Emuna Daily

If one sees that his bitachon isn’t perfect, he should trust in Hashem that Hashem will help him even if his bitachon isn’t perfect.

~ R’ Rephael of Barshid zt”l

Someone said to the Beis Yisrael zt’l, “I have doubts in emuna, so what value can my tefillos have?”

The Beis Yisrael opened the Gemara where it says that when one says “Amen yehei shemei rabba..” with all his strength, even if he has thoughts of avodah zarah, he is forgiven. 

“Do you see what is written here? The Gemara discusses a person who has thoughts of avodah zarah, yet even he can say “Amen yehei shmei rabba.” 

So, no matter what level we fall to, we can daven and turn to Hashem.”

Know that there are people whose eyes are directed toward Hashem when it comes to major matters…but who do not remember Hashem in the small things. This is because the activity is trivial in their eyes and they are certain that they can succeed in it…Therefore, it says: “Know Him in all your ways” – large or small! 

Since all actions are dependent on Hashem, and all success comes about through His kindness, a person is obligated to remember Him in everything that he does. For if he succeeds in his activity and did not remember Hashem or look to Him for help, he is deficient in his Divine service.

~ Rabbeinu Yonah (1200-1263)

The things we need to survive in this physical world – such as air and water – are supplied in abundance.

So too, in spiritual matters.  

Since Emuna is the most necessary element of spiritual life, wherever you seek it, it is found. 

~ The Alter of Kelm (1824-1898)

Jews survived all the defeats, expulsions, persecutions and pogroms, the centuries in which they were regarded as a pariah people, even the Holocaust itself, because they never gave up the faith that one day they would be free to live as Jews without fear. 

~ R’ Jonathan Sacks (1948-2020)

Even “natural events” are created by Hashem constantly; they too are miracles. 

A doctor told the very elderly and frail Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, “It’s a miracle that you are alive,” to which the rabbi replied, “It’s also a miracle that you are alive!”

Nature is not independent of God; it is His creature.

~ R’ David Sutton

Rav Naftali Amsterdam once said “If I had the brain of the Shaagas Aryeh, the heart of the Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’Avodah, and middos like you, Rav Yisrael Salanter, then I could serve Hashem.”

Rav Yisrael answered him, “No, Naftali. With your brain, with your heart, and with your character traits, you can be a true servant of Hashem.”

A person need never feel discouraged and think that he is in a place where he can only study a little Torah and do a few mitzvos. Rather, wherever you happen to be, you can reach great heights by becoming a master of Torah knowledge and through the performance of many good deeds. 

~ R’ Moshe Feinstein zt”l (1895-1986)

Even if man lives thousands of years, he could not comprehend the extent of your powerful deeds.

~ R’ Yisrael of Najara zt”l (1555 – 1625 – Chief Rabbi of Gaza and author of Kah Ribon)

The existence of God is clear to the rational mind, but passions of the heart blind man from seeing that truth.

~ R’ Elchonon Wasserman zt”l (1874-1941)