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For Your InspirationRabbi Zelig Pliskin Offers Effective Tips to Help One Master Happiness
Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, noted international speaker and author of numerous Torah inspirational and self-help books delivered a Project Inspire kiruv lecture last week in Flatbush on the subject of "Mastering Happiness for Yourself and Others."
Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, noted international speaker and author of numerous Torah inspirational and self-help books delivered a Project Inspire kiruv lecture last week in Flatbush on the subject of "Mastering Happiness for Yourself and Others." He spoke at the Az Yashir shul on 20 Adar/March 16.
For the past 30 years, Rabbi Pliskin, a native of Baltimore who studied in the Telz Yeshiva in Cleveland and after his marriage moved to Yerushalayim and studied at the Brisk Yeshiva, has taught the secrets and techniques of how to be happy and joyful to thousands of Jewish men at Aish Hatorah in the Old City.
While all too many people, Jews included, misuse their free will to be miserable, Rabbi Pliskin explained to the audience at Az Yashir that there is a Torah obligation to be happy. Perhaps the most important responsibility for an individual is to develop and sharpen his or her sense of hakoras hatov, being grateful for all of the kind favors that Hashem continually bestows upon us.
In his lecture, Rabbi Pliskin noted the etymological similarity between the Hebrew words for Yehudi (Jew) and hoda (praise). Leah had named her fourth son Yehuda because of her gratitude to Hashem. In addition to more than a score of inspirational self-help books that he has written on such topics as improving one's self image, developing happiness, kindness, courage, patience, serenity, enthusiasm and harmony; Rabbi Pliskin who also offers his services as a joy coach and self-image builder has compiled a list on Nine Happiness Principles.
Rabbi Pliskin has printed these principles on a business size card and he distributed the cards to those attending the lecture at Az Yashir. The first of the important points that help one to gain happiness is the realization that one must remember to think appreciatively and gratefully.
This is strengthened by continually striving to in the course of seemingly difficult events in life, to reflect on the question of "What am I grateful for now." For example, if you see the bus you wanted to board departing without you, think to yourself and say out loud, "Baruch Hashem, my eyes are good and I can see the bus departing."
Many who came to the Project Inspire lecture were motivated by a desire to learn kiruv techniques to help mikariv relatives, friends, classmates, colleagues at work, neighbors and acquaintances. Why would one want to introduce Yiddishkeit to another Jew? One answer mentioned by Rabbi Pliskin is that frum Jews feel as a result of their religious commitment, a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment in their lives; an attitude that is often missing in the lives of non-frum Yidden.
But, how can one convince assimilated Jews who are mostly ignorant of Torah values that Yiddishkeit has much to offer them? A major way to communicate the beauty of a Torah way-of-life is to demonstrate clearly that it offers greater true happiness and joy. But if you are going to try and communicate the message, it is important that you realize that the obligation to be happy and joyful is a major teaching of the Torah. Where in the Torah does it instruct us that we have to be happy and joyful? Rabbi Pliskin answered that in Parshas Ki Savo in Devorim, it says, "Rejoice in all the good that Hashem gives you."
Project Inspire was developed as an outreach program in North America by Aish Hatorah to be an effective vehicle to recruit frum Yidden to undertake kiruv training seminars to more effectively reach out to assimilated Jews in our community. Most frum Jews recognize the importance of trying to mikariv other Yidden. But up till now, many felt that it was only something that could be properly done by professional kiruv experts.
Unfortunately, the high rate of assimilation and the growing danger that many Jews are being permanently lost spiritually from Klal Yisroel is so great, the only hope is if a great majority of frum Jews will quickly join the effort to help their non-religious brethren to discover their precious heritage. To encourage as many frum Jews as possible to become involved in this pikuach nefesh effort, Project Inspire has developed a special seminar training program that will help average baalei batim - both men and women - learn what techniques are most effective and what words are best not said.
The major message of Rabbi Pliskin's uplifting lecture last week was that by mastering various principles to strengthen one's own happiness and joy by utilizing Torah principles, the result will be that one's message on the beauty of Yiddishkeit will be more receptively received by our brothers and sisters whom we want to save from the growing spiritual holocaust that has rapidly escalated as moral values around the world continue to decline so precipitously.
If you would like to learn more about mastering happiness or other effective techniques to better enjoy your own life and to also more effectively reach out to non-affiliated Jews, consider enrolling in a Project Inspire kiruv seminar near where you live. If you recruit 10 or more friends and neighbors to enroll in the kiruv seminar series, Project Inspire will bring the training program to your home or to a location convenient to your group. For more information, please call (646) 961-4961 or email smarkowitz@projectinspire.com.
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