you learn Torah, it helps you to be happy in this world. If it doesn't, you're missing something from your Torah. — Bringing Up Children 10 (#880)
The authenticity of the Hebrew Scriptures is attested by the entire Jewish nation from the beginning until the time of the "Reformers." Not once did any Jew arise to challenge the Torah of Moses on the basis of validity. The prophets castigated the sinners for every kind of misdeed, but not once is anyone criticized for disbelief in the Torah. Thus the millions of Israel testified to the truth of the Torah from the beginning. — Awake, My Glory
The author of the Mesillas Yesharim (Path of the Just) says we have to ask ourselves the following question: What did our forefathers do that Hashem chose them? What did Abraham Avinu do? What did Yitzchak do? What did Yosef do that Hashem loved him so greatly? We have to spend time every day studying that. When we finally discover it, we have to say, "I also want to do the same." — Shir Hashirim 17 (#451)
The Jews are a fiery people, created for a specific purpose, therefore they need a fiery Torah. Fire is a valuable tool, but it must be kept within bounds. The Torah was given to the people of Hashem to channel their fire and utilize it. — Awake, My Glory
When a person absorbs the knowledge that Hashem is in control of everything, he will have achieved yiras Hashem (fear of Hashem). He will know that "there is nothing besides Him" and he will be rewarded with Hashem's favor.
— Ohr Avigdor Shaar Habechinah There's only one evil that can result to a man, and that is the ultimate and real evil: Gehinom. — Anger, Midos and the Afterlife (#447)
We're put in this world to be formed into something beautiful. And so a pummel here... and a knock there.... and a punch here. We think it's all a waste. We would like to get along without it, but that's what is making us, it's rounding us out, it's smoothing out our rough places. It's making us into what we are supposed to become. Part of our being in this world is involuntary perfection. — Evil of Confusion (#6)
Pray for a healthy heart when you don't even know you have a heart, when it's functioning so perfectly you're not aware that it's there. If you do that, then you are calling out to Hashem b'emes (in truth) — that's the best heart medicine. — Prayer in Prosperity (#60)
How can a person show gratitude to Hashem if he didn't study what Hashem is doing for him? The foundation of all avodah (service) is gratitude, and we cannot have true gratitude unless we examine what Hashem is doing for us.— Ohr Avigdor Shaar Habechinah
If you think about Hashem one minute a day, you're a great man, an exceptional person. Try it right now. Don't postpone; you might not do it again. Think about Hashem for this minute: You're sitting in front of Hashem. He's the King of the world. "Meloh kol haaretz kevodo — the world is full of His glory." He's constantly thinking about You.
— Wine of Prayer (#555) We have to praise Hashem as long as we can talk, before the time of silence comes and we lose the opportunity to practice that great career of praising Hashem. Silence is a tragedy. The dead are silent. So David said, "Let my soul live, and it will praise You."
— Ohr Avigdor Shaar Habechinah You cannot even have an artificial attitude of thanks towards Hashem unless you have a natural behavior pattern of thanking people.
If you acquire that behavior pattern, you will thank your mother or your wife for making your meals, you will thank your father for buying you clothing, and you will thank your Rebbe for teaching you Torah. You can then use this attitude in expressing your gratitude to Hashem. — Ohr Avigdor Shaar Avodas Elokim A person will not succeed in recognizing the Creator — even if he is a frum Jew — if he does things only because of habit. — Contending with the Yetzer Hara (#E-788)
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