Emuna Daily

In Koheles, Shlomo Hamelech so eloquently portrays the value of time: Lakol zman va’eis tachas Hashamayim – “Everything has its season, a time for everything under the heavens (3:1).  But there is a mussar lesson to be learned as well:

Lakol – for everything that a person desires, zman va’eis – one can find enough time, tachas Hashamayim – for worldly matters, i.e. for pleasure, relaxation, and temptation, one channels all his energy into gashmiyus and matters of little importance.  However, when it comes to important issues, matters of spiritual purpose that actually count up in Heaven, suddenly he has no more time. ~ R’ Avraham Menachem Fischoff in Torah Tavlin

When one sits in a succah, and he learns and davens there, he is living in the upper worlds literally… ~ The Yesod Yosef

On Succos, the highest light, which is the light of emuna, shines.  When a person has emuna – he has everything.  When a person knows that everything is Hashem’s will and for the best – and he does not just know this – he breathes it, he lives it – his life is Gan Eden.  ~ R’ Menachem Azolai, Shlita

Chazal say, “Everything is in Heaven’s hands, except for yiras Shamayaim.” The Rebbe of Kotzk zt’l explains that when one prays for material matters, Heaven decides whether it is good for him to receive this or not. But when one prays for Torah,
mitzvos, and yiras Shamayim, his requests are always answered, because
that is unquestionably a good thing.

Chazal hint to this when they say, everything is up to Heaven to decide whether to give it or not, the exception is when one prays for yiras Shamayim, because Hashem will certainly give it to him. ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman, Shlita

First we pray and then we do our hishtaldus.  But remember, “it isn’t hishtaldus that helps.  It is an obligation…a tax all mankind must pay…  After one does this obligation, Hashem’s blessings can come.  ~ Mesilas Yesharim

Last two suggestions before Yom Kippur:

Let’s work on the very first piece of advice that the Ramban gave his son in his Igeret HaRamban: “Get into the habit of always speaking calmly to everyone. This will prevent you from anger, a serious character flaw which causes people to sin.”

Second, let’s smile more.  In Pirkei Avos (1:15) Shammai says: Receive every person with a “sever panim yafos” (a pleasant countenance).  In other words, Smile at people when you greet them. Smiling at someone will not only lift their mood, but it is also contagious.  They will end up smiling at others who will smile at others and in the end, your one smile will change the world.   But not only are smiles good for others; they are good for you too. We know for a fact that smiling reduces stress, makes you happier and improves your overall heath.

May we all light up the world with our smiles and have a g’mar chasima tovah!

Let’s work on two items today:  Saying brachos with more kavanah and not forgetting to say a bracha achrona.

How often do we say a bracha on food without thinking?  The Arizal taught, “The primary matter which leads to ruach hakadosh is to say the brachos over food with kavanah.”  Let’s slow it down a little and give these brachos some more thought.

Second, I am sure I am not the only one that will eat something and intend to say a bracha achrona, but hesitate because you think you will eat or drink more…Then you realize some time later that you didn’t say the bracha achrona or even bench.   Therefore, let’s not procrastinate.  Just say the bracha achrona immediately after you finish eating.   

Let’s work on not talking to our friends in shul, especially during the Torah reading, chazaratz Hashatz and other times that it is forbidden to speak.   I won’t discuss the scary things Chazal say about one who violates these halachot, but instead discuss the blessings one receives for keeping them.  For instance, the Tosfos Yom Tov promises that one who does not talk during davening will be subject to all the blessings in the Torah, will be saved from illness, have healthy children who are Torah observant, who will get married, do good deeds and always serve Hashem truthfully.

Even if you have been talking during davening your whole life, if you have the urge this Shabbos to do the same, and you actually refrain from doing so, that is complete teshuvah!!  All those sins will transform into mitzvos! 

To help fight the urge and discourage others from talking to you, try putting your finger on the place and following along in your siddur with the chazzan or bal korei.   Another idea is to close your eyes during chazaratz hashatz.  Treat it like a second shemona esrei where you can just concentrate while the chazzan is saying the words.   I was doing this for a while and actually looked forward to going to minyan for this reason.  This is a good reminder to myself to start doing that again.

Here are a few suggestions to implement before going to sleep:

1. Bedtime Shema – There are so many reasons to say this. I’ll just point out two briefly:
   1. When we sleep, our neshamos leave us and go up to Heaven to be judged. During that time, our bodies are more vulnerable to Kelipot (evil spirits) (This is similar to thieves that wait until you leave the house before they break in).  By saying Kriat Shema al HaMita, it helps protect us from them.
   2. A second reason is because of the beautiful Ribono Shel Olam prayer which precedes Shema where we express our forgiveness to anyone who had wronged us. Constantly forgiving others will hopefully translate to Hashem constantly forgiving us, which we ask for as well.
2. Learn a paragraph of Kitzur Shulchan Aruch before you go to sleep. It takes literally a minute and you will learn and accomplish so much.
3. Keep a notebook next to your bed and write down something you learned each day. It could be just a line or two.  How often do we learn something really beautiful only to forget about it a few weeks later?  The Ohr Hachaim says that the Torah you learn and write down come up with you after 120 and stand as your defendants.  You can write your own Seifer!  I called mine Uvilechticha Vaderech – The Torah I learned along the way.   I love it.  You will too!

Perhaps, if you are not doing so already, add saying some Tehillim to your daily repertoire. 

The power of reciting Tehillim is well documented.  The Tzemach Tzedek, went so far as to say: “If people would realize the power of the verses of Tehillim and its influence in the heavens, they would recite it continually. The chapters of Tehillim break through all barriers as they soar aloft, higher and higher, uninterrupted. They prostrate themselves before the Master of the Universe.”

Some customs include saying the psalm corresponding to your age, each day.  For example, a person aged 41 recites Psalm 42 (since from the age of 0 to the day before a first birthday would correspond to Psalm 1).  Other customs include saying a daily portion based on the monthly cycle of thirty readings, which could be found in every book of Tehillim.

Let’s give it a shot.  Who knows what an effect it will have!