Life

"The quality of our lives is often dependent on what we restrain ourselves from doing.  The ability to say 'no' to oneself is as crucial as the ability to say 'yes' to the world."  --  Rabbi Wolpe

LIFE

"Help me, O Father That I may have Tenderness for the Weak, and a reverent Respect for the Ancient; That I may be kind to my Neighbors, goodnatured to my Companions, and hospitable to Strangers...gentle, merciful and Good, cheerful in Spirit, [and] rejoicing in the Good of Others." Benjamin Franklin

LIFE

"The great use of life is to spend it on something that will out last it."  William James  Rabbi Wolpe teaches that the reason we are open to transcendence  is because we really believe that there is something more than stuff to life, that there is something intangible, ethereal, spiritual about us and this is the way we channel it in the world.

Death

"People forget that this world is a place of temporary significance at best, where a soul assumes a bodily form to perform a mission and achieve a needed tikkun.  But, if they'd remember that the life and health of the soul is our prime concern -- and not the body -- then their question would fall by the wayside."  Rabbi Arush

Life

"I was traveling, and I met with a child at a crossroads.  I asked him, 'which way to the city?' and he answered: 'This way is short and long, and this way is long and short.'

"I took the 'short and long' way.  I soon reached the city but found my approach obstructed by gardens and orchards.  So I retraced my steps and said to the child: 'My son, did you not tell me that this is the short way?'  Answered the child: 'Did I not tell you that it is also long?'"

The 'short and long' way seemed the most direct and surest way to town; but in truth, the direct approach is a dead end.  It might seem to lead directly to the city but somehow it never quite makes it.  

On the other hand, the long but short way is winding, steep, tedious, and long as life itself.  It is full of ups and downs, setbacks and frustrations.  It demands every once of intellectual and emotional stamina the human being can muster.  But it is a road that leads, steadily and surely, to the aspired-to-destination.  

The Lubavitcher Rebbe

Wisdom

The child asks his father, "Father who should I be friendly with?  The good or evil tiger?"  And the father answers, "The tiger you feed will run your life."  A person chooses his judge according to his actions...

God

It is said when you meet God four questions will be asked of you:  

1.  Did you carry out your business affairs honestly?  It is not how you act towards God but how what you learned about God influences how you act towards other people.

2.  Did you set aside time to study Torah?

3.  Did you try to create a family? And if so, were you most concerned with the kindness of your children over academics, athletics or looks.

4.  Did you hope for the worlds redemption?  What did you do to make the world a better place?

Education

"Education, in general, should not be limited to the acquisition of knowledge and preparation for a career, or, in common parlance, to make a better living.  And we must think in terms of a better living not only for the individual, but also for the society as a whole.  The education system must, therefore, pay more attention, indeed the main attention, to the building of character, with emphasis on moral and ethical values."  Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Death

"The body serves as a garment to the soul.  Once the period of integrated existence ends, the soul divests itself of its material dress, and dons other clothing.  Just as the soul is given an earthly garment, so will it be given a garment of sublime lustre in the other world (Zohar, Noach). This vestment of 'sublime lustre' is given to him in accordance with what he prepared for himself in this world, occupying himself with cloaking himself in a Mitzvah and clothing himself in the garment of a Mitzvah.  As for the person who did not earn the merit in this world, to acquire the garment of Mitzvah, he will come to that world [naked] (Zohar, Shelach)."  Gaon

Life

Each of us was born with his individual Mazzal (his cause or purpose) - Let me help you find yours.  

"You will be given of what belongs to you, and no one can touch what is prepared for another." (Yoma 38b)

Death

"The Zohar (Vayechi) has declared: 'The righteous have reason to rejoice on the day of their departing...' And it states (Ibid. Vayera): 'Death is the suffering of the body and the rejoicing of the soul,' for the soul of the saintly longs for the time when it will depart from this vain world and enjoy the world of bliss.  At the time of parting the soul has joy.  Hence the anniversary of the death of a Tzaddik is called Hilula (festivity)."  Gaon

Death

"The righteous (Tzaddikim) experience joy on the day of their departing.  Death is joy both for the good and the wicked.  For the good, it marks leaving the corridor behind and entering the palace - the shedding of the physical, and the donning of the spiritual clothing.  For the wicked it marks the rescue from descending further into the inferno, from which he cannot be extricated.  If not for death, the evildoer would never stop dong his evil."   This is stated in the Zohar (Vayechi)

Death

"When a person has prepared himself for coming to life again - death as such is merely a change of clothing.  So the Zohar states: 'Just as He provides the soul with garments to wear in this world, so will He provide it with a garment of supernal light to wear in that world.' (Noach).  This garment consists of all the deeds the person has performed day by day, as is written 'advanced in days.' (Ibid. Vayechi).  Goan