Everything!

Everything can be done with joy.

Even remorse can be with joy.

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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Bringing Heaven Down to Earth »

By Tzvi Freeman

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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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14 Comments

Eleanor Skibo Pennsylvania, USA March 18, 2019

Joy is opening your arms as wide as possible and accepting whatever G d is bestowing upon your life. Our creator’s present to us, his creations, may be awesome beyond words or it may be mediocre at best. But his well meant present will make us happy or teach us some type of lesson, and even if his present brings tears of sadness eventually there’ll be gladness. G d doesn’t make mistakes when he passes out gifts and there’s no such thing as jinxing too much joy. We jinx our ownselves by thinking we don’t deserve to be this happy, or he’s punishing us for giving us a joyful gift with some added sadness. Neither of the two are true; G d knows best what we need at the time and will supply our needs and our heart’s desires if we only open our arms and cry out to him with heartfelt love and devotion. Reply

Simon New Zealand March 14, 2019

I know it seems foreign to many remorse with Joy. Remorse, is as, a part of repentance. It is in the Knowledge that G-D the Redeemer. Has forgiven one, has redeemed one. On our part it is our true remorse of our deed, our pledge not to repeat it, that we find Joy.The Joy in remorse is the self knowledge one is truly sorry for past actions, and that it is in the past, may it never be in ones future again thus is the Joy, you've come away with a painful lesson.Yet you are a better person with a stronger soul for it. At least this has been my personal experience, of Joy in remorse. Reply

Rita Forbes MD July 31, 2018

"A broken spirit and a contrite heart, G-d will not despise." Psalm 51

You can only be joyful in times of remorse because G-d makes available to us atonement. Reply

Anonymous February 28, 2013

Joy Not everything can be done with joy. If my brother or friend were to die today, i will be extremely sad. Reply

VJ July 31, 2018

in response to Anonymous:

Remorse is guilt and not grief Reply

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman Thornhill February 28, 2013

For Roberta Me too. I understand it theoretically, but in practical terms, it's not easy. But this is what my Rebbe taught me.

Theoretically, remorse is part of the healing, the first step in turning back to your soul and to G-d. So, yes, there is pain, but it is good pain.

Think of the pain of healing—for example, when the massage therapist digs into those tight muscles, or when a doctor removes malignant tissue. If you are totally aware of the meaning of this pain, it becomes pleasure. And the greater the pleasure, the more healing will come from it. Reply

Irvis Tirana February 28, 2020

in response to Rabbi Tzvi Freeman:

I would suggest, this should be added as commentary to your dose. To make it more personal, so it would even easier to digest.
Thanks Reply

Tzvi Freeman February 28, 2020

in response to Irvis:

Thanks for the suggestion. Will consider. Reply

Gavri Hanita Hazaka Abir Sellek 2nd Canada February 27, 2013

Element of fun There was a certain movie produced in the 1960's called, "Mary Poppins" In one of the songs she sings a song "A Spoon Full Of Sugar." One line from it is this, "In every job that must be done there is an element of fun you find the fun and snap (the job) becomes a game. With every task you undertake becomes a piece of cake a lark a song, is how we move a long." It sounds funny since you do the same boring thing day after day to find the fun in doing whatever you are called to do in the profession you have chosen. It's not a hard thing to find something to help make your job fun is it? Reply

Brenda Toronto, Canada February 27, 2013

Seeing Everything About You We need to remove the blindfold to our nature - recognize our egoistic interactions, feel remorse, then correct it . Gradually we transcend our beastliness to reach the Human level. Then we feel the joy of knowing we are a step closer to our destiny - congruence with the quality of G_dliness. Reply

Roberta February 27, 2013

remorse How can remorse be done with joy? I'd like help with this. Reply

Anonymous ma.ma. February 27, 2013

Something is missing By the fact of being aware of one's state of mind of remorse is a joy. And being thoughtful about how to live one's life with remorse is joyful.

A life surrounding remorse for one's actions and a life full of striving to do good acts are 2 different ways of life.

What is the difference between these two people if not in joy?

How does one tell the difference between a person on the street who is joyful having led a good life and a person who is joyful leading a remorseful life? Both persons are now leading thoughtful lives. But would not jealousy ensue or resentment from between 2 persons with this difference especailly if one was the victim of the remorseful person?

if the joy is the same then good peace of mind may be the difference or a silent knowing of being better???

If having a good memory is a value and with a good memory of the past pain, one has remorse and the other has hurt feelings.

Did the Jews at Sinai apologize to Moses for being the cause of his anger? Reply

Anonymous Portland, Oregon February 27, 2013

Many Thanks from Hashem as The Rebbe as our Rabbis My Grandmother whom I loved, passed away in 1984. She was suffering from Alzheimer's disease so badly. This quote reminded me how relieved I was to see her out of her pain. She suffered for eight years. Thank you for the many words of wisdom. Reply

Anonymous SJC, CA September 28, 2008

Daily Dose Many many thanks for sending these wonderful daily words of wisdom.

They seem so relevant to what I am dealing with that same day.

These words not only enlighten me they remind me that I am never alone... Reply

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