From one home to another

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Emuna Daily

“Death is merely moving from one home to another.  The wise man will spend his main efforts in trying to make his future home the more beautiful one.”

~ R’ Menachem Mendel Morgenstern of Tomashov (the Kotzker Rebbe)

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Singing

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Emuna Daily
“When someone talks, he’s using worldly tools. Singing, however, comes from the world which is beyond Creation. When someone is singing, you close your eyes, because singing is so heavenly.” ~ R’ Shlomo Carlebach
* This weekend is the yahrzeit of R” Shlomo Carlebach.  I happen to have the honor of leading the Carlebach minyan tonight at the Young Israel of Woodmere.   If you are in the area, please join us and “give me the softest an sweetest harmony in the world.”
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How can I be Happy if I am not?

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Emuna Daily
“You ask, ‘How can I be happy if I am not?’ True, you can’t control the way you feel, but you do have control over your conscious thought, speech and actions. Do something simple: Think good thoughts, speak good things, behave the way a joyful person behaves — even if you don’t fully feel it inside. Eventually, the inner joy of the soul will break through.” ~ Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Tzvi Freeman
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Our Cares and Worries

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Emuna Daily

“Since everyone must have cares and worries in life, it makes more sense to carry the burden of spiritual struggles, which ultimately lead to blessings and happiness, rather than waste our efforts on mundane cases, which drain a person emotionally and offer little in return.” ~ The Chofetz Chaim

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Rebbe Yochanan

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Emuna Daily

“The Talmud (tractate Berachot 5b) tells of the renowned sage Rebbe Yochanan, who having lost all his ten sons, would walk around with the tooth of his tenth son in his pocket and declare, ‘This is the bone of my tenth son that died.  See how I lost ten sons, but am still happy and smiling!  I realize that this world is not our principle concern, and those holy souls that were my sons simply finished their tikkun and respective missions in this world, so why should I be sad?  They are now in a world of eternal bliss, but we are still suffering on this lowly earth.'” ~ The Garden of Emuna

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Holy Beggar

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Emuna Daily

“If a Jew comes to your door collecting for tzedakah, it’s not by chance that he ended up at your door.  It was because he was sent directly to you by Hashem.  He is there for a purpose.  You think you’re doing a favor for him – he’s doing a favor for you!” ~ The Chasam Sofer

(Torah Tavlin)

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Eyes

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Emuna Daily

“If a person wants to see something he must open his eyes.  If he wants to see an object off in the distance, he must close his eyes half way and squint.  But if he wants to see really far and understand things that are greater than the normal comprehension, he must close his eyes entirely and use his mental capacities to a greater level.”  ~ R’ Nachman of Breslov zt”l

Here is a great video that shows how Rebbe Nachman’s message is spreading even to NFL players 🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlbFX2QGAIc&feature=player_embedded

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The little things

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Emuna Daily

The big things that a person accomplishes in his lifetime prove his ability.  Physical strength is measured by how big something is, how huge one’s muscles are.  But the quality things in life are measured by how small they are.  The little things that a person does for his friend, a husband for his wife or vice versa, those are the things that are important.  The small things that a person takes care of show his quality.” ~ R’ Chaim Leib Levine zt”l (Torah Tavlin)

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Who is a Masmid?

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Emuna Daily

“The definition of a masmid is not someone who learns until he collapses, but someone who learns when he is supposed to, davens when he is supposed to, eats when he is supposed to, and rests when he is supposed to!” ~ The Netziv from Torah Tavlin

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Incredible Story and Lesson

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Emuna Daily

“Sometimes a soul makes a brief visit on earth.  One story tells about the Arizal who was the sandek, or godfather, at a brit mila; immediately after the circumcision, the baby died. When the baby’s friends and relatives wailed like wounded animals, the Arizal said, ‘Why do you cry?  You merited in hosting the soul of our master, Rebbe Joseph Karo (a contemporary of the Arizal and author of the Shulchan Oruch, Code of Jewish Law)!’

With his holy spirit, the Arizal saw that Rabbi Joseph Karo died and arrived at the gates of Heaven.  Rabbi Joseph had fulfilled every one of Hashem’s commandments with didactic precision, except for one – circumcision.  When he was born, he was jaundiced and therefore circumcised later than the prescribed age of eight days.  His entire tikkun was to return to earth and be circumcised on the eighth day of his life; he had no further reason to remain on earth.

The Arizal knew every soul, its background, and its mission on earth.  His testimony shows how our lack of even one small but critical detail makes Hashem’s lovingkindness seem like cruelty, Heaven forbid.  Like a gigantic jigsaw puzzle, if one piece is missing, the entire picture seems flawed.  Emuna – our unshakable belief and trust in Hashem – fills in the missing pieces that our limited vision sometimes creates.” ~ The Garden of Emuna

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