Monthly Archives: May 2014

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

Don’t forget to say the tefillah of the Shlah HaKadosh today until sunset: Click Here to read

As we learned in yesterday’s daily dose every incident in life is intimately supervised by Hashem Yitborach in the most meticulous manner. Hashem turns events around according to our soul’s needs in order for us to achieve complete soul rectification. We can live our entire lives without paying attention that Hashem is guiding every step of our life ‘behind the scenes’.  A person can see his life as a chain of happenstance and ‘natural’ outcomes not associating Hashem with any of them.

Emuna teaches us to live life awake and aware of Hashem’s intimate presence; never forgetting for a moment Who created and continues to create it all.  It teaches us to live mindful and to understand that Hashem speaks to us through the circumstances of our lives.  We are put through challenges in order to bring forth into actuality that which is hidden as potential.  Just as a coach strengthens the one he is training and increasing his endurance by raising the ‘bar’ and building up the challenges – so Borei Olam does with us.

Hashem puts us through many different situations, all measured, all finely focused for our growth. Some are tests of endurance, some are tests of faith, and some are tests of patience, but each one is custom-designed for our growth.  Everything is decreed by Hashem, every ounce of suffering, every annoyance, every mosquito bite, every time we have to wait in line and forget our keys.  It is all decided, defined and directed only by Hashem.

It is all from Hashem!

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Today, 28th of Iyar is the yahrtzeit of Shmuel HaNavi.  Some say it is tomorrow the 29th of Iyar.  Just as Channah HaTzaddika prayed for a child after being barren for many years, so should we mother’s pray, beg and plead with Hashem to shower those Jewish Mothers who still await having their own children to merit getting pregnant soon b’mazal tov, as well as beseech Hashem to enable us to bring up our children b’nachat, b’simcha, b’kalut (with ease), b’mehteekut (in sweetness) and b’Siyatta D’shmaya (with Heavenly assistance), Amen.

Don’t forget to recite the prayer of the Shlah HaKadosh ztk’l tomorrow up until sunset tomorrow night for bringing up children b’nachat. Can be found HERE

Tzaddik B’Emunato Yichyeh – A righteous man lives by his Emuna. Mankind wishes to strive upward and spiritually elevate him/herself always.  The Navi Chavakuk ztk’l explains in three words how to attain it; righteousness comes through living with Emuna. Emuna should be interwoven into our thoughts, speech and deeds under every and all circumstances.   Emuna needs to be sewn into the fabric of life. The following real life scenarios will help bring clarity on how to apply emuna into ‘rountine’ incidents that many of us have experienced.

It is a hot day.  We make the effort and travel to a public office to straighten out some errands.  The line is long, people are impatient, we giggle in our place awaiting our turn to come.  It finally arrives. We approach the clerk and are told that we are missing an important document and without it we cannot complete the process.  How much Emuna is needed right then and there to accept this circumstance with love?

You are in a rush and must leave NoW!  Oy, where are those keys? I know I put them here…. What agony… Who is to blame?  Me, someone else?

In Mishlei (19:21) Shlomo HaMelech ztk’l teaches, “Many thoughts are in man’s heart, but the counsel of Hashem – only it will prevail.” What is the difference between a machshava (thought) and eitza (counsel)?  Thoughts are simply that – thoughts of a final objective.  Yet counsel is the outcome itself.  The most carefully laid-out plans will not come to fruition if not in accordance to Hashem’s will.  As my Safta a’h used to say:  “You can stand on your eyelashes…” it simply won’t be if Hashem doesn’t will for it to be.

Remember that next time you are in line or misplace your keys…

Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Moshe ben Tirtza. He is a 26 year old yeshiva bachur who was involved in a serious car accident a year and a half ago when a car rammed into him in Brooklyn and sped off. He suffered severe head injuries and his organs were crushed.  You can read more about it on the link and find out how you can help:  http://t.ymlp265.net/bsmanaujymwavaueqadaeujqj/click.php.

May Hashem send him a complete healing in the zechut of Chodesh Iyar b’riut hanefesh v’briut haguf amongst all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.

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Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the hatzlocha of our daughter Shani on the occasion of her 23rd birthday. May Hashem enlighten her path in Torah, mitzvot and ma’asim tovim and guide her to fulfill her task in life with a happy heart and emuna filled eyes, Amen.

The Chofetz Chaim ztk’l teaches a parable that clarifies the understanding of the importance of constant review and repetition of emuna learning.

It is likened to a man who draws water from a well on a freezing 20 degrees below zero winter day.  He stores the bucket of water outside until he wishes to use it. However to his amazement after a few hours he finds the water frozen solid.  The amount of work now required by him to enjoy some of the water is tremendous; he will have to chisel his way to enjoy but a few drops.

However if he was wise he would have made sure to check on the water every so often.  As a thin layer of ice would begin to form on top he would have simply had to give it a quick stir in order for it to break apart and prevent the formation of a solid block of ice.

We take an insightful teaching from this analogy as this resembles our avodah when it comes to learning emuna.  Emuna requires constant review, evaluation and integration in our lives or else it will freeze and become difficult to access.  The world outside is cold and numbs our emuna senses.

Therefore we must constant dip ourselves into the warm and loving study of emuna to keep our souls well nourished with the ‘water’ it so desperately needs to drink!

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Today, 26th of Iyar is the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto ztk’l author of classic works of Jewish philosophy, known by the acronym of his name, Ramchal. It is said that by age 14, he already knew the entire Talmud and Midrash by heart. Ramchal’s Path of the Just, which describes a step-by-step process to attaining spiritual perfection, is a classical work of Mussar (Jewish ethics) that is studied widely today. Other of Ramchal’s important works include The Way of God, a systemized study of Jewish philosophy, and Da’at Tevunot, an exposition on kabbalistic concepts. He is buried next R’ Akiva in Tiveria.  (Aish.com)  May his merit serve as an advocate for Klal Yisrael, amen.

Our entire purpose in life is to arrive to the One and Only truth- Ein Od Milvado the absolute knowledge of Hashem.  There is no other power that brings about events without the ratzon of Hashem; ‘His will’ comes through His emissaries – a.k.a. ‘natural means’.

The Ramban ztk’l teaches in his commentary at the end of Parshat Bo- the intention of all the mitzvot is for us to live with emuna in Hashem and recognize His constant presence and intervention in our lives.  The result of which is a profound sense of appreciation for Him having created us and giving us the opportunity to live.  This is our sole purpose in life.

To bring this one step further our task is to differentiate between event and it’s seemingly ‘natural cause’ and link it directly to its true source – ratzon Hashem.  There is no other cause but His will; Hashem is the Seebat HaSeebot (Reason of Reasons).

The Gra’, the Vilna Gaon ztk’l, further elucidates on this teaching in his Mishlei commentary (22:39)- the founding principle behind the giving of the Torah to B’nai Yisrael is that they should place their complete trust in HaKadosh Baruch Hu; that is the entire purpose behind keeping mitzvot.

There is one and only one way to implant this recognition firmly and deeply within us; repetition and review.  Reminding oneself of this fundamental message evening, morning and afternoon is the only way to keep it viable in every step we take.  The world presents us with ‘nature’, coincidence and logical reason.  Learning emuna equips us with the necessary armor to pierce these outer shells and see Hashem in it all.

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the hatzlocha of our son Netanel Raphael on the occasion of his 19th birthday.  May Hashem enlighten his path in Torah, mitzvot and ma’asim tovim and guide him to fulfill his task in life with a happy heart and emuna filled eyes, Amen.

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Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is sponsored for the refuah shleimah of Elisha Rachamim ben Shira Golda who is undergoing surgery today. Please daven that he merit a complete healing b’riut hanefesh v’briut haguf amongst all of those sick and suffering in Klal Yisrael b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.

If you wish to sponsor an emuna email in the merit of someone, please email us at d.d.of.emuna@gmail.com

Avraham Avinu implanted within the Jewish people the concept of emuna. He challenged the pagan beliefs of his time and faithfully proclaimed the belief in One Supreme Authority. We his descendants are gifted with the name Ma’aminim b’nei Ma’aminim – Believers the children of believers.

By definition emuna means faithfulness and loyalty; a commitment to uphold the words of the Torah. This allegiance is not dependent on logical understanding or intellectual rationale. It is a declaration on our behalf to uphold the belief system taught to us by our Holy Torah by virtue of the fact that it is Divine, 100% truthful and just. All of this we inherited from Avraham Avinu.

The preservation of our Torah is credited to the loyal and consistent transmission from father to son throughout the generations. We know that the guiding messages of the Torah are accurate. It must be since without this knowledge we have no spiritual existence; likened to cutting off our spiritual air supply.

In Parshat Reeh (14:1) the Torah clearly states, “Banim atem l’Hashem (You are children of Hashem)”. Hashem will never forsake or abandon His beloved children.  We need to consistently reassure ourselves of this vital message at times of difficulty. This is the pathway to strengthen our emuna – fortifying the notion that Hashem’s love is eternal and will never perish.

In good times and in bitter times our emuna ought to flow in our mind and heart and permeate our entire being singing the words Ani Ma’amin – I believe!

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Today’s daily dose of emuna is sponsored for the refuah shleimah of Rachel and Neerya Rivka b’not Liza.  May Hashem bless them with a complete healing b’riut hanefesh v’briut haguf amongst all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering in Klal Yisrael b’karov, b’rachamim, amen.

To understand the connection between emuna and well-being we must first internalize the idea that creation did not originate from eternal matter but is being constantly renewed, as it says in the brachot of Shema: “Uvtuvo mekadesh bechol yom tamid maaseh breishis (and in His goodness renews daily, perpetually the work of creation.”) Hashem is creating life each and every moment from now to the next and from the next to the next; out of nothingness!

Although we often relate to time as one long link and are not sensitized at this time to feel every moment anew, we can still feel this freshness by focusing on the idea that creation originated from emptiness. When we recognize purpose and order in all of life’s events, we inject truth (a.k.a. emuna, health, wholesomeness, relief) into a seemingly disorderly world. By virtue of doing so, Hashem’s presence becomes more evident and consequently our lives feel more purposeful and pleasurable.

The Jewish soul remains eternally bound to its Divine source and sees the world through pure ‘emuna eyes’. The neshama knows only the truth and understands that the nature of fragmentation in this world is to provide us with an opportunity to create and restore order from chaos.

As we strive to reach into the core being of our soul, we effectively expose the building blocks of creation and begin piecing them together each in their correct place and order. Emuna instills our lives with vigor and thus enables us to join together with Hashem and bring His Oneness into the chaos reigning within and around us.