I saw an interesting drosho from the previous Klausenberger Rebbe, given approximately 40 years ago on parshas Kedoshim. He showed throughout history how all of our enemies who tried to destroy us physically rach"l, first tried to move us away from Hashem by causing us to sin.

Haman, for example, was at the height of being honored, had everyone bowing to him, yet he chose to put a tzeilem around his neck. This, in essence, took the honor away from him and gave it to the avoda zara. But he was willing to do this, all so that klal yisroel should lose Hashem's protection.

The Germans ym"sh, while allowing theater and other cultural gathering in the ghettos, forbade davening in shul, yeshiva learning, and remaining with beards and peyos.

Somehow our enemies understand that to have power over us, they first have to weaken our connection with Hashem.

Maybe we could add the following, along this train of thought. In our generation our enemies have unleashed extraordinary kochos ha-tumah in the world, creating a decadent society that is getting worse by the day. They have infiltrated our homes through the computer and attempt to poison our holy nation. The atmosphere in the streets has become toxic.

Those of us who with the help of GYE and other like minded organizations are refusing to cave into this tidal wave of tumah (even if they slip on occasion) are protecting klal yisroel. That's right, besides the obvious benefits for one's self in staying clean, one is protecting our people by keeping the connection with Hashem strong.

Let's stay strong and be from those who keep our nation safe until Moshiach comes b'karov.

Zissy's Big Book Study Group For Struggling Women

Every Monday, 12 pm EST

"How we have Recovered" - Focusing on the solution, not the problem.

Zissy has been on live calls through saapp.org for a while, and has worked the steps with a sponsor. Now she wants to share what she has with other suffering female addicts.

Dial In Number:
U.S: (515) 739-1514
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Access Code: (Only shared with women. Contact Zissy at yiddishemomy@gmail.com)

J ean Twenge, a professor of social psychology, has written an important article in the current Atlantic, “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?” that will provide much ammunition to parents concerned about their children’s use of iPhones, iPods, and various forms of social media.

What got me into trouble with lust was not that I was violating the halacha. It's also why I have been quoted as saying: "I don't really care exactly which lav suicide is - I'm not interested in it for other reasons!". True, violating the halacha was horrifying and devastating to me. But that didn't stop me from getting worse. That's just a fact.

What eventually stopped me was that I saw I was really going to lose the life I chose for myself: a life that included having a conscience, integrity, some kind of 'good'-ness (Torah, etc.), and in which I'd be a part of something - like a marriage, community, and a family of my very own, for example. Those were not religious choices, per se. It was just me. The fact that any normal religion includes all these things in it's description of healthy living, is just a side-issue for me. I chose them for myself. Perhaps yiddishkeit helped create those desires within me, perhaps other things did. I think it's irrelevant.

Now within me, there was also a childish expectation that all people would adore and revere me and therefore do my will. For example, my wife would please me in every way whenever I wanted, my kids would be cooperative, and any people I was beholden to in the working world would give me the respect (and the leeway when I deserved no respect) that I felt I was entitled to. I also expected to become a Gadol b'Torah - and recognized as such. Instead... well, it was beginning to become clear that I was just a regular guy among regular people. Unacceptable! If I wasn't going to be recognized as a gadol b'Torah and tzaddik, could I at least be recognized as a porn star? Sounds really crazy... it is really crazy... but that's where I was in my desires, for a time. Life wasn't supposed to be like this.

When life was obviously not happening the way I expected it to - mainly cuz every real person actually has their own will - I needed some pretty powerful coping tools. The best and most reliable one I could find was associated with a part of my body that I could control using lust and gave me tremendous pleasure. To hell with everyone else - I had it made for those moments! Problem solved, sort of....

OK. So then Lust - my secret best friend and god - turned on me. And here is where I guess the real G-d finally begins to come into the picture. See, I was accustomed to years of secret self-pleasuring and self-saving via manipulation of others. My wife couldn't find out about the things that (I rationalized) my dissatisfaction with her was making me do. It'd ruin it all, cuz she wouldn't understand - though in my heart I expected her to understand fully! Of course she had no chance competing against the schmutz already in my head - those women appear to have no will of their own, no babies, no aging, nor any real life either, of course! They'd always be mine! Wow. Now that was a 'higher power' I could really hang onto!

Do you have a problem with obsessive and compulsive porn use? Have you seriously tried the tools on GYE and feel that you are not getting better? Maybe it’s time to consider joining a 12-Step program.

Porn Anonymous (PA)
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).

Sexaholics Anonymous (SA)
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.