A Berachah from the Gadol Hador

The following is an excerpt from the book, The Gadol Hador, by R’ Binyomin Kirshner, which I highly recommend:

My chavrusa told me that a few months after his sister got married, his parents and their mechutanim were reminiscing about the wedding of their beloved children.  The chassan’s father mentioned that he had been by R’ Elyashiv for a berachah for his son just a few months before they met.  The kallah’s father said, “Amazing! So was I!” The father of the chassan was so excited that he took out his camera which had a video of him getting the berachah and showed it to his mechutan.  When he got to the end of the video, his eyes almost popped out, as did the eyes of his mechutan.  Surprisingly enough, standing next in line to receive a berachah for his daughter was none other than the father of the kallah!  The two mechutanim hadn’t even known each other at that point, but in Heaven the match had already been decreed.

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Craving Attention

One who craves attention from others has not yet found himself.  He is unaware of his true worth. Lacking self-esteem, he relies on the opinion of others.  He hungers for their praise, because without hearing their appreciation he feels worthless.  When people do not applaud him, he feels helpless and, consequently, hostile and angry.  ~ R’ Shlomo Wolbe zt”l

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A Survivor

If you enter a shul and find someone with a number tattooed on his arm and he still prays – he is someone who can bestow brachos. ~ The Satmar Rav, R’ Yoel Teitelbaum zt”l

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A Small Deed

A small deed done in humility is a thousand times more acceptable to God than a great deed done in pride. ~ Orchot Tzaddikim

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Hashem’s Stories

Rebbe Nachman says, G-d created man because He loves stories.  The whole world is G-d telling a story.  It is not “He created the world and then something happened.”  G-d is telling stories, creating the world, creating people, telling long stories. ~ R’ Shlomo Carlebach zt”l

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Nach Yomi

I want to bring to your attention that today is the first day of Nach Yomi, which you can sign up for here along with other daily emails.  I believe it will consist of a daily email which will include a link to a 5 minute overview of a chapter of Navi each day as well as some bullet points which take about a minute to read.  Meaning you can listen to a quick shiur or just read the quick overview (or both).  Again, it starts today, so it is a good time to join.  (Note there is another “Emuna Daily” that this link allows you to sign up for.  It is not affiliated with this site, but I am still a fan).

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Segulah for Kavanah during Davening

Upon being asked for a segulah for kavanah during davening, Rav Elyashiv zt”l answered that there is no such segulah: “Daven from a siddur and do the best you can.” ~ The Gadol Hador

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The Search

In spirituality, the searching is the finding and the pursuit is the achievement. ~ R’ Dr. Abraham J. Twerski

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A Pebble

A mitzvah, like a pebble tossed in a pond, ripples on and on. ~ Chicken Soup to Warm the Neshama

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Not Like Reading a Letter

R’ Abahu said in the name of R’ Eliezer, “Do not pray as if you were reading a letter.” ~ Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachos 4

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