BS"D

PARSHATH THAZRIA METZORA
by Yitzhak Kolakowski
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THE POWER OF WORDS
in memory of HaRav Avigdor Miller, ztk"l
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My dear friends, last week, Klal Yisroel lost the crown from off of our head when HaRav Avigdor Miller, 
ztk"l, passed away at the age of 93.  That week we read the parsha of Shmini, which contains many 
portions which make it obvious that the Torah is true and is from G-d.  This is only fitting, as Rav Miller, 
ztk"l, was a man of majestic strength who made it obvious that the Torah is true and from G-d.

Twice I had the incredible zechuss to see this tzaddik deliver his famous Thursday night shuir in 
his holy Beth Medrash at 1819 Ocean Parkway.

This week we read about the biblical disease of Tzaraas.  Our sages tell us that this malady was a result of 
misusing our tongue.  However, both times I saw Rav Miller in person, he spoke of the incredible positive 
power we hold in our mouth.  In this season of teshuvah, particularly with the death of this holy tzaddik 
making it an especially propetious time for repentance ("Yakar b'einei Hashem ha'mavtha le'chasidav", 
"Precious in the eyes of Hashem is the death of His saints" -Hallel), it would be extremely correct to try to 
bring into our everyday lives just a little bit of the many lessons this man taught to our people.


As I personally heard from Rav Miller's holy mouth, we hold a great deal of power in our mouths.  Even (or 
especially) when no one is around, we can accomplish great and awesome acheivements with our mouths.
  Psychologists call this "auto-self-suggestion", but the Chovoth HaLevavoth wrote about this long 
before Freud twisted it.

As we say in Shema every day, we have a very important mitzvah from the Torah to whole-heartedly love 
Hashem every second of our life.  Although it is true that in the deepest part of every Jew he or she truly 
loves Hashem, do we really feel it in our day to day lives?  How do we accomplish this important mitzvah?
  Rav Miller tells us how to start.  Did you ever in your life say the words, "I love You, Hashem."?  To think 
how many religious people have gone their entire life without saying these words even once!  Rav Miller 
suggests to begin to say these simple words, in English, "I love You, Hashem".  Although you might not 
feel it the first time, don't give up.  And don't feel like your not being truthful, because the deepest truth is 
that every Jew loves Hashem.  If one says this every day, or even over and over again, it will sink in, 
and become a part of him or her.  Don't take this lightly.  You can accomplish great things in a few seconds, 
just by saying simple words.  Rav Miller described this as "diamonds in the road", although he then added that 
it is insulting to any mitzvah to compare it to a mere diamond.  And if you saw a hundred dollar bill lying in 
the street, wouldn't you pick it up?  A mitzvah is, of course, worth far more than $100.  Just while walking
 down the street we can say the words "I love You, Hashem".  No one else will see you.  No one else will 
know.  This will be just between you and Hashem, and it will be very precious in His eyes.

And not only that, but there are many more mitzvos we are constantly required to do at every second.
  Even if we don't think about it every second, at least we can tell Hashem that we did these mitzvos 
sometimes.  A few of the others are, loving every Jew (so say "I love every Jew"), and remembering 
Yetziath Mitzrayim (so say "I remember, Hashem, that you took us out from Mitzrayim"),
 remembering and hating Amalek (say "I hate Amalek"), and so forth.  And there are many more.  
And by just saying a few words, even while doing something else, we can accomplish 
great things.  But it is important to say them with your mouth at some time, for this will 
bring a person to actually thinking and living these mitzvos.  As Hashem's goodness is 
always more than his punishment, it goes to show that we can do more good with 
our mouths than the damage we can, h"v, do with them by speaking lashon hara.

May your sweet voices soon be heard, filling the cities of Yehudah and the streets of Yerushalayim with 
the voices of our serving Hashem with intense joy.  And please in the meantime listen to the voice of Rav
 Miller on one of his countless audio cassettes, as he too made the most of his voice, until we can hear his
voice again with the techiath hamethim.  Please, Hashem, may we hear that the end is so near, Please G-d 
let it be here!!

GUT SHABBOS