Emess

Posted on July 20, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Mit emess kump men far Got.

With truth man reaches God.

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Suffering

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Emuna Daily

An acquaintance of Rabbi Aryeh Levine zt”l once met him on the way to a funeral.

“Who was deceased?” asked the acquaintance.

“I don’t know,” replied Rabbi Levine.  Noticing the puzzling look on the other person’s face, he explained, “On the announcements for the funeral it was written that the person died after much suffering.  Suffering elevates a person, so I’m doing this final chesed with an elevated person.” ~ Ish Tzadik Haya

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We are Not Angels

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Hashem wants each and every one of us to sanctify ourselves as human beings, for that is the main holiness required of man.  The Master of the Universe has no lack of angels in Heaven! ~ R’ Menachem Mendel of Kotzk as quoted in Torah Tavlin

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A Strong Desire to do Good

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Emuna Daily

When you experience a strong desire to be good to all, realize that an illumination from the supernal world has come to you.  How fortunate you will be if you prepare a proper place in your heart, in your mind, in the act of your hands, and in all your feelings to receive this exalted guest, which is greater and more exalted than the most noble of this earth.  Take hold of it and do not let go. ~ R’ Abraham Isaac Kook zt”l

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Are You Studying Mussar Properly?

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Emuna Daily

The test of whether Mussar is being studied properly is whether it evokes a desire to continue learning Mussar. ~ R’ Yisroel Salanter zt”l

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Losses

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Emuna Daily

The advantage of teshuvah over all other ventures is that even losses are converted into profits. ~ R’ Yosef Yozel Hurwitz zt”l  as quoted in Sparks of Mussar

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Expenses

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Emuna Daily

All the livelihood of a person is determined between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, except for the expenses of Shabbos, the expenses of Yamim Tovim, and the expenses of teaching his son Torah – in these, if a person subtracts, it is subtracted from him and if he adds, he is given more. ~ Beitzah 16a

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Strong and Weak

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Emuna Daily

A mentsh iz a mol shtarker fun eizen un a mol shvacher fun a flieg.

Man is sometimes stronger than iron and at other times weaker than a fly.

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Hands Off

Posted on July 12, 2014 by Emuna Daily

In a bathhouse, the Chofetz Chayim once saw a person using an article that belonged to someone else.  The Chofetz Chayim went over to him and whispered, “A person who washes himself with something that does not belong to him ends up dirtier than when he started.” ~ Tnuas Hamussar as quoted by R’ Zelig Pliskin

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The Most Profound Joy of All

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Emuna Daily

We visualize life as but a means for joy and pleasure – as merely the medium through which to experience those fulfillments.  We talk about things “worth living for,” yet in our superficial view of life, we fail to appreciate the most profound joy of all: life itself.  ~ R’ Chaim Shmulevitz zt”l

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