Speech is like atomic power - it can illuminate a metropolis or destroy it. In like manner, improper use of speech can actually trigger COVID-19, whereas cleaning up one's speech can cure and even prevent it, as we learn in today's lesson:

The Power of Speech from lazerbrody on Vimeo.

Nicknames, especially hurtful ones, are dangerous. Our names are by far one of our most important assets and determine so much in our lives, as we learn today:

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How do I repay a person who taught me how to light Shabbat candles or to put on tefillin? A million dollars? A billion dollars? That doesn't come close to compensate for even one time of lighting Shabbat candles or putting on tefillin. There's a big difference between paying back a material favor and paying back a spiritual favor. Enjoy today's 3-minute podcast and have a lovely Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan:

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Our sages tell us that we don't have to learn how to hate - that comes natural to a person because of innate egotism. Loving someone else, on the other hand, is something we all must learn to insure our emotional and physical health, as we'll learn here:

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What possibly does COVID-19 have to do with Kamtza and Bar Kamtza? The key to the puzzle is Shalva Zalfreund, of blessed memory, a kindergarten teacher in Petah Tikva, passed away from coronavirus this past Friday, July 17, 2020. Shalva was an amazing teacher who educated several generations of Petah Tikva's children. Before she died, she wrote a letter to the parents of the children in her kindergarten. If you take a close look, the letter should be required reading for all of us, especially during the Three Weeks, a time when we're supposed to feel the lack and loss of our Holy Temple. Here is the letter and its mindboggling message to all of us.

This explains itself: