L'chaim L'chaim

We are put in the middle of a strong war, Faced with a test of what we are living for. We have the yetzer harah both in front and behind, Our goal is to have d'veykus on our minds!

The Ramchal promises to be our coach, He takes us through a step-by-step approach. Learning mussar requires introspection, Mesillas Yesharim sets us off in the right direction!

This is the intro to the Path of the Upright, Studying mussar gives us insight. The Ramchal says he teaches nothing new, But we might forget, so we must constantly review.

The Chafetz Chaim stresses the importance of going to shul, Our tefillah will be answered in full. There is good to be gained, just by answering amen!

The yetzer hara promises a person many years, But it is only a matter of time before those disappear. Guard your ears, mouth, and eyes, Those who listen to rebuke are counted among the wise.

Because of the theft a person commits, We won't save him if he falls into a pit. If we all work to on being better, The Torah won't lack even one letter!

Without fear, there's no wisdom, and without wisdom, there's no fear. Words of lashon hara makes our torah disappear. Rabbi Yochanan sold his field, For the Torah his assets would yield.

To set yourself apart, Have clean hands and a pure heart. One that hits his friend in secret will be cursed, Theft is bad but words are worse!

The nation was disgusted with their food, So an attack of venomous snakes ensued. Their lashon hara was not proper, So they had to get atonement from a snake made of copper!

The spies worried their deeds were improper, So they viewed themselves as small grasshoppers. In response to the bad report the spies said, Caleb promised they will devour the nations like bread!

If you were as haughty as a cedar tree, remember the worm, "tamai, tamai" the metzora had to confirm. Each metzora must be kept on isolation, By calling him a sinner, we don’t protect his reputation.

To atone for lashon hara, the kohen gadol wore bells, A person is rewarded for the Torah he tells. A person's main pursuit, is to train himself to behave as if he were a mute

Moshe was punished with הן, That just a few days of his life remained. The roman judge's heart was hardened, But Rabbi Eliezer was quickly pardoned!

Yesef put money in his brothers' sacks, Until Yaakov was reunited, he could not relax. Yosef sat the brothers by their ages, Yehudah offered to work for Yosef without wages!

Yosef spent 10 years in prison corresponding to his 10 brothers, He spent an additional two years for relying too much on others. Yehuda deceived Yaakov with the blood of a goat, Yehuda was punished when Tamar asked, "Is this your coat?"

Hashem's presence leaves when lashon hara is spoken, And our Devine protection is broken. Don't be taken by lashon hara's charm, Because it has no benefit, only harm.

Sinas Chinam leads to destruction, It is worthwhile avoiding its seduction. On the Day of Judgement, don't forget your name, You can be punished for someone else's shame.

The Torah is compared to a loved wife, We waste so many precious moments in life. The Holy of Holies, lashon hora can reach, So on Yom Kippur, the kohen would atone for our speech!

Hashem will recount all of our conversations, Lashon hara spoken causes accusations. Avoiding lashon hara makes us immune to evil, But if spoken, it will lead to social upheaval.

Even with many mitzvos, our mouths may lead us astray, So it is imperative to guard what we say. If we give a needle, we will get a palace gate, By starting a little, we could end up with something great!

Today we are reviewing the introduction, Lashon hara can lead to destruction. The yetzer hara wears many masks, Don't distance yourself from never-ending tasks!

If you use the Torah as a guide, You'll learn to ignore insults and let things slide. Modesty, compassion, and acts of kindness define a Jew, The laws of lashon haha need constant review.

Search for the Torah like a treasure, Toiling in it provides the greatest pleasure. Despite exile from countless nations, The Torah has been kept for all generations!

Grasp onto just one branch on the tree of life, By avoiding speech that causes strife. The laws of lashon hara, society ignores, So if you avoid lashon hara, the reward is uniquely yours!

A Jew without Torah is like a fish without water, So it is crucial to educate our sons and daughters. The importance of learning cannot be overblown, Without learning, even prayer is not enough on its own.