Preaching

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Emuna Daily

Children walk in the path of their parents’ actions, and not necessarily in the path of their parents’ preaching. ~ R’ Lazer Brody

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MIsdeeds: Past and Present

Posted on May 17, 2015 by Emuna Daily

You are forbidden to belittle someone by telling others about his family’s misbehavior or his own past misbehavior, especially when he presently behaves properly.  ~ Guard Your Tongue

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Holy Brother – A favor for the sake of a favor

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Emuna Daily

I was walking down Broadway on Friday night when an African-American panhandler approached me for money.  In the tradition of my Rebbe, I apologized to him and explained that I observe the Sabbath, and therefore didn’t have any cash on me.  “That’s okay!” he said genially, “I respect your religion!”  Seeming hungry for human contact, he continued talking to me. “So are you going to Temple tonight?” he asked.  I assured him that I was, and that in fact, I was on my way right now to my synagogue located at 79th Street.  His eyes lit up.  “Oh, I know your rabbi,” he said enthusiastically.  “Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach – The Rabbi of Love!”

“Do you know,” he turned to me, eyes filled with wonder, “that every single time he meets me, he brings me over to his apartment and gives me food, money, and clothing?  I never met a man like him.”

“I’ve wanted to repay him in different ways thousands of times, but he won’t let me.  Rabbi, I’ve said to him over and over again, at least let me work for free as a maintenance man in your synagogue; let me give something back to you.  But he always refuses.  ‘Holy brother,’ he always tells me, I want to do you a favor for the sake of a favor!”‘

“So I’m very happy to hear Shlomo Carlebach is your rabbi.  Can there be a greater man around?  When you get to Temple tonight, please be sure to send my regards, and tell him that James wishes him Good Shabbos!” ~ Holy Brother

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Worrying for Others

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Emuna Daily

A pious Jew is not one who worries about his fellow man’s soul and his own stomach; a pious Jew worries about his own soul and his fellow man’s stomach. ~ R’ Yisroel Salanter zt”l

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The Value of Silence

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Emuna Daily

Our rabbis in Pirkei Avot have extolled the virtues of silence. Firstly, silence can never be misquoted. And since only about 5% of what we say every day has any relevance, it is advisable to consider for one moment, at least, if what is exploding in you to come out is really justified? ~ R’ Nachman Kahana

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The Happiest People

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Emuna Daily

The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything they have.

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Are You Willing to Look?

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Emuna Daily

The more one sees, the more he becomes aware of the Creator. The world is full of testimonies which are available to those who are willing to look.

Non-seeing is the cause of weakness in believing. The Creator plans all things so that the Seeker be enabled to see. ~ R’ Avigdor Miller zt”l

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Pray in Advance

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Emuna Daily

It is easier to avert difficulties by praying in advance, than to achieve salvation from troubles that have already occurred. ~ Praying with Fire

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Our Identity – Happy Mother’s Day

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Emuna Daily

From your father you may learn the things you must do. From your mother you learn who you are.  That is why Jewish identity follows a matriarchal lineage. ~ R’ Tzvi Freeman

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Can’t Please Everyone

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Emuna Daily

Once a father and son were traveling with their only donkey. The father rode on the donkey, and the son walked beside him. Upon reaching their first destination, the people of the city greeted them with nasty and crude remarks.

“Is this a father?” they shouted. “Would a responsible father ride his donkey while his son walks?” The father and son felt terribly embarrassed, so they continued traveling on to the next city. Before they entered, they switched places, hoping that the people of this city would be more accepting of them.

The travelers were again met with harsh criticism. “Look at this shameful sight! A disrespectful son rides on a donkey while his elderly father walks!” Feeling humiliated, the travelers left that city as well.

As they approached their third destination, the father suggested that they both ride on the donkey together. This would undoubtedly leave no room for insults.

As they neared the city, however, the people gathered to view the sight. “Look at that poor donkey!” they remarked. “It can barely walk due to the weight of those silly travelers! Why, it will be dead in no time!”

The father and son tried their luck one last time. The only option seemed to be that they both walk beside the donkey. As they entered the city, the donkey bolted and ran away. The people of the city watched in amusement and laughed mockingly. Rejected and hopeless, left with nothing, the travelers realized that efforts to please others will never succeed.

—Heard from Rabbi Majeski

Comment:

Acting to please others can never be successful. A person who wishes to impress others will have to constantly change, for every person will demand something different. We must act according to Torah values, without being influenced by others’ views. Only this can bring a person to true satisfaction and joy.

~ Chicken Soup to Warm the Neshama

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