Emuna Daily

Some, when they do a good deed, think they are doing God a favor.  What fools… ~ The Kotzker Rebbe zt”l

My master [the Arizal] told that the primary way to attain ruach hakodesh is to be cautious with brikas hanehenin (blessings over food) and to say these brachos with kavanah… By reciting the berachos with kavanah one removes the tumah from the food, it purifies his body, and he becomes pure and enabled to receive holiness.  The Arizal instructed us often on this matter. ~ R’ Chaim Vital zt”l

The Chazon Ish would often say, “Hashem helps the moment a person doesn’t see any natural means for his salvation.” Because then he trusts in Hashem alone, and that’s when he receives his salvation. ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman Shlita

Words are a clue to a person’s intentions.  If he says, “I will,” maybe he will and maybe he won’t.  If he says, “I want,” he is likely to be selfish.  If he says, “I am,” pay attention to what he has to tell. ~ The Kotzker Rebbe zt”l

Avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward!

People have more power than the Yetzer Harah himself.  They have great power to influence a person, keeping him…even from serving Hashem.  The Yetzer Hara [on the other hand] is only given power in a particular world.  His ability does not extend beyond this.  However, man includes all worlds.  There is nothing beyond his ability.  Therefore, man can do more to deter a person from Hashem than the Yetzer Hara himself. ~ R’ Nachman of Breslov zt”l

One shouldn’t be praised for his wealth, and one shouldn’t be disgraced for his poverty, because this was Hashem’s plan, that came down from Heaven and reached them… ~ Metzudas David

The author of Kuntros Hasfaikos cited the thought that even if a person was able to see the most amazing and fantastic sights of the universe and understand all the universe’s spiritual secrets, he would not have full pleasure until he was able to relate to his friend what he has seen. In a similar vein, every wise man has a desire to share his ideas and thoughts with others.

Rabbi Chaiyim Shmielevitz commented that this is not a fault, but a virtue.  A person does not feel complete pleasure if he does things solely for and by himself.  Your own pleasure is enhanced when you share with others. ~ R’ Zelig Pliskin

Only a monkey mimics the behavior of his neighbor. ~ The Kotzker Rebbe zt”l

The right temperature in a home is maintained by warm hearts, not hot heads. ~ Rabbi Paysach Krohn