Emuna Daily

Some people become very upset if they do not have a chance to read that day’s newspaper.  They can ask themselves, “What am I actually missing if I haven’t read today’s newspaper?”

A distinguished Rosh Hayeshiva once asked someone who spent hundreds of hours a year reading newspapers, “Please tell me everything you’ve learned this year from your newspaper reading.”  The person spoke for about five minutes.  When prodded for more, the fellow was able to come up with about ten minutes worth of information.

The Rosh Hayeshiva told him this should serve as a lesson for weighing the value of how much he gained from the expenditure of his time. ~ ~ R’ Zelig Pliskin

Study not to learn names and dates.  Study the subject of goodness – learn what qualities lead to a good heart, to right behavior.  Adopt them. Make them your own. ~ Kotzker Rebbe zt”l

There would not have been maamad har Sinai if even one yid was missing. ~ R’ Berel Povarsky

R’ Yisroel Salanter used to say “Honor is really nothing.”  The desire for honor is much stronger than the actual pleasure of receiving honor. ~ R’ Zelig Pliskin

Even though enthusiasm is extremely praiseworthy, one must be careful not to be overly hasty in his service, for one who rides too quickly is very apt to stumble, and one who runs too quickly falls.  And things cannot be done correctly in haste, but with patience. ~ Orchot Tzaddikim

Look at the sun as if you are seeing it for the first time, and also at the wind, the rain, the clouds, the snow, the air, the trees, the grass, your limbs, your food, your home and all your utensils, the powers of your mind, your instincts, the workings of society, your relationships with your kin and fellowman, and all the phenomena of heaven and earth which your eyes see and which your mind knows. ~ R’ Avigdor Miller zt”l

Everyone has something to teach, even a thief: if he fails, he tries again, if he finds nothing of value, he takes what he finds. ~ Kotzker Rebbe zt”l

The gemera in Shabbos 32a warns that we should be careful not to stand in a place where we are endangering our lives.

The Chazon Ish commented that this is true with with physical dangers, all the more so should we be careful not to place ourselves in a situation where our souls are in danger.  ~ Emuna Ubitachon

“Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the universe, Who formed man with wisdom and created within him many openings and many hollow spaces. It is obvious and known before Your Throne of Glory that if even one of them would be ruptured, or if even one of them would be blocked, it would be impossible to survive and to stand before You. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who heals all flesh and acts wondrously.”

The text of this blessing, Asher Yatzar, which we say after using the bathroom, contains incredible mussar.  It reminds us of Hashem’s great genius and compassion in constructing the human body.  It is truly a miracle and one we should consider every time we exit the bathroom and recite these words.

People commonly make the mistake of thinking that chesed which is paid for may no longer be considered chesed.

For example, if you sell items that people need, even though you take money to earn a living, your supplying of necessary products is considered an act of chesed.  The fact that you gain financial profit from a transaction does not negate the fact that you are doing chesed.

What is important is that you should have the intention in mind to help others with your actions as well as earning money. ~ R’ Yeruchem Levovitz zt”l

What kind of business are you involved in?  If you are helping people, that is a huge mitzvah!!  Always keep that in mind!