Emuna Daily

We should be so happy right now!

Due to the purity that Bnei Yisrael achieved on Yom Kippur, there is immense joy in heaven. Therefore, we should be happy with Hashem’s joy. ~ The Sfas Emes

From the Torah, the mitzvah of lulav is on the first day of Succos, but the mitzvah to be happy on Succos is for all seven days. The Imrei Noam zt’l says that this is to tell us that Hashem loves it when His nation is happy and in good spirits, therefore he made this mitzvah for seven days.

How much effort Bnei Yisrael invests to get the four minim! Some spend hours, seeking the best they can find. Let this be a sign of how much effort we should invest to be happy, for this is a mitzvah from the Torah for all seven days of Succos. ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman

When one sits in the succah leshem shamayim, he feels the holiness with hislahavus. He experiences the light of the mitzvah, and he knows that it is true that the cloud of glory surrounded us. This is something that cannot be explained with words, but someone who experienced it knows that it’s true. ~ The Keren L’Dovid

While performing the mitzvah of giving charity, the poor person should be treated with at least the same respect and dignity we give our esrog on Succos.

~ The Beis HaLevi

Succos comes after Yom Kippur because one needs to be pure from all sins to be accepted in the spirituality of the Succah.

~ The Shem MiShmuel

One of the reasons Chazal stressed that we should eat well on Erev Yom Kippur is so that we will be in a good mood and be willing to forgive each other. 

The Sfas Emes writes: “I think the atonement takes place more on the 9th day than on the 10th. Because on the 9th day, the Jewish nation makes peace with one another. As Chazal say, if you sinned to your fellow man, you aren’t forgiven before receiving his forgiveness. When one fasts, he is angry, and that divides people. But when one eats and drinks, he has a happy heart, and all Yidden unite.”

The Arizal says that the Kohen Gadol did not actually utter Hashem’s Ineffable Name. He merely opened his mouth, and the Ineffable Name emanated from him; it was the Shechinah speaking through his mouth. 

When all the people merited to hear the voice of the Shechinah, they sensed Hashem’s presence. Overcome with Awe, they prostrated themselves out of deep veneration of Hashem.  

~ Avodas Yisrael

We cannot wait for others to do teshuva for us, and we cannot blame others for our failure to do teshuva. It is not because our parents raised us poorly. It is not because our environment was bad. There are no excuses! The ability to do teshuva is within our own mouths and hearts.  ~ R’ Yissocher Frand

If you have an impulse to do teshuva, don’t dismiss it.  That impulse is a message from Hashem Yisbarach. Surely no one would disregard a message that comes directly from the King of kings.  Can there be a greater contempt of G-d than that?

Feelings of teshuva are sparked by yiras Hashem, and yiras Hashem is G-d’s most precious treasure.

~ Yismach Moshe

The Rambam (Hilchos Teshuvah 2:2) states, “What is teshuvah? It is (1) to leave the sin, (2) to remove it from his thoughts, and (3) to be determined never to commit this sin again.”

In other words, teshuvah is a decision. When one decides that he won’t commit this sin anymore, this is teshuvah, and that conclusion can be made in a moment. ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman