Mistranslation

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Emuna Daily

They translate it as “The Bible,” or “The Law,” but that’s not what the word means. Torah means “instructions.”

Whatever piece of Torah you learn, you must find the instructions it is giving you. ~ R’ Tzvi Freeman

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7 times

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Emuna Daily

“For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked falls but once.” (Mishle 24:16)

“The tsaddick may fall, but he never considers this a disaster; he picks himself up and carries on.  The rasha falls only once; he considers it a catastrophe from which he can never recover, not as something sent by Heaven for his eventual betterment.” ~ R’ Eliyahu Dessler zt”l

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The First Prayer

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Emuna Daily

“The reason why one must be especially careful during the afternoon service (mincha) is because the very first prayer in the world was offered at this time.  Adam was created in the afternoon, just before the Sabbath, and it was at this time that he uttered the world’s first prayer.” ~ The Chida as quoted by R’ Aryeh Kaplan zt”l

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Love Work

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Emuna Daily

R’ Yisrael Salanter used to say that no one dies of hunger; anyone can find some type of occupation by which to support himself and his family.  People perish instead due to prestige.  They say: ‘This occupation is not prestigious enough for me; this one does not befit a person of my station.’  By contrast, the Talmud suggests: Skin carcasses in the marketplace and support yourself with the pay, and do not say, ‘I am a kohen’ or ‘I am a great man [and therefore] cannot do this lowly work’ (Pesachim 113a).  Love work, teaches Shemayah (Avos 1:11) – Any type of work. ~ The Pirkei Avos Treasury

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Restraint

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Emuna Daily

“From books, one can learn what to say; a rebbe teaches him what not to say.” ~ R’ Chaim Soloveichik

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Plagues?

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Emuna Daily

“Why did miracles happen in Egypt? Because we believed they would. Those who didn’t believe in miracles saw only plagues.” ~ R’ Tzvi Freeman

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Dishes and Unity

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Emuna Daily

“If dishes are packed well and tight, one next to the other, the box can be moved about and none of the dishes will break.  If they are packed loosely, even the slightest jar is liable to break them.  So it is with Bnei Yisrael.  If they live in friendship and peace, making room for one another, they cannot be harmed.  If there are arguments, each demanding his own space, they cannot withstand the smallest turbulence.” ~ R’ Yechezkel of Kuzmir zt”l

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Are you really serving G-d?

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Emuna Daily

“The Bal Shem Tov says if you want to know whether you are really serving G-d, it is simple:  If my heart is filled with joy each time I put on tefillin, and each time I do something good my heart is filled with joy, then I am serving G-d.  If I am not on that level, then I am just doing mechanical things.  Though even that is very holy, and I’ll be rewarded in Heaven for doing it, but it is heartbreaking.” ~ R’ Shlomo Carlebach zt”l

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It gets easier

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Emuna Daily

“It is a proven fact that the longer one persists in guarding his tongue, the easier it becomes.” ~ The Chofetz Chaim

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Fear and Reverence

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Emuna Daily

R’ Asher of Stolin assumed the mantle of Chassidic leadership at a very young age.  One young man, a close personal friend of R’ Asher’s, was thrust into an uncomfortable situation – his friend was now his leader and Rebbe.  How should he relate to him?

R’ Asher asked him “Are you afraid of me?”  The young man did not answer.  R’ Asher persisted: “Are you afraid of me?”  Again, the chassid didn’t know how to react.  Finally, after the new Rebbe repeated the question, the chassid blurted out, “I’m afraid to do something that will spoil the love between us.”

Angrily, R’ Asher said “Scoundrel, how dare you define our relationship in those terms?  That is what true fear of Heaven is about.” ~ The Pirkei Avos Treasury

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