Time of Year

Someone posted on the forum today: I just pulled myself back from the edge of the cliff again, for the second time this week. I usually fall on Sundays. However, in honor of R"H, I didn't fall Sunday. I didn't fall Monday. I didn't fall Tuesday. But ...

Teshuva mi'yirah is basically when one realizes that the sin that he did is not without consequence and he therefore regrets having done it and wants to erase it. In a sense though, he is still living in the self centered fantasy ...

An idea by "Bardichev" It's before Rosh Hashana. Can we completely change our ways? That is doubtful. But we CAN start with small steps. As Bardichev wrote on this thread called "Kabalos for the New Year": LET'S MAKE A SMALL KABBALLA, BUT A HONEST K...

I didn't want to get into my work today (Sundays are always hard to get back to work), so I surfed around. I wanted to surf lightly, not anything too arousing because I didn't want to fall this week. But of course, one thing led to another, and next thing I know, I'm surf...

This is my take on this Elul / Yomim Noraim, and I think many of us here can relate: For several years I've come before the Ribono Shel Olam before Rosh Hashana with one kabalah. "Ribono Shel Olam, this year I plan on being better with my Shmiras Anayim. B...

Do not repent. Repentance means to stop being bad and to become good. Instead, return. Return to the essential self and to what is rightfully yours. This is what we call T'shuva. "Net" commented: I'm a lubavitcher chossid, so I know the source of this say...

It is brought down in many Sefarim that in the last week of the year we can fix the entire year! "Sofo mareh al t'chilaso - the end reflects on the beginning". So, for example, this Shabbos we can fix all the Shabbosim of the past year. And with this comi...

I was addicted to sexual thoughts, fantasy, pornography and masturbation. Every year, Ellul after Ellul, I would launch a full scale attack on my addiction, But sooner or later year after year, I fell and failed. There were times I stopped in Ellul and did n...

I just had a moment of weakness; a few minutes of teiva (desire for lust) that I have not properly had in quite a while. Boruch Hashem I was successful, despite lowering my guard for a few minutes. The alarm bells were ringing and many thoughts and memories ove...

Last Rosh Hashana, I davened that Hashem should let me die. Literally. I was saying "zochreinu lechaim" and crying "no, please don't, because I can't live with this anymore". I wanted to serve Hashem, but it just used to be just too painful to wake up every ...

Regardless of make or year, all units known as "human beings" are being recalled by the Manufacturer. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named "Adam" and "Eve" resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequen...

I would like to recount a story that happened to me a year ago on Rosh Chodesh Elul. I was in a very low mood with bad thoughts in my head. I was on my way to Israel for the Chaggim. I had to take a stopover. The first plane I was on got delayed for a few ...

Well, it's about time! I've been perusing these forums for a while, and really benefiting from them as well- but I kept pushing off registration... Now that I've taken the jump, I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner! Just reading through the posts and...

As is well known, the more we get out of ourselves and do for others, the less control the addiction has over us. Tonight is the Yartzeit of Rachel Imeinu... Whenever I picture her self-sacrifice at giving away her username and password :-) to her sister Leah on the very ...

Today is the 200th Yartzeit of the holy Badichever Rebbe, R' Levi Yitzchak (passed away in 5570). See this page for a few beautiful stories about this holy Tzadik. I particularly found this story ("Shmerel's Seder") inspiring, because as addicts, we can all relate to the ...

We've all been through this cycle before. Elul, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkos and Simchas Torah - carrying us to lofty and spiritual levels. How can I even think about "acting out" when I'm so immersed in Mitzvot and family responsibilities? I'm feeling pretty good ab...

In general in Israel, Tu Bishvat day dawns cold, wet and dreary. Sometimes there is snow. One thing is definite: spring is nowhere in sight. Except for the almond tree. Every year, the almond tree is in bloom, with its delicate and fragile looking blossoms standing out in...

I cannot accept that Hashem brought you through this problem just to get you out of it so you could just move on from here as though nothing happened. He could have protected you from getting into the problem in the first place, no? Rav Noach zt"l used to say: "A guy came...