The True Test of Anger

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Emuna Daily

R’ Eliyahu Lopian once said that a person is apt to delude himself into thinking that he has overcome his tendency to become angry.  In reality he might manage to remain calm only because no one has provoked him.  The true test of a person’s propensity toward anger is judged by his behavior in the circle of his own family, which will undoubtedly provide opportunities for anger.  ~ Lev Eliyahu as quoted by R’ Zelig Pliskin

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IDF Chief Chazzan – Prayer for the State of Israel

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Happy Yom Ha’atzmaut!  It is worth watching this powerful video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTJH5DsJavY

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Running Away

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Emuna Daily

“When you run from the responsibility of one place to be in another, two things are amiss: The place where you are needed, and the place where you are and shouldn’t be!” ~ Tzvi Freeman

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Kavana

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Emuna Daily

“One need not pulverize mountains and shatter boulders, turning the world upside down. Any Avoda, any act, whatever it may be, merely needs true Kavana: a Bracha pronounced with Kavana; a word of Davening as it should be, with a prepared heart and an awareness of “before Whom you stand”; a passage in Chumash said with an awareness that it is the word of G-d; a verse of Tehillim; a beneficent trait of character expressed in befriending another with affection and love. The truth of the matter is, that to achieve this calls for great and intense effort, meaning simply to study a great deal of Torah and to comprehend it – each according to his ability – and then G-d will help him be what truth demands.” ~ Lubavitcher Rebbe

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An Example

Posted on May 4, 2014 by Emuna Daily

A moshel iz nit kain rai’eh

An example is no proof.

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R’ Chayim Soloveitchik zt”l

Posted on May 3, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Two wealthy residents of Brisk came to Rabbi Chayim Soloveitchik with a sum of money enclosed in a sealed envelope.  Rabbi Soloveitchik had officiated at their children’s wedding a few days before and this was their token of appreciation.  A few minutes later, a poor man came into Rav Chayim’s house to ask for a donation.  Rav Chayim took the sealed envelope the wealthy man had given him and handed it over to the poor man.” ~ Ishim Veshitos as quoted by R’ Zellig Pliskin

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Stick Out

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Stick up for what’s right, even if you’ll stick out. ~ Chicken Soup for the Neshama

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Are Mitzvos an End or a Means?

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Emuna Daily

All the mitzvos of the Torah are really stepping stones for something higher than the Torah itself. It’s like a ladder that brings us to a new level called avodah, and that is something that is beyond the mere fulfillment of the mitzvos. Basically, serving Hashem involves serving Him with our minds. How we appreciate Hashem, love Him, and understand Him is an entirely different subject from the mitzvos that the Torah commands us.  ~ R’ Avigdor Miller zt”l

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Not Just a Written Test

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Emuna Daily

While learning about emunah is easy, applying the ideas in everyday life is far more difficult.  If there was a written test on the subject of emunah, many people would score 100.  But this does not mean they have real emunah.  Knowledge of the material is an intellectual achievement; practicing it in real life is a function of our emotions.  How can we tell if we truly have emunah?

The first way to know is to determine whether our mood changes under changing circumstances.  A person with emunah is always calm, cool and at ease, regardless of the situation, because he knows that everything that is happening is under the full control of his loving Father for his benefit.  Such a person never experiences mood swings, and never gets angry when things don’t go as he had planned. This is not an “all or nothing” enterprise.  Developing emunah is a lifelong process.  But the closer we approach complete emunah, the happier we will be in our lives. We should always ask Hashem for His help every step of the way.  Hashem’s salvation can surface in an instant; we just have to believe it! ~ Divrei Chizuk

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Permission to Speak

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan, author of Chofetz Chayim, used to say that some people are mistaken about his book on loshon hora.

“It’s not a book against speaking,” the Chofetz Chayim would say.  “On the contrary.  The book gives one permission to speak.  Before you know the laws, how can you speak?  You might be violating a Torah prohibition.  Once you have studied the laws, however, you know what is permissible to say.” ~ R’ Shmuel Pliskin in Der Choftez Chayim as quoted by R’ Zelig Pliskin.

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