It is commonly understood that Abraham's major contribution was the doctrine of monotheism. He taught an idolatrous world that there is only one God, and that idea is synonymous with...
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It is commonly understood that Abraham's major contribution was the doctrine of monotheism. He taught an idolatrous world that there is only one God, and that idea is synonymous with...
Read MoreDaily Sources
– Deuteronomy 6:5
It is already familiar that man consists of body and soul…one of these elements of our being is visible and the other is invisible. Therefore, we are accordingly under duty to render the Creator visible and invisible service. The outward service is the observance of the duties of the limbs such as praying, fasting, giving charity, learning the torah and teaching it…inward service, however, consists of the fulfillment of the Duties of the Heart such as: to acknowledge the Unity of G-d in our hearts, believe in Him and His torah, to undertake His service, that we revere Him and humble ourselves before Him, that we love Him…I am certain that [even] the duties of the limbs cannot be performed properly unless they are accompanied by will of the heart, longing of the soul to do them, and desire of the heart to perform them.
– Rabeinu Bachya, Duties of the Heart, Introduction of the Author 31-33
Whenever man offers prayer, he automatically engages in service with his possessions, since he takes time out from being gainfully occupied. He employs his body, by standing, bowing, prostrating himself etc. Lastly, he employs his mind by concentrating on the proper meaning of his devotion. For this reason our sages consider prayer as comparable to service in the holy Temple. He who prays properly, deserves to be rewarded with the promise contained in the last of the Priestly blessings, i.e. shalom, serenity, a feeling of closeness to the Creator.
– Akeidat Yitzchak 58:1:16
Daily Sources
You shall love the Hashem, your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
– Deuteronomy 6:5
It is already familiar that man consists of body and soul…one of these elements of our being is visible and the other is invisible. Therefore, we are accordingly under duty to render the Creator visible and invisible service. The outward service is the observance of the duties of the limbs such as praying, fasting, giving charity, learning the torah and teaching it…inward service, however, consists of the fulfillment of the Duties of the Heart such as: to acknowledge the Unity of G-d in our hearts, believe in Him and His torah, to undertake His service, that we revere Him and humble ourselves before Him, that we love Him…I am certain that [even] the duties of the limbs cannot be performed properly unless they are accompanied by will of the heart, longing of the soul to do them, and desire of the heart to perform them.
– Rabeinu Bachya, Duties of the Heart, Introduction of the Author 31-33
Whenever man offers prayer, he automatically engages in service with his possessions, since he takes time out from being gainfully occupied. He employs his body, by standing, bowing, prostrating himself etc. Lastly, he employs his mind by concentrating on the proper meaning of his devotion. For this reason our sages consider prayer as comparable to service in the holy Temple. He who prays properly, deserves to be rewarded with the promise contained in the last of the Priestly blessings, i.e. shalom, serenity, a feeling of closeness to the Creator.
– Akeidat Yitzchak 58:1:16
Daily Quotes
“The dancer’s body is simply the luminous manifestation of the soul.”
– Isadora Duncan
“You aren’t your work, your accomplishments, your possessions, your home, your family… your anything. You’re a creation of your Source, dressed in a physical human body intended to experience and enjoy life on Earth.”
– Wayne Dyer
“Your body is not who you are. The mind and spirit transcend the body.”
– Christopher Reeve
Daily Goals
Our Sages explain that prior to Adam and Eve’s sin, when the entire world was fulfilling God’s wishes, the physicality of the world didn’t hide God, but rather loudly proclaimed His existence. The human body didn’t obscure the elevated soul inside, but was a shrine to that soul. When Adam looked at Eve, her body was like a translucent casing, showcasing the beautiful soul within. There was no reason to be ashamed of the body, and Adam and Eve felt no compunctions about being naked. After they ate from the Tree of Knowledge, Adam and Eve were ashamed of their naked bodies, because now their bodies hid their souls. Any onlooker would see only the physical shell, not the real essence of the human being that lay beneath the surface.
A person who identifies himself with his soul will take good care of his body to keep it safe and healthy, but he will keep his main focus on nourishing his soul. A person who sees himself as being a soul, someone who has a body just for the duration of his stay on this planet, will tend to view other people as essentially being souls also. This will raise his view of others. He will automatically treat others with greater respect.
The more you see yourself as a soul with a body, the higher your self-image will be.
Today, be mindful of who you really are. Tell yourself, “I am a soul who is living in this world within my body.”
When you don’t know what to do, ask yourself, “What course of action would my soul want me to choose?”
Daily Videos
I absolutely love my job! I get to provide counseling for people who want to make changes in their lives and want to grow. With Torah wisdom, I encourage them to pay attention to their souls and also remind them about the benefits of self-care. Torah learning affords me the opportunity to pay attention to my soul, connect with others and grow. Learning Torah IS my self-care. It’s the secret to my happiness.
I absolutely love my job! I get to provide counseling for people who want to make changes in their lives and want to grow. With Torah wisdom, I encourage them to pay attention to their souls and also remind them about the benefits of self-care. Torah learning affords me the opportunity to pay attention to my soul, connect with others and grow. Learning Torah IS my self-care. It’s the secret to my happiness.
