Emuna Daily

As the Ba’al Shem Tov said, we must cultivate the ability to discern G-d’s lessons for us in every event that we witness or experience. This enables us to mature spiritually, learning how to respond to life’s challenges and opportunities in the most effective, positive ways possible. – Menachem Mendel Schneerson

You must know that Hakadosh Baruch Hu designated that you will be born specifically during the period in history in which you were born and with particular surroundings.  He decided who your parents would be for reasons that apply only to you.

He causes you to come in contact with various people some whom you should befriend and some whom you should distance yourself from. He also provided you with physical and spiritual strengths you will need to go through the path of life and contend with situations specific for you…

These are the best tools and means to achieve your purpose in life, the purpose for which you were sent to this world – to fulfill the will of the Almighty.  Here lies the source for your success. ~ R’ Shimshon Rafael Hirsch zt”l

On Sukkot our desires [“to dwell in the House of the Lord” (Psalm 27:4)] are answered. In effect, God is the bridegroom and we, the Jewish people, are the bride called upon to enter the bridegroom’s home. The seven days we sit inside the sukkah correspond to the seven days that a marriage is celebrated. ~ R’ Shlomo Riskin

The power of Sukkot is that it takes us back to the most elemental roots of our being.  You don’t need to live in a palace to be surrounded by clouds of glory.  You don’t need to be rich to buy yourself the same leaves and fruit that a billionaire uses in worshiping God. ~ R’ Lord Jonathan Sacks

You shall hold a festival for the Lord your God seven days…and you shall have nothing but joy. ~ Deuteronomy 16:15

A person who truly trusts in God is truly rich.  But a person who is only reputed to trust in God is like a person who is only reputed to be rich. ~ R’ Yisrael Salanter zt”l

“Would’ve, could’ve, should’ve…” is heresy!

What you are really saying is that it wasn’t Hashem’s will.

~ R’ Yissocher Frand

The  numerical value of the Hebrew word “HaSaTaN” (the Satan) is equal to 364. That is because on the 365th day – Yom Kippur,  Hashem silences the Satan enabling us to emerge meritorious in judgement.

Gemar Chasima Tovah!

Teshuva (repentance) means to come back to the greatness which is expected of us, even if you did not do any sins at all. Did you learn enough Torah? Did you love Hashem enough? Did you think about His greatness enough? Did you do kindness to your fellow man enough? So many things to do! Teshuva means to come back to perfection, not merely to stop doing sins. ~ R’ Avigdor Miller zt”l

If G-d wanted perfection, He would have been perfectly happy sitting on His heavenly throne surrounded by angels or he might have created a man that can’t sin.

But G-d desired something more, something better than perfection. He created this world, and in it placed the most imperfect of beings – humans. G-d understands that we are not perfect, and He loves us for it.

G-d wants to see us striving to improve, persevering against all the obstacles of the world in which we live, and in which He placed us. Nothing G-d does is without reason, and the reason why we are here is to slip up; and to learn and grow from our mistakes.

Yom Kippur is a day given to us to celebrate, to rejoice over all those times that we fail at our mission here in this world, because those failings give us the opportunity to improve, and to grow stronger in our commitment. – R’ Zalman Wolowik