The Voice of our Enemies

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Emuna Daily

Why do we entreat Hashem to listen to the voices of our enemies?  The answer is that our foes hate us because we are Jews – thus, we implore Hashem to listen to their cries, for on that basis it is clear that we are His loved ones and Hashem will accept our tefillos. ~ R’ Shloime Halberstam zt”l as quoted in Torah Tavlin

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The Mind

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Emuna Daily

Man’s mind is the holy sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, the Temple, and the habitation of the sublime intellect.  If a person contemplates something bad or thinks an evil thought, is he not guilty of placing an idol in the Temple? ~ The Kotzker Rebbe

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Essentials

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Emuna Daily

If people would only be satisfied with essentials and if they’d only try to improve everyone else’s wellbeing and share in their common concerns, they’d conquer the world and have more than they ever wanted. ~ R’ Bahya Ibn Paquda zt”l

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Sparks

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Emuna Daily

Every created entity has a spark of Godliness within it, a pinpoint of divinity that constitutes its soul. When we utilize something to serve the Creator, we penetrate its shell of mundanity, revealing and realizing its divine essence. Thus we elevate these “sparks”, reuniting them with their Source. ~ The Arizal

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Investing Tip

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Emuna Daily

Invest less in the stock market, and more in emuna. ~ R’ Lazer Brody

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A Gift

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Emuna Daily

The Torah recognizes the terrible destruction which strife causes within Klal Yisrael (the Jewish people). Disunity disqualifies us from receiving Hashem’s blessings. Rechilus fosters strife and creates rifts among Jews which sometimes are irreparable. The laws of shmiras haloshon are a gift from Hashem designed to preserve love and unity. Follow them and you will be a source of blessing for yourself, your loved ones and all the Jewish people. ~ Sefer Chofetz Chaim

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Inquiring about a Possible Business Partner or Shidduch

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Emuna Daily

If you are considering a partnership with someone in business, you are permitted to inquire about details of that person’s character and behavior.  The same applies if you are seeing a partner in marriage.  You are permitted to do so even in instances when you have not previously heard anything derogatory about that person.  Even though your inquiry might provoke the revelation of derogatory information it is nonetheless permissible, since your intention is to prevent future disputes or damage.  ~ Guard Your Tongue

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The Arizal and the Alshich

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Emuna Daily

This week, the 5th of Av (which falls out on Tuesday), is the Arizal’s yarzheit.  So I wanted to share the following story that I heard from Rabbi Eli Mansour.

On Friday nights, the Arizal used to go to the Alshich’s parsha shiur.  One of the things the Alshich is known for is his amazing commentaries on Chumash.  That evening, the Alshich darshened from the pesukim no less than 100 different ways that Lavan tricked Yaakov Avinu.  He actually went through each way that he tricked him, and each time the Arizal laughed.  After a while, someone asked the Arizal why he was laughing.  He explained that Lavan walked in to hear the Alshich’s shiur and is sitting with us.  And each time the Alshich states how Lavan tricked Yaakov, Lavan laughs and says “That is true.  That is amazing that the Alshich knows that.”

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Creating Angels

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Emuna Daily

“Whenever a Jew does a mitzva, he creates a ‘good’ angel; whenever he transgresses, a ‘bad’ angel is formed. Commented Reb Zushe of Anipoli: “Never have I seen a complete, unblemished angel that was created by the sin of a believing Jew. These ‘bad’ angels are always missing a limb: this one its head, that one an arm. For as soon as the Jew sighs in remorse, it cripples the accusing angels and maims them…” ~ Otzar HaChasidut

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Yachad

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Emuna Daily

It states in the holy Zohar that “The Holy One, Blessed Be He, the Torah and Israel are one.” The same way one cannot pick apart G-d or his Torah by saying, “This particular verse of the Torah doesn’t appeal to me,” so too should we approach our fellow Jew, treating him with respect and acknowledging his importance to the Jewish People as a whole. ~ R’ Yitzchak of Vorka zt”l

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