Newspapers

Since we mentioned newspapers in the previous post I wanted to share an idea mentioned in the sefer "da es atzmicha".

Chassidus teaches that a person is where his thoughts are. So for example you could be eating a delicious dinner in a fancy restaurant but if you are thinking about a grandparent who is ill in the hospital, you are really not in the restaurant but in the hospital. The physical body is not what determines your true location but your mindset.

When a person opens up a newspaper and reads about a murder, he becomes IN the murder. When reads about other crimes [I won't share more examples] he becomes PART of the act. It makes his mind filthy and impure. His drags his own mind through the gutter!

Conversely, when he thinks or reads about positive and pure behavior he likewise becomes part of it.

Newspapers are all about evil. Why would one willingly subject himself to that? Indeed people are bored and looking for stimulation but there are other forms of stimulation in this world. Here are some:

1] A gemara! Haven't found such a stimulating book in my life.

2] If you are a woman - a Tanach! [Guys too!!] Chumash with Ramban - AWESOME!

3] Visit sick people in the hospital. You will contribute a lot more to society by visiting than by reading the paper.

4] Say Tehillim! Talk to G-d!! ELEVATING!!

5] EXERCISE! Good for the body and the soul!

6] Many more examples - fill in the blanks.

But wait - If I don't read the newspaper I won't know what Obama is up to! Don't sweat it. He doesn't care what you are up to so there is no reason you should pay any attention to him.