Emuna Daily

The Gemara relates that R’ Yitzchak ben Eliyashiv once observed his student, R’ Mani depressed. The Rebbe asked what was wrong and the student complained, “My wife is unattractive.” “What is her name?” R’ Yitzchak asked. R’ Mani replied, “Chana.” “May Chana become beautiful,” R‟ Yitzchak prayed, and so it was. A short while later, R’ Mani again complained. “She is beautiful now,” he cried, “and treats me in an arrogant and offhand way.”  “If so,” R’ Yitzchak said, “May she again be unattractive.”  (Taanis 23b)

And so it was. Whatever Hashem gives us for our ultimate best – our attempts to “improve” things may not always lead to desirable outcomes. When we realize this fully, our lives are completely different. ~ Rav Menachem Azolai as translated by Dov Elias

“Our sages teach that when a person thanks Hashem and is happy under any circumstance – relying on the emuna that everything Hashem does is for the very best – he or she will see the most trying situations in life make complete turnarounds for the better.  Emuna is therefore the best way out of any difficulty.” ~ The Garden of Emuna

“Emuna illuminates our hearts with the confidence that Hashem has a good reason for everything He does, and that the currently rocky roads will eventually lead to smooth and peaceful paths.  By letting our emuna override our brains, we can readily rise to any challenge that life throws our way.” ~ The Garden of Emuna

“The Yismach Moshe toiled in Torah from his youth.  He had great difficulty with his livelihood and it affected his learning and service of Hashem.  One evening he made an accounting and determined that in order to pay off all of his debts and support himself for the rest of the year he would need five hundred gold coins. He davened from the depths of his heart to Hashem, Who has all of the silver and gold, “Master of the World, please arrange five hundred gold coins for me.”  He davened intently and in the course of his davening exhausted himself until he dozed off.  He dreamt of the holy Arizal entering the room and the room lighting up from his holy presence.  The Yismach Moshe though that Heaven must have sent the Arizal with the five hundred coins.  The Arizal came closer and said, “If I bless you and you have the five hundred coins you will no longer need Hashem’s help.”  With that, he awoke … with the realization that we need Hashem’s help for every step and every breath.  The One Who created each day also created sustenance and He will provide us with our food when we need it.” ~ Rav Menachem Azolai as translated by Dov Elias