Author Archives: Orit Esther Riter

BS’D

With all of his dependency and fragility a newborn baby is secure in his life.  A baby knows instinctively that he is in good hands and all of his needs are being taken care of.  This relationship is the beginning stage, the founding principle guiding every human being at the onset of life.

A baby doesn’t trust that everything will be just as he wishes for it to be, yet he is reassured that whatever may be is exactly what he needs.  Even at the time when he is stubbornly fixated on getting his way and his parents disagree, deep down he knows that it comes from their love and care and for his ultimate best.

We are Hashem’s children, “Banim atem L’Hashem Elokeichem… (You are children of Hashem…)” (Sefer Devarim 14:1).  Just as children do not readily understand their parent’s calculations for restricting certain things and allowing others, it is a relationship that goes beyond intellectual comprehension.  It is implanted in the core of every Jew; Hashem loves me in spite of the intense pain that I am currently going through.

Thank You Hashem for everything… for all of the times You helped and I didn’t realize that it was You.  Thank You Hashem for all of the kindnesses You do for me every moment.  Thank you Hashem for all of the things that I am lacking…. I know that they are not meant for me to have right now.  Deep inside I know this to be true, even though my heart is stubborn and doesn’t always follow what my mind already knows.  Hashem, please help me feel it, sense it and live it!

BS’D

This is a true story that I recently read in a small pamphlet that was handed out to my husband in Kollel:

“I had a dream that I came to Gan Eden and was given a personal tour by an angel.  At first we entered a big room filled with angels.  My tour angel brought me to an area in the room and said, “This is the reception area. Here is where all of Am Yisrael’s tefillot arrive before they are presented to Hashem.”  I looked around and noticed that many angels were sifting through piles of papers with written requests on them.

We then continued down the corridor and arrived at another room. The tour angel turned to me and said, “This is the delivery room from which all of the pleas are tended to and ‘sent’ down to those who made the requests.”  Once again, I took a look around and noticed many angels busy at work.

Walking further down the hallway, we came to yet another room; a tiny quiet room.  To my great surprise, there was only one angel who did not appear to be busy at all. My tour angel then turned to me and said, “This is the confirmation room – intended for those requests that were sent down.  Here is where we collect the notes proving they were received.”

“How does one go about sending a return receipt for a request that was fulfilled by Hashem?” I asked.    “Very easily,” responded the tour angel, “A person simply says thank you to Hashem.  Those are the ‘return receipts’ we send back when our requests are answered.”

How sad that this is the least ‘busiest’ room in Shamayim…  Something to think about.

BS’D

So many of us mistakenly define emuna as faith. Faith has a negative connotation since it is likened to a beacon of light that shines when all else is lost; a word that is greatly challenged by the ‘modern mind’. Many say ‘no sane person listens to anyone who preaches ‘faith’; it is only for those who adhere to a belief without any proof.’

Yet is there an explanation for all that one sees? Faith does not only apply to religion; everyone needs faith to live. Many professors have said that when they look into a molecule there is no explanation for what they see. We need faith to ride on a bus without panicking. We need faith to open up a can of peas and not worry it has been tampered with.  We need faith when filling our prescriptions and trust the pharmacist is not going to make a mistake.

An abundant life cannot begin without faith. What about faith in ourselves? Faith in the good inherent in this world and that will eventually be revealed?  Without that positivism would cease to exist and the only thing left would be helplessness.

Emuna is loyalty. It depicts a state of hope, belief and trust that Hashem was, is and will always be intimately involved in our lives; embracing us every step of the way

BS’D

The Jewish soul was ‘carved out’ from the kisei hakavod; a dwelling filled with holiness. The soul descends into this world and experiences yearning and difficulties since its only true desire is to return on high. Her only comfort is found in the words of the Torah; they summon the warm loving memories of closeness she felt in the upper realms.

The letters of the word simcha שמחה when switched around read חמשה – the five books of the Torah Kedosha. Our soul experiences endless happiness and is given ‘weaponry’ to fight her way through the battles of life every time we study Torah. Torah is the vital elixir of life; it offers guidance through every challenge and words of wisdom to every question.

If we take the first letters of the following words in Hebrew: bones עצמות, flesh בשר, and blood דם we spell the word servant עבד. Mankind is born to be enslaved – the question is to whom and what. In order to remain loyal to our One and Only true master, Hashem Yitborach, it is imperative to ask Hashem to ‘remind’ us b’rachamim who we are here to serve and help us not get confused along the way.

BS’D

The worrier annuls the mitzvah of emuna and bitachon.  The mitzvah of emuna and bitachon is written in the verse Parshat Shoftim, “Tamim te’hyeh im Hashem Elokecha (Be complete and trusting in Hashem)” – live your life in simple wholeness with Hashem.

A person that worries cannot enjoy living.  In fact worrying causes many illness and ailments among them sadness which eventually may lead to despair. Chazal teach the importance of safeguarding ourselves from worry and explain that bitachon alleviates pain and suffering.

Rav Lugasi shilit’a further expounds on this idea and mentions a number of illnesses that are ‘born’ as a result of worry, among others:

• Rheumatism
• Minor skin illnesses
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Migraines
• Asthma
• Various eye complications

The Lubavitcher Rebbe ztk’l once said to a chronic worrier, “Look back to where you were ten years ago and look where you have reached today, and tell me: Is there a reason to worry?”

Genuine bitachon is reflected in a person who does not allow worry to consume them.  We do the best we can to help ourselves but know that the outcome is in Hashem’s hands and ultimately for our very best.

BS’D

A persons biological make up can change in the blink of an eye. New cells form as other die; every seven years man’s cellular system is created anew.  This comes to teach the importance of trusting in renewal; no matter how far we have strayed teshuva is our road back.

In fact teshuva was created before the world was formed. In the words of the RamBam HaKadosh ztk’l in Hilchot Teshuva 87 “Teshuvah serves to draw near to Hashem those who have become distant. Prior to his repentance, the sinful person had been considered despicable before Hashem. And now, when he repents, he is beloved, precious, near to Hashem, a friend.”

The concept of renewal in Torah is vital to Jewish life.  We get caught up in everyday problems and forget who we are and why we are here. Believing in the idea that today is not tomorrow and tomorrow is not yesterday drives us to continue forward and feel empowered by what can be and not get stuck in what was.

BS’D

The mentality of Eisav aka the modern Western world highlights only the ‘top winner’, the richest and most famous. What happened to second place, third place and a good fighting team spirit? Mankind is on the road to perfection – not perfect.  What makes humans tick are our strengths and weakness; ups and downs.

We are born with potential which gives each of us a fighting chance to be the best we can be.  We invest ourselves and beseech Rachamei Shamayim; Hashem then showers His bracha on all our endeavors.

Reb Yisrael Salanter ztk’l says when it comes to communal work, a person should not expect or even want to win — he just has to try! Putting forth the effort is the only thing that truly matters – the intensity and sincerity of the effort invested.

The meaning of Chazal’s words: “A person thought to do a mitzvah and didn’t do it — it’s considered as if he did it” – If Hashem commands you to do something and you wanted and tried to do so, to Him, your service is perfect. Let us not get frustrated with our ‘failed’ efforts and thoughts that we seemingly ‘fell’. Hashem wants our continued efforts without giving up. At the end that’s all that counts.