Parshas Vayeira:



Avraham Avinu had a problem. The problem can be 'blamed' on his family & upbringing. He was from a family of idol worshipers. Mitechila ovdei avorda zara hayu avoseinu...

Avraham Avinu came to believe that there must be a Higher Power that is greater than ourselves.

Avraham Avinu made a decision to turn his will and his life [think: [i]Ir Kasdim[/i]] over to the care of God as he understood Him.

Avraham Avinu had a spiritual awakening. Miyad hitzutz alav baal habirah.



Having had a spiritual experience, Avraham Avinu tried to carry this message to others who had the same problem as him.


How did he do that?


He did not suffice with setting up a website.

He was not content with hosting phone meetings.

Even live meetings for men to gather, talk, & share his experience was not enough.


Avraham Avinu gathered others like him into his hotel & served them food. He prepared scrumptious meals.

Avraham Avinu added another component too. He stayed nearby as they were eating. V'hu omeid aleihem tachas ha'eitz vayocheilu.

Avraham Avinu spent time with them in Fellowship. He made himself available to share his experiences, to answer their questions about his conception of God, of his Higher Power.

Tehilim:





First comes:
Higdil Hashem laasos im eileh. - Others notice that Hashem did great things with these people.

Only later:
Higdil Hashem laasos im umanu. - do we notice that Hashem did great things WITH US!!!

Parshas Vayeira:


Vayeira eilav Hashem.

Sefarim explain this passuk that NOW Avraham became a Markava leShechinah. At this juncture he came into close personal contact with Hashem.

[quote="Harvey]
We're not bad people becoming good,
We're sick people getting well.
[/quote]


[b]Rashi[/b]'s comment on [i]Vayeira eilav Hashem[/i] is that Hashem came to Avraham [i]levaker ess hacholeh[/i]!!!!!

Parshas Chayei Sarah:



Vaydabeir el Efron b'aznei am ha'aretz.


He spoke to Efron in other people's ears??  :o

Why didn't he speak to Efron's ears?  :-\


Maybe Efron can be an allusion to an addict in the throes of his addiction. When we feel like a piece of dirt, like Afar (earth).



[quote="Yosef Hatzadik" link=topic=3178.msg84419#msg84419 date=1289509501]
Steve's Email Blast]Shlomo shared his asking Rabbi Twersky in person wrote:



To speak to Efron, to us addicts when we are like afar, like earth, God needs to speak into the ears of Bill W. and co.

Tefillah:


Umilfanecha malkeinu reikam al teshuveinu. _{(Shemone Esrei, Shma koleinu)}





We ask Hashem:

"From You, Our King, please do not turn us away emptily!"  - We should never feel empty of spirituality.

Parshas Toldos:


Vayehav Yitzchok ess Eisav ki tzayid b'piv.



What do we want?

What do we want to want?

Even when I don't feel like I want sobriety at all costs, I wish that I did want it!

Satmar Rebbe Zt wrote:


How can I learn to want that?

The trick is to keep talking about it.

Constant repetition will make us really believe what we are saying.





If I keep talking about the greatness of my Higher Power, I will come to believe it!



Every Father wants to love his son. Even if the son is a bit wayward; even if the son is not living the lifestyle which the father would like him to.

How was Yitzchok get himself to love Eisav??

He constantly repeated that he likes him. By saying that Yitzchok managed to 'trap' his brain into liking Eisav too!

Ki tzayid b'piv = Because Yitzchok trapped HIMSELF with his own mouth! He used his mouth to get his feelings & emotions to follow what his brain told him is the correct way to act.




We must constantly talk about our goals, about closeness to Hashem etc.

WE WILL REACH THAT LEVEL SOMEDAY!!!

Parshas Toldos:


Vayehav Yitzchok ess Eisav .... v'Rivkah oheves ess Yaakov.


Rivkah was not as great as Yitzchok. She was not able to like Eisav. Therefore, she only loved Yaakov.


Yitzchok loved Eisav!!!!  [He also loved Yaakov, but that is not a chiddush!]



What??


Why would Yitzchok love a Rasha like Eisav??


Huh?

How can this question even be asked?

Eisav is Yitzchok's only son!!  A Father loves his son NO MATTER WHAT!!!


[quote="Harvey]
God loves you!!!
... and there is nothing that you can do about it!!

