Emuna Daily

A person should really know the pathways of Heaven, but actually, this is not crucial.

One needs only the main thing – to help another wholeheartedly, with sensitivity, to take pleasure in doing a kindness to another.

~ R’ Shmuel of Lubavitch zt”l

When I was a kid in Camp Munk, they would give an award to every boy at summer’s end, and I invariably got the loser award: best middos.  It meant I couldn’t hit a baseball or sink a basket.

I found it sort of embarrassing, and I would hide the award in my luggage after camp, but my mother would find it and dig it out.

I remember how she and my father called me into a room.  They had tears in their eyes.

They indicated the award and said, “David, this is our greatest hope for you.  Do you think being able to score goals or make jump shots means something to us?  This is what’s important, that you be kind, that you be empathetic, that you be honest, that you be a mentch.”

You know what?  That stayed with me…the tears, the way they let me know that they really cared. That remains.

~ Dr. David Pelcovitz 

We say in the Amida, Hashem is רופא חולי עמו ישראל, He heals the sick of Israel.

We know Hashem is the One who heals everyone in the world,  so what is unique about us?

Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach explained, when Hashem decrees a sickness upon a person, it has to stay until its prescribed time to leave. But that only applies to the nations of the world. Regarding the Jews, Hashem gave us the power of tefila. We could pray to remove the sickness earlier, and  become healed way before the decreed time that the sickness was supposed to leave.

That is a gift given exclusively to us, by Hashem, because He loves us so much.

~ R’ David Ashear

Rabbeinu Yonah says: The first step in Avodas Hashem (serving G-d) is knowing who you are and where you come from. 

Because if you don’t know that, you can’t start your mission. 

~ R’ Yisroel Majeski

What’s the difference between one who has emuna and one who does not?  

Peace of mind.  

The one with emuna is at peace, and the one without is in turmoil.

~ R’ Elimelech Biderman

Just as one is obligated to believe in Hashem, so must one believe in himself. 

~ R’ Tzadok Hakohen of Lublin

Tefilah (prayer) is all-inclusive. Tefilah includes bitachon, trusting Hashem. Tefilah includes ahavas Hashem, love of Hashem. Tefilah includes bechinah, studying what Hashem does for you in this world…

Tefilah is a way of life; that’s what you’re in this world for. 

~ R’ Avigdor Miller zt”l

Someone told the Tchebiner Rav zt’l that he was very worried about his children who were getting older and have not found shidduchim. The Tchebiner Rav told him the following story:

“Early in the morning on erev Yom Kippur, someone was going to the shochet to shecht his kaparos. He held the chicken in one hand, a machzor in the other, and then his eyeglasses fell to the ground. He stood there, wondering what to do. If he puts down the chicken, it will run away. He certainly can’t put the machzor on the ground. So how could he pick up his eyeglasses?”

“What did he do?” the man asked.

The Tchebiner Rav replied, “I don’t know, but one thing I am certain of; he’s not standing there anymore.”

In other words, life goes on. There are hurdles and challenges, but the difficulties aren’t forever.

~ R’ Elimelech Biderman 

A face is like a mirror. 

If you smile at others, they will smile back.

If you frown, they will do the same.

Kindness inspires kindness.

It doesn’t make a difference what’s in your heart, if there’s worry or fear: when you walk around in public, your face can make a difference.

Try it.

Keep a smile on your face and you will get smiles in return.

That in itself can create such happiness all around you.

~ R’ Eliezer Zeytouneh

A person’s task in life is to be grateful for the past, active in the present, and hopeful for the future.  

~ R’ Shlomo Wolbe zt”l