Rav Dovid Goldwasser on "Little Steps to Make a Big Change"

A large crowd gathered for a gala event, presented by Chazaq, on Thursday evening, December 31 2015, at Congregation Ishei Yisrael in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens. Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, rav of Congregation Ishei Yisrael, welcomed the assembled. He noted how special it is that so many came to hear words of encouragement and words to awaken us spiritually this evening. Then Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser spoke at length about how to become a better person. He shared the teaching of Rav Yisroel Salanter that it is easier to go through the whole Talmud than to change one character trait. Rabbi Goldwasser shared that there is nothing better than strengthening Torah. Rav Simcha Zissel, the Alter of Kelm, taught that when we have a negative propensity we should redirect it into doing something holy. Rabbi Goldwasser then shared that he asked Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita if it is possible to be freed from an addiction. Rav Kanievsky replied that if a person uses his mind and intellect it is possible to crawl out from wherever that person is stuck. Rabbi Goldwasser imparted, “Every day a person can change radically, but you have to believe you can do it.” Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk taught that if a person wants to change a particular character trait, he must go in the opposite direction and do it for forty consecutive days. You have to create a program of self-improvement. Rabbi Goldwasser then shared the idea that whoever denies the goodness he receives will eventually deny the goodness of Hashem. He shared the example of Adam, the first man, who had everything and lived in the Garden of Eden. When G-d asked him why he had sinned, he said, “The woman you gave me caused me to do it.” He then explained that every day we are created anew. We can change. We have a part of Hashem in us. We are here in this world to learn Torah and to do mitzvos. Anytime we have the opportunity to do a mitzvah we must grab onto it and not let it go. The Vilna Gaon taught that our purpose in this world is keeping mitzvos by breaking negative personality traits. Rabbi Goldwasser concluded with the advice that we should see ourselves as we are today – not worry about how we were yesterday or how we will be tomorrow. Right now, if we have inspiration we should act on it. We have a special merit to perform a mitzvah. Our job is to help one another. (By Susie Garber) For more information about upcoming CHAZAQ events and programs, please call 718-285-9132 or Visit https://www.chazaq.org/ Together We Can Make A Difference, To donate online to CHAZAQ please visit https://www.fidelipay.com/chazaq