Rav Shimshon Pincus z”l used to teach that the biggest miracle that there is in this world is a person’s ability to change – to break his negative habits and character traits and return to Hashem and his true self. This miracle is greater than the Splitting of the Sea, greater than the manna that our forefathers ate in the desert, and greater than all the other miracles that have been and will be. The strength, determination, and clarity that a person needs to break his evil inclination has a Divine Source, as it says, “The [evil] inclination of a person gathers strength every day, and desires to kill him…and if not for the fact that G-d helps him, he would not be able to overcome it.”
Rabbi Akiva’s life is an inspiring tale of human achievement. He rose up from his humble beginning as a simple, unknown shepherd, the son of converts, to become one of the most influential and beloved figures in Jewish History. The fact that Rabbi Akiva was able to accomplish so much in such a relatively short amount of time could be an illustration of Hashem’s declaration to us: “My children, open for Me an opening of t’shuvah like the eye of a needle, and I will open for you openings big enough for wagons and carriages to pass through.”
When a person resolves to make the long, hard journey ahead, Hashem’s abundant mercy is aroused. Often, it’s that first small step towards truth that opens doors that were previously closed, or sends a sudden, unexpected surge of strength and clarity. For every bit of effort that a person makes in an attempt to come closer to Hashem, Hashem responds with favor and assistance that is exponentially greater. As our Sages tell us: “The one who sanctifies himself a little, Heaven helps to sanctify him a lot.”
[Material was previously published on ShiratMiriam.com.]
List of People Who Need
a R’fuah Sh’leimah
(a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Ezra Refael ben Taoos Miriam
Shmuel ben Monavar
Efraim ben Leah
Chaim Hillel ben Rivkah
Yisrael Chaim ben Tamar
Asher ben Rima
Chaim Shmuel ben Leah
Yechiel Nasan ben Sarah
Tinok ben Peninah Esther
Moshe Chai ben Shoshanah
Yaakov ben Esther
Chaim Refael ben Chanah
Mikol ben Nigoria
Boris Baruch ben Frecha Frida
Alter Shmuel ben Chavah Leah
Chaim Avraham ben Shifrah Zisel
Chaim ben Malkah
Yehudah Yudel ben Miriam Gittel
Yehudah ben Peninah
Yura Avner ben Devorah
Yonah Gedaliah ben Pesha
Efraim ben Leah
Chaim ben Sarah
Yisrael Tzvi Yosef ben Toiba
Michael ben Mazal
Eliezer ben Chusni
Netaniel ben Chusni
Yehudah ben Tamarah
Evyatar ben Hila
Sarah bas Leah
Rus Victoria bas Tehilah
Esther Malkah Rinah bas Simchah
Malkah bas Tauba
Ronit bas Olga
Perel bas Nechamah
Rachel Leah bas Sarah
Tehilah Hadasah bas Elanah
Hadas bas Orah
Malkah bas Nechamah
Tziporah Stella bas Shirin
Tovah Yocheved bas Esther Bukas
Chayah Shoshanah Tovah bas Esther
Ruchamah Perel Malkah Leah bas Chanah Serel
Gittel bas Sarah
Esther Hadasah bas Devorah
Esther Pessel bas Baila Chayah
Leah bas Chanah Serel
Malkah bas Sarah Rachel
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.