Monthly Archives: June 2014

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Who woke me up?

June 11, 2014
Orit Esther Riter
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BS’D

Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is dedicated to the complete healing and good news report for Chaya bat Baya.  She is going in for testing today and will find out in 10 days where her health is standing after her treatments.  B’H may the doctors see nothing and find nothing.  Please daven for her for the next 10+ days amongst all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering – may everyone merit a refuah shleimah b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.

Divine providence is part of every activity in life; including how well we sleep.  I may put my head down to rest with the hope to calm my spirits when suddenly…. v’rum v’rum someone nearby has just decided to turn on their lawn mower!!  Just fifteen minutes of menuchat hanefesh (inner peace) can turn into fifteen minutes of asking, “Why now… why do it now?!”

Why is it that the neighbors upstairs (for those who live in apartment buildings) decide to move their furniture around 11:00 pm when I am trying to sleep?  It sounds no less than the ceiling caving in.  Why does the neighbor need to drill a hole in the wall and a ‘hole in my head’ when I am trying to rest after such a long tiring day?  Oy, is this a test of patience?!

Maybe it’s not the neighbor. Maybe I just toss and turn and can’t sleep at night while distressing thoughts take charge of my mind and heart.  How will I function tomorrow with a smile?

My answer lies in internalizing the fact that this is hashgacha pratis, a result brought about directly through Divine intervention. What good will it do for me to not get enough rest?  What’s the purpose?  This is a test.  You are about to undergo a test.

Let us take hold of these questions and lift our eyes upward, “Ribbono Shel Olam.  This is genuine yissurim (suffering) for me.  Please may it be Your will that it serve as a kappara (atonement).   I accept this sorrow with emuna and love. Better this than something else.”

What inner strength and emuna to reach this exalted level of seeing Hashem in my sleep disturbances.  What a calming effect it will have on my nerves and potentially brewed anger.  Ashreinu (happy is he!) for striving to ascend to this level of emuna and see Hashem in one of those places we have never done before!

 

No huffing and puffing

June 10, 2014
Orit Esther Riter

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BS’D
Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is sponsored for the refuah shleimah of Chayala Rifka bas Shoshana Gila Chana and Shoshana Gila Chana bas Hinda.  This involves a kidney transplant, the daughter Chayala Rifkva bas Shoshana Gila (currently on dialysis is the recipient), and her mother (Shoshana Gila Chana bas Hinda please also daven for her) is the donor. IY”H the transplant will take place on June 10, 2014. Beginning on June 8, 2014, we hope to say the sefer Tehillim as many times as possible.  A joint Tehillim read, each one reads one chapter and together we complete the Sefer Tehillim.   Please go to the link below:

http://tehilimyahad.com/mr.jsp?r=2n2JC9vbjd

 

Let’s continue where we left off yesterday. So, how do we stop deluding ourselves into believing that our efforts affect the outcome when it comes to our material pursuits? How do we remember that the results are all from Hashem?

The Ba’ala Emuna (person who lives with emuna) should strive to constantly implant emuna ideas in his heart every moment of the day. For instance, if she is on the way to purchasing an item, she could remind herself that “I know that the item has already been chosen for me by Hashem. No matter what I do or think it won’t make an iota of a difference!”  With this mindset, she is less likely to search extensively or overdo her hishtadlut.

However, our yetzer hara might convince us that it is sensible to look for furniture at more than one place. Hashem wants us to live in this world according to its natural ways. It takes emuna to remember that Hashem decides whether our purchase is a bargain and the state of our finances on Rosh Hashana.

HaKadosh Baruch Hu “Tzaddik Yivchahn (tests the righteous ones)”. The pathway to ascend the spiritual ladder is littered with emuna tests. Even if we pass the first emuna test and do not overdo our hishtadlut, Hashem might test us in another way. For instance, if we just completed a purchase for a new table and chair set, we may then visit a friend who has also purchased a luxurious table set. We may innocently ask, “How much did you pay?” and hear that it was , “2,000 shekels….” . What! That is, the same amount that I paid for lesser quality!

Realizing we overpaid and lost a considerable sum of money, we may find ourselves huffing and puffing, distraught over the fact that we failed to find the same bargain. But our real failure is not monetary – it is a failure to have sufficiently imparted emuna into our hearts. We should have stayed calm and accepting, realizing that it is all from Hashem! In actuality, there is no reason for us to become frustrated over ‘losses or feel ‘cheated’. This is what was meant to be. We could have searched and searched until my eyes turned pink it would not have made a difference if Hashem willed the results to be any other way!

However, we must also constantly remind ourselves that we are not angels. Rather, we are all a work in progress. Often we may forget this lesson, or remember it after already ‘failing’ our emuna challenge. However, the more often we strengthen our emuna muscles each day by reminding ourselves that Hashem is in control, the quicker we will ‘bounce back’ without feeling distressed over the situation. This process raises us higher on our path to emuna shleimah (complete and total trust in Hashem!).

Written by the daughter of one of our readers… how beautiful!

R efuah shlema

E in Od Milvado

F ulfill what Hashem says

U should daven when you are sick

A pples don’t make you better

H ashem does!

Material and Spiritual Hishtadlut

June 9, 2014
Orit Esther Riter

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BS’D

There is a notable difference between hishtadlut (making a concerted effort) towards spiritual pursuits and material aspirations. Let’s explore this.

In the sefer Chovot Halevavot in the chapter Gate of Trust we are taught that we are instructed to believe in Hashem’s Divine providence in both spiritual and material matters.   However there is a profound difference in the amount of effort we are to invest in both areas of life. When aspiring towards material goals there should be a limit on how much time and effort we are to invest in attaining them since the results are entirely in Hashem’s hands and are not dependent on how much we do.  Yet, in spiritual pursuits the desire and effort is within man’s free will – it is our choice how much time and effort we wish to invest in climbing the spiritual ladder.

For example, if I wish to purchase a table and chair set I am required to act within the realm of  ‘natural law’ which encourages me to look for a good deal and spend my money wisely.  However, my heart will ‘lie’ to me and ‘tell’ me that the more I research, the better deal I’ll get.  This comes as a result of the admixture of truth and lie that emerged from the sin of Adam Harishon.  We are constantly being fed that our efforts do in fact have an impact on the outcome.  This can be proven false by answering this simple question: “Does Hashem need our help to bring to fruition His Heavenly decrees?  Does He need us to look for a job in order to get us a job?”

We act according to the natural way of the world because this is what we are told to do to mask the miracle of Hashem’s intervention.  What is the limit on how much to invest in material pursuits? There are two guidelines:

1) Enough to ‘hide’ the miracle and create the appearance of natural doing

2) In accordance to our emuna. The more emuna, the less effort – the less emuna, the more effort.

Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Yaakov Yohonatan Levi ben Chaiya.  May Hashem shower him with rachamei Shamayim and he merit 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.

 

Shavuot Segulot

June 3, 2014
Orit Esther Riter

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BS’D

As told by Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi shtichye’:

No getting angry on Shavuot!  The AriZal writes that whoever gets angry on Shavuot reduces his Torah for the whole year!!!  The wisdom he is supposed to get is reduced

Read tehillim on Shavuot before going to sleep and fall asleep while reading.  Wake yourself up and continue to read a bit more tehillim until you keep falling asleep. Then close the tehillim and go to sleep. It is as if you are still reading Tehillim while you are sleeping. Our tehillim is like 5 Chumshei Torah.

Decorate your home with greenery.  Place flowers on either side of your entrance doorpost to your home and recite the passuk from Tehillim 92:13 through the end 16, “Tzaddik k’tamar….” Have the intent that your children should be decorated with righteousness and grown straight in the Torah path.

