for our avoda- Fusing Torah with Tefila through Tehilim:

Thank you, Reitza Sarah, for creating this card!

Teshuva-

The Heights of Repentance וַיַּעֲלוּ עֹלֹת וַיַּגִּשׁוּ שְׁלָמִים וגו': (שמות לב:ו) They sacrificed [to the calf]. Exodus 32:6 How could the people who witnessed G‑d’s miracles and  experienced His revelation at Mount Sinai commit  such a blatant transgression so soon afterward?  True, only a small percentage of the people worshipped the Calf,  but even this is hard to imagine. The sages of the Talmud therefore teach us that indeed,  the Jews at that point were incapable of sinning.  In order to enable the people to rise to the heights  of spiritual achievement only attainable through repentance,  G‑d “forced” the entire incident upon them. In this light, we can all focus on our past misdeeds  as opportunities through which we can scale  spiritual heights that we could not rise to otherwise.1 FOOTNOTES 1. Likutei Sichot, vol. 16, pp. 412–413.  (chabad.org)

New Inspiring thoughts

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This means that if we don't see our success, we could be blocking it- how? Well... it ties into our chaburah on the power of thought:

"A negative mind will never give you a positive life"

(unknown)

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"Let control go

Let in His flow"

(from Chaiya Danielle Ledder)

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It's in the details- Parshas Mishpatim

Heard from Rav Moshe Weinberger: Slonim Torah:

We might think that after receiving the Torah in Parshas Yisro, we should now enjoy the spiritual high and bask in it.  In fact, Hashem says otherwise, by following Parshas Yisro with practical Mishpatim; 

He is saying- live it- in every detail of your life, in every thought, every action, every feeling, every breath, bring the Torah into every moment, because that is where you will make a space for Hashem to dwell  (as we will see in the next parshios we learn how to build the mishkan- stay tuned).

Good Shabbos Mevorchim!

Love, aviva rus

Extra information for our motzai Shabbos group: Good Shabbos!

I called Rav Fund (referred by Rav Tuvia) for the answer- off the top of his head here are a couple of things he mentioned:

1. Tanya: Chapter 1: discusses that a person should set aside thirty minutes a day to ponder his aveiros and do teshuva and after that: serve Hashem with simcha.  (To be pure b’simcha must know Hashem has accepted your teshuva)  

2. Shulchan Orech at end of Yom Kippur davening writes that we should be b’simcha after yom kippur and believe that Hashem has forgiven us- If Hashem is able to forgive us- then how much more so should we be able to forgive ourselves! Is our standard of judgement greater than Hashems?

Hence, we all can now give ourselves unconditional love for 23.5 hours of every day. yay!!

Here are a few things that you all sent to me and I have not had a chance to share them with everyone:

From: Rachel. M.

Shevat 19, 5776 · 01/29/2016

"Today's Day"

Monday Sh'vat 19 5703 Torah lessons: Chumash: Yitro, Sheini with Rashi. Tehillim: 90-96. Tanya: Hence they are (p. 93)...body to a soul. (p. 95).

The first positive mitzva is, in the words of Rambam,1 "To know that there is a First Being, who caused the existence of all beings...The knowledge of this principle is a positive command, as it is said, I am the Eternal your G-d."

This is a Mitzva relating to mind and intellect.* True, every one of Israel believes in G-d with a simple faith, and his heart is whole with G-d; still it is the duty of the mind and intellect to bring this faith to a level of knowledge and comprehension. This is the meaning of "To know that there is a First Being;" the Mitzva specifies comprehension and intellectual grasp, as written in Torah: "Know the G-d of your father and serve Him with a whole heart"2 and it is also written, "know this day etc."3

FOOTNOTES
1.	Maimonides: Mishneh Torah, Yesodei haTorah 1:1.
*.	See "On Learning Chassidus" (Kehot) p. 33.
2.	Divrei Hayamim I, 28:9.
3.	Devarim 4:9. CREATED BY: CHAIYA DANIELLE L.: "The 24:1 ratio. 24 hours of the day Hashem dedicates  completely to us.  Surely we can dedicate 1 of these hours back to him!  And then thank Him for permitting us to do so!" "With Him, I am.  Without Him, I am not." Created by Shira: