DoSomeChesed

  ב"ה בס"דWelcome to DoSomeChesed! I am Zalman, but you can call me Sam. I am an Orthodox Jew who would like all of you to start doing acts of chesed - kindness. For Jew and non-Jew alike, I hope this inspires you to do something nice!

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“Love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18)

Judging by the title of this post, you may think this is an average post of mine admonishing all of you wonderful people to be upright in your ways and to be kind to others. 

Nope.

That is, as always, the general message, but this post will deviate from what I normally post. The last rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, interpreted the famous verse of “Love your neighbor as yourself” in an interesting way. The rebbe interpreted it to mean “Love yourself as you love your neighbor.” If we don’t love ourselves for who we are, then how can we possibly project that love to others? We aren’t able to. 

Love yourself! You are a wonderful person, made in the Tzelem Elokim, the image of G-d, and you have lots to be loved for. You need to accept yourself for who you are and to stop pretending to be someone who you aren’t. Now, that does NOT mean that you can remain stagnant in your self improvement, because that is an area that can always be looked at and modified for the better. But if you were born into a certain family or look a certain way, you shouldn’t try to change that! You need to realize just how awesome, in every describable term, you are! Once you begin to truly accept yourself for who you are, then can you love others in the very same way.

Don’t feel like you are able to love yourself as a result of bad habits, attributes, or actions? G-d loves you more than anybody could ever imagine. His love for you, regardless of who you are, knows no bounds no matter what you have done. If G-d can love you with an infinite love, can’t you love yourself with just a fraction of that? 

So, my friends, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” but don’t get caught up in trying to love someone else when you can’t even love the incredible person that you are (and that you know you are)!

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Today is the forty-fourth day of the Omer, which is six weeks and two days of the Omer.

Count the Omer with the Best Omer Counter Ever. Subscribe to get the GIF Omer in your email daily. Find the blessing here.

Note: 44 = מד

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Shammai says, "Make your Torah fixed, say little and do much, and receive every person with a pleasant countenance."

Pirkei Avot 1:15

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Tips For Improvement

These are tips that I personally have implemented into my daily life and have found that their benefits affect myself and those around me greatly.

1. Having a conversation? Don’t wait for them to stop talking so that you can talk instead. Genuinely listen to them speak and give them the respect that they deserve. At the very least, don’t interrupt them (especially not in the middle of a sentence), and try to act interested. 

2. The previous rebbe of the Chabad movement once wrote in a letter to someone who was having difficulties trying to control his impolite speech: “When you wake in the morning, go through the motions of putting a muzzle over your mouth. Whenever you feel the need to speak, think, ‘Is this worth taking the muzzle off?’” This way, we are always of anything that we say. So, very simply, always think before speaking to anybody. You never know what may be offensive and truly hurtful. If there’s a doubt, don’t say it. 

3. In your workplace, home, and room, always make sure to have a charity box set up somewhere. It can be made of anything; tin cans, cardboard boxes, old fruit husks, the ideas are endless. Make it a habit to always put a few coins or dollars in whenever you see it. Encourage others to do the same. Also, designate a special compartment in your wallet or a special pants pocket for charity money, so that you can also be a “mobile” charity box.

4. Before you think about talking to your friends and hanging out with them specifically, think about any other people you may know who aren’t as fortunate as another person with many friends. Unless they clearly want to be alone, sit with them, talk with them, hang out with them, make them feel special. Assuming you have lots of friends as well, they will start to follow your example, and you can become a leader in ensuring that nobody is alone. 

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“Say less and do more” (Pirkei Avot 1:15)

Have you offended anyone lately? Wronged someone? Do you feel guilty about it? There’s a way to fix that. A meaningless apology is much worse than saying nothing at all. Should you apologize to the person you wronged? If it was a serious matter and that person became visibly and openly distraught and insulted, absolutely. But, always remember to “say less and do more.” How you improve matters so much more than what you say. Should you say sorry? Yes. Should you say sorry, forget about the matter, and not be careful regarding the same situation in the future? No! If saying sorry seems too difficult, you can’t muster up the right words, or are really stubborn, just change your ways. Not only will changing your ways show the person that you wronged that you have changed and are better, it also acts as an automatic apology. Always remember, “say less and do more.” 

