http://www.jewishworldreview.com | IMAGINE you're lost in the forest on a bitter cold winter night.

Miraculously, a blazing camp-fire appears to provide you with warmth and light. Surely, you wouldn't pour water on it. The neshamah (soul) that gives us the warmth and light to find our way in this world is a miraculous gift, taken by the Creator from beneath His Divine throne and invested in each of us. But it's not made of fire; Rabbeinu Yonah teaches that it is made of truth, since G-d's seal is truth.

Because truth is the basic element of the neshamah, speaking falsehood-truth's antithesis-diminishes the neshamah as surely as dousing the flames diminishes the campfire. In business, community affairs, family relations and friendships, truth is the essential element, and any profit that appears to come of falsehood is simply an illusion.

The Midrash relates that Falsehood came to Noah and asked for a place on the ark. Noah replied that only pairs were allowed on board. So, Falsehood searched until he found the one willing partner- Destruction. After thousands of years of working as Destruction's partner, Falsehood sug- gested that they make an accounting of their profits.

"Profit?" asked Destruction. "I'm Destruction. Everything I touch is destroyed. There is no profit."

We are required by Jewish Law (Halacha) to teach our children everything they need to survive, from swimming to earning a living. Teaching them to be truth-ful - through our words and our example-is the most essential skill of all. Not only does it keep them from making a partner of Destruction; it nourishes, word by word, day by day, the warmth and light of their souls.

Adapted from "Listen to Your Messages," by Rabbi Yissocher Frand, with permission from Mesorah Publications

Better Relationships

LETTING IT GO

The Torah warns of the Evil Inclination's great success in clothing itself as the Good Inclination. We see the results of this every time righteous indignation throws fuel on some tiny spark that would otherwise die quietly. But the Torah promotes peace as the single greatest good.

The small annoyances and infractions that irritate us in our daily lives simply don't outweigh the imperative to seek peace. Someone offers an opinion that you find ill informed or just plain wrong. You offer your point of view. The other person persists. The normal impulse is to argue your point.

But to what end ? What would be lost if you simply went on to another subject?

Someone behaves toward you in an irresponsible manner. You reprimand him. He doesn't seem particularly repentant. Now it seems necessary to uphold your principle and force the issue. But what would be lost if you let it slide? If it's important, you could wait for a time when the person is more receptive.

The need to have the last word, to have one's rightness confirmed in every situation, can make life a discordant misery. When we let go of the issue, we often find that, within minutes or hours, it simply doesn't matter any more.

Inner Excellence

THE BEST DAY EVER

You learn something new every day. That cliche is actually the key to an attitude that can make every day a great day. Because each day we are a little more experienced, a little wiser than we were the day before, we have the potential to reach higher goals.

A person does not need to wait for the big raise, the fabulous present, the exciting journey to turn today into something special.

Maimonides told the story of a distinguished person who was asked, "What has been the most joyous day of your life?"

"It was a day that I was on a ship," he replied. "There were people on the ship who mocked me, and even threw garbage on me. But I was able to transcend this and create my own inner joy."

This person experienced a distressing situation as his own private liberation day. He proved to himself that his inner landscape was under his own control,andcouldn't be invaded by even the most unpleasant occurrences. That made the day a great one.

If you want to lend today the distinction of being the greatest day in your life, focus on what you are better able to do today. Maybe your learning comes a little easier; maybe you handle a difficult situation with more maturity; maybe you find that you've gotten into some positive new habit that was a struggle for you before.When you build today upon everything you've learned and done before, each day stands above the ones that preceded it. Each day can be the greatest day. So far.

Adapted from "Happiness," by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, with permission from Shaar Press

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