Archive for July 28th, 2009|Daily archive page
The Daily Breaking Free Chizuk 7th Av 5769
Filed under: Breaking Free, GuardUrEyes, Jewish Sexuality, Judaism, Mussar, Pogem Habris, Shomer Habris, The Zohar, Torah | Tags: Breaking Free, GuardUrEyes, Jewish Sexuality, Judaism, Mussar, Pogem Habris, Shomer Habris, The Zohar, Torah
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GuardUrEyes A website for Jews struggling to maintain their moral purity in today’s world |
With the advance of technology and the ease of availability and privacy that the internet provides, it has become a daily struggle for many religious Jews to remain Erlich (morally and ethically upright) even in their own homes. Jewish Leaders, Rabbis and Experts worldwide, are beginning to speak out about this serious problem more and more.
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Why is Sexual purity so important in Judaism? Our sages called Shmiras Habris"Yesod", meaning “Foundation”. The foundation of a building is “underground” and no one sees it, yet it holds up the entire building! Shmiras Habris is the hidden part of a Jew, it’s the real you. If the foundation of a Jew is weak, his whole spiritual structure is fragile and in grave danger of collapse. |
There is a lot of material out there on the subject of guarding the eyes and the Bris, but sometimes “too much” is overwhelming.
A little bit each day is just right, to be able to read, digest and apply it to our lives.
The Image of HashemWhen Shem and Yefet covered up their father’s nakedness, they held a blanket and walked backwards so as not to see him. They could have walked towards him and kept their eyes lowered. Why did they feel it necessary to walk backwards?
Since the image of Hashem is etched upon the human countenance, simply exposing the face to improper sights is spiritually harmful!
Therefore, they walked backwards to protect their souls. (The Alshich)
From the booklet "Windows of the Soul" by R’ Zvi Miller of the Salant foundation.The booklet "Windows of the Soul" by R’ Zvi Miller of the Salant foundation, is a MAN’S PRACTICAL GUIDE TO MASTERING HIS EYES
(Right click the link and choose "Save Target/Link As" to save the PDF booklet to your computer).
To subscribe to eMussar, the daily lessons of the Salant Foundation, send email to salant@netvision.net.il
The GuardUrEyes Chizuk – Breaking Free.
Antidotes, tips, articles or quotes from the holy texts, therapists and fellow strugglers, to help you break free of sexual addictions, pornography and/or masturbation.
Breaking Free Chizuk
Taken from Tzvi Fishman’s Blog on Arutz Sheva, at http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Blogs/Message.aspx/2314
Sent on Hoshana Rabba.
Everyone’s final judgment is hermetically sealed and handed over to the Heavenly Tribunal on Hoshana Rabbah. Many Jews will stay up all night studying Torah this evening in a last burst of t’shuva. My friends, we have come down to the wire. Therefore in the name of our holy Sages, if you have not yet installed an anti-pornography filtering service on your computer, this is the time to do it. Save yourselves and save your holy children!
The beginning of this week marked the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. Yesterday was the yahrtzeit of the Gaon of Vilna. Today, the guest in our Succah is Yosef. Rabbi Nachman taught that the greatest test in life is to fight against the sexual temptation. As we have explained elsewhere, one of the main weapons in the battle is the lulav. The waving of the lulav and the succah itself are all designed to purify us from our sexual mistakes and protect us from the sexual sin. Rabbi Nachman explains that the awesome destructive power of the nations comes from their saturation in sexual impurity. They come against us with the power of evil. Our real weapon against them is not tanks and bombers, but our lulavs. The holiness of Israel is what overcomes our enemies, not our physical prowess. When we purify our beings, re-embrace the holy Brit and reattach ourselves to G-d, our enemies are shattered before us. This is the secret of the haftorahs we read on the first day of the Holiday and on Shabbat. It is not our physical might that defeats the terrible enemies that strike from the north, but our holy connection to G-d. The salvation is from Him.
Our Sages have long told us that sexual transgression causes a terrible rift between the Jewish Nation and G-d, causing exile and national destruction. Our enemies know this and therefore muster all of their cunning, material resources, and technology to bring us to sin. This has been the strategy from the time of Amalek, Midian, Greece, throughout history down to the zillion dollar industry of Internet pornography today. Today, this terrible enemy has not only invaded our territorial borders – rather, like the Trojan Horse, it has been afforded in an honored place in our homes. So if you want to join in the fight and help win the battle, save yourselves and your children, and the entire Jewish Nation – and expel this seductive, vile, and cruel and crafty enemy from your homes.
The Gaon of Vilna writes that the apocalyptic war of Gog and Magog that we read about on Succot can be averted if we reassert of allegiance to the Covenant of sexual purity through Tikun HaBrit. This is the great example and teaching of Yosef who is called Yosef the Tzaddik because he resisted the temptations of Potifar’s wife. It is Yosef, in his aspect of sexual holiness, who leads the way to tomorrow’s exalted succah guest, King David, who represents the long-awaited Redemption and re-establishment of the Kingdom of Israel. Rabbi Nachman stresses that it is precisely through the festival of Sukkot and the rectification of the Brit that comes through it that we attain the great holiness that leads us to victory over our enemies and to the renewal of the fallen succah of David.
This week, we had the honor of welcoming the esteemed Kabbalist, HaRav Eliahu Leon Levi, in our succah. He explained that because we are in the sixth millennium of Jewish history, which parallels the sefirah of the Yesod, the channel of sexual purity represented by Yosef, the nations of the world are waging a fierce spiritual war against us, precisely in this sphere, the very foundation of our holiness and connection to G-d. This is the underlying reason for all of the sexual licentiousness today. It is the people who sanctify their sexual lives, he said, who will find “a refuge in Zion and Jerusalem” in the end of days, as our Prophets have promised.
Each of us can play a part in this national sanctification by making sure that the impurity of the nations of the world does not seep into his or her home through the Trojan Horse of the Internet. Download a filter today. In our home, we have three for safe measure: Eye-Saver of Bezeq; K9 Web Protection; and the new enhanced Israeli Rimon.
If we all make this a part of our t’shuva, we will give a big push to bring the Redemption much closer. May it come soon. Amen.
Two Free e-Books, courtesy of GuardUrEyes that will change your life!
Right click on the links below and choose “Save Link/Target As” to download them to your computer. (Print them out to read at your leisure!)
The GuardUrEyes E-mail Chizuk Lists
The Yetzer Hara thinks of new ways to win us over every day. What better way to combat him than to have some chizuk and a new insight every day!
List 1.The GuardUrEyes Chizuk List – Breaking Free.
Receive each day antidotes, tips, articles or quotes from the holy texts, therapists and fellow strugglers, to help you break free of sexual addictions, pornography and/or masturbation.
List 2.General Chizuk in Shmiras Ainayim
This list will focus less on the “addiction” aspect and more on general Chizuk in Shmiras Ainayim that anyone can use, addicted or not. This list is less intense and explicit than the first, and is appropriate for everyone.
Please note: We strongly advise anyone who struggles with masturbation or pornography, even if infrequently, to join the first list as well.
Click here to join one (OR BOTH) of the Chizuk lists described.
The tools on GuardUrEyes network include:
Two Daily Chizuk List options (hundreds of members!)
Hundreds of tips; divided into categories; tips from therapists, tips from other sites and from fellow strugglers.
An active and thriving forum – a powerful feature of group support
The “Jewish Healing Group“, an anonymous 12-Step group that meets on the phone once a week
A live hotline, for people to get advice and started on their journey to recovery
Sign up for a Partner / Sponsor. Download the Questionnaire
Many stories of recovery, struggles and suffering
An elaborate FAQ page
Over 20 filter options, and everything a person could want to know about filters
A section on the 12 steps
A "Kosher Isle" to help people find entertaining and more productive things to do with their time
Download here a powerful PDF file, translated from a Hebrew book called "The First Day of the Rest of My Life", to help people break free of sexual addictions
A Rehab Option in Florida
Many Therapy Options
An inspiring Music Page, to chase away the impurity and inspire thoughts of Teshuvah
A "Wall of Honor" page, to keep track of your sobriety and get group support
Source: GuardUrEyes
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The Daily Shmiras Ainayim Chizuk 7th Av 5769
Filed under: GuardUrEyes, Jewish Sexuality, Judaism, Mussar, Pogem Habris, Shmiras Ainayim, Shomer Habris, The Zohar, Torah | Tags: GuardUrEyes, Jewish Sexuality, Judaism, Mussar, Pogem Habris, Shmiras Ainayim, Shomer Habris, The Zohar, Torah
Leave a Comment |
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GuardUrEyes A website for Jews struggling to maintain their moral purity in today’s world |
Why is Sexual purity so important in Judaism? Our sages called Shmiras Habris “Yesod”, meaning “Foundation”. The foundation of a building is “underground” and no one sees it, yet it holds up the entire building! Shmiras Habris is the hidden part of a Jew, it’s the real you. If the foundation of a Jew is weak, his whole spiritual structure is fragile and in grave danger of collapse. At guardureyes.com we are finally joining together, for ourselves and for all future generations, to strengthen the foundations of our people!
