When I ponder the miracle of the survival of the Jewish people, it is in my mind greater than all the miracles and wonders that God performed for our ancestors in Egypt, in the wilderness and in the land of Israel. The longer the exile persists, the more apparent the miracle becomes.
~ R’ Yaakov Emden (1697-1776)
When a person prays to God, it is not merely that God ‘listens’ to his prayers from above and responds accordingly. Rather, the process of prayer itself refines the person spiritually, rendering him a suitable receptacle for additional Divine blessings. The receipt of a blessing is thus the direct outcome of sincere, focused prayer.
~ The Lubavitcher Rebbe
On the first day of Sukkos, the Torah commands us to fulfill many mitzvos: sukkah, lulav, esrog, simchah, etc.
On the rest of the days of Yom Tov, there are just two mitzvos (midiOraysa): sukkah and simchah.
But on Shemini Atzeres, the Torah is very clear. There is only one mitzvah that we must perform with every fiber of our being: “Vehayita Ach Sameach – And you shall be only joyous.”
~ The Chasam Sofer
When approaching a mitzvah, a person should view it as if it is his only mitzvah, as if he is the only person in the world and as if this is the only day on which he can perform it.
~ The Chofetz Chaim
Although a sukkah is only a temporary dwelling, in certain respects, we treat it as if it were our regular home – eating, drinking and studying Torah in it. This, too, is the way we should treat the world at large.
We should not regard the world as an end unto itself, but rather as a means of furthering our spiritual development and refinement.
By properly utilizing the physical word, and making the most of it in a spiritual manner, we bring G-dliness into our surroundings, transforming the temporary into something lasting and eternal.
~ The Lubavitcher Rebbe zt”l
Praiseworthy is the person who learns Torah in the sukkah.
He who sits in the sukkah for the sake of the mitzvah alone and rejoices in the Yom Tov will be surrounded by a Heavenly Cloud.
He may not see it, but it surely exists!
~ R’ Yonasan Eibschutz zt”l
Some people say they’ve seen the Ushpizin.
I don’t see them, but I believe they are in my sukkah.
And believing is greater than seeing!
The Kotzker Rebbe zt”l
When one approaches a mitzvah, he must feel the greatest joy at the opportunity that he is offered with this mitzvah.
When completing the mitzvah, he should feel happiness at having achieved his goal.
But while he is actually doing the mitzvah, he must feel the awe that is to be experienced by a mortal while he is standing before a King. He must recognize that any wrong word or move could result in a tragedy indeed!
~ R’ Shloime Kluger zt”l
When one works on himself in spiritual matters, he will find that he has ups and downs. It is easy to feel discouraged when one finds himself on a lower level than previously.
However, R’ Tzadok HaKohen said, “It is impossible for a person to have a major elevation without a prior descending.”
The disguise in most blessings in disguise is not over the blessing, but over our eyes.
~ R’ Shraga Silverstein
Emuna Daily 