We are still in coronavirus mode, which is serious. This means we have to take it seriously and make sure to protect ourselves, and we have to be careful to follow the advice of the Gedolim, as it develops.
Rav Chaim Kanievsky has said that we should be distancing ourselves at least six feet from each other in shuls and schools (if they are still open) and a monitor should be appointed to be sure that everyone follows these rules. We did that in our shul this morning. We have to be careful, but we must have the proper perspective.
The Gemarah, in Masechet Berachot, tells us that there are three things that cause a person to have long life. But before we discuss them, we have to remember an important principle: things only work if you believe in them.
The Vilna Gaon was once asked why it says that a sandak will become wealthy, if not every sandak becomes wealthy. He answered that you have to believe it. It works if you believe.
The Chafetz Chaim told over the following story: Rav Yisroel Salantar went to someone’s house to visit one Motzaeh Shabbat. The lady of the house apologized and said her husband could not receive the rabbi properly, as he was ill and in bed. Rav Yisrael went in to sit with the man, and asked him, “Do you believe every word the rabbis say, as if it’s solid like a brick wall?” The man couldn’t say that he did.
So the Rabbi sat with the man for an hour, convincing him that every single word of the Gemarah was true, and then asked him again if he believed that every word was true. Finally, the sick man said he believed. Rav Salantar then opened a Gemarah Masechet Shabbat that says that drinking hot waters on Motzei Shabbat,
מחשב לעצבותם
Heals their worries
מחבש
Can also be rescrambled to create an acronym for
חמים במוצאי שבת
“Drinking hot water in Motzei Shabbat can remove your worries”
So the man drank a hot cup of tea and slowly he started to feel better.
There is power is what Chazal say.
That being said (and though I lack the time and ability to do it as well as Rav Yisrael Salantar), let’s all fully believe in this:
There are three things that give you a long life, that all have to do with “long”:
1- Spend a long time praying. The Gemarah says that we should beg. Don’t assume you have merits, that you go to shul, for example, so you will be okay. Don’t count on your zechuyot. Your merits aren’t enough for even one breath; we learned that in Hovot HaLevavot. We owe G-d a lot.
We doesn’t owe us anything. We have to pray longer. In Elul our prayers improve. Then on Rosh Hashanah our prayers get even better. Now is not the time for a fast Amidah. Pray slowly and deliberately, and beg.
The second advice from the Gemarah for a long life is for a person to spend a long time at his table. Does that mean we should eat slowly? No.
The Gemarah says that if your house is known to be a home where you spend a great deal of time at the table, and a poor man knows that if he knocks on the door at 2pm, you’ll still be at the table, that means your house is open to Aniyim/ the poor.
So what this really means is that charity gives you a long life.
*For those of you that did not see this yesterday, we will add a link to today’s class, so that you can donate to a charity that I like. Please give to Lev Chana, and understand that when you give money to Aniyim, to the poor, Sedaka Tatzil MiMavet- Sedaka saves one from death. The daf says Matan B’Seter Yefe’ah- Giving money anonymously quiets G-d’s anger.
We are definitely in a time where it seems that there is anger in the word, so we have to do certain things. Giving money and making other people happy for the holiday has that power.
The third piece of advice from the Gemarah is that a person should spend a long time in the bathroom.
Why? Because, says the Gemarah, it’s healthy. Rambam says that most disease comes because people keep the toxins in their bodies, and don’t get enough fiber or drink enough water.
What is the lesson here?
The Gemarah is giving us two spiritual antidotes, and one physical. That should be our ratio 2/3s to 1/3
To this, I add the following: Every time you spray the disinfectant, say two perakim of tehilim. One third/ two thirds.
We have to focus on a spiritual defense plan.
There is another physical defense for this that I want to share (and please share this with everyone you know):
There is a great doctor in Monsey, Dr James Israel. He is a Sadik. Rav Yaakov Kaminetzsky called him a Sadik. He is a very special man. He recently saved my father’s life, when he went to Mount Sinai and was diagnosed with allergic reaction. But Dr Israel wanted to be safe and rule out an infection, so he took a test- a nose swab. Sure enough, he was right. It was an infection. It was a viscous, dangerous infection called MRSA. So the Dr. put my father on antibiotics and saved his life. And this doctor is a smart man. He’s a good diagnostician and knows how to look for things.
He has said that many people get into trouble from corona because of the pneumonia. He recommends that if you’re over 60, make sure you speak to your doctor about a pneumonia vaccine. That may protect you.
This should be spread around the world. There was a video of the doctor explaining this on Yeshiva World but I don’t hear it getting spread out. Maybe we should put signs in the shuls. Spread the word: If you’re over 60, ask your doctor about a pneumonia vaccine. It might be life saving.
But, remember, when you go to the doctor, you’ll have a copay.
If your copay is $20, you should give $40 to charity. We have to understand the power of charity in these days.
And please look out for a link, later today, with many quotes from Rav Chaim Palaggi’s work on how to live a long life. One of the things he said is to walk around with money in your pocket for Sedaka. That alone is a protection. We have to make spiritual moves.
Someone told me yesterday that his wife put up a pot of boiling water with baking soda, to inhale because it cleans out the lungs. That is nice. Home remedies are good. But this is guaranteed home remedy called Sedaka Tatzil MiMavet. We have to believe that. We have to believe that longer prayers save lives. Believe that charity saves lives. And taking care of your health saves lives.
You have to appreciate the spiritual protection just like the physical protection. These segulot are real.
Believe them
Believe them
Believe them
Have a great day.