The Chozeh of Lublin

Posted on July 5, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok, the Chozeh of Lublin, once asked his wife to prepare his meal early, so that he would have more time for the performance of a certain mitzvah.  Unfortunately, the meal was ready even later than usual.  “It would be natural for me to become angry at my wife,” Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak said.  “But I wished to eat early in order to gain time to do the Almighty’s will.  Shall I now go against His will by becoming angry?” Niflaos Hachozeh Mailublin as quoted by R’ Zelig Pliskin

Posted in Stories of Tzaddikim | 1 Comment

Always Joyful

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Emuna Daily

If one is always joyful, his face will shine, his countenance will be radiant, his body will be healthy, and old age will not leap upon him, as it is written “A happy heart is healing as medicine (Proverbs 17:12)” ~ Orchot Tzaddikim

Posted in Happiness | Leave a comment

One

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Emuna Daily

It states in the Zohar “The Holy One, Blessed Be He, the Torah and Yisrael are one.” The same way one cannot pick Hashem or His Torah apart by saying “This particular pasuk (verse) 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

Posted in Spirituality | Leave a comment

Build a Relationship

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Hashem knows what we need even before we do, and prepares the solutions to our problems even before we become aware of them.  However, because He loves us so much, He does not provide the solutions until we ask.  Building a relationship with G-d is even more important than obtaining what we want, and Hashem therefore waits for us to cry out to Him and ask Him for help so we can draw closer to Him and build our relationship ~ Divrei Chizzuk

Posted in Emuna, Prayer | 1 Comment

Strength!

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Emuna Daily

“Strength!” he would cry out to his students.  “Only with strength can one pass through this world.  A person who crosses a swamp in a nonchalant manner drowns.  Someone who runs with all of his strength, and doesn’t stop, succeeds.” ~ R’ Nosson Meir Wachtfogel zt”l

Posted in Mussar | Leave a comment

A Lifetime of Learning Mussar

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Emuna Daily

It is worthwhile for a person to learn mussar throughout his life even if its only benefit is to prevent him just once from uttering a remark of loshon hora. ~ R’ Yisroel Salanter zt”l

Posted in Mussar, Shmiras Haloshon | Leave a comment

One’s Luck

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Ainem’s mazel iz an anderen’s schlimazel.

One’s good luck is another’s misfortune.

Posted in Yiddish | 1 Comment

The Alter’s Concentration

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Once, during the Russian civil war, R’ Nosson Zvi Finkel (the “Alter”) and R’ Yaakov Kamenetsky were davening in a room in the midst of an artillery bombardment by the White Army.  White they were reciting Shemoneh Esrei, a large chandelier came crashing down from the ceiling.  After finishing his prayers, the Alter saw the chandelier on the floor and turned to R’ Yaakov to ask how it had come to be there. ~ Five Great Lives

Posted in Stories of Tzaddikim | Leave a comment

Unanswered Prayers

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Sometimes, Hashem doesn’t want to give you something you want, not because you don’t deserve it; rather because you deserve better!

Posted in Emuna, Prayer | Leave a comment

Every Moment is Special

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Time is not a continuum; every moment is special, every moment has a special task for which it is uniquely suited; every moment is a now that has never existed before and will never exist again, because tomorrow and the next day have their own opportunities and challenges. One must be sensitive to the call of the particular hour.  And if not now, when?  (Avos 1:14)  If I do not seize the opportunity now and imbue the moment with its particular meaning, the opportunity might not be there when I am ready ~ Chiddushei HaRim as quoted in The Pirkei Avos Treasury

Posted in Mussar | Leave a comment