Tish'a b'Av Special
 
 
  Breaking Free Chizuk #1296  
 
 
In Today's Issue
   
Practical Tips: Hashem's Wrath
Link of the Day: More Tish'a b'Av articles
Editor’s Note: Tisha B’Av 5775 Video
Link of the Day: Yirmiyahu
Torah: The Psychology of Fear
 
 
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Practical Tips
 
Hashem's Wrath
 
By GYE

In our "Practical Tips" section on our site (at the very bottom of the page), we present a tip called "The Last Resort" for someone who is about to stumble. We offer an alternative to viewing pictures of flesh that will turn one "on", namely by showing pictures of flesh that will turn one "off". One of those pages contain terrible pictures from the Holocaust. On Tisha Be'av it may be appropriate to remember this tip, and also to watch & listen to the horrifying interview with a former Treblinka SS Guard that can be found at the top of that page.

How can we desire sinful flesh ever again after seeing these pictures and hearing this interview? After we see how futile and fleeting life is? And most of all - after seeing the fury of Hashem's wrath up close.

Although our site and forum generally take a very positive and encouraging tone, and although Hashem loves us dearly and deals with us with so much patience, Tisha Be'av is a day to remember that when we do not do what is asked of us, when we do not ultimately take the steps necessary to fulfill Hashem's will and do Teshuvah, Hashem's wrath and punishment are not something to MESS WITH.

Link of the Day
 
More Tish'a b'Av articles
Editor’s Note
 
Tisha B’Av 5775 Video

Napoleon & the Jews

By Rabbi YY Jacobson 

Exactly 200 years ago, on the 9th day of Av 1815, one of the greatest Chassidic masters of Poland, the Seer of Lublin, passed away. Somehow he felt his death was mysteriously linked with Napoleon's invasion of Russia three years earlier.  

On August 15, 1769, one of the most fascinating, brilliant and powerful leaders in the history of the West was born. He would change the face of Europe and profoundly impact the destiny of the Jewish people.

Foreign armies fell to his sword. He could outwit anyone who stood in his way. The only person who could possibly defeat Napoleon was Napoleon. And so it was.

Who was Napoleon? How did he change the world forever? What was his lasting impact on the Jewish nation? Why were the Chassidic masters so conflicted about his goals? Why did he convene his own Sanhedrin in Paris?

The video, containing over 100 video clips of the war and images, tells this rivetting story of the man who dreamt to rule the world and almost pulled it off. 

To puchase the new video (runs for 75 minutes), please CLICK HERE.

Link of the Day
 

Shiur by Rav Yisroel Reisman

Yirmiyahu
Torah
 

Rabbi Jacobson will be lecturing twice on Sunday at 18 Forshay Road, Monsey, NY.
3:30 PM: The History of the Creation of Israel. 6:30 PM: The Story of Jerusalem's Liberation.

 
The Psychology of Fear
 
By Rabbi Y. Y. Jacobson

Tears on His 50th Wedding Anniversary

A man and woman were recently celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

While cutting the cake, the wife was moved after seeing her husband’s eyes fill with tears.

The wife took his arm, and looked at him affectionately.

“I never knew you were so sentimental.” she whispered.

“No . . . No . . .” he said, choking back his tears, “That’s not it at all. Remember when your father found us in the barn and told me to either marry you or spend the next 50 years in jail?”

“Yes,” the wife replied. “I remember it like yesterday.”

“Well,” said the husband, “Today I would have been a free man.”

Vain Tears

At the surface, it seems like a very unfair response, recorded in the Talmud.(1)   

תענית כט, ב: בתשעה באב נגזר על אבותינו שלא יכנסו לארץ... ותשא כל העדה ויתנו את קולם ויבכו העם בלילה ההוא. אמר רבה אמר ר' יוחנן תשעה באב היה. אמר להם הקב"ה אתם בכיתם בכיה של חנם ואני קובע לכם בכיה לדורות.

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If you’re compulsively acting-out with pornography and masturbation we suggest you explore joining Porn Anonymous (PA). If you need help deciding whether to join PA, call Michael at 347-699-2368, or email help@pornanonymous.org to schedule a time to talk. For more information visit pornanonymous.org (Hebrew: p-a.org.il / Yiddish: pa-yid.org).

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If your compulsive acting-out has progressed beyond the screen (with other people, paid sexual services, etc.) we suggest you explore joining Sexaholics Anonymous (SA). To figure out if SA is for you, call Dov at 917-414-8205, or email Dov at dov@guardyoureyes.org to schedule a time to talk. For more information visit www.sa.org.

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