Emuna Daily

When the Gemara says, don’t sit in your parents’ seat, it also means, don’t sit in our Father in Heaven’s place.

 Let Hashem run the world!

~ Sfas Emes (1847-1905)

The word, “Yehudim” (Jews) shares the same gematria (numerical value) as the word “Bitachon” (75).  

Indeed, a Jew lives – and is defined – by his constant bitachon.

~ The Ben Ish Chai (1834-1909)

Convert your worries into prayers.

Cast your burden on your Creator.

Your body and mind can’t handle all the emotional weight.

~ Gedale Fenster

If everything around you seems dark, it’s Hashem’s way of telling you to become the light.

~ R’ Shmuel Reichman

The flames of the menorah, a perfect row of lights, are magnificent.  But then there is the shamash, just a little higher, in a row by itself.

If a person devotes his life to self-enhancement, to self-perfection, to growth, that’s wonderful, that’s admirable – but it’s not what will ultimately allow him to reach his greatest heights.

When a person becomes a shamash, dedicates his life to helping others give light, to become a conduit for light and love and hope, then he empowers and inspires others, then he’s living higher.

To dream alone is awesome, but to help others realize their dreams is greater – because you don’t only bring out the best in them. You bring out the best in yourself.

~ R’ YY Jacobson

The menorah goes in the window not just for the outside world to see, but to tell us, the people in the house: Look out at the big world. Now, see that menorah, and the little flame.

It’s a message to you. Remember that there was a time when people didn’t settle. Remember, Hashem is saying, how My people didn’t sell out. They could have used impure oil, but they refused. They wanted to do it right, and they would settle for nothing less.

Those tiny flickering flames call out, “Don’t think it has to be something big, it can be very small, but it has to be pure. Very pure!”

If you give Me a little bit of purity, Hashem says, I will perform miracles for you.

~ R’ Zecharia Wallerstein zt”l

You may be running to pursue a livelihood, but in reality, it is chasing you. 

Do not allow your day to be consumed by work while disregarding family and spirituality. 

When it comes to earning a living, do what is necessary to create a vessel, and then stand back so that G-d can fill it with blessings.

~ Kaleidoscope (from the teachings of the Lubavticher Rebbe zt”l)

The first time I saw Chanukah candles as a child, I was confused. I had never experienced a Chanukah that I could remember, because in the concentration camp, there was no menorah. I didn’t understand that these lights weren’t the yahrtzeit candles I was accustomed to. I didn’t yet perceive that these lights weren’t mourning departed souls and spilled blood, but celebrating our rich history, our triumph and victory as a nation.

Every night, they added another light…it was perplexing to me, until someone finally explained it to me, the small orphan.

Not all candles are for yahrtzeits, and Yiddishkeit isn’t only about marking death, he told me. Yiddishkeit is mainly about celebration, about light and life and marking our blessings.

~ R’ Yisroel Meir Lau

Good rule of thumb: It’s wise not to mess with a people who have multiple holidays that celebrate the outsmarting and defeating of their enemies against all odds.

 ~ Heimish Humor