No Excuses

When it's really your thing, you're not placated by the fact that you have a good excuse.

Make G‑d's business your business, and then you'll make sure it gets done.

By Tzvi Freeman

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.

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Rebbe means teacher. Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson is seventh in a prestigious line of chassidic rebbes. Even after his passing, he is known worldwide as simply "The Rebbe"- a Rebbe for any person in the world. This book offers every person a taste of the Rebbe's wisdom, condensed from over 50 years of letters, public talks, private conversations, and written works. Presented in an accessible format.

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5 Comments

Eleanor Skibo Pennsylvania, USA June 17, 2018

Excuses are an easy way of putting the blame on someone else or something else, in other words, it’s our way of placing the blame elsewhere so we can be free of the burden of performing a promise, a duty or achieving a goal we said we would do. When you open your mouth, step forward, sign your name on the dotted line to become a person of your word make sure you make G d smile and accomplish what it is you said you’d do with the best of your ability and you’ll feel better for it. Reply

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman November 18, 2010

Source There is a story behind this thought. The Rebbe spoke about his predecessor, Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber, 5th rebbe of Lubavitch. He was in St. Petersburg together with Rabbi Chaim of Brisk, attempting to influence officials of the Czarist regime on matters crucial to Jewish welfare and survival. After many failed meetings, Rabbi Chaim visited R' Shalom Dov Ber in his hotel room and saw how disturbed he was. He said, "But we've done all we can!"

"Yes, we've done all we can," replied Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber, "but it didn't get done."

In other words, we don't act as employees "just doing their job," satisfied that they've done it correctly. We take ownership of the issues, so that it burns down to the bone. Reply

Judith L. Witten Brockton, Ma/USA November 17, 2010

Excuses I recently had put in an order for a book for a study so that I could fullfill a goal of doing an essay for an application for schooling. But I looked over two chapters of the book and wrote them to cancel the order. Somehow I felt very guilty I had done that-as if I did not fulfill a responsibility and when I saw your meditation here it was as if it was finally thought of in full-I'm afraid to go take my Masters. Thank you for writing this. Reply

Aharon Portland November 17, 2010

to Dr. Harry Hamburger I enjoy reading your comments here at this site. I have read comments you have posted after other articles and they too have depth and motivated me to reflect more deeply regardless of whether we agree or disagree about a subject to whatever degree.

Thank you. Reply

Dr. Harry Hamburger Miami, Fl November 17, 2010

There is no goal! Sorry, but I do not like this comment!

Life is not a football game, nor a race. Our journey upward is infinite and has no end, and no matter where we are, we still have far to go. We all fail in reaching our goals, for our ultimate end in this world is dust.

It is not reaching a goal, or jumping over a particular hurdle that is important. What is crucial is that WE TRY, and make the attempt. G-d does not see how high we have climbed, but rather where we have come from, and the effort and good intention behinds our efforts.

One who is born into an environment of holiness and refinement is not to be applauded for being holy and refined. I admire much more the lowly, who not even knowing how to pray, lights a single candle, and blesses water and a Ritz cracker, because they cannot afford wineand Challah.

Rather than concentrate on goals which are illlusionary in nature, left us concentrate on simply trying!

This is my humble opinion, but who am I, and what do I know? Reply

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