<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, May 20, 2008 at 12:32 PM, <<a href="mailto:cantorwolberg@cox.net">cantorwolberg@cox.net</a>> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
The following is an appropriate quote during Sefira and right before<br>
Lag B'Omer: The Gerer Rebbe said: "When one learns the Torah, prays much and begins to think 'I am truly pious: I overlook nothing in the performance of my mitzvot,' such a person transgresses the mitzvah: "Do not be seduced by your heart nor led astray by your eyes.' Let such people look at the Tzitzis and be reminded who they are."<br>
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During Sefirah we are obviously in a period of semi-mourning. I must say that because of a few (fortunately, only a very few) of our colleagues have sent me very insulting and hurtful comments. Not that they would care, but this has caused me "mourning." I'm mourning the sinas chinom which has persisted throughout the ages and unfortunately doesn't seem to abate.<br>
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I sincerely thank those of you who have offset some of the cruel remarks sent me. For you the term Rachmonim b'nei Rachmonim truly exists.<br>
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Kol tuv.<br>
ri</blockquote></div><br>The problem with the Talmiddim of Rabbi Akiva is that they lacked respect for each other.<br>Now there are 2 possibilities:<br><ol><li>That we have learned our lesson and that we DO RESPECT each other - <br>
</li><li>Or we are back to square one<br></li></ol>Unfortunately for many the pop-psychology book<i> I'm OK You're OK</i> nailed the concept that dissing others is a sure sign one lacks self-respect. This is a form of psychological projection and has been articulated by Hazl as "kol hapoesil - bemumo poseil" so that modern pop-psychology can often be trace to Talmudic wisdom . This one does not require any kvetching to pull it off.<br>
<br>Erich Fromm put it this way V'ahavt leric'acha kamocha pre-supposes self-love. [<i>The Art of Loving</i>]. Let's alter the term to self-respect or perhaps better self-acceptance. One who accepts oneself is unlikely to reject others [unless perhaps they are thoroughly evil]<br>
<br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Kol Tuv / Best Regards,<br>RabbiRichWolpoe@Gmail.com<br>see: <a href="http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/">http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/</a>