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Always Be Mindful

I don't know how many times I have quoted this source before, probably a lot, but this is extremely important. The Talmud tells us (Bava Metzia 58b) that if "you drain the color of your friend's face," I.e. If you embarrass him or her, it is considered as if you have spilled their blood. If someone says something that you would consider "idiotic," don't laugh at them! I've done this before, it's been done to me, and it does not feel good! Always remember that you are talking to a human being with feelings. Generally, try not to laugh AT people, but WITH them. And if you have to question to yourself, "should I laugh?" it's best not to. Have a great day everyone! P.S. School has been consuming my life and time, so I am sorry for not posting frequently. Now that a majority of my major work is over, I have more time to post.

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Always Keep A Smile

We have learned in a Mishnah (Pirkei Avot 1:15) that we should greet everybody with a friendly smile. When meeting anybody, always remember to smile. It adds a warm and friendly atmosphere to the meeting and also brightens the person’s day a bit. Try to always be the one to say “hi!” first, as if greeting a celebrity. Also, try to be the one that initiates small talk (which is a common characteristic of friendly people). Always remember to just smile when you’re around people! Inquire about their well fare and be the first to greet. It will seriously (and positively) affect all of those that you meet and all of those around you. 

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Do Some Chesed!

This is more of developing a habit than a single action that one can do, but it is still a very kind attribute nonetheless. If someone, anybody, even your best friend or worst enemy, does anything nice for you (though it may even be somewhat involuntary), say “thank you!” Saying nothing is rude. Saying a thoughtful “thank you” makes the person feel appreciated and brightens their day a bit. So whenever anybody does something nice for you, always keep in mind to just say “thank you.” 

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Menorah for night number 3.

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Show Off Your Menorah!

Got a seriously stylish Menorah? Or just want to spread some light, well take a picture of your Menorah for the other six nights and tag it #Chanukah2016

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Do-It-Yourself Chanukah!

Chanukah has never been easier. 

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Ways To Improve

Now for the post dedicated to everyone. During the holiday of Chanukah, we recall how G-d performed a great miracle - making one jug of oil last for eight days until more oil could be obtained. This holiday also commemorates the rededication of the Second Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, we no longer have a Holy Temple, and we lost it on account of our own shortcomings. Let’s hasten the ultimate coming of the Messiah so that the Holy Temple can be rebuilt speedily in our days. Here are five to improve your life right now and make the world a much better place:

1. If your parents ask you to do something, try not to grumble and moan and actually do it! Remember, nothing bad comes from G-d, so even your parents telling you to clean up your room is ultimately for your benefit. 

2. If you gossip or speak badly of other people (regardless of whether or not it is true), stop! Remind yourself that this is pure evil. Rather than speaking maliciously about the faults of others, think about your own shortcomings (like speaking negatively about someone, which is a shortcoming in and of itself). If you have friends that do this, remove yourself swiftly from any conversation involving such malicious words. 

3. Stop being sarcastic. It’s rude and obnoxious.

4. Stop making jokey insults to anybody. The person on the receiving end may laugh on the outside, but you don’t know of the tears that they may shed later. Whenever you feel yourself about to make an insulting comment, literally bite your tongue and keep from saying it. 

5. Take out your wallet and a buck or so with it. Put it in an old aluminum can or any other container. Repeat daily. When it fills up, give it to a teacher or anybody that you trust to distribute it wisely, or distribute it yourself. By doing this, you become G-d’s emissary for helping those in need. 

Verbally commit to these things and try to uphold them. Don’t worry, we’re human and we fail sometimes. As long as we keep trying, we’re all good!

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Happy Chanukah!

I know that it’s a bit late (two nights, precisely) to say this, but happy Chanukah to everybody! That’s the first part of this post. Now for the second. This post is directed toward my Jewish followers. If you are a Jew, I urge you to do a Mitzvah. This is the easiest Mitzvah that I know of, and it takes less than two minutes. Say the entire Shema. English or Hebrew, or whatever language you desire as long as you understand it. Ater you get dressed in the morning, crack out a prayer book that you may have or refer to this post for the text: 

For the last three words after the final comma, say them twice and then the word “emet” afterwards (like so: אני יי אלהיכם, אני יי אלהיכם אמת). Also, say this before you go to bed at night. Each is a separate Mitzvah and it’s guaranteed to brighten your day! For the English text of the shema, refer to this text: Cover your eyes with your right hand and say: 

Hear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G‑d, the L-rd is One.

Recite the following verse in an undertone: Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever.

  You shall love the L-rd your G‑d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart. You shall teach them thoroughly to your children, and you shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.

