Rav Shimshon Pincus z”l used to teach that the biggest miracle that there is in this world is a person’s ability to change – to break his negative habits and character traits and return to Hashem and his true self. This miracle is greater than the Splitting of the Sea, greater than the manna that our forefathers ate in the desert, and greater than all the other miracles that have been and will be. The strength, determination, and clarity that a person needs to break his evil inclination has a Divine Source, as it says, “The [evil] inclination of a person gathers strength every day, and desires to kill him…and if not for the fact that G-d helps him, he would not be able to overcome it.”

Rabbi Akiva’s life is an inspiring tale of human achievement. He rose up from his humble beginning as a simple, unknown shepherd, the son of converts, to become one of the most influential and beloved figures in Jewish History. The fact that Rabbi Akiva was able to accomplish so much in such a relatively short amount of time could be an illustration of Hashem’s declaration to us: “My children, open for Me an opening of t’shuvah like the eye of a needle, and I will open for you openings big enough for wagons and carriages to pass through.”

When a person resolves to make the long, hard journey ahead, Hashem’s abundant mercy is aroused. Often, it’s that first small step towards truth that opens doors that were previously closed, or sends a sudden, unexpected surge of strength and clarity. For every bit of effort that a person makes in an attempt to come closer to Hashem, Hashem responds with favor and assistance that is exponentially greater. As our Sages tell us: “The one who sanctifies himself a little, Heaven helps to sanctify him a lot.”

[Material was previously published on ShiratMiriam.com.]

List of People Who Need
a R’fuah Sh’leimah

(a complete recovery)

Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.

Ezra Refael ben Taoos Miriam

Shmuel ben Monavar

Efraim ben Leah

Chaim Hillel ben Rivkah

Yisrael Chaim ben Tamar

Asher ben Rima

Chaim Shmuel ben Leah

Yechiel Nasan ben Sarah

Tinok ben Peninah Esther

Moshe Chai ben Shoshanah

Yaakov ben Esther

Chaim Refael ben Chanah

Mikol ben Nigoria

Boris Baruch ben Frecha Frida

Alter Shmuel ben Chavah Leah

Chaim Avraham ben Shifrah Zisel

Chaim ben Malkah

Yehudah Yudel ben Miriam Gittel

Yehudah ben Peninah

Yura Avner ben Devorah

Yonah Gedaliah ben Pesha

Efraim ben Leah

Chaim ben Sarah

Yisrael Tzvi Yosef ben Toiba

Michael ben Mazal

Eliezer ben Chusni

Netaniel ben Chusni

Yehudah ben Tamarah


Evyatar ben Hila

Sarah bas Leah

Rus Victoria bas Tehilah

Esther Malkah Rinah bas Simchah

Malkah bas Tauba

Ronit bas Olga

Perel bas Nechamah

Rachel Leah bas Sarah

Tehilah Hadasah bas Elanah

Hadas bas Orah

Malkah bas Nechamah

Tziporah Stella bas Shirin

Tovah Yocheved bas Esther Bukas

Chayah Shoshanah Tovah bas Esther

Ruchamah Perel Malkah Leah bas Chanah Serel

Gittel bas Sarah

Esther Hadasah bas Devorah

Esther Pessel bas Baila Chayah

Leah bas Chanah Serel

Malkah bas Sarah Rachel

To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.