Emuna Daily

Judge others as you would have them judge you.  The least you would want is to be treated with honesty and objectivity.  Beyond that, you surely would want to see compassion in the eyes of another person looking your way, because you know that your heart means well even if your hands and tongue stumble. The core practice in learning to judge others as you would be judged is to seek out a positive reason that explains why someone is doing something that seems so patently wrong. ~ Alan Morinis

A little truth conquers many lies, just as a little light repels much darkness. ~ R’ Bachya ibn Pekuda zt”l

Someone came to his rebbe and said, “I used to have a good parnassah, but I lost that job. Now I don’t know how I will support myself, and I’m very worried…”

The rebbe asked him, “Do you have a mailbox?”

The man was confused by this question, as it seemed irrelevant to the discussion. Out of respect, he answered that he has a mailbox.

“Who is your mailman?”

“I don’t know his name.”

“Is the mail you receive important to you?”

“It’s very important, because sometimes I get cash in the mail. Even the bills are important to me, since I have to pay them. I also receive invitations and other important letters. The mail is therefore certainly important to me.”

“So if it’s important to you, why don’t you find out the name of the mailman who brings you the mail?”

“I don’t care who delivers the mail. His name can be Frank or Fred or Jim; what difference does it make to me. All I care about is that the mail should be delivered. The person that brings it is insignificant.”

Singing in the tune of Gemara learning, the rebbe replied, “So why are you so concerned about your parnassah?  Parnassah is sent by Hashem, and the work people do are like the mailman who brings it. It shouldn’t make a difference to us to know exactly by which means Hashem will send us the parnassah. Until now you earned your parnassah through your work, but you lost that job, so Hashem will send it a different way. The name of the mailman isn’t so important, and similarly, the name of the means isn’t important. Hashem has many means to support you.”  ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman Shlita

Not a single person in the world never makes a mistake.  There is no shame in a person’s saying he made a mistake.  But to stubbornly refuse to admit you made a mistake is shameful. ~ Pele Yoetz

The only way to master peace of mind is to master the attitudes that foster it – and this is an internal process, not an external one. ~ R’ Zelig Pliskin

Merely concentrate on the words, and strength will enter your prayers without your having to force it. ~ R’ Nachman of Breslov

A person who lives with a constant awareness of the Almighty will live a life of constant happiness. ~ The Chazon Ish

The realization that all beginnings are difficult makes the task of beginning easier. ~ R’ Shraga Silverstein zt”l

At a tisch, the Yesod HaAvodah asked one of his Chassidim (who had come from a different town) “How did you come here?” “By donkey.” “What would you do if you you’d fallen off the donkey, on the way?” “I would get back on, and continue traveling to the Rebbe.” “And if you fell down a second time, what would you do?” “I would mount the donkey again.” “And what would you do if you fell a third time?” “Rebbe,” the chassid said, “What should I do? Just sit on the ground and cry? There’s no choice. I would mount the donkey and try to get to the Rebbe again.”

The entire beis medresh was silent as the Rebbe and the chassid had this exchange. Then the Rebbe said to all his chassidim, “No matter how many times you fall, just get up and try again. There is no choice. There is no other way.” ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman Shlita

Why is it that when there is ice on the streets, everyone walks slowly and carefully out of fear of slipping physically, while in their daily lives, people are not afraid of slipping spiritually? ~ R’ Isser Zalman Meltzer zt”l