THE PRODUCT LIST
PART 1
RUCHNIUS IDEAS
· The Sefiras HaOmer Chart
· The Chag Log -- Your Spiritual Diary
· Life-At-A-Glance - The 25 Year Diary
· Talking Numerically-Significant-Minute Clock
· Gashmius Reports Magazine
· The Don't Wants Club
· The Conduit
DAVENING IDEAS
· The Geulah Siddur
· Removable Sticky Arrows
· The Prayer Pacer
· The Talking Brachos-For-Kavannah Machine
· The Birchas HaMazon Booklets
· The Krias Sh'mah al HaMitah Booklet
DIVEIKUS IDEAS
· The Ribone Phone
· The Shechinah Phone
· My Partnership Agreement With Hashem
· The Talking Diveikus Machine
· Diveikus Cards
· Letter From G-d
· Inspiring Quote From The Baal Shem Tov
· The "What A Wonderful World" Video with Louis Armstrong
· The To-You Turner
· The Yichudim Simulator
· Shabbos Meal Prayer
· The Geulah Club
· The Geulah Bracelets
· The Connector
· The Director
· Free Help on How to Get Closer to Hashem
· The Simulator
· Yeshivah Gedolahs Sing
· The Sleep Log
EMUNAH IDEAS
· The Prognosticator
· The Hashem's Protection System and Hashgachah System Integrity Alerting Machine
· The Heavenly Wake Up Service
· The Heavenly Fall Asleep Service
· The Heavenly Insect-Prevention Service
· The 40-Day Yisurim Log
· Free Help for Trouble With Emunah
· The Gratitude Book
SELF-HELP IDEAS
· The Ablator
· The Liberator
· The Excitement!!! Popper
· Mussar Songs
· The Identity Finder
· Your Personal-Weather Report
· The Frustration Tolerator
· How To Stop Feeling Sad
· The "It's Okay To Be Insignificant" Plaque.
· The Work-On-Feeling-Okay Plaque
· The “Liberate Yourself By Saying No” Sign
· The Happy "No" Picture
LEARNING IDEAS
· Gemora Messages
· Video Shiurim From Our Gedolim
· Watch and Learn
· Eat-and-Learn Restaurants
· Read and Learn
· Call and Learn
· Fly and Learn
· Ride and Learn
· Portable Torah Facts
· The Talking Brachos-In-Learning Machine
· Wait-and-Learn
· Applause While Learning
· The Torah Pocket-Library
· The Thinking-In-Learning-Room Picture
· The Punishments Book
· The Kavanah Headband
· The Portable Arba Minim Buyer's Guide
· Free Help for Problems with Learning
· Complete Eyen Mishpat, Plus
· Succah-Builder's Guide, Concise
· Difference Between Inside and Outside Sixth
· The Handy Havdalah Chart
· The Parshios Chart
TZADDIKIM IDEAS
· The Arba Ammos Trainer
· The Reconfirmation-Of-The-Oath Plaque
· The Zap Images Bookmarklet
ANTI-yetzer hora IDEAS
· The Mental Anti-yetzer hora Light Saber
· The Mental Anti-yetzer hora Flamethrower
· The Mental Anti-yetzer hora Machete Knife
· The Slicer
· The Scalpel
· The Anti-Smoking Campaign
· The Anti-Overeating Campaign
· The Talking Silver Cigarette Case
· The Torah Diet
· The Maoz Tzur (Rock Of Ages) Battle Song
· The “You have to get more organized and take better care of yourself” Plaque
· Portable Torah Facts
· The Amalek Revealer
· The Disconnector
MISCELLANEOUS IDEAS
· The Megillas Esther Holder
· The Soap-Remnant Remaker
· Free Help with Hiccups
(Donations collected through my friend, Burt West's PayPal account.)
(Donations collected through my friend, Burt West's PayPal account.)
