Emuna Daily

One should not grow frustrated if, after he resolved to avoid forbidden speech, his evil inclination got the better of him and he spoke loshon hora. Even if this happens time and again, nevertheless, he should not despair. Rather, he should forever strengthen himself to avoid improper speech, and persevere. This is how one should conduct himself his entire life.

This is the intent of the Talmud’s statement, “One should forever arouse his good inclination to subdue his evil inclination” (Berachos 5a). Life is an ongoing struggle with one’s evil inclination. One must forever be poised for battle and never be discouraged by failure. With knowledge of what the Torah requires of us and proper resolve, our efforts will ultimately succeed. ~ Chofetz Chaim

The purpose of prayer is not to get us out of trouble.  The purpose of trouble is to get us into prayer. ~ R’ Yitzchok Hutner zt”l

If you think about Hashem one minute a day, you’re a great man, an exceptional person. Try it right now. Don’t postpone… All you do is daven three times a day, that’s all you’ll do. Think about Hashem for this minute. You’re sitting in front of Hashem. He’s the King of the world — “Meloh kol haaretz kevodo — the world is full of His glory,” out into space, and He’s looking straight at you this minute. ~ R’ Avigdor Miller zt”l

Imagine that every person you meet has a sign on their forehead that says, “Make me feel important.” ~ R’ Michael Rothschild

It would be worthwhile to read this quote a couple more times and then incorporate this into your lives.  You have no idea of the effect this can have on you, everyone around you and the entire world!

To give good advice to someone, you do not need special talents.  All that is necessary is that you must sincerely love that person.  If his suffering deeply affects you, you will be able to help him with sound advice. ~ R’ Yerachmiel Yisroel Dantziger

The Maggid of Kozhnitz taught that one who does a favor for another Jew may give God greater pleasure than by doing a ritual mitzvah; the King certainly derives more pleasure from something done on his child’s behalf than from something done on His own behalf.

One who is involved with the community for the sake of Heaven is thereby taking care the King’s children.  ~ The Pirkei Avos Treasury

If you will it, it is no dream. ~ Theodor Hertzl

All that is thought need not be said, all that is said need not be written, all that is written need not be published, all that is published need not be read. ~ Kotzker Rebbe zt”l

When I first started learning mussar I became angry at the whole world, but not at myself.

Afterward, I became angry at myself also.

Finally, I became angry only at myself, and I judged the world l’chav zchus (to the side of merit).

~ R’ Yisroel Salanter zt”l

We have learned before that when someone speaks Lashon Hara about you, all of your sins are transferred to the speaker and all of his mitzvos are transferred to you.  Quite the exchange!

However, halachah teaches that if someone asks you for forgiveness, you shouldn’t be cruel, and you should forgive them (see Shulchan Aruch 606:1). Therefore, if someone spoke lashon hara about you, but then asks for you forgiveness, you should forgive him.

The Ben Ish Chai zt’l asks: The lashon hara that was spoken against you redeemed you
from all your aveiros and gave you the speaker’s mitzvos. Who would want to forgive and lose all that good?! Wouldn’t it be wiser not to forgive the speaker of lashon hara, so you can remain with his mitzvos, and he remains with your aveiros?

The Ben Ish Chai answers that by forgiving your fellow man, all your sins will be atoned for, as the Gemara teaches “כל המעביר על מדותיו מעבירין לו על כל פשעיו” – Whoever forgives others, his sins are forgiven” (Yoma 23). So by forgiving, you will still remain without sins, so you may as well forgive your fellow man.

And although you will lose the mitzvos that you earned, nevertheless, forgiving is also a great mitzvah. Because by forgiving someone who spoke lashon hara about you, you are performing the mitzvah of Hashavas Aveida, returning lost items (because you are returning to him the mitzvos he lost due to his lashon hara). The reward for Hashavas Aveida is in accordance with the value of the item returned. So when one forgives, and gives back all the mitzvos he earned from the lashon hara, he will earn a great mitzvah of Hashavas Aveida.  Therefore Shulchan Aruch advises that one shouldn’t be cruel, and he should forgive his fellow man, because by forgiving you don’t lose anything at all. ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman Shlita