Honor Destroys

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Emuna Daily

Honor destroys both the body and the soul.  It is disgraceful for me to be addressed as, “Our master and teacher,” since I am neither.  I wish to be addressed only as “The one who loves us and seeks our good.”  I think that might be the truth. ~ R’ Simcha Zissel Ziv zt”l (The Alter of Kelm)

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The Power of Thoughts

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Emuna Daily

When studying subjects dealing with tragedy, such as the laws of mourning, do not delve too deeply.  One should not probe too deeply into these matters, for thoughts have great power.  These subjects should therefore be covered as rapidly as possible.  ~ R’ Nachman of Breslov

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Interesting thought on Ezer Kenegdo

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Emuna Daily

On the Torah’s statement that a wife was created as “ezer kenegdo, a helpmate against him,” the Talmud explains “If he is worthy, she is a helpmate.  If he is not worthy, she is against him.”

R’ Yisroel Salanter zt”l added, “This applies to every minute of a person’s life.  Whenever I improve myself, my wife becomes better too.”  ~ Sparks of Mussar

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With What Merit will you Come to the World of Truth With?

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Emuna Daily

With what merit will I come to the World of Truth?

Torah? Do I truly have Torah?

Fear of Heaven?  Do I truly have fear of Heaven?

….With but one merit will I come – That I love Jews! ~ R’ Boruch Ber Lebowitz zt”l

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Try to be Silent

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Emuna Daily

Try to be silent.  Generally speaking, you aren’t learning much when your mouth is moving! ~ R’ Noach Weinberg zt”l as quoted in Torah Tavlin

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Loshon Hora in Jest

Posted on March 8, 2015 by Emuna Daily

The fact that someone is “only joking” is not a valid excuse for speaking loshon hora.

One Purim a group of Radiner Yeshiva students performed a skit in the house of the Chofetz Chayim of sacred memory.  Among other things, they jokingly alluded to an episode that had caused a large controversy in yeshiva circles.  Immediately, the Chofetz Chayim admonished them softly, “Even on Purim one must refrain from loshon hora.  ~ Guard Your Tongue

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Never Ready for Shabbos

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Emuna Daily

Someone once came to Rabbi Yechezkail Levenstein, the menahel ruchani of Ponevez Yeshiva, and complained that his wife did not complete Shabbos preparations early enough.  He said that although he keeps admonishing her for her lateness, nothing seems to help.  “What should I do?” he asked.

“Take a broom and assist your wife,” was R’ Yechezkail’s laconic reply. ~ R’ Zelig Pliskin

Posted in Shalom Bayis, Stories of Tzaddikim | 2 Comments

Spiritual v. Physical

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Emuna Daily

Spiritual life is superior to physical life. But the physical life of another is an obligation of my spiritual life. ~ R’ Yisroel Salanter zt”l

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Forget everything

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Emuna Daily

When you drink wine you forget everything.  The world drinks wine to forget the good and remember the bad.  When we get drunk on Purim, we forget the bad.  We even forget how bad Haman is.  We only remember the good in the world… and in Heavan they do the same.  On Yom Kippur I am asking forgiveness for all the bad things I did.  But on Purim, I don’t have to ask forgiveness because Heavan only remembers the good.

On Yom Kippur, we don’t give gifts to each other because we are separate from each other.  On Purim, we cant stop giving gifts because we are one.  Hopefully, one day there will be peace in the world, but every year it begins on Purim.  ~ R’ Shlomo Carlebach zt”l

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Don’t Waste this Awesome Opportunity***

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Emuna Daily

This is possibly the most impactful D’var Torah I have ever heard.

All year long, if you are approached by a person seeking financial assistance, there are halachos regarding checking to see if that person is really needy.  However, this is not so on Purim. On Purim, the halacha is as follows: “Kol HaPoshet Yad Notnim Lo”– whoever stretches out a hand [asking for help] we give them.” (Shulchan Aruch Siman 694:3).  We are literally not allowed to say no to anyone who asks for money on Purim.

The same applies to our prayers on Purim.  All year round, when we ask of anything from Hashem, He could check over our deeds before determining whether to grant our requests.  However, on Purim, anything we ask for, Hashem just gives it to us.   Whoever stretches out a hand, asking for help, Hashem will give them.

Now don’t treat this as just a cute D’var Torah.  I heard this from R’Asher Balanson 20 years ago who stressed that we shouldn’t waste this opportunity.  We should literally find an empty room where we could just pour out our hearts to Hashem and ask for whatever we want.   Do this multiple times over Purim if you can.  There is no better opportunity!   Everyone considers Yom Kippur to be the holiest day of the year.  But remember that it is called “Yom Kippurim” which could be translated as “A day like Purim.”  Think about it.  What we think is the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur, is just comparing itself to the holiness of Purim!

I am intentionally posting this D’var Torah the day before Purim so you can properly prepare yourselves for this awesome opportunity.  Please don’t waste it.

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