THE PRODUCT LIST
PART 2
ARMAMENTARIUM FOR THE FAINT HEARTED
· The Ablator
· The Unwanted-Thoughts Scatterer
· The Mental Anti-yetzer hora Light Saber
· The Mental Anti-yetzer hora Flamethrower
· The Mental Anti-yetzer hora Machete Knife
· The Slicer
· The Scalpel
· The Maoz Tzur (Rock Of Ages) Battle Song
TORAH TOYS IDEAS
· Toy Yeshivah
· Play Chasunah
· Toy Beis HaKinesses
· Play Shabbos Table
· Play Lail Pesach
· Play Simchas Torah
· Play Hakafos
· Toy Eged Bus, #1 or #2
· Toy Succah
· Play Hachnosas Sefer Torah
· Toy Western Wall
· Toy Noach's Ark
· Toy Eshel Avraham
TALMUD TOYS IDEAS
· Avodas Beis HaMikdash
· Mishkan and Shevotim in Midbar
· The Mishkan and 39 Melachos
· Avodas Parah Adumah
· Bikkurim
· Succahs, Kosher and Posul
· Toy Eglah Arufah
INTERPERSONAL IDEAS
· The Chutzpah Smasher
· The Feel-Their-Distress Ball
· Brachah Cards
· Frumy Friendship Cards
· Chag Cards
· The “Leave Them The Way They Are.” Plaque
· The Find-The-Similarities Activity Book
THOUGHT IDEAS
· Thought Mail
· Thought Cleaners
· The Unwanted-Thoughts Scatterer
· The Thought Mail Scrambler
· The Interfering-Thoughts Counter
· The Thoughts Organizer
· The Eitz HaChaim Thought Guarder
TSHUVAH IDEAS
· The Point-Of-A-Needle Hole
· Removable Point-Of-A
Needle-Hole Stickers
· The Middah K'neged Middah Revealer
MIDDOS IDEAS
· The My-Own-Faults Finder
· The See-The-Good Glass
· See-Their-Good / See-Their-Bad Glass
· Bad Middos Ablatement Buttons
· Middos Refinement Buttons
· The My-Faults Book
· The Personality-Trait Blender
· The What's-Right-With-This-Picture Coloring Book
KABBALAH IDEAS
· The Kabbalah Alarm Clock
· The Identity Finder
· Megillas Esther, Revealed
MUSSAR SONGS
· Mussar Songs - home page
· Welcome To The Olum HaZeh Correctional Facility (Hashem’s Prison Planet)
· Everything That Happens
· Have A Smile For Everyone
· You Have That Fault Yourself
· Don’t Get Mad Or Hurt
· These Are Your Guides
· Make Your Enemy Your Friend
· Find A Word Nicer Than Stupid
· Everyone’s Had Better Days
· Just Don’t Get Angry
· A Nice Little Happy Day
· Give Me My Mussar With A Beat
ESSAY NUGGETS
· "I Saw An Upside Down World."
· The Down and The Up
· The Value of Low Self Esteem
· They Don't Play Basketball in Heaven
· Middah K'neged Middah
· On Yisurim
· “You have to get more organized and take better care of yourself.”
· "Good!"
· On Learning Torah L'Shmah
· On Looking For Happiness
· On The Animosity Between Father and Son
· On One's Changing Madrega
· There HAS To Be Something Wrong With Everyone
· Dealing With Adversity
· Life In This World
· How Words Of Torah Help
· “Help me. Save me. Help me. Save me.”
· How To Stop Feeling Sad
· Getting In The Mood For Tisha B'Av
(Donations collected through my friend, Burt West's PayPal account.)
(Donations collected through my friend, Burt West's PayPal account.)
GASHMIUS REPORTS Magazine
Decrease your attachment to Olum HaZeh.
Decrease your attachment to Olum HaZeh.
Based on the popular magazine, Consumer Reports, Gashmius Reports Magazine reviews and reports on the gashmius (materialism) level of a vast variety of products. We evaluate those products that you are most likely to buy and own, and report on the risk each product poses for pulling you deeper into the World of Gashmius and farther away from the World of Ruchnius (spirituality). A Gashmius Rating of between one and ten is assigned to each product.
