Emuna Daily

It is easy to praise Hashem in retrospect. 

Our job is to praise Hashem when things look bad.

We must believe that, even then, everything that happens to us is by Hashem’s merciful providence and for our good.

~ R’ Elimelech Biderman

Sometimes the reaction to the sin is worse than the sin itself.

Our job is to be embarrassed and take responsibility because we could do better, not be depressed with guilt and shame. 

Let’s put the energy on the repair and not focus on the despair.

~ Gedale Fenster

Lead an extraordinary life and God will take care of the miracles.

~ The Lubavitcher Rebbe

If a person sees someone committing a sin, it means that he is also in some way associated with that sin, because otherwise, Heaven wouldn’t have shown it to him.

~ The Baal Shem Tov

It is necessary for there to be chesed in a house for it to be considered a house of G-d.

Where there is chesed people learn the ways of Hashem. 

Without chesed, even if other mitzvos are performed there, a house is lacking a basic ingredient. 

~ R’ Moshe Feinstein zt”l

Although we are not assured that every request we make of Hashem will be fulfilled, Tefilos on behalf of Ruchniyus (spiritual matters) are guaranteed a positive response from Hashem!

~ Rav Eliyahu Dessler zt”l in the name of R’ Yisroel Salanter zt”l

My formula for understanding life is:

Every event and situation in your life is meant to be a test of your character.

For example, both poverty and wealth are tests. A wealthy person might become arrogant and forget Hashem. A poor person might be tempted to steal and commit fraud.

When life goes smoothly, it tests one’s character, and so does a life of suffering.

~ Ramchal in Mesilas Yesharim

Hope is the ability to combine aspiration with patience; to be undeterred by setbacks and delays; to have a sense of the time it takes to effect change in the human heart; never to forget the destination even in the midst of exile and disaster.

~ R’ Lord Jonathan Sacks zt”l

A goal is more than an end to strive for; it is a strong arm which leads one along, where otherwise he would flounder or falter.  ~ R’ Shraga Silverstein zt”l

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Today begins the new daf yomi cycle of Talmud Yerushalmi. Hatzolchah Rabbah to all who are going to try it.

You can download the Artscroll Brachos for free here – https://www.artscroll.com/yerushalmi.html

There are many shiurim that will be available on OU’s All Daf app and website, but the first shiur given by R’ Zecharia Resnick is only 11 minutes and that includes a 6-minute introduction – https://yidpod.com/podcasts/the-quick-daf-yerushalmi/

To my fellow Gemara learners, tomorrow is a very exciting day – the start of the 11th cycle of Daf Yomi Yerushalmi!  

Perhaps for the very first time in history, after about 1800 years, Talmud Yerushalmi is going to be accessible to all with the completion of both the Artscroll Hebrew and English Daf Yomi Edition Yerushalmi, along with a plethora of shiurim which are being offered to make it much easier to learn it.  The sugyas are not as complicated as Bavli and the shiurim are quite short and simple to follow.    

As with any new cycle of learning, it always pays to just try it out and take it day by day.  Short-term goals are much easier to reach than long-term goals.  When I started the current Talmud Bavli Daf Yomi cycle, I only committed to doing it for a day, but now, almost 3 years later, I am almost halfway through, B’H going strong and can’t imagine my life without it. 

The Vilna Gaon said that at the time of the coming of Moshiach, Jews will be studying Talmud Yerushalmi! This is such an exciting time! Give Yerushalmi a shot and see if it is for you. 

You can download the Artscroll Brachos for free here – https://www.artscroll.com/yerushalmi.html

There are many shiurim that will be available on OU’s All Daf app and website, but the first shiur given by R’ Zecharia Resnick is only 11 minutes and that includes a 6-minute introduction – https://yidpod.com/podcasts/the-quick-daf-yerushalmi/

Let’s take the next step together! Hatzlochah Rabbah to all!