What Counts

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“In your community, your reputation matters.  In a strange place, your clothing counts.”  ~ Talmud

I inadvertently left out the source of yesterday’s quote, which was from R’ Eliyahu Dessler’s Strive For Truth a/k/a Michtav Me-Eliyahu.

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“…and you will eat and be satisfied”

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“To be satisfied is the highest and best of all blessings.  There is in the whole of existence no one who is truly satisfied  with worldly achievements.  One who pursues the pleasures of this world never attains them to the extent that he would like.  The fulfillment never equals the expectation.  He remains eternally hungry.

Only the one who sets spiritual happiness as his goal who sees in all worldly matters only means to that end, who in truth and sincerity desires nothing but the service of Hashem – he is the one who is satisfied with G-d’s bounty.  He is perpetually filled with happiness – in this world too. ~ Strive For Truth

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G-d’s Promise

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“G-d has promised us in the Torah that if we fulfill it with joy and with cheerful spirit and reflect on [its] wisdom continually, He will remove from us all those things that prevent us from fulfilling it, such as disease, war, famine, and so on and He will bestow on us those bounties which intensify our fulfillment of the Torah, such as plenty, peace, and abundance of silver and gold, so that we shall not [need to] occupy ourselves all our days with the body’s needs but shall be free to imbibe wisdom and fulfill the commandments and so be worthy of the life of the world to come.” ~ Rambam – (Hilchot , 9)

Posted in Learning, Spirituality | 1 Comment

A Moment of Life

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Emuna Daily

People talk about “wasting time,” or even about “killing time.” Neither term is accurate. Time awaits you to give it life.

A moment flashes into existence, anticipating your breath of life. After all, for this purpose you came here, to be at this time, in this moment, so that you will make it a living moment, a moment that has meaning, and a meaning connected to the One who created time itself.

Grant it that life, and this moment will endure forever. Fail to do so, and it has already left, as a moment that never was.

Abraham, we are told, was “come of days,” meaning that he entered into every day with his entire being. You too, must strive to make every moment a moment of life. ~ R” Tzvi Freeman

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“My wife is unattractive”

Posted on November 12, 2012 by 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

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What a Child Says

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Emuna Daily

What a child says on the street, the parents say at home. ~ Talmud

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What does a hurricane have to do with loshon hora?

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Emuna Daily

The Ben Yehoyada explains that hurricanes are created by loshon hora. The following is a short synopsis. See below for the original.

The connection between hurricanes and the sanctity of speech can be seen in the pasuk in Amos (4:13) which says “Hashem creates mountains and storms to teach a person what he has spoken.”

The posuk starts with Hashem creating mountains and ends with mentioning the speech of man.

Why?

Hashem created giant mountains whose sole purpose is to diminish the winds of His great storms. Without those mountains, chas v’shalom, when hurricanes strike they would totally destroy all buildings and houses. Instead Hashem first sends the winds to strike the mountains, which diminish their great strength, before “allowing” them to strike places where people live.

But why, asks the Ben Yehoyada, is there a need for such great hurricane winds in the first place?

He answers “Hurricanes are created by the aveira of improper speech, loshon hora.”

The Ben Yehoyada teaches us that after witnessing a great hurricane, every person should learn great musar from it, to guard themselves from the sin of improper speech.

~ The Chofetz Chaim Foundation

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Happy Under Any Circumstance

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“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

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The Current Rocky Roads

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“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

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Prayer of Thanks

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Emuna Daily

In the aftermath of the Hurricane Sandy, saying the following prayer this morning really struck a chord and I therefore wanted to share it with you.

Thank You Hashem, King of Kings and Master of the World!

Thank You for the infinite times that You helped me, supported me, rescued me, encouraged me, cured me, guarded over me and made me happy.

Thank You for always being with me.

Thank You for giving me the strength to observe Your commandments, to do good deeds and pray.  Thank You for all the times You helped me and I didn’t know how to say “Thank You.”

Thank You for all the loving kindnesses You do for me each and every moment.  Thank You for every breath I breathe.

Thank You Hashem for all the things that I do have, and thank You Hashem even for the things that I don’t have.

Thank You for my periodic difficulties, my occasional setbacks, and for the times when I don’t feel happy, because everything is for my ultimate benefit, even if I don’t see that it’s always for my best…

Deep in my heart, I know that everything that comes from You is the very best for me and designed especially for me in precision and exacting Divine Providence, of which only the King of Kings is capable.

Thank You for the periodic times that are difficult for me, for only that way they enable me to fully appreciate the good times, for only after being in darkness one can appreciate the light.

Thank You for the wonderful life you have given me.

Thank You for every little thing that I have, for everything comes from You and from no one else.

Thank You for always listening to my prayers.

Creator of the World, I apologize from the bottom of my heart for all the times that I didn’t appreciate what You gave me, and instead of thanking You I only complained.

I am dust and ashes and You are the entire universe.  Please, don’t ever cast me away.

~ Translated by R’ Lazer Brody

Posted in Emuna, Prayer | 3 Comments