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The Greatest Acceptance

June 30, 2014

emuna

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This past week’s parsha of Parah Adumah is the embodiment of emuna. The laws of the red heifer are incomprehensible to the human mind. We cannot understand everything in life. We are probed with questions, confusion, uncertainties – the Parah Adumah is a reminder of how limited our minds are.

What advice does the Torah offer in such cases where even Shlomo HaMelech ztk’l , the wisest of all men, could not grasp this Torah teaching? Emuna Temima (simple unadulterated loyalty and faithfulness to the Torah’s infinite wisdom, no matter how incomprehensible they may be!). There are endless events and ideas in this world that we will not be able to grasp. The only notion we need to remain faithful to is that Hashem is running the universe perfectly; without any glitches!

Oh, how much we plan; dotting our ‘I’s’ and crossing our ‘T’s’, going through the logical process. Nonetheless, the Ultimate Designer and Master Planner knows better. The list of questions; why’s and what’s just seems to get longer with no ‘Heavenly loudspeaker’ announcing any resolution for them.

To those who wish to live a life of emuna- they hear the answers. To name a few of the possible responses: ‘It is not the right time’, ‘Be patient’, ‘The delay is necessary’ and even ‘No, I can’t give that to you’ – to name a few.

In life there are delays and denials necessary to perfectly carve our eternal future life. Accepting reality at times for what it is is the top code of living a healthy balanced life. As the Kli Yakar ztk’l teaches in his commentary on Shmot (25:10), “The purpose of knowledge is to know that we don’t know.”

We do not know and do not understand. This is the greatest acceptance of them all!

Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Daphne Shani bat Nurit a young girl with cancer. May Hashem shower her with His eternal compassion and may she 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.

‘Upping’ our Emuna

June 26, 2014

Orit Esther Riter

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Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated l’iluy nishmat my Safta Nelly bat Aaron z’l. May her neshama bask in the Divine radiance of the Shechina together with all of the tzaddikim who have departed from this world, Amen. (To read more about how special my grandmother was, read the Mishpacha Magazine article posted on our website: CLICK HERE)

A person has to struggle in this world so that he recognize that it is Hashem Who is at the center of his universe. It is Hashem who intimately supervises everything and every part of this creation. We are completely dependent upon Him.

However, it isn’t enough for us to merely know this intellectually; it needs to be weaved into our inherent existence and dictate our thoughts, speech and actions. In order to attain this level of knowing and more importantly to reach this feeling – requires a change of perspective.

When is it easiest to ingrain this realization? When we are forced to cry out to Hashem for help, then it moves from theory in the mind to hard core emotion. That is when we ‘get it’! When we don’t know how we are going to get through the next pile of bills and are feeling helpless and hopeless, then we ‘scream out’ to Hashem and somehow, someway, it works out. Consequently, our emuna has been ‘upped’ a couple of notches and we are enveloped in Hashem’s warm embrace.

Surely, the solution will make its way somehow or another into our lives with or without us connecting to Hashem. However, then we will have lost an opportunity to strengthen our emuna and acquire ‘G-dly’ strength to make it through the next c’v hardship.
Our ‘difficulties’ aren’t hindrances quite the contrary they facilitate our spiritual growth. They help us clearly understand how much Hashem is involved in our lives, how much He really cares and how much we are dependent upon Him.

Through our lacking we can recognize that we are creations dependent upon our Creator.

From one of our readers:
There is a family that I know personally who made aliyah a few years ago and has a very hard time making ends meet. Somehow, they survive and their 6 children have food. I’m not sure how….
Today, while we wait for ‘Our 3 Boys’ to come home safe and sound to their families, I’m asking that you find it in your hearts to unify as one and give any amount of money toward the eldest son’s bar mitzvah as a zechut for the safe return of Eyal Yifrah, Gilad Sha’ar and Naftali Frenkel.

My goal is to raise $4,000. I have a tzedaka organization that is willing to give tax receipts for your donations. Please email me if you would like to help in this huge mitzvah!

Best, Rachel Fleisher jrfleisher@gmail.com

** This coming Sunday, Rosh Chodesh Tamuz, the yahrtzeit of Yosef HaTzadik,BILVAVI MISHKAN EVNEH author Rabbi Itamar Schwartz will be sharing with the women of Klal Yisrael his understanding of what is our Avodat Hashem going forward . Rabbi Schwartz has been described as “one of the main elucidators of Emunah and D’vekut to Hashem in our generation”. Women are invited for this LIVE FREE tele-conference from all over the world to hear the tzadik’s words of chizuk and emunah. In the merit of our deep desire to draw closer to Hashem and learn together, may we see the safe return of Yaakov Naftali ben Rachel Devorah; Gilad Michael ben Bat Galim and Eyal ben Iris T’shura. Access numbers for this call appear on the home page of www.G-ddirectTorah.com.**

Just sing…

June 25, 2014

Orit Esther Riter

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Music is merely a type of revelation of the soul and its feelings. The soul manifests itself in the words that a person utters his joyful and/or painful thoughts and feelings. Our holy texts teach us that when a person’s suffering overwhelms him c’v, he can no longer speak, but can only cry out and moan without words. In the same way, a tune, which is comprised of sounds of joy or bitterness, arouses a person’s feelings, and within these feelings the soul surfaces and begins to express itself.

Our task in life should be to dedicate ourselves to Hashem. Thus, in order to connect our soul to Hashem’s holiness, we should accustom ourselves to spiritual singing and music. Just by merely closing our eyes, swaying back and forth and envisioning ourselves standing in Hashem’s presence can mend a broken heart. At first we sing in order to arouse our soul from its slumber. However, little by little we will feel that our soul has already begun to sing on its own.

Our soul ascends and descends along the passage of life. The tune comes together, and lifts up our soul and brings it closer to Hashem. This does not necessarily occur only with a brokenhearted tune. It can also take place with a joyful tune.
Anytime, anyplace – whenever you feel that the time is right, you can sing; and you do not have to raise your voice, for a person can sing in a hush, and his voice is heard in the heights.

Please see the link below of Rachel Frankel speaking at the UN.
May we hear only good news soon!!
The more lists we can get her message forwarded to – the better.

Link of mother of kidnapped boy speaking to UN
http://youtu.be/rswuKg32mqg

Don’t weep alone…

June 24, 2014

Orit Esther Riter

suffering

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Today, 26th of Nissan, is the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yonatan ben Uziel ztk’l and Rabbi Yossi ben Kisma ztk’l. R’ Yonatan ben Uziel was one of the 80 students who studied in the house of Hillel Hazaken ztk’l. In the Talmud Masechet Sukkah it is written that when birds flew over his head they burned due to the presence of the angels who came to hear Yonason Ben Uziel study Torah. He is best known for his translation of the Prophets, the “Targum, into Aramaic”.

Rabbi Yossi ben Kisma was a Jewish Tanna in the third generation. He lived and spread Torah in Caesarea. Once he rejected great wealth, preferring instead to remain in a city of sages. Rabbi Yossi ben Kisma was well respected by the Roman Government and was one of the Sages that ruled against any Jewish rebellion. When he passed away, his funeral was attended by many leading Roman officials. May the tzaddikim serve as holy advocates for Klal Yisrael, Amen.

A Jew who is tormented by his afflictions thinks that he suffers alone as if all his personal afflictions and those of all of B’nei Yisrael do not affect Hashem,c”v. Yeshaya the prophet said, ‘In all their troubles He was troubled,’ and Chazal tell us, ‘When a person suffers, what does the Shechina say? “My head is too heavy for Me, My arm is too heavy for Me.” When a Yid is afflicted Hashem suffers, as it were, much more than the person does. The reason being that since Hashem is not subject to any limitation, therefore His suffering from Israel’s troubles is also boundless.

Precisely because Hashem is infinite, ‘His suffering’ is infinite and beyond human conception. The rivers of tears shed by Ahm Yisrael who are in pain are like a mere trickle compared to the ocean that is Hashem’s suffering. He stands with us at every street crossing and knows our fears. There is a reason, and the questions do have answers. Hashem, so to speak, is in His inner chambers weeping, so that one who pushes in and comes close to Him by means of living in a Torah way weeps together with Him and lives Torah with Him. Only this makes the difference, for the weeping and pain a person undergoes by himself, alone, may have the effect of breaking him and bringing him down so that he becomes incapable of doing anything.

But the weeping a person does together with Hashem strengthens him. He weeps, and is strengthened; he is broken, but finds courage to study and teach. It is hard to raise one’s self up, time and again, from the tribulations, but when one is determined, stretching his mind to connect with Hashem, then he enters the inner chambers where the blessed Holy One is to be found; he weeps and wails together with Him, as it were, and finds the strength to study and serve Him.

Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is dedicated to Tinok ben Nechama a 10 day old baby born with cancer who is now undergoing chemo treatment. Our hearts are tormented over the difficulties that our brethren and us are coping with. Please Hashem shine Your revealed goodness onto us and help us come close to You without tragedies, suffering and pain. May Hashem send a complete healing to Tinok ben Nechama amongst all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering in Klal Yisrael, b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.

Double Cover-Up

June 19, 2014

Orit Esther Riter

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In his book ‘Shomer Emunim” Rav Yosef Irgas ztk’l elucidates on the verse in Devarim (31:18), “v’Anochi haster Astir (and I will surely hid My face)”. Usage of the double language of concealment undoubtedly leaves us with a sense of abandonment that we experience when we go through tough times.

The first covering of “… and I will surely hid…” is felt anytime a hardship arises in life. There is a sense of confusion and loneliness that surfaces as a result of the sorrow we feel. We are left feeling a sharp contradiction to the verse in the Priestly Blessing, “Ya’er Hashem Panahv A’lecha… (May Hashem make His countenance shine on you…)”.

Nonetheless, so long as we hold steadfast to the knowledge that it is Hashem who is creating our reality out of His love for us, we will be able to tear off the top layer that ‘covers-up’ Hashem’s presence in our lives and ‘see Hashem’s face.’ The first layer of concealment is the pain that comes as a result of the fictitious feeling that we were dealt a ‘bad deck of cards’ and Hashem c’v wasn’t involved. Anguish follows experiences which appear ‘purposeless’. Consolation comes in the aftermath of knowing that suffering serves a higher purpose.

Once we have unveiled the false notion of coincidence we will confront the second covering of “…My face”. This layer ‘hides’ within it the actual reason behind the suffering – one which is lighter to cope with when we develop our emuna.

Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Boruch Leib HaKohain ben Duba Chaya. May Hashem shower him with a complete healing amongst all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.

Every Bit Counts!

June 18, 2014

Orit Esther Riter

tefillah

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From one of our readers:

A young girl was standing in the marketplace with a large basket of apples for sale. Suddenly, a thief approached and began to snatch apples out of the basket. The girl became confused and stood helplessly, not knowing what to do. Someone who was watching from a distance called out to her, “Why are you standing still? What are you waiting for —that he should grab everything? Just as he is grabbing, so should you grab- whatever you can get will still be yours!”

And so it is regarding prayer. If one was overcome by lethargy and mindless daydreaming at the start of the Shemoneh Esrei, and suddenly finds himself near the prayer’s end without having “grabbed any apples,” this does not mean that he should give up and leave himself with nothing. Rather, he should strive with all his inner strength to concentrate on the remaining blessings.”

Tefillah is a journey. We begin on this earthly plane and strive to reach a spiritual high one-on-one with Hashem. Our intent while davening should be to tighten our bond with Hashem and gain closeness to Him. Although Hashem is everywhere, we strive to sharpen our awareness of His constant and intimate presence in our lives. How do we achieve this awesome awareness? By ‘inviting’ Hashem into our lives; that is the key that opens up the door and ‘lets Him in.’

Even if every so often we depart from our Beloved Guest and randomly drift off to other ‘planes’ with other thoughts, we can still regularly come back to express our love and desire to connect. As the parable teaches – take what you can out of your Tefillot. Every bit counts!

Who Did It?

June 17, 2014

Orit Esther Riter

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IN 3 minutes our hearts are stirred to BRING BACK OUR BOYS!!! In this emotional clip:

Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is dedicated to the safe return, in full health, strength in body and soul of our three boys being held in captivity. In the zechut of Klal Yisrael’s Achdut and Tefillot Ana Hashem Al Tisheevaynu Raikam Lefanecha. May Yaakov Naftali ben Rachel Devorah, Gilad Michael ben Bat Galim and Eyal ben Iris Teshurah come home NOW and continue to unite us as One serving Hashem only in simchas, Amen.

There is a story told about the Gaon HaRav Chaim m’Sanz ztk’l. After his son passed away he was asked how he bears the tremendous suffering and pain of loosing a child. His answer was given via a parable: Let’s imagine for a moment you are sitting comfortably on a chair when suddenly you receive a hard slap on your back. Immediately you turn around to see who did it.

If you turn around and notice a stranger behind you that you have never seen before chances are you will implode or explode with anger towards him. However, if you recognize that person to be your father and realize that it was a friendly smack, you are more likely to be acceptable and receive him with a warm glow.

The Gaon continued to say that there is a ‘ meaningless smack’ and there is a ‘smack of love’. I received a harsh and painful smack when I lost my son. However when I turned around to see who did it I saw that it was from HaKadosh Baruch Hu who I love more than anyone or anything in the world. His love for me is greater than His love for anyone in the world. Therefore I am able to cope with it the way that I do.

Hashem loves us and is guiding us to a world of perfection… forever. B’H may we merit to see only revealed good, Amen.

Hashem is ‘Planted’

June 16, 2014

Orit Esther Riter

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Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is dedicated to the iluy neshmat of Ziva bat Aron z’l. May her neshama bask in the Divine radiance amongst all of the tzaddikim who have departed from this world, Amen.

In Sefer Bereishis we learn about Yaakov Avinu’s wondrous dream as he leaves Beersheba for Haran. He sees a ladder standing firmly on the ground, reaching upward to the heavens. Angels are going up and down “v’hinei Hashem Nitzav alav (Behold, Hashem is standing above him)”.

The Izhbitzer Rebbe ztk”l explained that there are two words that can be used for standing. One is omed, which simply means standing there, and the other is nitzav, which implies being planted in place. A human being is an omed. He always has the choice to stay in one place or move away. A nitzav has no such choice; it is planted in its place like a stone.

By using the expression of nitzav, Hashem was telling Yaakov a beautiful message, “Dear child, I have no choice but to be with you.” Hashem wanted us to realize that no matter what, no matter where, He would always be planted and bonded with us. Hashem’s connection with us is forever, something that can never be moved nor shifted. We may ascend and descend the ladder to Heaven, sometimes rising and sometimes falling, but Hashem will always be planted above us and within us. No matter where we are, because we are Hashem’s children, He will be with us.

What a powerful message! It gives one a sense of tranquility despite the world’s thunderous storms.

Questions?

June 12, 2014

Orit Esther Riter

emuna

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The Chief Rabbi of England, Rabbi Lord Sacks shlit’a told a story of a Rav who lived through the horrors of the holocaust. As a result of the war, he lost his entire family, including his wife and many children, r”l. Later in life he remarried and had more children, B’H. He was renowned in his community for being a very joyful soul. People asked him how he could rebuild his life with such Simchat Hachaim, and whether he had any questions about his tragedy.

His response was inspiring, simple and clear. He said that he has questions and knows there are answers to all of them. He continued to say that so long as he is here in this lowly world he cannot grasp the answer, for it is only understood in the upper realms. So long as he is alive in this world he said that he realizes that he has a task to fulfill and must complete it. Therefore, if he had to choose, he would rather stay in this world and work towards fulfilling his mission and remain with questions, then depart from this world and be given all of the answers.

After 120 years there will be no answers…. precisely because then in the next World there will be no questions! That IS the answer to all of our questions.

Who woke me up?

June 11, 2014

Orit Esther Riter

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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!

Yearly Archives: 2014

The Greatest Acceptance

‘Upping’ our Emuna

Just sing…

Don’t weep alone…

Double Cover-Up

Every Bit Counts!

Who Did It?

Hashem is ‘Planted’

Questions?

Who woke me up?

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