Daily Tanya Thursday 6th Menachem Av Igeres Hakodesh 2: The Danger of Pride in Receiving Kindness

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Epistle 2: The Danger of Pride in Receiving Kindness

6th Av

Responding to Divine Favors with Humility

  • With every favor bestowed by G-d, a person should become more humble.
  • Being brought closer to G-d requires ever-greater self-effacement, reflecting the principle that “all that are before Him are esteemed as nothing.”
  • This humility is exemplified by Avraham and Yaakov, who considered themselves unworthy despite their closeness to G-d.

The Danger of Pride in Receiving Kindness

  • The unholy side of kindness (represented by Ishmael) leads to arrogance and self-satisfaction when receiving favors.
  • True holiness brings humility, not pride, in response to G-d’s kindness.

Instruction to the Chasidic Community

  • Community members are urged to emulate Yaakov’s humility, considering themselves “remnants” or “remainder.”
  • They should not be haughty or mock their adversaries, even those responsible for the arrest of the Alter Rebbe.
  • A strong warning is issued: remain silent, avoid derision, and approach others with a soft answer and restrained spirit.
  • Through humility and kindness, harmony and reconciliation may be fostered within the community.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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