Relating One’s Failure to do a Mitzvah

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Emuna Daily

You are forbidden to tell others that a person failed to fulfill mitzvos.  This prohibition relates to mitzvos stated in the Torah or Rabbincal decrees; a mitzvah in its entirety or a detail of a mitzvah; whether you have heard the information from a secondhand source or you have witnessed the wrongdoing yourself.  ~ Guard Your Tongue

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Too Noisy

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Emuna Daily

Upon hearing someone making a lot of noise in the morning while going to wash his hands, R’ Yisroel Salanter admonished him, saying “The obligation to wash one’s hands in the morning is only a rabbincal obligation; stealing sleep is a violation of a Torah law.” ~ Tnuas Hamussar

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Experience Shabbos during the Week

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Emuna Daily

It is not enough for us to enjoy Shabbos only once a week.  We should try to experience the otherworldly delight and joy of Shabbos on weekdays as well.  Anyone who is content to wait for his reward from Hashem until tomorrow has not worshipped Him fully today.  ~ R’ Nachman of Breslov zt”l

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An Answer for Everything?

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Emuna Daily

When I get to Heaven, they’ll ask me, why didn’t you learn more Torah?  And I’ll tell them that I wasn’t bright enough.  They they’ll ask me, why didn’t you do more kind deeds for others?  And I’ll tell them that I was physically weak.  Then they’ll ask me, why didn’t you give more to charity?  And I’ll tell them that I didn’t have enough money for that.  And then they’ll ask me: If you were so stupid, weak, and poor, why were you so arrogant?  And for that, I won’t have an answer. ~ R’ Rafael Barshad zt”l

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Metal Furnace

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Emuna Daily

Many people are like a metal furnace; One minute they burn hot like a flame, but soon they turn as cold as ice. ~ The Maggid of Trisk

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For the Sake of all of Israel

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Emuna Daily

When a mitzvah is performed properly – exclusively for the sake of Heaven, for the unity of the Holy One, it also benefits the entire nation of Israel, because it stirs up Hashem’s love for all Jews. ~ The Arvei Nachal

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What happens up there?

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Emuna Daily

People are accustomed to look at the heavens and to wonder what happens there.

It would be better if they would look within themselves, to see what happens there. ~ The Kotzker Rebbe

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Revealing that Someone is a Baal Tshuvah

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Emuna Daily

You are forbidden to relate information about a person’s past misdeeds or the misdeeds of his family even if you do not intend to belittle him, and you will not cause the listener to think less of him, as he has now corrected his deeds.

This is forbidden because a person is usually embarrassed if his misdeeds are recalled in his presence.  Hence, you might ultimately cause him anguish if the information becomes widely known. ~ Guard Your Tongue

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R’ Chayim of Tzanz zt”l

Posted on May 30, 2015 by Emuna Daily

Rabbi Chayim of Tzanz used to give all his money away to the poor.  One of his sons suggested that he should at least keep enough money to buy books for himself.

“You’re mistaken,” said Rav Chayim.  “Whenever I need a book, I can easily borrow it from someone else.  But the mitzvah of tzdakah cannot be fulfilled by borrowing.

~ Maigadolai Hachasidus – Ha’admor MaiTzanz as quoted by R’ Zelig Pliskin.

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The Diametric Opposite

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Emuna Daily

The virtue that is required for oneself is the diametric opposite of that which one is required to exercise in relation to others.  This is particularly true concerning humility, which is the sublimest of all traits.

A person is required to exercise it to the utmost degree.  On the other hand, one should not treat one’s fellow with this trait and degrade his status in the name of humility.  ~ R’ Yisroel Salanter zt”l

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