BS’D

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to ther refuah shleimah of Ginadi Chaim Notah Ben Raayah Rachel…. a gardener in Hebron, who yesterday was viciously stabbed by a Jihad terrorist in the heart, lungs, and stomach, as he was beautifying the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. He is fighting for his life right now. Please Hashem send Ginadi Chaim Notah ben Raayeh Rachel a complete healing among all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering, b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.

EXCITING NEWS~

This coming Sunday, Dec. 13th I will present our first ever FREE LIVE EMUNA teleconference

TOPIC:  Emuna & Geula 101

I have received so many emails asking questions about the current situation and how to keep our emuna strong.  B’H we will address this and much more during the 45 minute teleconference, leaving room for Q & A at the end.

Start time:  9:00 pm, Israel time
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Participant Access Code: 202566

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Local phone numbers to dial from your country ~
Israel:  076-599-0060
USA:  (641) 715-3836
Canada:  (605) 781-0006
South Africa: +27 (0) 87 825 0150
France:  +33 (0) 7 55 50 01 51
England:  +44 (0) 330 606 0520

For other countries write me OritRiter@gmail.com.

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Chanukah falls at the end of the month, a time where the moon decreases in size until it reaches its smallest towards the last day. Additionally, we light from left to right, adding a new candle to the left of the previous one lit.  Both demonstrate a time of increased darkness and judgment.

Much of Jewish history is filled with miracles and open Divine providence; what makes this festival different?  Chazal answer it is the backdrop on which the Chag occurs. Chanukah’s miracles are compared to rays of G-dly light shining at a time of remarkable darkness; much like the upcoming geula, b’karov, B’H. A candle is not cherished during the day; yet is most powerful when lit in darkness.  Chanukah brings incredible light and hope for the Jews particularly when there appears to be no hope in sight.

It was in the merit of the Maccabbi’s mesirut nefesh (self-sacrifice) when they went to war against the Greeks that the Jewish people were saved.  The Greek exile caused the Jews to fall into a deep spiritual slumber; a time where the Jewish soul was fading away from consciousness. The Maccabbi’s foresaw the danger and went to battle under the most illogical circumstances.  The sum total of miracles experienced then and B’H soon to us will come in the merit of acts of self-sacrifice that we, the Jewish people do in order to stay loyal to the Holy Torah.

Often we must go against the flow of worldly thought in order to maintain our loyalty to Hashem.  Yet just as then the Maccabbi’s acted with bitachon in order to save the Jewish soul, so too must we do the same and B’H we too shall merit the incredible redemption, in the form of open miracles and Divine providence, Amen.

BS’D

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Chana bas Dina Frimit, a newborn baby, who is recovering from heart surgery. May Hashem send her a complete healing among all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering, b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.

The main avodah during the festival of Chanukah is to light a candle; to dispel the immense darkness with a flicker of light.  During the eight days of Chanukah a tremendous G-dly light pours onto this world through a small act done here below, whether one deserves it or not. In fact we see this through the spinning of the dreidel.  The dreidel needs to be twisted on top in order for the bottom to twirl around.  The flow of blessings during the next eight days is from Heaven to Earth initiated by a small act we do in this world.

The Ba’al Shem Tov HaKadosh ztk’l based his teachings on this particular concept; a little light removes a lot of darkness.  The Jewish people are not meant to battle with the darkness, but instead to strike a match of light thus dispersing the impact of negativity and confusion.

Practically speaking let’s take for example the state of sadness; symbolic of darkness.  Instead of fighting the gloom we need to inject light, also known as joy, into our current state.  That means turning on the music, going for a walk to enjoy nature’s scenery, doing a mitzvah which automatically fills the soul with light, dialing 1-800-ALMIGHTY picking up the ‘phone and speaking to Hashem’ or reading Tehillim, to name some suggestions.  We should not try to convince ourselves why we shouldn’t be sad rather light up our lives and disperse the glum.

When we light the Chanukah candles, a seemingly ‘small act’, we open the gateways for an incredible radiant light to shine forth.  The reason being the mitzvah of lighting the Chanukah candles professes our emuna in Hashem; a sign of Jewish hope and G-dly clarity, a trust in G-dly justice and the ultimate fulfillment of Hashem’s promises to the Jewish People.