If God was able to love the Jewish People after the sinned with the golden calf at the foot of Mount Sinai, the ultimate betrayal, do you think that god has a hard time loving you because you [acted out] a little?
[/quote]


Yitzchok knew that Eisav is a rasha, but he loved Eisav [b]anyway[/b]!


Hashem knows that we acted out, but [u]Hashems loves us [b]ANYWAY[/b]!!![/u]

Parshas Toldos:


Vayitein lecha HA'ELOKIM mital hashomayim etc.

Why only gashmius'dig brochos?

The brocho is that WE should recognize that Hashem is the one who gives it!!

Tefilah:

B'yadcha afkid ruchi = I give myself over to You to do with me as You want.
Padissa ossi = Release me from bondage of self.
Keil emes = God of rigorous honesty.

Tefilah:


Ki fadah Hashem ess Yaakov ugoalo miyad chazak mimenu.

If we come to believe that we are powerless, that the addiction is stronger than us, then God will do it for us!

Yosef asked me to post his latest ha'orah:
Rashi says: Yosef merited the brocha of "Alei ayin' because he shielded Eisav from viewing a trigger (Rachel).

Is that why he merited this bracha?Wasn't it because he kept his eyes on the ground during his Inaugural Parade as Viceroy?

Both can be correct!

"Being of service to others" is an integral part of MY OWN Recovery! When I take a call from a buddy who is reaching out to me, I am not only helping him, I am growing too!

Yosef blocked protected Eisav > He was able to avoid his own triggers > He merited the blessing!!

Parshas Vayeitzei:


Hinei anochi imach ushmarticha b'chol asher teileich.


A Gerrer chasid took leave from his Rebbe before departing on a business trip to Paris. The Rebbe had a request for him, can he please buy some Cuban cigars for the Rebbe in Paris?

The Chasid gladly agreed, thrilled at the chance to be of service to his Rebbe!

While in Paris, though, he was so preoccupied that he completely forgot about his intended purchase. He only remembered when he was already on the train returning home.

Upon disembarking in Warsaw, he immediately set about searching for a cigar shop and bought imported Cuban cigars. Even though they were more expensive than they would've been in Paris, he was that he can fulfill his Rebbe's wishes.

When he proudly presented them to the Rebbe, the Rebbe inquired exactly where he bought them and he was forced to admit that he forgot to buy them in Paris.

"Do you really think that I needed cigars from Paris?" the Rebbe asked. "All I wanted was that while YOU ARE IN PAIS you should keep in my mind that you have a Rebbe in Ger, but you forgot..."



Hinei anochi imach = if we have Hashem 'with' us constantly
ushmarticha b'chol asher teileich = we can stay safe no matter where we go!!!

Parshas Vayishlach:


Vayira Yaakov meod vayeitzer lo vayachatz.


Vayira - He was afraid that he may get killed.
We are afraid of Lust. It can KILL!!!

Vayeitzer lo - He was pained because otherwise he may have to kill his enemies.
We are pained because we will have to kill the lust. We don't want to do that. We enjoy lust.


What can we do? We want to but we don't want to.....  Oiy li miYotzri & Oiy li m'Yitzri!


Vayachatz - He split it.
Right now, I won't give in to Lust. I will worry about tomorrow, tomorrow!

Parshas Vayeishev:


Vayachalmu chalom sheneihem. Each one dreamed his own dream along with the actual interpretation of the other. This is how the Sar Haofim recognized that Yosef Hatzadik interpreted the Sar Hamashkim's dream correctly (Vayar Sar Haofim ki tov pasar). _(Rashi)

If each one dreamed what will actually happen to his colleague, why didn't he tell him??

They were to selfish! Too wrapped up in their own misery! They were each thinking only about themselves!

Yosef Hatzadik was in the dungeon for much longer than them. He has not either yet gotten a clear understanding about his own dreams either, but he showed concern for them. He saw them looking a downcast so he inquired why. He wanted to help his fellows!!!

Parshas Mikeitz:


V'kamu sheva shnei ra'av achareihen v'nishkach kal hasava b'Eretz Mitzraim. _(41:30)

Because we are addicts & 'reside' in Eretz Mitzraim-Ervas Ha'aretz, whenever we go through a difficult patch in life we become depressed & forget all the good times that we experienced.  :'(