The visitor to Rav Chaim Kanievsky didn’t come bearing a new sefer or question in learning — he came weighted down by his problems. 5777 was a rough year for him and he’d suffered in areas of parnassah chinuch and health. He was desperate for a brachah. Rav Chaim smiled warmly and assured him that the old gezeirah has already been torn up and replaced with better times but added a thought:

“In davening we say that teshuvah tefillah and tzedakah have the power to erase an evil decree. Really any one of the three is sufficient but the order is meant to teach you that teshuvah is the key and once someone embarks on teshuvah then his tefillah and tzedakah are that much more effective. Accept upon yourself to do teshuvah in a certain area and may your tefillos and tzedakah stand by you for a sweet new year.”

5 Out of 10

Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin

Help me complete this Top Ten list. I’ll start with the first five

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Top 5 Ways NOT to Ask Mechilah

Saying I’m sorry is never easy. Here are five phrases to avoid when apologizing so you don’t have to say I’m sorry again.

IF I OFFENDED YOU

If you want to really say you’re sorry avoid the word “if.” Statements like “I’m sorry IF I offended you” don’t convey true remorse and leave the recipient thinking “Umm… yeah but you did offend me!” Take ownership of your errors and skip the “if” so you won’t have to later apologize for your apology.

MISSPOKE

Unless you’re running for office there’s no reason you should be incorporating this increasingly vogue political buzz word. Focus on what you said not what you meant to say.

I’M SORRY YOU FEEL THAT WAY

The best coldhearted apologies are short and not sweet. “I am sorry you feel that way” is an easy way of telling a friend you’re not so sorry for what you did. Once you’re saying “I’m sorry ” go the extra mile. You can be sure that after saying “I’m sorry you feel that way ” whoever you hurt is just going to feel worse.