Put a dish on honey on the dining table from the beginning of the Chag until the end.  The Torah is sweet as honey; may it be Hashem’s will that we have that sweetness always, Amen.

Say new Torah insights as much as possible during the evening and morning seudot.  It is a segula that the wellsprings of wisdom will be renewed for us the whole year.

Have your husband buy you perfume!  The most subtle wisdom comes down from Heaven – the very essence of feminine wisdom, says the Pele Yoetz ztk’l.  Each utterance that Hashem said when He brought Torah down into the world came with a fragrance.  Perfume has a special meaning, a femininity.

After the meal Shavuot evening the Heiliger Alshich ztk’l teaches give a giant prayer for coupling and closeness of heart.  Ask for your true love match and if you are already married for Shalom Bayit.  This is the night when Leah Imeinu goes out to meet Yaakov after giving the mandrakes dudayim to Rachel Imeinu.  From then on she becomes his married wife and Yaakov loves her immensely.  That night she conceives Yissachar.  Wisdom and Torah are only possible when a great strong bond connects husband and wife!

In the morning Mother’s should go over to her children and cover their heads with a small towel or blanket and bless them while they are sleeping the Birkat HaCohanim, the Priestly Blessing.  Just as Hashem covered all of Ahm Yisrael’s head with a cloud in the morning at the time the Torah was given (the Rokeach).

When the Aseret Hadibrot are read in shul it is as though we are personally receiving them once again.  Healing comes down to the world and so it is the time to ask for a refuah shleimah for all.

In the afternoon, daven for all of Ahm Yisrael who has gone astray from the Torah path.  On Shavuot afternoon, Batya Pharoah’s daughter reaches out and saves Moshe Rabbeinu from the Nile moments before he was going to drown.  Since then, at that time, it’s possible to pull out the great terrible metaphoric Nile from those children or relatives who have gone far, far away, r”l.

WISHING EVERYONE AN EMUNA FILLED CHAG ENVELOPED WITH A SHOWER OF LOVE AND KISSES FROM HASHEM YITBORACH!!!

A Shavuot love poem

June 2, 2014
Orit Esther Riter
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BS’D

Visit Our Chinese Auction Page: Link Below.  

There are amazing prize packages all listed and there is a link to purchase raffle tickets on-line.  EVEN IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE OF ISRAEL OR CANNOT ATTEND YOU CAN PURCHASE TICKETS AS A GIFT FOR SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN ISRAEL.  WE’LL ARRANGE FOR THEM TO ENJOY IT!!!  YOU WILL BE CONTRIBUTING TO TORAH AND GIVING TO OTHERS at the same time!

Chinese Auction

 

It is Sivan we are finally ready to meet our groom, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.

Our souls have ripened, they have grown wide and deep during the weeks of the Omer; we have traveled far and await the loving embrace of Hashem. The flowers are blooming, the fish are retreating to deeper waters, the birds songs envelop the air – we have finally arrived at this moment.  Our soul like a flower has opened up to receiving Hashem’s Divine law and love.

On Shavuot we go back to eating the food we ate when we emerged into this world – milk.

We were innocent then only desiring tender loving care – a Motherly and Fatherly love and hug.  Hashem – You know me better than any other, for I am made from a spark of You.  Help me break free from all that entangles me so I may once again stand closely with You. Dress me in Your light and surround me by Your roses.

I am back in the desert awaiting to step under our wedding canopy together with my brethren… Here we meet once again.  This year I have revealed more of myself to me, I have uncovered so much which has pulled me behind.  Let us renew our vows.  I stand with You.  I firmly stand ready to enter our covenant with new resolve.

You are my beloved and I give myself to You in faithfulness!

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Asher Yekutiel ben Chana Bayla.  He is a teenage boy recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.  Hashem please shower Your compassion onto Asher Yekutiel ben Chana Bayla amongst all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov v’b’rachamim, Amen.

 

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