When a person transgresses and realizes that he has transgressed and asks Hashem to forgive him, his brokenhearted feelings are themselves the greatest merit that he could have.
By considering yourself “as nothing” because of the wrong you have done, that in itself elevates you!
~ R’ Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
Everyone has their own tests.
Be aware that you need Hashem’s help.
Pray to Him, and you will have a far better chance of success.
~ R’ Elimelech Biderman
Sometimes we forget the tafkid, the goal, the mission with which we were charged.
In life, we are the “kablanim,” contractors: contracted to work, not to succeed.
We aren’t charged with finishing, but with doing.
We don’t choose the job or the materials: we accept them, and we get to work.
And that’s how we succeed.
~ R’ Meir Yedid
It states in Pirkei Avos (4:1): “Who is wealthy? He who is happy with his portion.”
The Sfas Emes zt’l notes that this also refers to your portion of ruchniyos. Even for ruchniyos, one should focus on the half-full cup.
You indeed wanted to learn more Gemara, to daven with more kavanah, etc., but think about what you already did accomplish and rejoice with it!
~ R’ Elimelech Biderman
There are no duplicates in creation. Hashem created billions of people, and He gave each one its own spark of G-dliness.
When I look in the mirror, I see that. The “Chibah Yeseirah” is the extra love Hashem gave each one of us that no other human being has.
Why do we try to copy others when our greatest gift is our originality? Why are we so busy trying to get her dress and his car, when Hashem gave us something unique that they can never have?
He made me, me.
That extra measure of love is what makes us great, and nothing else.
~ R’ Zecharia Wallerstein zt”l
It is impossible to pass through this world without troubles.
The difference between people is how they accept them.
Some people pass through the world laughing, and some pass through the world crying.
It is better to pass through the world with laughter.
~ The Chazon Ish zt’l
Wanting to learn Torah and wanting to daven well are good wishes. But to want what the Ribono Shel Olam wants, that is something else entirely.
~ The Beis Avraham zt’l
The Beis Halevi writes that the commandment to love every Jew is a positive commandment.
This implies that the love of every single individual Jew is a separate mitzvah on its own, and therefore, the more Jews one loves, the more mitzvos one accrues.
The Alter of Kelm points out how unique the mitzvah of Ahavas Yisrael is, for in just one split second, one can fulfill millions of mitzvos at once!
When a child runs into the middle of a busy street right into oncoming traffic and his father pulls him back and holds onto him, does that means the child’s freedom is being revoked?
Of course not.
So too, Torah is not servitude. It is our Father in Heaven holding us back and teaching us how to live!
~ R’ Simcha Wasserman zt”l
We are accustomed to thinking that love of Torah leads to toil in Torah.
However, in truth we see that it works the other way around; toil in Torah actually leads to love of Torah.
~ R’ Chaim Shmuelevitz zt”l
Emuna Daily 