Emuna Daily

Code of Jewish Law rules that one ascertains whether a duck is kosher if it swims against the tide. That’s the powerful challenge of living in our times – to fight ferocious tides… ~ Chana Burston

A mother led her young son to the bottom of a deep valley, and said, “Scream the words, ‘I hate you’ as loud as you can.”

He yelled at the top of his lungs, “I HATE YOU!” Suddenly, he heard the overwhelming sound of, “I HATE YOU, I Hate You, I hate you!” echoing around him.

She turned to her son and requested, “Now, scream the words, ‘I love you’ as loud as you can.”

He yelled at the top of his lungs, “I LOVE YOU!” Suddenly, he heard “I LOVE YOU, I Love You, I love you!” echoing around him.

~ Chicken Soup to Warm the Neshama

Worry comes from a lack of emuna. ~ R’ Eliyahu Meir Bloch in Shiurai Daas

How do you know if you love someone very much? If you really love someone, you are ready to change for that person, even just for a moment.  ~ R’ Shlomo Carlebach zt”l whose yartzheit is today.

Think positive and the result will be positive.  An optimistic thought has the strength to rescind a heavenly decree. ~ Adapted from the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt”l

When Hashem told Avraham Avinu to count the stars, he began to count them.  Hashem said, “this is how your children will be.”

Rav Meir Shapiro zt”l explained that if anyone other than Avraham, would have been given the task to count the stars, their immediate response would have been, “That’s impossible!  There are too many stars to count!” But when Hashem told Avraham to count the stars, he began counting them.  Hashem said, this is how your children will be.  They will never say that a task is impossible.  They will always try to do what they can. ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman, Shlita

If a Jew comes to your door collecting for tzedakah, it’s not by chance that he ended up at your door.  It was because he was sent directly to you by Hashem.  He is there for a purpose.  You think you’re doing a favor for him – he’s doing a favor for you! ~ The Chasam Sofer

Since everyone must have cares and worries in life, it makes more sense to carry the burden of spiritual struggles, which ultimately lead to blessings and happiness, rather than waste our efforts on mundane cases, which drain a person emotionally and offer little in return. ~ The Chofetz Chaim

All significant change in human behavior takes place at the microcosmic, not the macrocosmic level. It belongs not to social forces or trends, but to the here-and-now of single individuals. ~ R’ Lord Jonathan Sacks, Shlita

May Rabbi Sacks (HaRav Yaakov Zvi ben Liba) have a speedy recovery!

Only a fool will keep looking at things that will increase his desires (Keser Chochmah 18:18).

If looking at what other people have gives you more desires, why make yourself miserable needlessly? If advertisements cause you to yearn for things you cannot acquire, why read something that causes you unnecessary pain? ~ R’ Zelig Pliskin, Shlita