The following are samples from a weekly email list that goes out each week
You can join the list by sending a request to sam@uniplastfareast.com
PERASHAT SHEMOT
AS HEARD FROM RABBI AVIGDOR MILLER ZT'L
" AND WHEN HASHEM SAW THAT MOSHE TURNED ASIDE TO SEE (VAYAR HASHEM KI SAR LIROT), HASHEM CALLED OUT
TO HIM FROM THE MIDST OF THE BUSH..."
The Torah is coming to emphasize the importance of becoming a Seeker, 'Mevakesh'. Therefore, the beginning of the Pasuk is stated although it seems unnecessary.
It was solely because Moshe was a seeker that he gained this vision. It was only because "Hashem saw that he turned aside to see" that therefore "Hashem called to him." Moshe was chosen only after he demonstrated his eagerness "to see."
To gain greatness of spirit, one must be eager for greatness of spirit.
Even we today should "turn aside to see" the demonstrations of Hashem's presence that are evident on all sides.
A rose bush, burning with beautiful color, is an opportunity for seekers of Hashem to see His glorious handiwork in the miracle whereby the plant has the ability to produce such a magnificent creation, including the miracle of producing design and pigment and fragrance from the air and the soil.
Even the thorns of the rosebush bespeak Hashem's kindliness and cunning plan-and-purpose; because this prized plant is equipped with defensive weapons of sharp thorns pointed downward to meet the upward pull of the thief who would attempt to uproot the plant.
Quoted from "A Nation Is Born" by Rabbi Avigdor Miller
A purpose of life is to take full advantage of the many opportunities presented to us thereby demonstrating that we are 'seekers'.
Greeting people with a full face and pleasant smile along with encouraging words.
Saying words of appreciation to a spouse. A nice word to a child. Helping people in need. Praying for the protection of Jews worldwide. Thinking about and thanking Hashem. Learning Hashem's Torah.
These are some of the opportunities we have.
Be a Seeker. Go for it!
Shabat Shalom
''I once heard from Rabbi Avigdor Miller that he said that the first thing that a person has to do when he does Teshuva is have gratitude that he almost made it through yet another year. We should thank G-d for all the great meals, all the times we went to the bathroom without problems, and--last, but not least--all the times we went on the subway and made it home to Brooklyn in one piece.'' Since our prayers for chaim/life since Rosh Hashana have been granted so far, did we thank G-d for each day?.
A PEACH PIT AND AN EGGSHELL
I, too, had a hidden agenda in believing in evolution, although mine was not theological, but sociological. Even years after I had committed myself to observing the commandments of the Torah, I still clung to a belief in evolution. Why? I didn't want to be one of them. The Creationists, Jerry Falwell and his ilk, made my skin crawl. Denying the Theory of Evolution would have put me on their side of the fence, and jeopardized my image of myself as an enlightened, scientific thinker.
Then I read a thin volume which irrevocably changed my perception. Rabbi Avigdor Miller, in his book "The Universe Testifies," discusses the humble peach pit.
Pointing out that the peach pit is so hard that no animal can bite into it and harm the delicate seed within, he informs the reader that the cement-like substance which holds the two halves of the peach pit together cannot be dissolved by anything -- except a solvent excreted by micro-organisms in the soil.
In the exact right place where the seed needs to be released, Voila! there's the chemical solvent needed to release it. Could the micro-organisms in the soil know that the peach tree was "evolving" its cement-like sealant? Yet without the soil solvent, the first generation of peach trees would have been the last.
Continuing with his rebuttal of the Theory of Evolution, Rabbi Miller points out that every egg shell must be a precise thickness -- strong enough to hold the developing chick or turtle or crocodile within, but thin enough so that the new creature can break its way out at the right moment. Moreover, the egg of each species has to be a different precise thickness, an ostrich egg thicker than that of a wren, etc.
Getting the thickness of the eggshell right (over and over again for each species) cannot be a matter of chance, because if the eggshell were not the perfect thickness the very first generation, there could be no second generation. The baby organism would have been trapped inside the too-thick egg, unable to reproduce. Moreover, no fossil has ever been found of an egg with the embryo imprisoned inside, although evolution assumes millions of such false tries.
"Thousands of degrees of thickness were possible," Rabbi Miller writes. "That the shell is not too thick and not too thin is incontrovertibly the work of a Designer."
Bringing dozens of further illustrations of phenomena in nature which simply could not have evolved by chance, Rabbi Miller's logic devastated my belief in evolution. I was convinced.
I discarded my belief in organisms evolving by chance like taking off a pair of sunglasses. Then a funny thing happened. I saw a different world.
If instead of haphazardly evolving, everything was deliberately designed by God, then EVERYTHING WAS A GIFT OF GOD'S LOVE. It was the difference between receiving a box of chocolates because Hersheys is giving out free samples to today's first hundred customers, and receiving a box of chocolates as a gift from my husband.
