Emuna Daily

Yoel prophesied that before Moshiach comes, we will experience an eclipse (Yoel 3).

“Since the moon can be good or bad, and since Israel and Ishmael count according to the moon, if the eclipse happens when the moon is full, it’s a bad sign for Israel. But when the moon is not full, it’s a bad sign for Ishmael.” ~ Zohar on Parshas Ki Teizei

Today is the last day of the month of Adar, when the moon is completely missing and not visible, which hopefully signifies a victory for Israel and that Moshiach is coming!

One who did not get ready for Shabbos by doing teshuvah and good deeds has not prepared a lodging for the Shechinah. The kedushah and Shechinah cannot enter his soul.

Erev Shabbos is, therefore, a time for introspection and teshuvah, so the kedushah of Shabbos can enter and light up one’s soul. A person who does that, palpably feels that “Hashem makes you holy.”

~ Sidduro Shel Shabbos

I never thought about whether I could do something, but only about whether I had to do it.

If something had to be done, I knew that God would give me the means to do it. 

~ The Alter of Novardok (1847 – 1919)

One’s intent in performing all mitzvos should be toward Hashem, to move closer to Him and to bask in the light of His Countenance. 

~ Ramchal (1707-1746)

The greater your riches, the further you are from them.

When you only have a little money, you can keep it on your person.

When you acquire more, you must keep it in a locked box. It is then more distant from you.

When you acquire still more, then you must keep it in the bank. It is yet further from you.

Acquire still more, your wealth and investments are scattered in other cities and faraway places…

This is true of the worldly.

But with Torah and Mitzvos, the more you have, the closer they are to you.

~ R’ Nachman of Breslov zt”l (1772-1810)

When planning anything in life, stipulate, “Im Yirtzeh Hashem“ – provided that Hashem so wishes.

~ The Shelah Hakodesh (1555-1630)

Shabbos is a day of ecstasy that has aspects of the afterlife. Every person who observes Shabbos properly will be able to experience an intense spiritual pleasure. With this we receive a taste of the reward of Olam Habbah, the eternal world, the world that is a complete Shabbos.

~ R’ Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev zt”l (1740-1809)

“Whoever is always afraid that he might become poor, he will become poor.”  ~ Bava Metzia 33.

The Maharal explains, “When one is afraid of poverty, he is giving poverty the ability to affect him and to reach him… When one is afraid of something, he is making himself small before that matter that he is afraid of, which gives the matter strength to affect him. This is especially true regarding poverty. When one is afraid of poverty, the thought causes an effect on the person, and he will receive the poverty.”

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.”