A Different Perspective

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Emuna Daily

“A man who views the world at fifty the same as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.” ~ R’ Itzel Shafran zt”l from Torah Tavlin

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The Giver and Taker

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Emuna Daily

From our perspective, there is always a giver and a taker. Whether the merchandise be knowledge, affection, or money — somebody always seems to come out on top and someone else on the bottom. But why are there those who have and those who have not? Certainly, this is part of the Creator’s plan, so there could be kindness and giving in His world. Which means that in the Creator’s view, giver and taker are one. The taker is really giving and the giver receiving, for without this whole process the giver would be forever imprisoned within his own self. There is no higher and lower.” ~ Tzvi Freeman

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Time

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Di tseit brengt vunden un hailt vunden

Time brings wounds and heals them.

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Rabbi Yitzchok Elchonon Specter zt”l

Posted on March 8, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Someone came to the home of Rav Yitzchok Elchonon Spector to inform him about some good news.  Rabbi Specter thanked him.  A few minutes later, another person came and told him the same news.  Rabbi Specter thanked this person also.  Within a short period, several more people came to tell the Rabbi the same news.  Without mentioning that he already had heard the news, Rabbi Specter listened politely and thanked each one.

A person who was with Rav Yitzchok Elchonon asked him why he did not mention that he already had heard the news.

“The people who came to tell me the good news derived pleasure from relating the information,” said Rabbi Specter. “I didn’t want to deprive them of that pleasure.”

Posted in Stories of Tzaddikim | 2 Comments

Free Lunch

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Emuna Daily

“Life as a free lunch may be appealing at first, but soon turns tedious and threadbare. If life were but a struggle between right and wrong, if we did not have to sacrifice, toil and accomplish in order to earn sustenance and happiness, it would be a joyless and meaningless exercise.” ~ The Lubavitcher Rebbe zt”l

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All the Right Tools

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Emuna Daily

“Each and every person is given all he needs to accomplish his mission in this world. But each of us have different missions, and therefore need different powers to accomplish them. But none of us have an easier time than any other. Therefore, if you see a human being who appears deficient or “handicapped”, know that in truth that person must have other, unseen compensatory powers that others do not have.” ~R’ Tzvi Freeman

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How can we use the world to grow spiritually? THIS IS DEEP!

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Emuna Daily

When a person lies down to sleep, he should think of the time when he shall lie down not to arise the next day; when he sees fire, he should think of Gehinnom; when Shabbos comes, he should think of the Afterlife; and when he sees the busy ant, he should be reminded of the necessity of preparing for the Afterlife.

Everything in this world is a Mashal for eternal things. ~ R’ Avigdor Miller Zt”l (Sing, You Righteous)

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It is Not a Bad Break

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Emuna Daily

Any place in which we lack understanding, we must have emuna. When we cannot fathom how certain things can happen to us – we must know that it is first choice (לכתחילה), predestined, this is the plan, it is the path that we must traverse on the way to our ultimate correction – it is not a bad break – nothing happens to us that does not need to happen to us. ~ Rav Menachem Azolai as translated by Dov Elias

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A Time for Everything

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Emuna Daily

R’ Chaim of Volozhin illustrates the importance of doing mitzvos in their proper time: The Evil Inclination begins by convincing someone that it is preferable to pray with proper intent, even if one must do so past the assigned time.  

The next step is, “Take your time. You have already set a precedent; pray whenever you are ready!”  By indulging such laxness, a person can eventually be swayed totally from doing the mitzvos.  ~ The Pirkei Avos Treasury

This reminds me of a time when I used to convince myself that it is ok or even preferable for me to daven at home rather than with a minyan since it allows me to take my time and concentrate better.  – That was definitely the yetzer hara (evil inclination) talking.   

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Prayers

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Emuna Daily

 Di tefliah gait aroif un di brocheh gait arop.

The prayer ascends and the blessing descends.

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