Teaching Torah and Eternity

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Teaching Torah is the greatest chesed (kindness) one can bestow upon another person. If you give someone food or money you are helping him for a limited amount of time. But if you teach someone Torah you are helping his soul for all eternity.

To appreciate this, we must understand the concept of eternity. If the entire earth were covered with sand one mile high and every million years one grain would be removed, it would take an enormous amount of time for all the sand to be removed. But this is not eternity, for eventually none of it would remain. Eternity is without end (Rabbi Y. Kaniewsky in Chayai Olam, vol 2, ch.5).

Therefore, a person should cherish the opportunity to teach Torah to others.

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Zohar on this week’s Parsha

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Emuna Daily

One who is zealous in avoiding forbidden speech becomes enveloped in a spirit of sanctity. ~ Zohar on Parashas Chukas

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Thinking Poorly of Yourself

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Emuna Daily

A person who thinks poorly of himself because he is unaware of his strengths, is not humble; he is a fool. ~ R’ Yehudah Leib Chasman zt”l as quoted in Torah Tavlin

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A Liar

Posted on June 22, 2014 by Emuna Daily

A ligner glaibt men nit, aflieh az er zogt dem emess.

No one believes a liar even when he tells the truth.

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First Pair of Shoes

Posted on June 21, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Rabbi Chayim Shmuelevitz, Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, said that when he sees a young child wear his first pair of shoes, he is moved to tears because he pictures the intense joy of that child’s mother. ~ R’ Zelig Pliskin

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Rebuke

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Emuna Daily

If a person is right, he should be listened to regardless of his identity or behavior.  True, the Sages (Bava Metzia 107b) have said that a person should first correct himself and only then should he correct others.  But this dictum applies to the rebuker.  It tells him to correct himself before he rebukes others.  But if someone rebukes you, you have no valid reason to disregard his rebuke, even if he himself has the same fault. (Noam Hatochocho) ~ as quoted by R’ Zelig Pliskin

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All Means are Equal

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Emuna Daily

One should not think that his livelihood depends on a particular source and that, if that source were to fail, there would be no other way for him to earn a living.  Rather, he should rely on God for his sustenance and realize that to the Creator all the means are equal – He will support him by whatever means and at any time and from whatever elements He wishes…. ~ Chovos Halevovos

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Worrying

Posted on June 18, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles, it takes away today’s peace.

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Justifying

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Emuna Daily

We must never be so committed to justifying our past that we thereby threaten to destroy our future.  It is not an easy task. On the contrary, it is one of the greatest trials of all, for it means sacrificing our very egos, our reputations, even our identities. But we can and must do it.  – R’ Dr. Norman Lamm

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Small Victories

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Emuna Daily

“You cannot blame yourself, never mind persecute yourself for how you feel. But you can rejoice in the battle of controlling and sublimating those feelings. Every small victory within yourself is a major triumph over the darkness of this world. Indeed, this is why this darkness was placed within you, in order that you may transform it into great light.” ~ R’ Tzvi Freeman

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