  And it will be, if you will diligently obey My commandments which I enjoin upon you this day, to love the L-rd your G‑d and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, I will give rain for your land at the proper time, the early rain and the late rain, and you will gather in your grain, your wine and your oil. And I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be sated. Take care lest your heart be lured away, and you turn astray and worship alien gods and bow down to them. For then the L-rd's wrath will flare up against you, and He will close the heavens so that there will be no rain and the earth will not yield its produce, and you will swiftly perish from the good land which the L-rd gives you. Therefore, place these words of Mine upon your heart and upon your soul, and bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, to speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. And you shall inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates - so that your days and the days of your children may be prolonged on the land which the L-rd swore to your fathers to give to them for as long as the heavens are above the earth.

   The L-rd spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the children of Israel and tell them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to attach a thread of blue on the fringe of each corner. They shall be to you as tzizit, and you shall look upon them and remember all the commandments of the L-rd and fulfill them, and you will not follow after your heart and after your eyes by which you go astray - so that you may remember and fulfill all My commandments and be holy to your G‑d. I am the L-rd your G‑d who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your G‑d; I, the L-rd, am your G‑d. True. 

Congratulations, after saying this, you have done a Mitzvah! 

I seriously encourage this practice of saying the shema twice - once shortly after waking and before going to bed. It will seriously infuse your life with meaning. 

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Rosh Hashanah 5776 Year In Review:

- Learning a page-a-day Kitzur Chafetz Chaim (in English) daily

- Learning daily mussar (via email by Rabbi Adrian Kelaty)

- Got new roommates

- Reorganized the apartment with an improved result

- Got more/different responsibilities at work (which, depending on the task, also results in monetary bonuses)

- Started taking more control over my budget

- Finally joined the 21st century (ie. got a smartphone…)

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כל הכבוד

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Do Some Chesed!

 B”H

  Get off the couch/bed/table and go put one dollar in a designated box or container for charity. That’s too easy, though. Alright, once you’ve done that, I want you to go and call up your parents/grandparents/siblings/anyone who you haven’t seen in a while or need someone to talk to. That’s child stuff, though, so on top of all of that, I want you to - right now - go and say sorry (now it’s getting tough!) to three people whom you have wronged. Didn’t offend/physically/emotionally hurt/acted sarcastically or just plain mean with three people? Yes you have. Trust me, you have. Say sorry to that teacher for that time you were talking in class, or to your parents for yelling at them, or to your siblings for hurting them, or to literally anybody for doing anything hurtful. One last thing, and this is the most important:

CEASE ALL LASHON HARA 

Lashon Hara isn’t just a fancy Hebrew term for “gossip” (literally means “evil tongue”), but it applies to even unsuspecting sentences such as

“Cornelius holds such-and-such world views.”

“Tyrone spends all of his time on Tumblr.” 

“So-and-so, my teacher, really needs to improve his/her teaching content.”

The general rule is: Avoid any speech that (if the subject were present) you would not make. And even if you would make it in the presence of the subject, if you had to ask that question regarding your speech about him/her, don’t speak it. 

1. Give a dollar to Tzedaka (charity, preferably a physical dollar)

2. Call up your parents/grandparents/siblings/anyone who you haven’t seen in a while or who needs someone to talk to 

3. Say sorry to at least three people whom you have wronged

4. STOP IMMEDIATELY any speech containing Lashon Hara. 

Together, all of us can assist in improving the lives of the people around us (this is indeed our job in this world) and to bring Moshiach speedily in our days

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Shavua Tov!

B”H

Shavua Tov, my friends! Let’s make this new week (and year) abounding in kindness amongst ourselves. 

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B”H

To all of my Jewish followers, have a wonderful Shabbos Kodesh!

But wait, there’s more!

This Shabbos is a very special one - Shabbos Shuva

Basically, it is the Shabbos before Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year on which our sins are atoned for - if we repent. As such, this is a Shabbos of extreme importance, and I ask all of the Jews who are not currently observant of Shabbos to:

Refrain from writing, driving, preparing large quantities of food, playing instruments, watching Television, playing video games, and using your computers and phones. Also, ask your mother (preferably) or any other female in the house to light Shabbos candles. Light them at least 18 minutes before sunset. Trust me, this Shabbos has a huge impact on your fate. Refrain from these activities from the time you light candles to the time that Shabbos ends. You can find out these times (as they are unique to location) by using the website www.myzmanim.com and entering your zip code or city. I urge you to refrain from these activities at the very least for tonight. It is of crucial importance. 

Have an awesome Shabbos Kodesh and may we all be sealed for a sweet New Year,

Shneur Zalman A.