Emuna Daily

One of the Karliner Rebbes said, “If a person will be happy simply because he’s a Yid, I guarantee that nothing bad will happen to him – not b’ruchniyus and not b’gashmiyus.”

Each of our deeds, even those as small as the flapping of a butterfly’s wings, have great consequences. ~ R’ Dr. Avraham J. Twerski zt”l

The more we become aware that our help can only come from Hashem, that He can and wants to give us everything, and the more we will tell Hashem how much we rely on Him, then the more He will testify to us how much we count for Him and He will assure us of His greatest blessings. ~ R’ Chaim Shmulevitz zt”l

Someone was walking in the desert and found a mountain that was made from diamonds. He emptied all his pockets and filled them with the diamonds. He also filled his socks and shoes with precious stones. His fists were full. He took as many diamonds as he could carry. There were many more diamonds, but he couldn’t take them all. He walks away disappointed. He thinks, “I wish I had more pockets…”

That’s the feeling people have after Purim. They feel gratified that they grasped whatever they could, but they also feel that had they prayed more, they would have received so much more.  ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman Shlita

Let’s have no regrets.  Use the day wisely!  Ask Hashem for anything and everything!

The Mareh Yechezkel zt’l teaches that throughout the year, when one prays for things that are necessary, such as health, food, and the like, his tefillos will always be answered. However, when one davens for luxuries, such as wealth, or other matters one can live without, it is not certain that Hashem will grant his wishes. Heaven will weigh the pros and cons and his worthiness and decide whether to give it or not.

Purim is an exception. Even the tefillos for extravagances and luxuries will be answered!

Tonight and tomorrow, find a place where no one will bother you and just talk to Hashem. Don’t hold back. Just like in the Megillah, the king said “What concerns you, Queen Esther, and what is your petition? Even to half the kingdom, it will be given to you,” we are given such an opportunity to make our requests to the real King.

The Kedushas Levi tells a mashal of a king who opens his treasuries for a day, allowing people to come and take whatever they want. If one sleeps all day long, he is a fool. He wasted the opportunity.

Purim is approaching. We can acquire so much on this day. The wise will take advantage of this day. The fools let the day pass unproductively. ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman Shlita

The Mishnah Berurah (90:28) quotes a teshuvos Radvaz, who discusses a prisoner that was granted permission to daven one day with a minyan. The question was which day to choose? Perhaps he should request to go to shul for Yom Kippur? Perhaps he should ask to go to shul on Purim? The Radvaz advises that he should go to shul at the first opportunity he can, and he shouldn’t push it off for a later date. Perhaps he will lose his chance to daven with a minyan.

Notice that the two days the Radvaz ponders about were Purim and Yom Kippur. This tells us about the importance of these two holy days. He didn’t even mention Rosh Hashanah. Purim and Yom Kippur are at the top of the list. ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman Shlita

On Purim every Yid has the power of tefillah, similar to the kohen gadol who davened in the Kodesh Kadoshim on Yom Kippur. ~ The Shinover Rav zt’l

All year, I look forward to Purim.  Not because of the fun, but because of the power of tefillah on this very holy day.  A day that if used properly, Hashem will give you anything you ask for.  As such, this week we are going to focus on this topic and hopefully prepare ourselves for this awesome opportunity.

Our attitude towards even the smallest degree of spiritual elevation should be similar to the happiness and excitement of someone who has found a hidden treasure. ~ Toras Avraham

View each day as a page in a book of your autobiography. ~ R’ Yechezkel Abramsky zt”l