BS’D

For forty days, Hashem has showered us with endless doses of clarity and awareness to drive us to achieve our soul’s rectification. During this auspicious time, we are ‘face to face’ with Hashem and are keenly aware of what we need to do and repair. The way we think is more Divine and our response to life’s events is more G-dly.

The Torah’s mystical teachings bring down that our keter, dwelling place of Hashem’s will, is more open at this time; thus enabling us to sense the amazing good Hashem desires us to have. Throughout the year, it becomes challenging to perceive Hashem’s boundless love and care. However the ‘real you’ comes forth on Yom Kippur after many cries and screams of longing to be recognized and nurtured.

The Divrei Chaim ztk’l teaches that it is for this reason we are instructed to build a Sukkah right after Yom Kippur. The real you only needs a simple hut to live and sleep in; she finds her home in simplicity without materialistic garb and design, she simply wants to live in the constant embrace of Hashem.

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated L’iluy nishmat Leah bat Joya a’h. May her neshama rest in the Divine radiance among all the righteous souls who have departed from this world, Amen.

Wishing everyone a meaningful and uplifting Yom Kippur and a warm and loving Chag Sukkot. 

BS’D

One tear shed this time of year is equal to tears cried the entire year. Each of the ten days of repentance is an endless gift and value as they build up our intention on Yom Kippur. R’ Yechezkel Levenstein ztk’l teaches we should grab every mitzvah possible these days and put our entire heart into it.

Our neshama is looking for her beloved called Dodi, her uncle. Why does the Torah chose an uncle to depict a loving relationship?  Halacha teaches that even if a couple separates, their mutual children must still consider the siblings of their parents as uncles and aunts. So too does Hashem want us to recognize that He never separates from us and we will always be together (even if we think He has ‘divorced’ us!)

These days leading to Yom Kippur are considered one entire Eit Ratzon. To the measure that we desire to spiritually elevate ourselves so too we are given the Divine assistance to find our true selves. The way to increase our ratzon and inject a true desire to return is by feeling how distant we are from connecting to our soul. The more we need Hashem back in our life the greater assistance we are given to fulfill our true purpose in this world, B’H.

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated L’iluy nishmat Sabale’ Aharon ben Yitzchok a’h. May his neshama rest in the Divine radiance among all the righteous souls who have departed from this world, Amen.

BS’D

The prayer of a single Jew is great; yet united tefillot are powerful beyond words. To this end, Hashem instructs that we combine our prayers with others; those righteous and those less worthy in order to compensate one another.

The Chachamim teach that our prayers are like an incense offering. Included in the mixture of sweet spices we must add galbanum (chelbaneh) a spice with a dreadful odor. So too is with the single Jew’s prayer who may feel sometimes ‘lower’ than others, she should still attach her prayers with the community of Israel as we each hold an essential ingredient in the communal prayer service. We should trust that Hashem will accept our tefillot. Just as the composite of the incense offering must include a lesser sweet fragrance so too each of our tefillot is of equal value and vital to complete the mix.

The arousal of one’s heart during this time of year must not be underestimated. The soft voice of the soul calls from inner depths and yearns to cling to the root of her holiness. The light of emuna that shines forth from the innocent desire of one’s soul is capable of sweetening the entire batch of spices and form a perfect blend as a korban.

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated L’iluy nishmat Yosef ben Levi a’h. May his neshama rest in the Divine radiance among all the righteous souls who have departed from this world, Amen.