Emuna Daily

Chazal tell us that answering “amen” is mesugal for arichus yamim (longevity), but there are two “amens” that are particularly conducive for long life.

They are the “amen” answered after המחזיר שכינתו לציון and the “amen” after הפורס סוכת שלום (said in Maariv of Shabbos and Yom Tov).

~ R’ Liber HaGadol of Berditchev zt”l

I will just add that the Satan must know this, as it seems people often skip answering amen to these two brachos, rushing into “Modim” or “V’shamru.” Be mindful and careful not to miss them.

Someone once asked the Gaon of Tchebin zt’l what qualities he should look for in a shidduch. 

The Gaon replied: “Three things:

1. Good middos.
2. Good middos.
3. Good middos.”

A wealthy man visited the Chofetz Chaim zt’l and expressed his surprise at how poorly furnished the Chofetz Chaim’s home was.

The Chofetz Chaim responded, “And where is your furniture? All I see is your horse and wagon.”

The wealthy man replied, “I am just passing by. My furniture is at home.”

The Chofetz Chaim exclaimed, “I too, am just passing by because this world is merely a passageway to Olam HaBa.”

The Rizhiner’s daughter once sighed, and her father admonished her:

“When you sigh, Hashem says,

‘You think this is bad? I will show you what’s bad.’ 

And when a person is happy, Hashem replies, 

‘You think your life is good? I will show you what is good.’”

People asked R’ Shimon Maryles of Yareslov zt’l, who was niftar at age 91:

“How did you merit to live so long?”

He replied, “It’s because I never asked questions. When a person asks questions about how Hashem leads the
world, Heaven replies, ‘Come up! From here you will see that everything is for the good.’

I never ask questions, so I wasn’t called to Shomayim to receive answers.”

~ Ohel Shimon

Every person is a revelation of God, which has never been before, because every person has something of God, which nobody else ever had.  

I have something that Abraham didn’t have.  I have something that Moses didn’t have.

If you serve God like somebody else, then you needn’t have been born.  They did it already.

~ R’ Shlomo Carlebach zt”l

Hashem does not challenge man with something he cannot handle.

~ R’ Ezra Attiya zt”l

If the yetzer hara tells you to commit an aveirah, think: “Perhaps Hashem is testing me now as He tested Avraham Avinu. Perhaps this is one of the key tests of my life.”  

When a person knows he is being tested, he will be very vigilant and pass the test. Think such thoughts…because Hakadosh Baruch Hu sends challenges to test people. Fortunate is the person who always thinks about Hashem.

~ The Shlah

The same way that parents only grow into their role by actual parenting – because one cannot learn parenting without having children – writers grow by writing, and leaders grow only by leading.

We don’t grow by sitting back and saying, “When will I be ready?”

We grow by having the courage to step into those shoes that we’re scared to step into, because that’s what Hashem calls on us to do.

That is the process of becoming great.

~ R’ YY Jacobson

Every person is made better through others.

Since each individual has unique qualities that others may lack, the understanding that, together, we form one whole allows us all to complement and perfect one another.

~ R’ Schneur Zalman of Liadi zt”l