THE WORLD STANDS ON THREE PILLARS

Tzedaka

“He who (gives) Tzedaka has a reward of truth.” (Proverbs XI)

Tzedaka

Tzedaka – doing an act of loving kindness – is the number one action mitzvah. You can achieve it in an instant by depositing money into a donation box. It doesn’t matter how much charity you give, from a small coin on up; it matters that you open your hand. Taking philanthropic action benefits the recipient, but it benefits the giver more. You nourish your spirit when you start your day by doing something selfless for other people.
שמע ישראל

The Shema

A foundational blessing
that covers both of the major themes of prayer: praising G-d and asking for what we need.

The Shema

The Shema is the essential statement of monotheistic faith, therefore you want to pray with kavannah, “one’s intelligence, thought and intention.” The greater the kavannah, the greater the “illumination of the Supreme Will.” Having kavannah calls for understanding and thinking about the words you are saying. Reflect on the blessings and miracles you receive daily and offer gratitude. Try to clear your mind and envision that you are standing before G-d.

Torah

“Each individual who occupies himself in Torah, G-d’s presence is with him” (Tanya, Likutei Amarim 279).

Torah

Torah study – While this is the number one intellectual mitzvah, it doesn’t require being in a class, listening to a lecture or having advanced knowledge. Just read thoughtfully for a few minutes, perhaps a one-page lesson that can elevate and inspire your day. Now you’ve done something meaningful to empower your inner self.

Spend 5 minutes each day embracing the three pillars of Judaism:

Genesis 4:19–22

Fifth

Genesis 4:19–22

Although he did not mend his ways completely, Cain did express some degree of remorse for having killed his brother Abel. G-d therefore postponed Cain’s punishment for seven generations in order to give his descendants further opportunity to repent. Yet again, this opportunity was spurned, as demonstrated by the behavior of Cain’s descendant Lemech. Femininity

ַוַיִּקַ ח לֹוֹ לֶֶמֶךְ ;שְְ תֵּ י ָנָ;שִים וגו’: (בראשית ד, יט)

Lemech married two women.

By Lemech’s time, society had morally degenerated to the point that men were objectifying female beauty and depersonalizing women. It became customary for men to marry one woman for her beauty and a second woman for the purpose of procreation. The first wife would be given a contraceptive so that pregnancy and childbirth not mar her appearance. The husband would spend his time chiefly with her, ignoring his second wife.

Needless to say, this objectification of women goes against

G-d’s intention. G-d created the world in such a way that all relationships consist of someone or something acting as a giver and someone or something else acting as the receiver. Both have to take the other into consideration. This is possible only because there is no absolute separation between the “giver” (male) and

“receiver” (female) aspects of the relationship: Men have their female aspects and women have their male aspects.

Spend 5 minutes each day embracing the three pillars of Judaism:

explanatory video

Click on the play button to see how easy it is to do the Daily Pledge and become closer to G-d.