Emuna Daily

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

On Yom Kippur, the Kohen Gadol would say Achas, Achas v’Achas, Achas u’Shtayim until ‘Achas va’Sheva’

The Imrei Emes explains that the most precious moment for Hashem is when one makes a strong resolve to improve his ways. Afterwards, he may have ups and downs, but it is this first firm resolve which is so precious to Hashem.

That is the reason the Kohen Gadol continually repeats achas (one) representing that first moment that he accepted upon himself to improve his ways.

Every aspect of creation possesses a Godly spark that gives it life and maintains its existence; but the material nature of the world conceals this inner Godliness and prevents its expression. The purpose of a Jew’s life is to elevate and refine the environment in which he lives, revealing the Godliness concealed in the world’s physical substance. ~ The Arizal