Some of the criteria used in arriving at the Gashmius Rating are:
Some of the criteria used in arriving at the Gashmius Rating are:
· the amount of pride one has in owning it,
· the amount of pride one has in using it,
· its cost relative to similar items,
· the amount of envy that can be provoked in others or that the owner hopes to provoke in others by owning it,
· the degree of superiority feelings engendered by its use,
· the amount of unnecessary embellishments on the product,
· how engrossed the user is in the product while using it,
· how much of a luxury item it is,
· what percentage of the population owns such an item and to which class do they belong,
· etc.
· the amount of pride one has in using it,
· its cost relative to similar items,
· the amount of envy that can be provoked in others or that the owner hopes to provoke in others by owning it,
· the degree of superiority feelings engendered by its use,
· the amount of unnecessary embellishments on the product,
· how engrossed the user is in the product while using it,
· how much of a luxury item it is,
· what percentage of the population owns such an item and to which class do they belong,
· etc.
Products tested include automobiles, vacation spots and hotels, frum neighborhoods around the world, houses and apartments, wedding halls and caterers, jewelry, watches, home appliances, communication devices, computers, furniture, linens and bedding, live-in to part-time maid service, fountain pens, clothing, home entertainment systems, silver items, window treatments, etc.
The following removable Warning Sticker accompanies the report for each product tested. It can be removed from the magazine and stuck onto the product once you own it, to continuously remind you of the gashmiustic dangers involved in its use.
The following removable Warning Sticker accompanies the report for each product tested. It can be removed from the magazine and stuck onto the product once you own it, to continuously remind you of the gashmiustic dangers involved in its use.
The warning label is also available as an iron-on patch for maids’ uniforms. (Please specify the number of maids and the number of hours per week that each maid is in service - so that we can determine the proper Gashmius rating.) Or, if you prefer, you can order the maid’s uniform itself with the patch already printed on the back. (When ordering the whole uniform, please also specify the size and gender.)
CURRENT STAGE OF PRODUCTION for Gashmius Reports Magazine:
· Needs writing and producing.
WANT TO HELP? Contact us.
· Needs writing and producing.
WANT TO HELP? Contact us.
SELECTED RELEVANT QUOTATIONS FROM SEFORIM HAKEDOSHIM
ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE ABOVE AND SOME OTHER QUOTATIONS
· (Devorim 6:10-12) And it will be when Hashem, your G-d, brings you to the land which He swore to your fathers, to Avraham, to Yitzchak and to Yaakov, to give you great and good cities which you did not build. And houses full of all good which you did not fill, dug out pools which you did not dig out, orchards and olive trees that you did not plant, and you will eat and be satisfied. Beware for yourself lest you forget Hashem Who took you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves.
· (Chullin 89a) Rabbi Eliezer the son of Rabbi Yosi [said], “(Devorim 7:7) Not because you are greater than all the nations did Hashem desire you, [for you are the smallest of nations].” Hakadosh Baruch Hu said to Yisrael, I desire you because even at a time when I give you greatness, you make yourselves small before Me.
· (Maharal, Nesivos Olum, Nesiv HaAnavah, perek 2, s.v. b’perek) Pride is a materialistic character trait… But Yisrael, from the side that they are holy, are separated from materialism, and all their virtues are Godly. But to the nations of the world only material greatness is fitting, and therefore when Hashem gives the nations greatness they become more prideful, until they become so great that they rebel against Hashem because of their pride. And the opposite is with Yisrael, because they have Godly greatness; and everyone in whom are Godly virtues has humility within him, like they say concerning Hashem, be He blessed, “every place that you find His greatness, there you will find His humility.” And therefore whenever there is more greatness in Yisrael and they reach more to a Godly level, more humility is found in them and they lessen themselves; for this is the character trait of simplicity and one that is separated from materialism, and it is the character trait of Hashem, for with His greatness is His humility. And the opposite of this is in the nations of the world. And therefore it is said (Chullin 89a), I desire you because you lessen yourselves.
· (Maharal, Nesivos Olum, Nesiv HaTzedek, ch. 1, s.v. v’omar) And why is a tzaddik call “light,” and we already explained that it is proper that a tzaddik be called “light,” because light is completely separated from everything physical, and the more physicality there is in a thing, the less it gives off light by itself, because physicality abolishes the light - and this thing we have explained many times. And since the tzaddik is removed from the physical, tzaddikim are called “light,” since the light is removed from the physical.
