Gmar chatimah tova!
Day 263: Speak Truth to Power
The feeling of intimidation when speaking up to those more powerful than you is overwhelming. That's why people freeze up when they meet celebrities or why we sometimes blank on what we wanted to say when we sit in a class.
The idea that it is important for us to speak up and tell the truth if those more powerful than we are not telling the truth, can be intimidating too. However, we are the only ones who can say what's on our minds. No one else will speak your thoughts for you. If you see that something is bad or someone is being treated wrongly, it is your duty to correct that action.
Day 264: Just How Much Are You Supposed to Fear God?
On his deathbed, Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai was visited by his students. They asked him for a parting blessing and he wished them the following: "May your fear of God be as strong as your fear of men."
The students were confused [as I would have been too]. Rabbi Yochanan explained that people are more afraid of being caught by a fellow man while doing something wrong than of being caught by G-d, the being that sees all.
This is something to remember as we go through our day-to-day lives. There is always someone with us, always someone watching, always someone hearing, always someone listening.
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