1) Often, one who is struggling in the realm of Tzniyus will think to himself "I am far from these areas", "I am so steeped in sin, there is no point in being careful in these areas anymore", "I am beyond hope or repair" or such similar fallacies.
Every Jew must know that these aforementioned thoughts or excuses are the workings of the Yetzer Hara, and are not acceptable defenses for not adhering to the Halachos of Tzniyus.
In fact, the greater a person is in Torah and Mitzvos and closeness to Hashem, the more intensely the Yetzer Hara tries to affect him, especially in these vital areas of Kedusha and Tzniyus. (See Talmud Sukkah 52a and Kidushin 81a. See also Sefer Seder Hayom Perek Seder Hanhogas Halaila)
2) Thus, even someone who has in the past transgressed these Halachos and finds it difficult to now begin being careful in these areas all at once and make a total turnaround in his way of life, must begin turning around slowly and make significant changes in his behavior until he achieves total compliance with the Halachos. (See Mishlei 4:26 and Rambam Hilchos Dei'os Perek 2)
Even after starting to get on the right path it often happens that one will slip or fall into old behavior patterns; he must get up and start again no matter how many times it takes.
Shlomo Hamelech teaches us (Mishlei 24:16) "Sheva Yipol Tzadik, V'kam, a righteous person falls seven times and gets up"
Rav Yitzchok Hutner Zatzal, the late venerable Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, explains the Posuk above to mean, not that a person can become a Tzadik despite having sinned, rather a person becomes a Tzadik because he has sinned and gotten up again and again and again, 7, 70, 700 or even 7,000 times. (Pachad Yitzchok, letters #128)
Hashem does not expect us to be angels; after all He has created us as humans. However, He does expect every single Jew, no matter how far he has strayed from the path of the Shulchan Aruch, to keep getting up and striving for a life lived in accordance with the dictates of the holy Torah, as that is our job, as humans and as Jews, to constantly grow and perfect ourselves in all areas of our service of Hashem.
The more a person trains himself to do things in accordance with Halacha, the easier it will become over time. (See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 1:4)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
These Q&A are taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Yahoo.com
Reader's Question:
Does a person who gives a class/speech and barters the payment for a stay at a hotel, have to (according to halacha) pay taxes on the value of that stay?
Answer:
If according to the law of the land it is required (Dina D'Malchusa), then according to halacha it is required.
CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmas the late Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Yaakov ben Rav Binyomin Moshe Stein Zatzal.
We will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO HALACHAFORTODAY@YAHOO.COM
THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה
A GOLDEN GIFT
A Holocaust survivor recently passed away in the Israeli coastal city of Netanya. During their condolence visit to his surviving son in Jerusalem the comforters heard a fascinating story that expressed the inextinguishable spirit of survival and faith of the Jewish People.
In a safe in the home of this Jew was a bar of gold around which was wrapped a note with the following explanation:
"Upon arriving in Eretz Yisrael after the destruction of European Jewry I wished to express my gratitude to Heaven.
I therefore used the first money I earned in the Holy Land to purchase this bar of gold which I have dedicated as a gift to the Beit Hamikdash which I hope to see rebuilt in my days."
Submitted by daily reader, C.S.; Taken from Ohr Somaych's website
Important Numbers
