Monthly Archives: February 2014

BS’D

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Adriel Aharon ben Miriam a young boy going through knee surgery today. His recovery is estimated to be nine months long.  May Hashem shower Adriel Aharon ben Miriam a complete healing amongst all of those sick and suffering in Klal Yisrael b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen!

Pain and suffering can affect our emuna either as a cover when removed reveals that which is underneath or as an earthquake shakes the earth; either it will reveal our inner light which lay dormant or shatter us to pieces.  Let us explore the idea on how challenges can bring our latent potential to surface into actuality.

Hardships are likened to ‘wake up’ calls.  Depending on how sound asleep we are, the ‘alarm’ will sound softly or loudly.  The Heavenly goal is to get our attention to shift gears and strengthen our awareness of Hashem’s presence in our lives.

Which state of sleep are we in?

1)      Are we dozing off but can still hear our name being called, yet are unable to reply rationally?

2)     Are we so sleepy that we need to be awakened to notice what is going on around us?

3)     Do we need ‘medical’ intervention (incidents in our lives) to awaken us?

4)     Is the state of sleepiness so deep that we are likened to be in a state of anesthesia, whereby all sense of feeling is removed?

As the urgency to get our attention becomes more pressing, we are summoned from above with stronger signs to respond.  The objective – motivate us to reveal our immeasurable potential and shine our light which was previously hidden from ourselves and others.

We have so much to do during our limited time here in this world.  If we are ‘asleep’ we won’t realize how much we could have done.  Therefore next time a challenge caresses your life, don’t hit the sleep button. Rise and shine to a better you and light up your world!

BS’D

Spiritual Journey to Kivrei Tzaddikim, Gravesites of our holy Sages in Ukraine …
POSTPONED DATES:  May 1st – May 6th
Price reduced for limited time only! For more info:  CLICK HERE

Do you know where life is taking you?  Do you like the things that life is showing you?  The answer to question one is probably no.  The answer to question two is all dependent on whether you are aware of your purpose in life.

The answer to question two is no if you want your life to be as you want it to be.  The answer to question two is no if you aren’t in touch with your inner point of greatness and infinite potential.  The answer to question two is no if you are confused over why you are here and don’t know what your life is all about.  Question one can remain no yet still have no effect on whether you live a happy fulfilled life; as long as you know that there is ‘Someone’ who does know where you are heading.

We each travel on individual spiritual paths tailor planned for us to reach our eternal destination, B’H after 120.  Hashem has a very meticulous plan outlining every route, alleyway, and footpath we are meant to stride on.  When we decide to focus our mind, heart and eyes on Hashem’s road realizing that there is no better track for us to walk on, we will be able to say yes to question two.

We don’t need to know what is ahead, only that we have the ‘best tour guide’ in the world who is taking us to the places we need to ‘visit.’  Let us stay focused on Who is leading us and continuously talk with Him along the way.  This will keep us feeling calm, safe and assured that He is shepherding us to our journey’s end.

Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Shlomo ben Pearla Pnina.  May Hashem shower him with rachamei Shamayim, a complete healing b’riut hanefesh v’b’riut haguf amongst all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim,  Amen.

BS’D

There is a well-known statement attributed to R’ Yisrael Salanter ztk’l.

He once said: “When I was young, I wanted to change the world. Then I realized that I could not change the world. And so I thought, maybe I will change my nation. Then I realized that I could not change my nation. And so I thought, maybe I will change my village. Then I realized that I could not change my village. And so I thought, maybe I will change my family. Then I realized that I could not change my family. And so I thought, maybe I will change myself. Then I realized, if I would change myself, this would change my family. And if I would change my family, this would change my village. And if I would change my village, this would change my nation. And if I would change my nation, I would change the world.”

Torah study is a personalized experience in that it ‘talks’ to every individual differently so that we each hear the wisdom that our soul needs to receive. Torah wisdom conveys to us a custom-made message.  Therefore, we are required to elevate our minds and hearts to internalize our specific calling.  No two people learn the same Torah just as we learn a ‘different’ Torah at various stages in our lives depending on the message we need to ‘hear’.

