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Meir Elkabas Parshat Behar

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Collected Words of Encouragement and Inspiration - Part 2

BH

Dearest friends and admirers.

Shalom.

Over the years I have been writing to and corresponding with all types of people all over the world. In these letters many words of encouragement and inspiration drawn from the teachings of Rebbe Nachman have come out. After writing them, I saw that these gems should be shared with everyone, as all could benefit from them.

Please feel free to share these collections with friends and family and whoever else you may think might benefit from them: 

1. When you see and feel that the yetzer hara is gaining up on you, leaving no room to budge, only pushing you to one direction - despair! Know that this in itself is his downfall. For his main weapon is to convince you that it is the Will of HaShem that there is no hope for you. That's how he tries to convince you that he's right!  
2. But when it is so so bad that he leaves no room, this is the true sign that it's a big BLUFF! For HaShem's way is to always leave you room (to breathe) for the sake of free choice. So, really you should smile and laugh when it seems "totally bad" because it's just a game being played on you by the Other Side. So, "don't worry be happy" and hang in there. Don't give in. It's only a test. 
3. Know that when a person is being squeezed from all sides, all one can do is cry to HaShem. It may very well be that the reason why Heaven is squeezing you is specifically to get those tears out of you. For a Jew's tears are very precious in that they can open all closed Gates. 
4. A good argument to Hashem: "Hashem don't let go of me now. You held my hand until now building me up and up and up. So why let go of me now in the middle of the process... If You started something good with me then please continue. 
5. But Hashem, even if it seems that You did let go of me - I believe that this is Your loving Hand guiding me for my growth. So please bring me back up and show me how everything is for my ultimate good." 
6. The most powerful force in the universe is your desire. This is the only thing that the yetzer hara cannot touch "I want to be a good Jew!" And even if the pessimistic/prosecuting entity within us tells us - "Naah! You don't want" - I can easily retort" "At least I want to want". No one can take away your inner desire. This is the secret to the continuity of the Jewish flame and nation. 
7. There are times when you feel down-and-out, empty, futile and a lost cause. You try this, you try that... notihing. Nothing works. What then? To what do I attribute this? You may even cry to Hashem about it, and yet... nothing! So what is it? 
8. Guess what! You are one of those fortunate few who feel the exile of the Shekhinah. See yourself as a reflection of what Hashem is feeling, so that you can put in a few more tears and prayers for all Am Yisrael. Because that is what really counts! Your prayers and tears make a big difference. 
9. The Zohar teaches: "A log of wood that doesn't ignite, simply chop it up and it will ignite. So too if one's physicality does not let the flame of the neshamah burn within it, then it also must be cut up". From here we see that all the "growing pains" one experiences in the quest for coming close to Hashem are positive stages in life. Only retroactively does one see all the kindnesses contained within the suffering. 
10. Rebbe Nachman once told his disciple (who also complained that he's almost dried up from crying), that when King David says in tehillim "my throat is parched [from crying]" he really meant it. But you, B"H, still have more strength to continue crying out.
    The only thing to do is to continue crying out until He finally answers the call. True salvation comes to those who patiently wait for it. May Hashem speedily answer you. 
11. Hashem is constantly sending every person hints- each according to his allocation that Hashem has placed him in from the time of birth. Whether brought up religiously or not, Hashem knows exactly where He put each person and therefore Knows the difficulties that each person has in returning to Him. Therefore, even the thought of doing "Teshuva" is very precious in His eyes. 
12. The fact that Mashiach himself is born on Tisha B'Av itself, serves as a lesson that in the darkest and deepest destructive situations in life, Hashem sends a beacon of light to help us start again. This process must continue until enough "fresh starts" are collected in order to lay the foundation of the Third Temple (see Likutey Halakhot, Hashkamat HaBoker, 1) 
13. Every person "stumbles" across the truth in his lifetime, at one point or another. However, the majority of people just keep on walking. 
14. It is a great advantage to be close and attached to a true tzaddik. For the true tzaddik is someone who technically "made it" in life. By being close to him and receiving his advice we also stand a better chance to also make it. 
15. Hashem's Way is to conceal Himself within nature/creation. Yet, He reveals himself behind this "mask" through the unbeleivable revelation of Divine Providence. Through this, anyone can see clearly that Hashem is "here" and runs the world. This is especially true in the Land of Israel. 
16. The process of spiritual growth is similar to that of growing a tree. First the seed must be placed "under the earth" and then rots. Slowly the decomposition forms extensions until eventually it becomes a tall and strong tree. So too a person must go through a "rotting" process before he can fully develop his potential. 
17. Faith is in the "hands". One who claims that he believes but doesn't "do" practical action towards this end cannot be considered a true believer. He must show "Hashem" that he believes. 
18. When trying to solve one's problems and difficulties one must deal with them at their source. Because the average person doesn't know where to start looking, we thus need the guidelines of the true tzaddikim to help us in this matter. With their x-ray eyes they can probe into a person and direct him out of his maze of problems.
    Edit
19. Before one comes close to Hashem a person doesn't really notice his deficiencies. It can be compared to polluted water, which at first glance looks clear and clean. However, once you start boiling it the filth rises to the top. So too in entering the service of Hashem, the "garbage" comes out. A person shouldn't be discouraged when he sees that he's farther than before, since this is part of the purification process. 
20. Sometimes the best thing to do is to do nothing at all. When overwhelmed with to much to do, this can be seen as a sign from Hashem to stop, take it easy and refresh oneself with a new beginning. With this attitude a person can always be young (even at the ripe old age of 90+). 

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