Words to Avoid - 40

* It was only a joke.

Imagine someone shooting someone & then saying that line.

* You look nice today.

What about other days. ?

Leave out the word - today.

Words are powerful , we must watch every one of them.
Now may be a good time for a gem of Torah study.
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Word switch - 39

The word Shefa means an abundance of blessings , the word pesha means sins.
If the mouth is left without control it leads to sin , thus if the Peh / mouth comes first we have pesha.
If we place shtika first , with a shin for silence & mouth control - we have Shefa.
That is why Mishlei 10:18 says
With excessive speech one cannot refrain from pesha.
Now may be a good time for a gem of Torah study.
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Positive Words - 38

Every word we say can be in a positive way or negative.
Good or not bad !
Half full or half empty. !
Kosher , not kosher or treifa.
Its not true , its a lie.
The Talmud teaches that the one who always used the positive became a great Torah sage.
Why ?
Words are decisions.
To tell someone something is not kosher is better than saying it is treif. It is more caring & less hurtful.
Now may be a good time for a gem of Torah study.
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Words make the Difference - 37

What is the difference between one who says I feel like a tired goat or like a tired p-i - g ?
The Ge mara teaches that it is a good idea to stay away from the second type of person.

Why ?

Words are like name labels , they also influence the person. Even the clothing we wear influences a person , the words we speak surely change us , word by word. As we use kind & gentle words , we become more like that.
A person was created in Hashems image. He also has certain animilistic tendencies in order to challenge him to grow.
Now it is true that Hashem created all , even non kosher animals & there are many lessons we learn from them , such as - be strong as a lion to fulfill the will of your Heavenly Father. But Kosher animals were permitted for food in order to provide us with energy in order to study Torah.
We need to also develop our positive Torah self - esteem by saying Hashem created this world for my benefit ! Sanhedrin 37a.
Now may be a good time for a gem of Torah study.
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Geuss who ? Words - 36

Who taught , the fence of Wisdom is Silence ?

Rebbe Akiva !

One illustration of how it transformed his life was when he met the famous Rochel who became his wife. She said to him , you have the potential to become one of the greatest Sages of the generation if you devote yourself to Torah study !

He could have said , do you realize that I have a degree in shepherding , I have a great career etc , instead he listened & changed the world.
Now may be a good time for a gem of Torah study.
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Word Benefits -35

The fence for Wisdom is
Silence. Avos 3:13.

There are many reasons for this & thus many benefits that are derived from it.
1- Words are so precious , they should never be wasted. They reveal who we are & form who we become. One who uses 4 words to say something that can be said in 2 is diluting ones thinking ability & weakening ones focus. Silence protects & insures our thinking.
2-The primary reason for speech control is - one who is wise , or one who desires to gain wisdom , does not speak in the presence of one who is greater. Avos 5:7.
Thus the practice of silence , even for a moment , can help us in training ourselves to be aware of Hashem which is the greatest form of WISDOM.
Now may be a good time for a gem of Torah study.
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Three Word Rules - 34

The Talmud teaches 3 Rules -

* Always avoid indecent Words.
* Always speak in a refined manner &
* Teach in a brief way.

By all 3 rules we say - do it always & be a person - adam.
This corresponds to the teaching in Chulin 89 a - What's is a persons primary skill in this world ?
To control ones speech.

An example in the Talmud - Eiruvin 53b. One should not say -
Which road do I take to ...
When you can say - which way to ?
2 hebrew words , instead of 4.
Now may be a good time for a gem of Torah study.
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Words of Light - 33

At the beginning of Mesectas Pesochim which deals with the topic of Redemption , we start with the word - the Light of.
But it really refers to the night of , so why do we say the opposite ?
The Talmud explains that it teaches us how important every word is.

Words influence our minds. Saying positive , cheerful words help boost a persons spirit to be more joyful & in a happier mood.
Now may be a good time for a gem of Torah study.
www.GemsofTorah.com