Mistakenly Wealthy

Posted on May 18, 2017 by Emuna Daily

If you have bitochon, you are truly a wealthy person.  If, however, the situation is that people mistakenly think that you have bitochon, it is just as if you are mistakenly thought to be wealthy. ~ R’ Yosef Yozel Hurwitz zt”l

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Taken for Granted

Posted on May 17, 2017 by Emuna Daily

When we have something for a long time we usually take it for granted. From the day we were born we have breathed air and seen sunlight and the beauty of nature. We have had sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch for such a long time we have lost our appreciation for them.

Make it a daily practice to view the world as if you were created today. Mentally picture yourself coming into the world for the first time and observe everything with a freshness. This exercise can transform the mundane into a thrilling experience. ~ R’ Noson Tzvi Finkel zt”l as quoted by R’ Zelig Pliskin.

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The Arizal’s Wisdom

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Emuna Daily

The Arizal said that all his wisdom was due to the merit of his feeling great joy when he performed a mitzvah. ~ Sefer Charaidim

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Out of Character

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Emuna Daily

Sometimes we refrain from a worthy action which we feel would be “out of character,” failing to realize that it would be out of character not with us, but with the evil inclination within us. ~ R’ Shraga Silverstein zt”l

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Lag Ba’Omer and Mothers Day

Posted on May 14, 2017 by Emuna Daily

Lag Ba’Omer marks the passing of the great sage, R’ Shimon Bar Yochai who taught that three people who eat together at a table and share words of Torah, it’s as if they ate at God’s table.

If you happen to have the z’chus of getting together with family today to celebrate Mothers Day, perhaps mention the above quote by R’ Shimon Bar Yochai and share some words of Torah.

I also want to take this opportunity to wish a happy mothers day to all the mothers out there and a very special happy mothers day to my mother, my mother in law and my dear wife, all of whom I am so grateful to have in my life.

 

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R’ Salanter’s Shiur

Posted on May 13, 2017 by Emuna Daily

Rav Yisrael Salanter, the founder of the Mussar movement, was once giving a Shiur in Gemara, and as he was delivering the lecture, a student asked him a question. The question was very strong, and negated the premise of the entire Torah thought Rav Yisrael was trying to develop. Rav Yisrael thought for a few minutes, and then he looked at the student who asked the question and told him, “You are right. I have no answer to that question.” He then closed the Gemara and ended the Shiur.

After the Shiur he came over to his students and told them, “You should know that while I was thinking about that question, I had five different answers that I could have given. However, I didn’t feel that they were completely Emes, they were not entirely ‘true’. I thought to myself that it might be worth it to say one of these answers just to save my Shiur, but to do something unethical, when I have devoted my life to promote Mussar, would not be very ethical!”

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The Line at the Grocery Store

Posted on May 12, 2017 by Emuna Daily

When waiting in line in a grocery store, instead of focusing on how slowly the line is moving, focus on how fortunate you are that you are able to buy the food you need. ~ R’ Zelig Pliskin

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Poor People

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Emuna Daily

Some people are so poor, all they have is money.

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Advice from Rebbe Nachman

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Emuna Daily

Serve God with all your strength and rely completely on His infinite love. He will never abandon you regardless of what you may have done in the past. The past is nothing, what counts is the time from now on. Simply don’t repeat what you did. When temptations come, remain detached and control yourself. This applies to actions and also to thoughts. The thoughts of men have as much power as their actions. What you think counts, even in the world which we inhabit – that is, the “World of Action.” That is why you need to control your thoughts as well as your actions.

From now on you may have to endure all kinds of situations. Don’t get put off; simply don’t pay any attention. Try not to feel it at all. It is inevitable that all kinds of situations will be sent to you precisely to help you achieve perfect repentance. For this you have to be exposed to the very same situations that you were involved in before. Only this time you mustn’t be swayed. You must control your inclinations and avoid any of the old thoughts and actions. This is the essence of perfect repentance. ~ R’ Nachman of Breslov zt”l

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New Channels

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Emuna Daily

When you make a decision to give charity and to help another person generously–even if your decision does not reflect your available means–new channels are created on High to produce all that is needed for the fulfillment of your good resolution. ~ R’ Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch zt”l

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The answer to yesterday’s “Identify that Prayer” is the line “Hu Yiftach Libeinu” in Uva Letzion before Aleinu in Shacharit, quoting Isaiah 65.23.  Congrats to K.S. for figuring it out first.

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