· (Sfas Emes, parshas Vayishlach, year 634, s.v. kotonti) For it is for each Jew to reach submissiveness and smallness because of the kindnesses that Hashem, be He blessed, does with the person, beyond the letter of the law. Therefore, the person needs to reach embarrassment and to be submissive before Him, be He blessed.
· (Sfas Emes, parshas Vayishlach, year 631, s.v. aa”z) My grandfather, teacher and Rebbi, ztz”l, told in the name of the Rebbi from Lublin, the explanation of the verse, “I am small from all the kindnesses,” that the fact that he is small in his own eyes is also one of the kindnesses of Hashem.
· (Sfas Emes, parshas Vayishlach, year 631, s.v. b’Ohr HaChaim) He who is attached to the Root Above, whatever he has is in the category of “all”…. And he who attaches everything to its root has everything. And there is no difference if he has a lot or a little.
·(Sfas Emes, parshas Vayishlach, year 635, s.v. kotanti) Because from every kindness, one needs to come to submission and embarrassment through his realizing that he does not merit to this, rather it is from the kindness of Hashem, be He blessed…. Because HaKadosh Baruch Hu waits for the tzaddikim but hurries for the rishoyim, meaning that He gives reward to the rasha immediately when he does something good, and he becomes conceited and falls into the Pit Below. But Hashem only gives reward to the tzaddik after he fixes himself up properly so that he can receive the good and know that it is with the kindness from Above.
· (Sfas Emes, parshas Mishpatim, year 632, s.v. b’shaim) There is in everything a permeation of kedushah in specific amount, and one needs to guard the physical so that it doesn’t go out from its boundary of kedushah.
· (Sfas Emes, parshas HaChodesh, year 646, s.v. bamidrash) And according to the abolishment of nature and physicality in a Jew, each person according to who he is, so is opened for him the gate of miracles and wonders and a renewal of changes in nature.
· (Meshech Chochmah, introduction to sefer Shemos, s.v. v’chain omru) This is the essential purpose of Creation, for [a person] to purify the physical until he returns his flesh also to spirituality.
· (Rav Dessler, Michtav Mi'Eliyahu, vol. 2, p. 236) Behold, we already know according to the true way of looking at things, that the tumah of the sin is the punishment itself - the reward of a sin is a sin; because through it the sinner destroys his spiritual nature, and all the pain and awesome troubles are included in this.
· (Rav Dessler, Michtav Mi'Eliyahu, vol. 3, p. 85) Everything that is given to a person in This World is only a deposit; he should only use it as a vessel with which to fulfill the will of Hashem. And he who uses it for his own pleasure, in the judgment of Heaven he is a thief.
· (Kedushas Levi, parshas Shemos, s.v. vateisatzav) …when a person is distant from gashmius then Hashem appears to him.
· (Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz, Sichos Mussar, maamar 58, s.v. v’z’l) ...because beautiful clothings and adornments withhold a person from tshuvah.
· (Rav Avigdor Miller, spoken) How should you view any kind of luxuries? And the answer is, first of all, those who posses them should be busy thanking Hashem that they have them. That's Number One. Anyone who can afford something expensive, anyone who has luxuries in his home, (which means all of us), should expend a great deal of effort on being grateful, that's number one. Because if you enjoy this world, or even don't enjoy it but you use this world, in an expensive way, it's very expensive on your Olam Habah. The only way to make sure you're not using up your merits, is to be very busy expressing your gratitude to Hashem.
So once more now. If you have a home where everything is beautiful and expensive, make it your business to keep busy thanking Hashem constantly, over and over again. Now we come to the second point. Should a person do such a thing?
And the answer is, that there is such a thing called Perishus. Hakadosh Baruch Hu says, your efforts have to be devoted to the great task of making something out of yourself. Not making your home the most beautiful place, not making your clothing or your car the most expensive. No! You have to know that your effort in life is to be expended on yourself, and anybody who puts interest in traveling, in other kinds of hobbies, is deviating from the purpose of life. So Hakadosh Baruch Hu says, Perishus means don't waste your thoughts on things that are not essential to the main purpose for which you were created. As much as possible, limit yourself, that you should be able to concentrate on the great achievement's that Hashem wants from you.