There is a lot of material out there on the subject of guarding the eyes and the Bris, but sometimes “too much” is overwhelming.
A little bit each day is just right, to be able to read, digest and apply it to our lives.
The booklet “Windows to the Soul” by R’ Zvi Miller of the Salant foundation, is a MAN’S PRACTICAL GUIDE TO MASTERING HIS EYES. (Right click the link and choose “Save Target/Link As” to save the PDF booklet to your computer). To subscribe to eMussar, the daily lessons of the Salant Foundation, send email to salant@netvision.net.il
The Zohar compares this world to a churning ocean and the body of a man to a ship in the sea. Therefore, man requires knowledge in order to guide himself on a straight course, avoiding mishap and losing his way. The ocean of life roars fearfully and continuously. The winds of challenge blow and the negative impulse rips about like a tornado with unimaginable force. All of life comprises great and endless tests, which can easily capsize the ship and sink it into the murky, nethermost depths.
Yirat Shamayim and the study of Mussar will prevent the body from sinking into the miry depths of desire and corrupt character traits.
(Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer, Ohr Yisrael)
Today’s Shmiras Ainayim Chizuk
Go For Holiness (Part 2)
MAKING THE EFFORT-GAINING THE REWARD
1) Each time that a person avoids an improper image Hashem calls him a “holy person” and he is rewarded for performing a Mitzvah.
2) If a person cuts off an improper thought just once, it is “the root of all goodness” because it changes the propensity of his thoughts and actions.
3) Whoever averts his eyes from looking at an improperly dressed woman merits receiving the Shechinah.” (Chazal Derech Eretz 1) The moment a person guards his eyes from looking at an improper sight, he receives the Shechinah, even if he does not sense it.
In the World to Come, on the merit of averting his eyes even one time, a man will see the glorious Shechinah of Hashem (Taharat HaKodesh). Imagine if a man averts his eyes continually!
May we be inspired to avert our eyes from seeing improper sights and merit receiving the holiness of the Shechinah for all eternity.
TODAY: Draw holiness to yourself by controlling your eyes from seeing improper sights.
Practical Application
“Go For Holiness“
The tremendous amount of holiness that Hashem grants me when I control my eyes gives me great strength and inspiration. Yesterday, I was walking by a magazine stand. I immediately reminded myself, “Look away, and you will merit seeing the Shechinah of Hashem!” This thought struck a chord, and I successfully averted the images.
Two Free e-Books, courtesy of GuardUrEyes that will change your life!
Right click on the links below and choose “Save Link/Target As” to download them to your computer. (Print them out to read at your leisure!)
The GuardUrEyes E-mail Chizuk Lists
The Yetzer Hara thinks of new ways to win us over every day. What better way to combat him than to have some chizuk and a new insight every day!
List 1.The GuardUrEyes Chizuk List – Breaking Free.
Receive each day antidotes, tips, articles or quotes from the holy texts, therapists and fellow strugglers, to help you break free of sexual addictions, pornography and/or masturbation.
List 2.General Chizuk in Shmiras Ainayim
This list will focus less on the “addiction” aspect and more on general Chizuk in Shmiras Ainayim that anyone can use, addicted or not. This list is less intense and explicit than the first, and is appropriate for everyone.
Please note: We strongly advise anyone who struggles with masturbation or pornography, even if infrequently, to join the first list as well.
Click here to join one (OR BOTH) of the Chizuk lists described below.
The tools on GuardUrEyes network include:
Two Daily Chizuk List options (hundreds of members!)
Hundreds of tips; divided into categories; tips from therapists, tips from other sites and from fellow strugglers.
An active and thriving forum – a powerful feature of group support
The “Jewish Healing Group“, an anonymous 12-Step group that meets on the phone once a week
A live hotline, for people to get advice and started on their journey to recovery
Sign up for a Partner / Sponsor. Download the Questionnaire
Many stories of recovery, struggles and suffering
An elaborate FAQ page
Over 20 filter options, and everything a person could want to know about filters
A section on the 12 steps
A "Kosher Isle" to help people find entertaining and more productive things to do with their time
Download here a powerful PDF file, translated from a Hebrew book called "The First Day of the Rest of My Life", to help people break free of sexual addictions
A Rehab Option in Florida
Many Therapy Options
An inspiring Music Page, to chase away the impurity and inspire thoughts of Teshuvah
A "Wall of Honor" page, to keep track of your sobriety and get group support
How Can You Help?
Source: GuardUrEyes
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