Green Speech #4

Green Speech #4

The Chofetz Chaim brings many sources to support the point that
Loshon Hara (Derogatory, negative, hurtful and damaging Speech)
is the cause of the Jewish people’s exile

In Parashas Shemos, the Torah relates the suffering of the Jews in Egypt. The Torah states that Moshe, who had grown up in Pharaoh’s palace, went out amongst his people to share their pain and suffering.

In his wanderings amongst the Jews, he encountered the notorious pair, Dasan and Aviram.

They made it known to Moshe that they had told the Egyptian authorities on him that they had seen Moshe kill an Egyptian who was attacking a Jew. Now that the Loshon Hara had been said, the Egyptian authorities no longer saw Moshe as family but an enemy who had to be killed.

Moshe’s Response in the Torah is  “Now the matter is known” (Shemos 2:15). The Midrash interprets this to mean, “Now I understand why the Jewish people are in this terrible exile. It is because they speak loshon hora.”

Rabbi Michael Stern
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The Punishment of a Liar:

even when he tells the truth, nobody believes him.’

(Sanhedrin 89b)

This is a great example of how ‘reward and punishment’

works in Judaism.

It’s consequences, not random punishment. You continually

lie and, as a result, not one believes you when you tell the truth.

It is a direct outcome of your choices. As per my last daily –

a person is led along the path he chooses to take.

Rabbi Michael Stern

rabbiwithoutwalls@gmail.com (c)414-573-9668

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Choose Wisely

A person is led along the path he chooses to take.’ (Maakos 10b)
God does not choose a path in life for us. (Albeit he gives us a host
of circumstances)

He gives us freewill and allows us to choose our
own path and then leads us in the direction of those choices – for better or for worse. (He’ll allow us to go down a poor path, if that’s what we choose) When it is for worse, we have no one to look to but ourselves.

Choose wisely my friends

Rabbi Michael Stern
rabbiwithoutwalls@gmail.com (c)414-573-9668
http://rabbiwithoutwalls.blogspot.com/
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Conjugal Relations

The last on the list of the 8 things which are harmful in excess
and beneficial in moderation: ’ (Avos D'Rabbi Noson, 37: 5)

# 8. Conjugal relations

I’ve mentioned this one before. Sex, in moderation, is a significant part of a meaningful relationship between consenting adults.

When it gets out of control, however, it becomes lust for lust’s sake; using a body to satisfy your own passions, with no attention paid to the person inside

#5 Harmful in Excess-Good Moderation

There are 8 things which are harmful in excess and

beneficial in moderation: 5. Travel’ (Avos D'Rabbi Noson, 37:

#5  It’s great to travel (other 4 were; sleep, wine, money, work)

so much to see; so much to learn;

so many new business opportunities. But too much travel can

become exhausting and disorienting.

It’s time away from family and the stability of home.

Not only does it affect you, it affects your spouse and children.

So the Rabbis tell us to moderate. By all means travel, but maintain a balance.

Harmful in Excess -Good.Moderation

There are 8 things which are harmful in excess and beneficial in moderation: (Avos D'Rabbi Noson, 37: 5)

# 4. Wealth (the other 3 were wine, sleep and work)’

Wealth in moderation buys you so many good things in life. Wealth in excess can become an obsession. It can turn into wealth for its own sake and protecting it becomes of paramount importance.

How wealthy is wealthy enough? If you don’t have an answer to that question that you can stick to, you are heading for trouble.

8 Good Things harmful in excess

There are 8 things which are harmful in excess and beneficial in moderation: (Avos D'Rabbi Noson, 37: 5)

#2 – Work (yesterday was wine)

 Work is great, it makes money (for some at least!!), sharpens the mind and body and keep us out of trouble.

But too much can damage health, undermine perspective, erode values and ultimately tear apart families.