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

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How Great is Shalom Bayis

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Emuna Daily

How great is the preservation of peace, for even the Holy One Blessed Is He altered the truth for the sake of peace! For initially it is written that Sarah laughed to herself at the absurdity of having a child, saying: “My husband is old!” Yet later, when God related her statement to Avraham, it is written: “Why did Sarah laugh, saying: ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, though I am old?’” ~ Talmud Yevamot 65b

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Assistance

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“When a person comes to make himself impure, the doors are opened for him. When he comes to purify himself, he is assisted… If he sanctifies himself a little, he is given great sanctity. If he sanctifies himself below in this world, he is sanctified above and in the world to come.” ~ Talmud Yoma 39A

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500 Gold Coins

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“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

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Rain

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Emuna Daily

Rain is termed gevuros as its decent reveals (Divine) might. Taanis 2A

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Effort

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“All a person controls is the effort; the results are in God’s hands.  Success is then not determined by the results.” ~ David Sacks

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A Mirror

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Emuna Daily

According to the Arizal, the wife is a mirror of her husband.  Any deficiency he sees in her is actually his own deficiency. ~ The Garden of Peace by Rav Shalom Arush

Posted in Shalom Bayis | 1 Comment

Stars

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“The Jewish people are likened to stars, in that from the earth they seem very small, but in the heavens they are actually immense.  On earth, the nations of the world may consider the Jews to be of little significance, but in heaven, they are of primary importance.” ~ The Divrei Shaul in Torah Tavlin

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Humility

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“Once you have distanced yourself from anger, the quality of humility will enter your heart.  This sterling quality is the finest of all admirable traits, as Scripture writes: On the heels of humility comes the fear of Hashem.” ~ The Ramban’s Letter

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Under Fire

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“Under fire” – in the midst of a difficult tribulation – we can’t see how our current predicament is for our own good.  But with emuna, we believe that our current predicament is for our own good.  Our faith gives us the strength to cope and to function at our best under any situation. ~ The Garden of Emuna

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