Emuna Daily

Someone once wrote a letter to the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt’l, complaining that his house was too small, and that he didn’t have enough room for his many children. The problem was that he couldn’t afford to buy a larger home.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe wrote back, “I received your letter, and I’m delighted to hear the good news that you found your bashert, the wife that is fitting for you, and that you got married… I’m overjoyed to hear that you have a bechor, a first-born son. And then Hashem gave you a daughter, another son, and another daughter. And they are all healthy, following the ways of the Torah! You should know that many people don’t share all the good that you are enjoying. I also understand from your letter that you are living in your own home, while so many other couples are still living in rented apartments, as you know.”

On the side of the letter, the Rebbe added, “And in regard to your problem that your home is too small and you can’t afford to buy a larger one, if you will praise Hashem for all the kindness He gives you, and if you dance from joy for all of the above, Hashem will give you a larger house…”

When we recognize the good, it creates a vessel, enabling us to receive even more kindness from Hashem. ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman

Hashem’s primary will is that a person should desire to do His will. The main service is in the heart. ~ Noam Elimelech

Ten measures of beauty descended to the world, nine were taken by Jerusalem. ~ Kidushin 49b

The Maggid of Mezeritch used to tell his students that it is more important to be careful to bentch with kavanah than to daven with kavanah. 

Prayer was instituted by the Anshei Kenesses Hagedolah (Men of the Great Assembly), whereas Bikas Hamazon is a positive mitzvah of the Torah. ~ Toldos Aharon

Perhaps this shabbos, let’s try to focus a little harder on benching with proper kavanah. Have a wonderful uplifting shabbos!

What Should You Think About When You Bow in Prayer?

When we  bow down to Hashem during the Shmonei Esreh, we must not underestimate the value of this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude for the countless kindnesses that we receive from Hashem… Each time, think of one specific kindness (of thousands) and bow in deepest humility of humble gratefulness. ~ R’ Avigdor Miller zt”l

The importance of a prayer does not depend on the amount of words uttered to invoke Hashem, but rather on the quality of the cry of the heart thrown towards Hashem. ~ R’ Yechazkel Levenstein

Times of stress are also times that are signals for growth.  If we use adversity properly, we can grow through adversity. ~ R’ Dr. Avraham J. Twerski zt”l

When someone has those kinds of questions, you don’t dare try to give any type of answer. You just put your arm around them and say, you know what, I am going to ask that question with you together. ~ Rav Shlomo Katz

It is proper for every yirei shamayim to do teshuvah on Lag b’Omer because Reb Shimon’s merit will help him purify himself. ~  R’ Yohonoson Eibshitz zt’l

Today is also an opportune time to daven for good children (to be like R’ Shimon Bar Yochai), Parnassah (as today was the day the mon started falling), Healing, that the barren should bear children, Shidduchim, Ruchniyos and Moshiach.    

Please also daven and say Tehillim for all those that were injured last night in Meron. May they have a Refuah Sheleima!

The Zohar states that on the final day of Reb Shimon Bar Yochai’s life, he revealed to his students the great and holy secrets of kabbalah. As long as he taught, the sun didn’t set.

The Bnei Yissaschar writes that this explains the custom to light candles and bonfires on Lag b’Omer. It is in commemoration of the sun that continued to shine on the final day of Reb Shimon’s life. ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman