Hanging Tough

During my many years of coaching people, both on a spiritual and physical level, I've heard repeatedly such expressions and excuses as, "Yeah, I could have been better if I had the been born with athletic/intellectual/business/spiritual prowess;" or, "I could have been great too if I had the advantages that a tzaddik has. I wasn't born the son or daughter of a big rabbi or Rosh Yeshiva." People who talk like that then go back to their plasma screens and their bowl of potato chips...

I personally don't know anyone of greatness who was born with a silver spoon. The great tzaddikim, even the ones with righteous parents, had unspeakable difficulties, ascents and rock-bottom descents on their way to the top. By no small coincidence, the truly great people in other endeavors of life can say the same thing.

What's the secret to true greatness? Rebbe Natan of Breslev calls it hitchazkut - in loose translation, calling it "hanging tough." That's the name of today's lesson, which is not only a key to greatness but a key to survival.

Don't miss today's emuna lesson and live broadcast from Jerusalem entitled "Hanging Tough", which will take place, G-d willing, on the ground-floor main sanctuary of the Chut Shel Chessed Yeshiva on 13 Shmuel Hanavi Street in Jerusalem at 7 PM Israel time; the shiur is open to the public - both men and women are invited. You can see today's lesson here - the broadcast, as well as our lessons posted from now on - are Mac and iPod compatible. If you tune in too early to the live broadcast link, you'll be sent to the main page of the Breslev Israel website, so try to tune in on time.  If you are not able to view today's broadcast live, then G-d willing, you'll be able to see the video tape of it later this coming week on Lazer Beams.