Are You Ready For A New Year Challenge?

0:14Rabbenu Yonah, with countless sources, says there are certain people that are called chanafim, flatterers. In so many words, not only do they not tell people the truth, but they make people believe that everything is okay. Never be one of those people. Never stay in the same room as one of those people. Why? They have a din from Shamayim coming to them at some point that's going to be very harsh and impossible to fix. Because this person gave strength to the wicked. And on top of it, he stopped people from doing teshuva. By not only telling them that they're okay and they're not sinning, but actually praising them while they're sinning.

1:33He called the guy a tzaddik even though he knows the guy drives on Shabbat. He calls the guy a tzaddik even though he knows his entire business is corrupt. He calls the guy, "What a good guy this guy is," even though he knows that every person that he knows is a victim. And Rabbeinu Yonah says that this person is considered an abomination in the eyes of Hashem. What else is considered an abomination in the eyes of Hashem? Idol worship. a little Shabbat, wasting seed, a lot of horrible things, and homosexuality—all of these things are considered an abomination. A person who tells people that everything is okay, "Peace will be upon you," even though they haven't done teshuva, and he's not even encouraging them to do teshuva—that person becomes an abomination; he becomes an idol. Now, because this is happening in the world and it's happening very often, and... I highly advise each and every single one of you to take on a task. Take on a task this coming year to help at least 10 people do teshuva. Directly or indirectly doesn't really make much of a difference. Help at least 10 people do teshuva by giving out CDs, by sponsoring them, by bringing people to lectures, or arranging lectures. Take helping other people to do teshuva more seriously this year.

2:57More seriously, now, 10 may not seem like a big number, but it is. If every single Jew took 10 people to do teshuva, Mashiach would come. Because within a couple of years, all of Am Yisrael would do teshuva. But if we seriously took it as a real project for this Rosh Hashanah, that is more than enough of a reason for Hashem to give us life, good health, and everything else that you want, no matter what you did in the past if you're serious about helping other people. Doing which also means you have to do it starts with you. You know one of the ten has to be you. ...life, good health, and everything else that you want, no matter what you did in the past. If you're serious about helping other people do teshuvah, which also means you have to do teshuvah, it starts with you. You know, one of the ten has to be you... If you take that on, that's giving Hashem a reason to give you all those things that you want and need and even beyond it. Why? Because that's the only thing you can really give Him. Torah is for you. Mitzvot are for you. Marriage is for you. Kids are for you. Tzedakah is for you. Everything is for you. The only thing you give Hashem is His kids back. Now, since we cannot rely on other people to do the job, whether they're rabbis or not, we can't rely on everybody else. "Oh, no, he's already doing it, so I don't have to do it." No, no, everyone has to take charge in some way. If you have time, spend that time. If you don't have time, spend the money—whatever the case is, but do something.

4:10other people to do the job whether they're rabbis or not, we can't rely on everybody else. Oh no, he's already doing it, so I don't have to do it. No, no, everyone has to take charge in some way. If you have time, spend that time; if you don't have time, spend the money. Whatever the case is, do something. and commit to it. That, I promise you, is a gift that will keep on giving. Because the moment you see one of those people that you gave a CD to, or you invited to a lecture, or you sent something to, you see those people covering their head for the first time, you see those people keeping Shabbat and telling you, "Thank you for helping me keep Shabbat." You see one of those people coming to shul. You see one of those people invite you to a shiur. Suddenly, you see one of those people saying, "Listen, I can't hang out tonight. I can't go to the wedding. Why? I have Daf Yomi. I'm learning." You see those people's lives change; your heart will melt, and the only regret you're going to have is that you didn't do it more. you see those people keeping Shabbat and telling you, "Thank you for helping me keep Shabbat." You see one of those people coming to a shiur. You see one of those people invite you to a shiur. Suddenly, you see one of those people saying, "Listen, I can't hang out tonight. I can't go to the wedding. Why? I've got Daf Yomi. I'm learning." You see those people's lives change. Your heart will melt, and the only regret you're going to have is that you didn't do it more.

5:08Because once you see people change their lives, that's the biggest motivation in the world to such an extent that you say to Hashem, "Hashem, you know what? Even if You don't give me a reward for it, it's still worth it. It's still worth it. Because you see somebody become kadosh in front of your eyes. In front of your eyes." But do this for yourself at least. Because in reality, Rabotai, listen, I don't know how much you learn Torah. Who says it's enough? I don't know how many mitzvot you do, who says it's enough? I don't know how many good things you do, who says it's enough? In reality, I'm talking to myself, really. Who says it's enough? Who says it's enough? But one thing I do know is that Hashem is interested in more of His children coming home. That, He's interested in. He's definitely interested in that. Because He doesn't want to put His hands on them.

6:10He doesn't want to bring another Holocaust; He doesn't want to hurt His own children. They're His children; He doesn't want to hurt them. So, if you could help Hashem not hurt His own child, because His child has now become a good child, guess what? You become Hashem's favorite child. But you have to start with yourself, and you have to take it seriously. Where you'll also have newer features that allow you to use the app while using other applications on your phone, share the lectures directly from the app, and donate online to support our community and Torah work. where you'll have also newer features where you'll be able to use the app while you're using other applications on your phone. You'll be able to share the lectures directly from the app. You'll be able to donate online and support our kiruv and our Torah work that we're doing. And the most exciting feature is that you'll be able to actually ask questions directly on the app and get answers from the rabbis directly from the app. This is something unprecedented, and Baruch Hashem, we will be able to offer it. Thank you again for all of your support. Check it out. Make sure you have the kosher Torah that will re-energize your neshama each and every single day. Kol tuv and b'hatzlacha.