Emuna Daily

Everyone has a treasure in his own backyard.

Why search elsewhere for it?

~ R’ Simcha Bunim of Peshischa zt”l

Don’t forget – Hashem equips you with your exact needs to fulfill your mission in life.

Everyone has ups and downs in life.

But one who properly fulfills the mitzvah of viohavta lereiacha kamocha, has a lot more ups and a lot more downs.

Because when you truly care about one another, you celebrate with him or her as if it is your own simcha and you feel his or her pain as if it is your own pain.

~ R’ Yisroel Feld

That scholar with his nose in books, he learns and learns.

But does he know his wife doesn’t feel well?

That his child’s heart is broken?

~ The Kotzker Rebbe zt”l

Sometimes things don’t go the way we’d like them to. So we can grumble and join the ranks of complainers, or we can do something different: we can try to create change.

A friend of mine was a major in the United States Army and he often quotes his commander, who would say, “Don’t come to me with problems; come to me with solutions.”

The Mishna states: וּבְמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין אֲנָשִׁים, הִשְׁתַּדֵּל לִהְיוֹת אִישׁ

In a place where no one is stepping forward to take responsibility, you should try to be that person.

When there’s no one to get the job done, it’s time to step up.

How?

By changing your mindset and realizing that you can make a difference. You can be the change you want to see.

~ R’ Tzvi Sytner

Believe me when I tell you, I never simply pluck a leaf or a blade of grass or any living thing, unless I have to.

Every part of the vegetable world is singing a song and breathing forth a secret of the divine mystery of the Creation.

~ Rav Abraham Kook zt”l (Wisdom of the Mystics)

I know that not everyone uses WhatsApp, but for those of you who do:

What are your favorite Torah related WhatsApp Groups?

Please share your answers using this form: https://forms.gle/PEin8yXctpx1DecP9

How can a nation go from ashes, the point of death, and then half a century later, they’re a superpower?

It’s because we are Hashem’s people.

Five guys on a tour to the north are just five guys on a tour to the north, but if they’re soldiers on a mission, then they’re not just five guys.  They represent the entire battalion, the whole army, all of the nation.

We walked out of Mitzrayim and were charged with a mission.  When you stand for Hashem, His presence is within you.  You represent Him and His whole army. 

~ Charlie Harary

In the beginning of the week, we asked the following: 

Identify a line or section of tefillah that you connect with and is perhaps overlooked by others.

Once again, the answers you provided were amazing and I encourage everyone to read them here: shorturl.at/fDE59

I will just highlight a few:

1. During Shemona Esrei, in עַל־הַצַּדִּיקִים we say וְתֵן שָׂכָר טוֹב לְכָל הַבּוֹטְ֒חִים בְּשִׁמְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וְשִׂים חֶלְקֵֽנוּ עִמָּהֶם – Grant good reward to all who truly trust in Your Name; and place our lot among them.  This could be interpreted as a prayer for Bitachon and the reward for it!

2. The entire Birkat Hamazon is so holy and really one big prayer for parnassah, but at the end, we say יְראוּ אֶת יְיָ קְדֹשָׁיו – Fear Hashem His Holy Ones, which could be interpreted as a prayer for Yiras Shomayim.

3. At the end of Shemona Esrei, we ask Hashem פְּתַח לִבִּי בְּתוֹרָתֶֽךָ וּבְמִצְוֹתֶֽיךָ תִּרְדֹּף נַפְשִׁי – Open my heart to Your Torah and let my soul pursue Your commandments.

4. How special it is on Yom Tovim when we sing in Hallel, זֶה־הַיּוֹם עָשָׂה יְהֹוָה נָגִֽילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בוֹ – This is the day Hashem has made; let us rejoice and be glad on it. 

5. On Shabbos and Yom Tovim, we say the beautiful prayer of  קַדְּשנוּ בְּמִצְותֶיךָ וְתֵן חֶלְקֵנוּ בְּתורָתֶךָ. שבְּעֵנוּ מִטּוּבֶךָ וְשמְּחֵנו בִּישוּעָתֶךָ. וְטַהֵר לִבֵּנוּ לְעָבְדְּךָ בֶּאֱמֶת. — Santify us with Your mitzvos, and grant us a share in Your Torah, satisfy us from Your goodness and gladden us with Your salvation, and purify our heart to serve You sincerely.   

6. Each night at Maariv, in the paragraph of הַשְׁכִּיבֵֽנוּ, we say וְתַקְּ֒נֵֽנוּ בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּ֒פָנֶֽיךָ – we ask for good counsel.  We then say וְהָסֵר שָׂטָן מִלְּ֒פָנֵֽינוּ וּמֵאַחֲרֵֽינוּ to remove the satan from before us (so we shouldn’t sin) and after us (so that if we do sin, we don’t get depressed over it and lose faith).

7. On Shabbos in Pesukei D’zimra, in the paragraph of L’Dovid bshanoso, we say קרוב ה’ לנשברי לב ואת דכאי רוח יושיע. God is close to the brokenhearted, and He saves those of crushed spirit. 

8. In נִשְׁמַת on Shabbos and Yom Tovim, we say אֵין אֲנַחְנוּ מַסְפִּיקִים לְהודות לְךָ ה – that no matter what we can possibly do, we still cannot thank You sufficiently! 

9. In the Yom for Thursday, we say הַרְחֶב פִּֽיךָ וַאֲמַלְאֵֽהוּ – Widen your mouth and I will fill it – Hashem is telling us not to limit ourselves — ask for ANYTHING because He, and only He, is capable of fulfilling our requests.

10. Each morning, we say המחדש בטובו בכל יום תמיד מעשה בראשית which reminds us that no matter how challenging your life or day may be Hashem renews creation every day and anything can happen no matter how bleak things may seem. Then we immediately say אהבה רבה אהבתנו which reminds us how much Hashem loves us. These beautiful words should keep us smiling all day. 

Honorable Mentions: 

The Ribono Shel Olam prayer said on Yom Tovim when taking out the Torah, followed by Brich Shemei.  All of Birchos HaTorah, practically every line of Ashrei including קָר֣וֹב ה לְכָל־קֹֽרְאָ֑יו – Hashem is near to all who call Him, and the perfect way to start Shemona Esrei – ה’  שפתי תפתח ופי יגיד תהילתך asking Hashem to please help us daven. 

People who constantly seek wealth do not have pleasure from their lives. They are always engaged in preparing for life rather than living. Their focus is on gaining more and more money which is only a preparation for life.  

They think they are trying to obtain money for themselves, but are really amassing wealth for others who will eventually inherit it.

~ Chochmah Umussar

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Last chance to answer the question of the week

Identify a line or section of tefillah that you connect with that is perhaps overlooked by others.

Please take a moment to share your answer: https://forms.gle/8wHvkHfr8J9K2bKv7

The Ahavas Yisrael of Viznitz zt’l would say, “One must be good to everyone, but not with everyone.”

So be kind to all, but don’t spend too much time with all people.

You need to choose your friends carefully.

~ R’ Elimelech Biderman

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Reb Mendel M’Riminov said that saying Parshas Ha’Man (Shneyim Mikroh V’Echod Targum) today on Tuesday of Parshas B’Shalach, is a Segulah for Parnasah.

Click this link for the complete text of Parshas Hamon