We must be prepared to change ourselves rather than erroneously expect that others do.  Torah is our physician who gives us each a ‘prescription’ for our individual ‘ailments.’  Change begins with us.  Accusations, blame, complaints, denial and excuses are, as R’ Rietti calls them, the ‘ABCDE’s’ of running away from our individual responsibility.  We are responsible to change ourselves, not others.

As we learn from R’ Salanter, this is the only way to change the world.

Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Chaya bat Baya.  May Hashem shower her with rachamei Shamayim and a complete healing b’riut hanefesh v’b’riut haguf amongst all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.

BS’D

Life is truly a rollercoaster ride of emotions from confidence and security to helplessness and vulnerability.  This can most definitely lead to illness.  Tehillim perek 105 suggests a healing method to stabilize our emotions.

In this perek there is mention of the importance of giving thanks, calling out to Hashem, publicizing His compassion, praising Hashem, singing to Hashem and remembering how benevolent our Creator is.  Repetition of these thoughts and words infuses us with emotional wellness and stops us from feeling ‘battered’ and ‘victimized’ by life’s challenges. We should take charge to uplift ourselves and not fall prey to self-pity.  Resigning to the ‘verdict’ of hardships or c”v ‘diagnosis’ of an illness destroys our minds and hammers our hearts.

It takes tremendous courageous to face hopeless thoughts of, “I’ll never get out of this” or “There is no hope”; but we must remain brave in the face of these pessimistic thoughts. Hashem has a master plan yet we do not know what it is.  Therefore, anticipate the salvation, keep your spirits high and do not submit to hopelessness; there is no such word in the Jewish lexicon.

But sing – how and why?  Through singing we raise our spiritual consciousness – a vital tool is seeing purpose in all our difficulties. Singing is the medicine for all pain, fear and suffering since it gives expression to those feelings that reside in our hearts.  The sound of the tune serves to extract our deepest emotions and lift them to a place where they are soothed and healed; to the Ultimate Healer Hashem Yitborach.

BS’D

It is so wonderful when the readers write comments, thoughts and questions pertaining each of the daily doses.  I invite you all to do so more often and post them onto the comment section of each daily dose on the website.

What is this talk about hitbodedut? Why is it gaining so much attention? How will it help me?

It all boils down to the concept of yishuv ha’da’at (settling of one’s mind).  When we distance ourselves from the rest of the hum drum of the world and speak to Hashem in our own way, own language and with an open heart, we essentially are engaging in self-therapy.   We weigh the different aspects of our lives very carefully and do a self-accounting of our thoughts, speech and deeds.  All of the scattered thoughts and feelings get reorganized and replaced in an orderly fashion.

Let’s look at this logically.  A business owner must do an analysis of his business every so often. Some do so every week, some every month, some every quarter and some only yearly.   However every good business school teaches that we must ‘look in our books’ to make ourselves aware of how well the business is running.  ‘We’ in some sense, should look at our lives as a business.  How are we spending our time, money, energy?  Are we being productive and using the most of our assets for the good of the business?  These questions are meant to be addressed during our hitbodedut sessions.

The reward after doing hitbodedut: da’at (expansion of knowledge of the bigger picture, of life’s meaning, of Hashem’s presence).  When we work to attain da’at we strive to reach a heightened spiritual sensitivity in our lives; to be more aware of Hashem’s greatness and endless power.

When we reach the point where we recognize our smallness and are in awe of Hashem’s greatness, we can be assured that we are witnessing the truthful light of Ein od Milvado (there is no one else but Hashem).

There is nothing more reassuring than knowing that although we are not in control, Hashem is.  That means we are in great hands.

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Shoshana bat Leah a young mother who is in serious condition after giving birth to her first child.  Please daven for her complete recovery and the continued health of her baby Tinok ben Shoshana.  May we only see revealed good, Amen.