When people are busy with their clothing, they're busy with their homes, they're busy with their gardens, they're busy with traveling, so their minds now, are spread out over too big an area, over unimportant things, and Hashem says, I didn't give you your mind to be wasted on unessential elements. You should always remember that there's one purpose in life and put all your efforts into it.
That's why Shabbos is a day when you can not do so many things. The Chovos Halvavos says that. Shabbos is a day of Perishus. Shabbos you have to concentrate on the business of Shabbos. Zaicher L'maasei Bereishis, Hashem created the world out of nothing. You cannot travel on Shabbos, you cannot work on Shabbos, so many things you cannot do, so you're limited on Shabbos. You're a Porush on Shabbos! You separate from all the other things.
And so a person should take Shabbos as a model and always try to limit his mind to the things in life that are most important. Once you start investing your thoughts in other things, then it's like taking your money and spending it on unimportant elements. The important element of life is to make something out of yourself.
· (Chullin 89a) Rabbi Eliezer the son of Rabbi Yosi [said], “(Devorim 7:7) Not because you are greater than all the nations did Hashem desire you, [for you are the smallest of nations].” Hakadosh Baruch Hu said to Yisrael, I desire you because even at a time when I give you greatness, you make yourselves small before Me.
· (Maharal, Nesivos Olum, Nesiv HaAnavah, perek 2, s.v. b’perek) Pride is a materialistic character trait… But Yisrael, from the side that they are holy, are separated from materialism, and all their virtues are Godly. But to the nations of the world only material greatness is fitting, and therefore when Hashem gives the nations greatness they become more prideful, until they become so great that they rebel against Hashem because of their pride. And the opposite is with Yisrael, because they have Godly greatness; and everyone in whom are Godly virtues has humility within him, like they say concerning Hashem, be He blessed, “every place that you find His greatness, there you will find His humility.” And therefore whenever there is more greatness in Yisrael and they reach more to a Godly level, more humility is found in them and they lessen themselves; for this is the character trait of simplicity and one that is separated from materialism, and it is the character trait of Hashem, for with His greatness is His humility. And the opposite of this is in the nations of the world. And therefore it is said (Chullin 89a), I desire you because you lessen yourselves.
· (Maharal, Nesivos Olum, Nesiv HaTzedek, ch. 1, s.v. v’omar) And why is a tzaddik call “light,” and we already explained that it is proper that a tzaddik be called “light,” because light is completely separated from everything physical, and the more physicality there is in a thing, the less it gives off light by itself, because physicality abolishes the light - and this thing we have explained many times. And since the tzaddik is removed from the physical, tzaddikim are called “light,” since the light is removed from the physical.
· (Sfas Emes, parshas Vayishlach, year 634, s.v. kotonti) For it is for each Jew to reach submissiveness and smallness because of the kindnesses that Hashem, be He blessed, does with the person, beyond the letter of the law. Therefore, the person needs to reach embarrassment and to be submissive before Him, be He blessed.
· (Sfas Emes, parshas Vayishlach, year 631, s.v. aa”z) My grandfather, teacher and Rebbi, ztz”l, told in the name of the Rebbi from Lublin, the explanation of the verse, “I am small from all the kindnesses,” that the fact that he is small in his own eyes is also one of the kindnesses of Hashem.
· (Sfas Emes, parshas Vayishlach, year 631, s.v. b’Ohr HaChaim) He who is attached to the Root Above, whatever he has is in the category of “all”…. And he who attaches everything to its root has everything. And there is no difference if he has a lot or a little.
·(Sfas Emes, parshas Vayishlach, year 635, s.v. kotanti) Because from every kindness, one needs to come to submission and embarrassment through his realizing that he does not merit to this, rather it is from the kindness of Hashem, be He blessed…. Because HaKadosh Baruch Hu waits for the tzaddikim but hurries for the rishoyim, meaning that He gives reward to the rasha immediately when he does something good, and he becomes conceited and falls into the Pit Below. But Hashem only gives reward to the tzaddik after he fixes himself up properly so that he can receive the good and know that it is with the kindness from Above.
