Curse

Posted on September 13, 2014 by Emuna Daily

I was asked if it was possible to utter a curse that would eliminate Nasser (Egyptian President in 1967) from the world scene.  But I don’t know how to curse.  However, I can bless Nasser that he should live to see the speedy coming of Mashiach.  Then he’ll be unable to cause us any more problems. ~ R’ Aryeh Levine zt”l as quoted in Torah Tavlin

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Best of Intentions

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Emuna Daily

“Sometimes it happens that you set out to do something with the best of intentions — and you end up with what appears the opposite. Know with absolute certainty — because this is a tradition of our sages — that if your true intent is good, then only good can come out of it. Perhaps not the good you intended — or care for — but good nevertheless.” ~ R’ Tzvi Freeman

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Down to Nothing

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Emuna Daily

When you’re down to nothing, Hashem is up to something.

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Teaching Children about Olam Haba

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Children should be taught not to waste anything, and to save their money, but they must also be taught the habit of giving charity…. He should be told: “You are not giving away your money by putting it into the Bank of the Afterlife, where it is safest and brings the greatest returns.”…

In proportion to whatever he gives, in that measure he gains belief in the Afterlife.  ~ R’ Avigdor Miller zt”l

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Realize this!

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Emuna Daily

When a person mentions the sins of a fellow Jew, Heaven reviews his own sins.  Not only that: His lashon hara has the power to arouse condemnation upon the entire world, G-d forbid. ~ R’ Chaim Vital zt”l

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Thanks, but a little more please.

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Emuna Daily

If you give a poor man a donation and he returns it with a request for a larger amount, your compliance with his request will bring you great reward.  By increasing the size of your gift in such circumstances, you are behaving contrary to the nature of man.  A deed so difficult to perform affords corresponding merit. ~ R’ Nachman of Kossov as quoted by R’ Zelig Pliskin

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Pen of the Heart

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Di tsung iz di feder fun hartsen.

The tongue is the pen of the heart.

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As Long as the Candle is Burning

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Late one night, R’ Yisroel Salanter zt”l chanced to enter a shoemaker’s home.  The shoemaker was sitting and doing his work by the flickering light of a candle that was about to go out. “Why are you still working?” asked R’ Yisroel.  “The hour is late. Besides, your candle will soon go out and you won’t be able to finish.”

“That’s no problem,” answered the shoemaker.  “As long as the candle is burning, it is still possible to work and to repair.”

R’ Yisroel was deeply impressed by these words, for if one must work for his physical needs as long as the candle is lit, how much more so must a person work for his spiritual improvement so long as the soul  – “G-d’s candle – is in him.

For many days after, R’ Yisroel was heard pacing his room, chanting with great fervor, “As long as the candle is burning, it is still possible to work and to repair.” ~ Sparks of Mussar

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Things Could Be Worse

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Emuna Daily

I was sad for I had no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet!

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Sheer Force

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Emuna Daily

The Talmud teaches: “A person should always provoke his good inclination to overpower his evil inclination.” (Berachot 5a).  Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz (1873-1936) taught that it is a mistake to assume that the struggle between these two inner forces is one of logic, and that our actions are determined by whichever logic prevails.  Not so.  The battle is one of sheer force.  Whichever force has the greater strength, dominates. ~ Every Day, Holy Day by Alan Morinis

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