I had always loved flowers. But now, every time I looked at a rose, I felt God's love for me. The form, the color, the fragrance -- none of it had to be there. God had designed it purposely so that human beings would enjoy it. My walks in the Knesset Rose Garden became a rendezvous with God.
When I looked at an orchid, I was no longer blown away just by the beauty of the orchid; I was blown away by the love of a God who would design orchids for me to enjoy. When I went to my Senior Prom, I was delighted with the single orchid corsage my date had sent me. But God is a much more attentive and generous beau. He lavishes on the world tens of thousands of varieties of orchids.
Now I feel sorry for the Evolutionists. They live in a world of accidental beauty. I live in a world of deliberate love.''
''In his commentary on the book of Genesis, Rabbi Avigdor Miller (1987) quotes the Talmud (Hullin, 4b) saying that: "Persuasion is solely by means of food and drink." Rabbi Miller goes on to explain that, "Even to be persuaded to serve G-d more enthusiastically, the Torah uses the means of food and drink." (p. 422) In various places the Torah describes festive meals as occasions that evoke gratitude toward one's benefactor and, indeed, toward the "Great Benefactor," (G-d) for the blessings He has bestowed upon man. ''
R' Miller offered another understanding of this maxim.
On the first level, we understand that in order to realize the maximum powers of persuasion it is imperative to provide the person with a meal. ex. taking a buyer to dinner.
Physically this will put the buyer in a more receptive mood because certain hormones are released when a person eats and his stomach is filled.
On the next level, we can understand that G-d is constantly trying to 'persuade' us by giving us food, air, sunshine, eyesight and life... But what is the object of G-d's
efforts? That we should believe in Him.''
TEN STEPS TO GREATNESS
By Rav Avigdor Miller ZTK"L
STEP ONE Spend at least 30 seconds each day thinking about the WORLD TO COME - Olam Haba - and that we are in this world only as a preparation for the world to come.
This is the purpose of life.
STEP TWO Spend a few seconds each day in a private place and say to Ha-Shem "I LOVE YOU HA-SHEM." You will be fulfilling a positive commandment from the Torah. This will kindle a fire in your heart and will have a powerful effect on your character. Your exteriority bestirs your interiority. Ha-Shem is listening. He loves you much more than you love him.
STEP THREE Every day do one act of kindness that no one knows about, in secrecy. Have intention beforehand that you are doing this in order to fulfil your program to greatness.
The practice of doing acts of kindliness - Gemilut Hasadim - is one of the three most important functions in the world.
Examples: If you are the first one in the Bet Hamidrash, put the books in the proper order and place. If your wife is not in the kitchen, clean a few dishes or straighten up for her without her knowing. If you should see something potentially dangerous on the sidewalk, clear it off to the side so no one will get hurt.
STEP FOUR Encourage someone every day. "HA-SHEM ENCOURAGES THE HUMBLE." Have in mind you are doing it because of the program. Anonymous letters of kindness can do a great deal of good to encourage people.
STEP FIVE Spend one minute a day thinking about what happened yesterday. "Let us search out our ways and investigate." Everyone should have his mind on what he is doing - by reviewing yesterday's actions daily.
STEP SIX Make all your actions for the purpose of Heaven. Say it once a day.
Example: "I am doing this in order to be more aware of Ha-Shem."
STEP SEVEN Be aware of the principle - "Man was created in the image of Ha-Shem." Every human face is a reflection of Ha-Shem. Your face is like a screen and your soul like a projector which projects on your face the glory of the human soul which has in it the greatness of Ha-Shem. Once a day pick a face and think "I am seeing the image of Ha-Shem." You will begin to understand the endless nobility of a face
STEP EIGHT Once a day give a person a full smile. Just as Ha-Shem shines on us, we should smile on others. Smile because Ha-Shem wants you to, even though you really don't want to.
When you smile have intentions that you are doing it for the purpose of coming closer to Ha-Shem through the Ten Steps To Greatness.
STEP NINE "Ha-Shem clothes the naked." Clothing is a testament to the nobility of man. Man is unique - has free will, has a soul, made in the image of Ha-Shem. Even Angels are beneath man in greatness. To demonstrate the superiority of mankind, we must be clothed. Spend 30 seconds in the morning thinking about our garments: what a gift they are from Ha-Shem. Say "Malbish Arumin" (He clothes the naked) out loud.
STEP TEN Spend time each day thinking about the olden Jerusalem during the time of the Temple. Every day sit on the floor (before going to sleep), spend one second on the floor and mourn for the destruction of Jerusalem. Think "If I should forget you Jerusalem let my right arm forget."
"The wise man seizes the opportunity to do Mitzvot"(King Shlomo). The lazy person says - someday I'll do it. If you start this program, after 30 days you will be tired. So wait six months until you start again. Do another 30 days then wait five months and so on. After a while you might do it all the time.
If you do it even one day you are extraordinary.