· (Sfas Emes, parshas Mishpatim, year 632, s.v. b’shaim) There is in everything a permeation of kedushah in specific amount, and one needs to guard the physical so that it doesn’t go out from its boundary of kedushah.
· (Sfas Emes, parshas HaChodesh, year 646, s.v. bamidrash) And according to the abolishment of nature and physicality in a Jew, each person according to who he is, so is opened for him the gate of miracles and wonders and a renewal of changes in nature.
· (Meshech Chochmah, introduction to sefer Shemos, s.v. v’chain omru) This is the essential purpose of Creation, for [a person] to purify the physical until he returns his flesh also to spirituality.
· (Rav Dessler, Michtav Mi'Eliyahu, vol. 2, p. 236) Behold, we already know according to the true way of looking at things, that the tumah of the sin is the punishment itself - the reward of a sin is a sin; because through it the sinner destroys his spiritual nature, and all the pain and awesome troubles are included in this.
· (Rav Dessler, Michtav Mi'Eliyahu, vol. 3, p. 85) Everything that is given to a person in This World is only a deposit; he should only use it as a vessel with which to fulfill the will of Hashem. And he who uses it for his own pleasure, in the judgment of Heaven he is a thief.
· (Kedushas Levi, parshas Shemos, s.v. vateisatzav) …when a person is distant from gashmius then Hashem appears to him.
· (Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz, Sichos Mussar, maamar 58, s.v. v’z’l) ...because beautiful clothings and adornments withhold a person from tshuvah.
· (Rav Avigdor Miller, spoken) How should you view any kind of luxuries? And the answer is, first of all, those who posses them should be busy thanking Hashem that they have them. That's Number One. Anyone who can afford something expensive, anyone who has luxuries in his home, (which means all of us), should expend a great deal of effort on being grateful, that's number one. Because if you enjoy this world, or even don't enjoy it but you use this world, in an expensive way, it's very expensive on your Olam Habah. The only way to make sure you're not using up your merits, is to be very busy expressing your gratitude to Hashem.
So once more now. If you have a home where everything is beautiful and expensive, make it your business to keep busy thanking Hashem constantly, over and over again. Now we come to the second point. Should a person do such a thing?
And the answer is, that there is such a thing called Perishus. Hakadosh Baruch Hu says, your efforts have to be devoted to the great task of making something out of yourself. Not making your home the most beautiful place, not making your clothing or your car the most expensive. No! You have to know that your effort in life is to be expended on yourself, and anybody who puts interest in traveling, in other kinds of hobbies, is deviating from the purpose of life. So Hakadosh Baruch Hu says, Perishus means don't waste your thoughts on things that are not essential to the main purpose for which you were created. As much as possible, limit yourself, that you should be able to concentrate on the great achievement's that Hashem wants from you.
When people are busy with their clothing, they're busy with their homes, they're busy with their gardens, they're busy with traveling, so their minds now, are spread out over too big an area, over unimportant things, and Hashem says, I didn't give you your mind to be wasted on unessential elements. You should always remember that there's one purpose in life and put all your efforts into it.
That's why Shabbos is a day when you can not do so many things. The Chovos Halvavos says that. Shabbos is a day of Perishus. Shabbos you have to concentrate on the business of Shabbos. Zaicher L'maasei Bereishis, Hashem created the world out of nothing. You cannot travel on Shabbos, you cannot work on Shabbos, so many things you cannot do, so you're limited on Shabbos. You're a Porush on Shabbos! You separate from all the other things.
And so a person should take Shabbos as a model and always try to limit his mind to the things in life that are most important. Once you start investing your thoughts in other things, then it's like taking your money and spending it on unimportant elements. The important element of life is to make something out of yourself.
(All the pages in this website are contained in our free PDF e-book, THE PRODUCT LIST. Click here to download THE PRODUCT LIST for free.)
.