Elul Learning Challenge

Happiness

Day 4: Live To Give

Daily Quotes

“There can be no definition of a successful life that does not include service to others… I have found happiness. I no longer pursue it, for it is mine.”

– George H.W. Bush

“Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others.”

– Martin Luther King Jr.

Daily Reading

Daily Sources

נָתוֹן תִּתֵּן לוֹ וְלֹא־יֵרַע לְבָבְךָ בְּתִתְּךָ לוֹ כִּי בִּגְלַל הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכׇל־מַעֲשֶׂךָ וּבְכֹל מִשְׁלַח יָדֶךָ׃

“Give to him readily and have no regrets when you do so, for in return the LORD your God will bless you in all your efforts and in all your undertakings.”

– Deuteronomy 15:10

כִּ֣י תִשָּׂ֞א אֶת־רֹ֥אשׁ בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ לִפְקֻדֵיהֶם֒ וְנָ֨תְנ֜וּ אִ֣יש כֹּ֧פֶר נַפְשׁ֛וֹ לַיהֹוָ֖ה

“When you take a census of the Jewish people, each shall GIVE to Hashem.”

– Exodus 30:12

Everything a person gives to charity will come back to them. A person will not lose through giving charity.

– Ba’al HaTurim

This is the essence of humanity: We are not created to serve ourselves, but rather to help others to whatever degree possible.

– Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin Nefesh, HaChaim (Introduction)

Daily Goal

Imagine how wonderful our planet would be if each person on it would greet everyone with a smile. That means that wherever you go you would be met with a smile. Be part of the “Bring a smile to our planet” project. To become a member of this project, you don’t need to spend any money or fill out any forms. All you need to do is smile. Then watch the faces of those at whom you smile. Reinforce the smiles of others by telling them, “I appreciate your smiles,” or, “You look great when you smile.” By reinforcing this person’s smiling, you will set in motion a chain of smiles. The recipients of this person’s smiles will smile to more people, and those people will smile to even more people. You will be increasing the total amount of smiles on our planet. And that’s something we need a lot more of.

Think of someone who doesn’t smile very often. Then sensitively think of a way to bring a smile to that person’s face in a way that will be appreciated.

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

Daily Videos

Giving Playlist

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Giving impacts the giver more than the recipient.

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Around CLE

Whether studying the weekly parsha, a page of Talmud, or an ethical question, it is always an enlightening, fascinating discussion that leaves me energized for the rest of the week.

Brad Schlang Tweet

Whether studying the weekly parsha, a page of Talmud, or an ethical question, it is always an enlightening, fascinating discussion that leaves me energized for the rest of the week.

Brad Schlang Tweet

Around CLE

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A project of Partners Cleveland. Presented by The Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

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