Emuna Daily

The Arizal taught, “The primary matter which leads to ruach hakadosh is to say the brachos over food with kavanah.” The Arizal explains that there are kelipos in the food, and the kelipos can become attached to the person that is eating, and affect him negatively. “By saying brachos with kavanah, one removes those kelipos [from the food]… and he becomes pure to receive holiness” (Shaar HaKavanos 3). ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman Shlita

How much more beauty a believing man sees in the world, in his realization that what he sees is intended as beauty, and is not merely an accident of atoms.  ~ R’ Shraga Silverstein zt”l

No man can consider himself truly married until he understands every word his wife is not saying.  ~ Lord Mancroft

If one hears lashon hara that he knows to be true, but the subject could have been judged favorably, he may not accept the speaker’s unfavorable judgment.  If he does so, he transgresses the prohibition against accepting lashon hara, in addition to the commandment to “Judge your fellow with righteousness” (Vayikra 19:15). ~ Chofetz Chaim

In communist Russia, there was a group of people who studied Torah in a basement. It was crowded there, but they were afraid to study in the open. There was one person, who didn’t understand Torah, but he would go there regardless, to sit among the Torah students. Someone asked him, “Since you don’t understand, why do you come? You are just making it more crowded for us?”

This man replied, “Years ago, I was drinking some drink in a bar. Near me, was a group of people who gathered there to plot how they could rebel against the government. The government knew they were there; soldiers came and beat them mercilessly. The soldiers beat me too. I shouted, ‘I wasn’t part of their group. I was just sitting at a nearby table, by myself.’ The soldiers replied, ‘If you were near them, you are like them,’ and they continued to beat me.

I learned that when I am near a group, I am counted as part of them. I come to your Torah classes. I don’t understand anything, but I know that if I am together with you, I will be considered part of your group and I will be rewarded together with you.” Even if one doesn’t understand Torah, or even if one is very tired after a day’s work, and he falls asleep at shiur, it is still worthwhile going there. If you are among people who learn Torah, you will be counted as one of them. ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman Shlita

Referring to Dovid HaMelech, Hashem said “it is better for me one day that you study Torah than the thousand sacrifices that your son Shlomo will bring on the mizbeiach.” ~ Talmud Shabbos 30a

wor·ry·ing

ˈwərēiNG/

adjective

1. To borrow pain from the future!

From everything that one sees or hears, one should derive a lesson in the service of the Creator. ~ Baal Shem Tov

Why do people not have what they want?

Because they don’t want what they have.

If only they would want what they have, they would have what they want! ~ The Alter of Kelm

Looking for some real beauty tips? For beautiful lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a nice physique, share your food with the hungry. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.  ~ Mrs. Sarah Karmely