Do Your Best | Rabbi David Pinto

Every day, we do Shema Yisrael, in the morning, in the evening, and always the words ‘Shema Yisrael’ are in your mind. Shema Yisrael is a Segulah to be protected from bad looks. Because when you look at the Tallit, the Gemara said, you think about the Shamayim, you think about Hashem. By thinking about Hashem it’s impossible that Hashem, at that moment, can bring you something bad to see. My friend, do you think it's easy not to look? I’ll tell you my story. I was in the airport, J. F. Kennedy. I was with my wife in the queue for the security. When we were in the queue, there were some women, very badly dressed, so I turn to my left side and there, as well, there was another queue, and other women that they were not well-dressed. So I said to myself: Well, I turn to my left. And there is another queue, the same. I turn around. Behind me - again. It was the summer. Everywhere. So I said to myself: Well, I have to look at the sky, to Hashem. But when I put my head up, there was there this big screen and there was a de fille of women, you know, de fille. I said to myself: You see, David? Wherever you turn, there is Yetzer Hara. So what can I do? You have to travel, you’re on the plane, it’s impossible not to look. The most important thing is, Don't look to look. You understand me? Don't look to look. You have to look, you have to see, you have to cross the street, you have to stop in the crossroad. It's impossible. Baruch Hashem, you can move your head. Avoid. If you avoid, even if you see, Hashem will help you not to have bad thoughts. Look, I am 74 years old. Don’t think I am a Tzaddik. Don’t think I don't have a Yetzer Hara. Don't think I am Moshe Rabbeinu. I am like you. But, Baruch Hashem, I have Emunah in Hashem, and I know without the help of Hashem, I cannot beat my Yetzer Hara. But if you want that Hashem will help you, you have to do first the job. How? Try not to look. You know what the word וימאן? There is there מאן, מאן is the same word of אמן. אמן is אמונה, you must have Emunah. By doing your best, try avoiding not to look, HaKadosh Baruch Hu will help you not to look, B’Ezrat Hashem. Let's pray to HaKadosh Baruch Hu to have the Ko’ach, the Zechut, to help ourselves, to help our Neshama, to help other people to do their best, to be connected to Hashem through Avodat Hashem, because the only thing that can disconnect a person from Avodat Hashem is by bad looks, when you look what you should not look. My friend, may Hashem give you ברכה והצלחה, Amen.